NYP-WCMC News: Medical College News

Patient Receives World's First Delivery of Intra-arterial Avastin Directly Into a Malignant Brain Tumor

Wed, 17 Nov 2009 13:43:00 GMT

Neurosurgeons from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center performed the world's first intra-arterial cerebral infusion of Avastin (bevacizumab) directly into a patient's malignant brain tumor. This novel intra-arterial (IA) technique may expose the cancer to higher doses of the drug therapy, while possibly sparing the patient common side effects of receiving the drug intravenously (IV) or throughout their body.

Battling Cancer With Engineering: NCI Funds New $13 Million Microenvironment and Metastasis Research Center at Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medical College

Tue, 16 Nov 2009 18:54:00 GMT

Adding potent research firepower and fresh physical perspectives to combat cancer, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has funded the new Center on the Microenvironment and Metastasis, which will be headquartered at Cornell University. It is one of 12 new research centers across the nation recently announced by the NCI. This grant is for $13 million over five years.

Cornell will serve as the lead institution in a partnership with the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and the University at Buffalo. The Center will focus on using nanobiotechnology and other related physical science approaches to advance the research on cancer.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Shown Safe and Effective Treatment for Rectal Cancer

Wed, 10 Nov 2009 15:44:00 GMT

Laparoscopic surgery has been used in the treatment of intestinal disorders for close to 20 years, but its benefits have only recently begun to be extended to people with rectal cancer. In a prospective study of 103 patients who underwent straightforward or "hand-assisted" laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, a team of colon and rectal surgeons at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center has shown that the minimally invasive approach can be as effective as traditional open surgery in treating rectal cancers.

The advantages of laparoscopic and other minimally invasive surgical techniques are well known. After laparoscopic surgery, patients experience shorter hospital stays, smaller scars, far less pain and faster recovery, compared with open surgery. NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell has offered these procedures for many years, and continues to be at the forefront of innovation, applying the minimally invasive approach to diseases and conditions once considered treatable mainly using open surgery techniques. Until recently, rectal cancer was one such disease -- and its treatment via laparoscopic surgery is still seen by some as controversial.

Researchers Explore New Ways to Prevent Spinal Cord Damage Using a Vitamin B3 Precursor

Fri, 05 Nov 2009 13:54:00 GMT

Substances naturally produced by the human body may one day help prevent paralysis following a spinal cord injury, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College. A recent $2.5 million grant from the New York State Spinal Cord Injury Research Board will fund their research investigating this possibility.