6.1.1 Vision, Accomplishments and History of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Today, as throughout its tenure as the only comprehensive cancer center in this nation’s capital, the vision of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) is to prevent and cure cancer with a local focus and global impact. Our mission is to treat, and cure cancers by linking scientific discovery, expert and compassionate patient care, quality education, and partnership with the community, guided by the principle of cura personalis, “care for the whole person.” LCCC’s major accomplishments and membership have been linked to the below-described strategic objectives:
· Advance transformative research that contributes to the prevention and cure of cancer. Guided by a dynamic vision, improved organization of our science and impactful recruitments we have addressed the 2009 Summary Statement of the CCSG competitive renewal to better achieve our scientific mission. Since its founding in 1974, LCCC investigators have contributed to cancer prevention and eradication, saving millions of lives, exemplified by the conception and development of human papillomavirus vaccines (Schlegel [MO]), and by seminal contributions to the development and study of hormone receptor biology and the use of anti-estrogens to treat breast cancer (Lippman [BC], Dickson [BC], Jordan [BC]). Important new accomplishments by LCCC investigators have been reported during the current funding period, as detailed in this application. Notable examples include:
o Novel technique for epithelial cell reprogramming (Schlegel, New Engl J Med 2012)
o Mechanisms underlying genomic instability in glioblastoma (Waldman, Science 2012)
o Transcription factor drug targets in childhood sarcoma (Toretsky, Nature Med 2009)
o New guidelines for mammography screening frequency (Mandelblatt, Ann Int Med 2009)
o Value of Pertuzumab in breast cancer (Swain, New Engl J Med 2012)
o Novel mechanisms of resistance for epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy (Weiner, Sci Signal 2010)
o Drug repurposing for cancer therapy based upon novel computational modeling (Dakshanamurthy, J Med Chem 2012)
· Reduce the impact of cancer and diminish disparities in our region. The District of Columbia (DC) has among the highest cancer mortality rates in the country. LCCC is the only NCI–designated comprehensive cancer center based in the nation’s capital, serving a region composed of DC and its adjacent counties (~ 3.9 million people), with a high proportion of medically underserved DC residents. During the current funding period LCCC has expanded its efforts to address disparities, supported by a major P60 grant.
· Increase patient volumes and improve the quality of care in partnership with MedStar and other collaborators. Georgetown University’s clinical partner, MedStar Health, is the largest health care provider in the mid-Atlantic region, thus providing Lombardi with a robust clinical and clinical research outlet. During the current funding period we have established the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Network, for which Lombardi is the scientific home.
· Expand our leadership of high-impact clinical research. Establishment of the MedStar-Georgetown Cancer network has consolidated LCCC’s clinical research operations. This has been supplemented by the recruitment of internationally recognized experts in lung cancer, melanoma, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to enrich LCCC’s clinical research portfolio.
· Ensure the long-term growth, vibrancy, and financial stability of Lombardi. Both Georgetown University and MedStar Health have provided significant support to Lombardi during the current funding period.