Special Report

INSPIRED RESEARCH/ON THE COVER

TenYears

Hermelin Brain Tumor Center focuses
on life-giving research.

F

David Hermelin,

philanthropist and

riends and family of the late
Henry Ford has had significant results in
David B. Hermelin, Detroit-area bringing "bench-to-bedside" treatment.
philanthropist, businessman
Treatments progress from a concept, to
and U.S. ambassador to Norway, donated being applied on an experimental basis,
$10 million in 1999 to launch a brain
to being effective in patients.
tumor research center in his name at
"We currently have a number of ongo-
Henry Ford Hospital, where he had just
ing clinical trials of molecularly targeted
undergone a successful brain tumor
drugs, are working to get these approved,
operation.
and already looking for the next break-
Directed by Drs. Mark Rosenblum,
through, including the study of tumor
Tom Mikkelsen and Steven Kalkanis
stem cells and other approaches:' says
from the departments of neurology and
neuro-oncologist and researcher Tom
neurosurgery, the Hermelin Brain Tumor Mikkelsen, M.D.
Center is one of the major centers in the
For instance, laboratory work at Henry
U.S. working together to develop new
Ford Hospital and the University of
clinical trials and treatments through
Alabama conceived a method to block
research conducted at the National
cancerous cells from growing, spreading
Cancer Institute (NCI).
and developing new blood vessels. An
The Hermelin Center has state-of-the-
experimental drug, Cilengitide, was first
art imaging and breakthrough technol-
tested for safety in patients in Phase 1
ogy that makes surgery safer. And the
trials at Henry Ford. In the second phase,
clinical and research staffs have dedi-
researchers found early effectiveness,
cated their lives to finding solutions to
and it is now in Phase 3 internationally,
primary, recurrent or metastatic forms of the highest level of study for effective-
the disease.
ness in the U.S.
Detroit-based Henry Ford is a member
Another new drug, Avastin, which
of the National Cancer Institute's "Adult
shows an 80 percent response rate, sig-
Brain Tumor" Consortium, which also
nificantly increases the survival rate by
includes Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts
blocking the growth of a tumor's blood
General, MD Anderson, University of
vessels, while previous treatments had a
California San Francisco, and 10 other
10-20 percent response rate. Henry Ford
major medical centers in the United
is one of the leading institutions in the
States, providing the most advanced
U.S. evaluating this new treatment in
treatments available for brain tumor
Phase 2 and 3 trials.
patients.
"The Hermelin Brain Tumor Center
As the only NCI-sponsored center
has also helped to define for the U.S.
in Michigan working on adult brain
tumors, and one of only 15 nationwide,
Ten Years Of Hope on page 12

September 24 • 2009 11

