• Rockefeller University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne received the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Medal for outstanding contributions to Biomedical Research at the Center’s 2011 Academic Convocation (05/12/2011). Tessier-Lavigne was the keynote speaker and delivered the convocation address.
• A Colorful Crowd at Sloan-Kettering Gala. Sheryl Crow attended the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center fourth annual spring ball.
• Researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Weill Medical School of Cornell University have shown in a large scale study an association of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations among tumor samples from men and those who smoke cigarettes.
• Oncolytic viruses effectively target and kill pancreatic cancer stem cells. Joyce Wong, MD, surgical researcher with MSKCC is quoted and identified as the lead investigator.
• Exercise reduced risk for colon polyps. Nelson Sanchez, MD, MSKCC hospitalist is quoted in article.
• Nationwide cancer study seeking North Jersey participants. Dr. Maureen Killackey, deputy physician-in-chief and medical director of the regional care network at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan is quoted in article.

Selected articles in the news include:

• FDA Approves Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) for Prostate Cancer. Howard Scher, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is quoted in article.
• Cancer research, treatment move toward individualized care – Genomics plays an increasingly critical role in the clinic. Martin R. Weiser, MD, associate attending surgeon at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is quoted in article.
• Study Supports Paradigm Shift in Invasive Bladder Cancer.  Mentioned in article was Dean F. Bajorin, MD, and Harry W. Herr, MD, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

• In a recent New York Times Magazine article entitled “Is Sugar Toxic,” MSKCC president Craig Thompson suggests a link between high sugar consumption and the development of insulin dependent cancer cells resulting in tumor growth.
• The New York Daily News reported on a new MSKCC clinical trial to save the fertility of young boys undergoing cancer treatment.
• Pharmabiz posted an announcement about the research collaboration between MSKCC and Molecular Templates to develop Engineered Toxin Bodies (ETB) for lymphomas.