Some news items mentioning MSK over the past few weeks;

• MSK joined with 14 organizations to launch the Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology. The initiative aims to use the science of nanotechnology to develop new vaccines and drug delivery systems, as well as improved imaging technology and disease detection.

• A study carried out under MSK’s Dr. Monica Morrow has shown that less than 42% of breast cancer survivors decide to undergo breast reconstruction following mastectomy despite mandatory coverage. Among the characteristics of patients who do not choose reconstruction are being older, being black and having a lower education level.

• Telik, Inc., an oncology drug development company, received a $1.5 million contract from the National Cancer Institute to continue collaborating with MSK on developing a unique Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging agent for detecting pancreatic cancer. Current late stage diagnosing of this cancer contributes to dismal survival rates.

• A phase ii trial where the drug, palbocicib, was added to the standard treatment for women with metastatic breast cancer showed a significant improvement in the time period with no new tumor growth (the median of 10 months doubled to 20 months). MSK’s Dr. Clifford Hudis plans to treat early stage breast cancer patients with palbocicib, in the hopes that it might bring about a cure.