RD: If I recall, just to distill it down to the most elemental points, the
major emphasis was that we were entering into an era of science-driven
cancer care, in which patients would be administered therapies that would
be more effective, based on their genetics, and also avoiding toxicities based
on their inherent genetic make-up.
That was an important aspect that permeated most of my comments.
I also spoke about the need for increased prevention and early detection.
Prevention is one area that really focuses on understanding why we
get cancer in the first place, also developing the right educational tools that
enable us to, for example, protect children from sun exposure, to reduce
childhood obesity as well as to prevent children each and every day from starting
smoking; things of that nature.
Also with respect to early detection, this is where I think some of the
greatest near-term impact is going to occur, with the revolution ongoing in
serum proteomics and imaging. We have a tremendous opportunity to shift
our discovery of cancers to much earlier stages, when the chance for cure is
greater.
I place a great deal of emphasis on prevention and early detection.
PG: Would this be what you were going to do at MD Anderson—look at
prevention and early detection?
RD: I think in general, the field of cancer has focused significantly on
understanding the genetic basis of cancer and focusing significantly on treatment,
which is continuing to be a major emphasis for us.
But I mentioned that we are entering into an era where we can be far
more proactive in understanding cancer genesis and using that knowledge to
prevent disease—look at the revolution that occurred as a result of the HPV
vaccine, the knowledge of hepatitis virus, H. pylori.
These are all opportunities for us to understand what drives cancer and
intervene in ways that are most effective. I think that the future, while it will
continue to focus heavily upon the treatment of advanced disease, will also focus
increasingly on preventive-interventive strategies as well as early detection.
PG: So that’s your vision for MD Anderson?
RD: Actually, this has been part of our mission for some time. I think it’s a
matter of emphasis, but it has been central to our mission for many, many years.
