Chapter 35: The GI Tumor Study Group and the Early Detection Research Network
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Description
Dr. Levin begins this Chapter with a discussion of the GI Tumor Study Group, beginning with the individuals who came together to form the group in the mid-seventies, when it became obvious that GI cancers did not receive enough attention. The study group formed under the auspices of the NCI’s Division of Cancer Treatment and Dr. Levin explains how they met to discuss potential studies to receive NCI funding. He sketches how the group ended in the early eighties.
Dr. Levin begins to talk about the Early Detection Research Network, formed in about 1981 under the Division of Cancer Prevention at the NCI to fund innovative ideas for early detection—the beginning of today’s understanding of the underlying genetic mechanisms of cancer. The Network also established the Goodman Research Conferences.
Identifier
LevinB_05_20130827_C35
Publication Date
8-27-2013
City
Houston, Texas
Interview Session
Topics Covered
The Interview Subject's Story - The AdministratorActivities Outside Institution Understanding Cancer, the History of Science, Cancer Research The History of Health Care, Patient Care Healing, Hope, and the Promise of Research
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Disciplines
History of Science, Technology, and Medicine | Oncology | Oral History
Transcript
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I wanted to ask you about—you mentioned earlier about the GI Tumor Study Group, and I wanted to ask you about that particular group, how it was formed and when and where. I wasn’t sure what the institutional affiliation was, if any.
Bernard Levin, MD:
I would say in the mid-seventies it became obvious that the GI cancers were not being well addressed, and a number of institutions, particularly certain individuals—Charles Moertel, M-o-e-r-t-e l, at the Mayo Clinic, perhaps the most senior figure; Phil Schein[phonetic] then at Georgetown University at the Lombardi Cancer Institute; Harold Douglas [phonetic] at Roswell Park. Let me think if there were others. I’m not sure. I cannot remember all the—Marty Kelsen [phonetic] at the University of Miami, yes, University of Miami, Florida; a statistical group called the Emmes, E-m-m-e-s, Corporation. The leader there were Joel Novak [phonetic] and Don Stablein, S-t-a-b-l-e-i-n. They all got together under the auspices of the NCI’s t Division of Cancer Treatment. And there were a number of people from the NCI who led this over the years, who performed the coordinator role. So we would get together periodically, sometimes in Washington—and I, as a member of the University of Chicago, was a member; I was their representative—and would meet to discuss potential studies. And each institution would have a lead person as well as other participants in study committees—there was a Radiation Committee and a Pathology Committee; I think those were the other committees—and come up with studies that would be then vetted or directed under the auspices of the National Cancer Institute, and there would be funding given for patient accrual. The studies generally addressed important topics particularly related to adjuvant treatment or treatment after surgical removal of tumors to see whether additional radiation or chemotherapy would be useful. There were also studies of more advanced disease, metastatic disease for which new drugs became available. So there were a number of different organs involved: esophagus, stomach, pancreas, colon, rectum. And over a period of years, there would appear publications from this group. It was actually quite a productive group. Eventually, because of the personalities of the NCI leadership, perhaps waning interest in the group, it was disbanded. I attempted to revive it briefly—and I forget what it was called—with the help of someone at the NCI, but it was a vain attempt.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Hmm. When was it disbanded?
Bernard Levin, MD:
Perhaps in early eighties. Maybe ’84.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Hmm. Interesting. Hmm. Interesting how groups like that can have a funny life cycle.
Bernard Levin, MD:
] Yeah.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
What about the Early Detection Research Network?
Bernard Levin, MD:
Yes. Let me think about that. So discussions with Dr. Barry Kramer at NCI led us to propose the creation of this group. That was about 1981. And he and I essentially were the founding co-chairs of that, and its location was under the auspices of the Division of Cancer Prevention at the NCI, and the study officer or the program officer was Sudhir Srivastava, S-r-i-v-a-s-t-a-v-a, and he still is with the EDRN,. The idea was to develop a mechanism to fund and develop innovative ideas for early detection, using whatever biological markers, whatever biological fluids or substances existed, and it was perhaps the beginning of understanding some of the ideas that underlie the current genetic approaches to cancer. It was funded through NCI, with study committees around each tumor type or each organ type, with active participants from a variety of centers meeting and planning studies related to the most germane questions in their area. It elected a group leader, who for a long time was David Sidranskyfrom Johns Hopkins, and subsequently others have taken that role. It also established a link with the Gordon Research Conferences, such that each year a Gordon Research Conference was held on early detection under the auspices of the EDRN. So it became quite a visible group, and there were regular presentations, not only to the Division of Cancer Prevention but to the National Cancer Advisory Board.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
What do you think its impact was? And is it still in existence?
Bernard Levin, MD:
It’s still in existence. I believe that it had a very important effect on creating a disciplined approach to developing markers for early detection. By no fault of their own, of course, the work is, by its very nature, going to be hit-and-miss and very laborious, but I believe that overall it’s had a very positive effect. So, Tacey, let me ask you this. We’re almost at time.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Yeah, I was just going to mention that.
Bernard Levin, MD:
Would you like me to continue with the EDRN? I could say a little bit more about it, various challenges and issues, and start with that tomorrow?
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Sure. I only have a few questions left, so if you can go a little bit after noon, we could probably finish up today. If not, we can resume tomorrow.
Bernard Levin, MD:
I think I need to—I need to do something else now.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Okay.
Bernard Levin, MD:
I’m also caught between some timing issues here. I have to go somewhere and come back in time. So—
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Sure. No problem.
Bernard Levin, MD:
So I think I could do better for you tomorrow. It wouldn’t take more perhaps than a half hour tomorrow.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Yeah, yeah. Would you like to continue with the EDRN right now—
Bernard Levin, MD:
Yes.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
—or do you want to resume—okay.
Bernard Levin, MD:
Yes, let’s resume EDRN tomorrow, and then if you want to email me any other specific topics, I can be better prepared.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Okay. That sounds fine.
Bernard Levin, MD:
All right, Tacey. Thanks for your patience, and I hope I didn’t ramble too much.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
No, no, not at all. It’s a pleasure. And I will give you a ring tomorrow morning at eleven o’clock your time.
Bernard Levin, MD:
Great.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
All right. Thanks.
Bernard Levin, MD:
Thank you.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
Certainly. Bye-bye.
Bernard Levin, MD:
Bye-bye.
Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:
And I’m turning off the recorder at twelve noon. (end of session one)
Recommended Citation
Levin, Bernard MD and Rosolowski, Tacey A. PhD, "Chapter 35: The GI Tumor Study Group and the Early Detection Research Network" (2013). Interview Chapters. 1371.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1371
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