UAB: Comprehensive Cancer Center

In this issue of Crossroads, we feature information on the Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant in cervical cancer. This SPORE is the culmination of years of national leadership in pre-invasive and invasive cervical cancer research conducted by the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology.

The division is one of the leading research and training units in the nation; in fact, it was recently recognized as such by its peers in the journal Contemporary OB-GYN.

The SPORE is a collaboration between the UAB Cancer Center and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University. The grant includes four major projects that are evaluating new vaccine strategies to prevent pre-invasive cancer and treat both pre-invasive and invasive disease. Most of the clinical trials to test the efficacy of these vaccines will be done at our center.

Cervical cancer has a higher incidence rate in Alabama due to lower screening rates and increased risk factors for the disease. Continued development of new strategies to prevent the disease and identify individuals who are most at risk is extremely important not only for the region served by our Cancer Center but also for the world.

In keeping with the theme for this issue, we feature Warner Huh, M.D., a prolific and successful physician-scientist in the field of cervical cancer, and Sarah Thomas, a cervical cancer survivor, gives us a firsthand experience of the fight to beat this disease.

An emerging and exciting new development also is highlighted in this issue: our increasing ability to preserve fertility in young men and women undergoing cancer treatment before their families are complete. Wright Bates, M.D., from the UAB Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, discusses technology and procedures now available.

The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center continues to advance the world’s understanding of cancer while translating this knowledge into prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship. We hope that you will continue to support us in this mission.

Edward Partridge, M.D.
Director and Evalina B. Spencer Chair in Oncology