In addition, collaboration with industry contributes to the development of new cancer therapies. Allan Lipton, M.D., Harold Harvey, M.D., Andrea Manni, M.D., and Larry Demers, Ph.D., have played a leading role in developing aromatase inhibitors in the hormonal treatment of breast carcinoma having undertaken multiple trials to establish the role of these agents. Dr. Lipton is actively pursuing antisense oligonucleotides to alter expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor and biphenotipic monoclonal antibodies as new therapeutic modalities in breast carcinoma. Also in breast carcinoma, Dr. Manni has initiated a clinical trial of DFMO, an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis by inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase, as a novel therapy. Not all treatments are directed at the inhibition of tumor growth.
Supportive treatments reversing the consequences of metastatic disease are important.
Lipton and Harvey are national experts in the use of bisphosphonates in treating bone metastases. Dr. Rybka has established a bone marrow transplant program in Hershey. Transplantation is useful not only in treating blood-related cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, but also the solid tumors such as breast carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, and testicular carcinoma. The program is based on using cells obtained from the circulating blood as the source of the transplant. Usually, these cells are obtained from the patient and stored by cryopreservation for later use in the same patient.