Abramson Report Fall 2022

Director's Message

Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil

Tremendous strides are being made in cancer research, care, and prevention, and the Abramson Cancer Center continues to be a driving force in that progress.

It’s an honor to lead a center whose cancer programs were once again ranked amongst the top 10 in the nation by US News & World Report—and a privilege to bring this level of care to our patients and families.

Teams working together, across disciplines, sharing knowledge—and very generous philanthropy that provides flexible resources to pursue high-risk, high-reward concepts—help us transform ideas into reality.

Penn’s remarkable 18 FDA approvals are a testament to a model of discovery that works, and with many more promising therapies in the pipeline, this is only the beginning.

In this issue of Penn’s Abramson Report, you will be introduced to members of our community who give back through events, philanthropy, and advocacy—such as Christine Kelly, the Braid family, Craig Super, Slate Belt Mighty Mopar, and the Tara Miller Melanoma Foundation. Their efforts are an inspiration.

You will learn more about efforts being made to empower patients and families with the knowledge to improve cancer outcomes, through initiatives like ACC’s Clinical Trials Ambassador Program and Basser Center for BRCA’s Parents Leadership Council.

You will also read more about an innovative approach for diagnosing cancer and determining effective treatments: liquid biopsy. This technique is a game changer; it is less invasive, often more accurate, and can detect cancers earlier. Yet another example of how ACC develops and integrates the most advanced technologies to benefit patients.

It is our community—our researchers, physicians, and staff; our partners and advocates; our donors, supporters, and friends; our campus and culture—working together that makes all of this possible. Thank you.

Christine’s Story

Taking Control of Your Health

Summer brings warmer weather, longer days, and plenty of time spent outside. But that extra sunlight and sun exposure can lead to an increased chance of skin damage.

This reality hit home for Christine Kelly in 2015, when she found out that a lump on top of her head was melanoma.

Melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer-related deaths in the United States. While the exact cause of melanoma is not clear, the American Cancer Society states that factors such as ultraviolet light exposure, the presence of moles, and a family history of melanoma can increase a person’s risk of developing melanoma.

Christine sought care at the Abramson Cancer Center with surgical oncologist, Giorgios C. Karakousis, MD, and medical oncologist, Tara C. Mitchell, MD.

During her treatments, Christine attended Penn’s annual Focus on Melanoma Conference for patients, family members, caregivers, and healthcare professionals affected by melanoma. Currently, in its 19th year, the conference provides information about advances in research and treatments, details about how patients can be involved in their care decisions, and strategies for preventing skin cancer.

Christine found the educational aspect of the conference incredibly empowering.

“I think most people assume they can remove it and you’re fine, but you have to really stay on top of it,” says Christine.

Almost five years after her original diagnosis, one of Christine’s biannual scans showed that her cancer had returned and spread to her lymph nodes. Her care team recommended including immunotherapy in her next treatment plan—to combat this more advanced stage of her melanoma.

Christine traveled to Penn’s campus once a month for more than a year to receive her infusions—intimately getting to know our wonderful infusion team.

Now a year after her therapies have ended, Christine is doing well and being closely monitored with biannual scans and appointments with Dr. Mitchell.

Cathy Braid’s Legacy

When Ellen Fernberger first met her husband Gary’s family, she was instantly drawn to her soon to be sister-in-law, Cathy.

“Cathy was warm and caring; she was beautiful, and not just physically, but in every way. She made me feel at home with their family right away, like the sister I never had growing up,” says Ellen.

As time passed, Cathy and her husband, Steven Braid, welcomed two daughters, Jennifer and Ashley. With Ellen and Gary living only a few blocks away, their families celebrated every holiday and birthday together — and grew even closer.

So, when Cathy was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord, the family was devastated. Ellen started to do some research and found it less than promising. “Especially 10 or so years ago when she was diagnosed, there were very few options available. We are so inspired by the advances at places like Penn,” says Ellen.

Cathy was treated at Penn Medicine by Steven Brem, MD, and a team of nurses and staff that helped their family feel confident they were in the right place and doing everything possible. Ultimately, the family faced an uphill road with Cathy’s disease, with each of them working together and taking turns serving as her caregivers.

“It was such a hard time for us, but looking back we knew Penn was giving Cathy the best shot and we trusted her team. At home it was amazing how we all rose to the occasion, especially her daughters and Steven. They were always there,” remembers Ellen, “it's emblematic of the love they shared with their mother. It was a dark time, but all of this care and love shined through.”

After several surgeries and a recurrence, Cathy passed away in 2013. In her memory, Ellen and Gary, Steven, Jennifer, and Ashley have created a legacy for Cathy by giving back to help others. To them, she is part of a bigger story of advancing cancer care and research, and they want to share the hope that they have for a better future for people with this aggressive cancer.

Brain Cancer

Researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center have shown that liquid biopsies correlate with how patients will progress after they are diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM), the deadliest and most common primary brain tumor in adults with a five-year survival rate between 5 and 10 percent.

One of the challenges in treating GBM is that trying to track tumor mutations over time requires getting a new tissue sample, which involves repeat brain surgery and continual monitoring. This can be difficult and invasive for patients. Liquid biopsy shows promise to empower clinicians to more closely monitor disease and appropriate therapies.

Pancreatic Cancer

One of the biggest challenges of pancreatic cancer is catching the disease before it has progressed or spread. When caught early, patients are more likely candidates for curative intent surgery.

But for patients whose disease has spread, there are currently no long-term curative treatment options.

Penn research is showing that liquid biopsies may be more accurate at detecting disease than any other known biomarker alone, and was also more accurate at staging disease than when using only imaging alone.

On May 24, 2022, the PLC hosted a panel discussion focused on the emotional realities and impact a BRCA mutation brings to families. The panel featured Basser Center Executive Director Susan Domchek, MD, Basser PLC co-chair, and Basser Center Advisory Board (BCAB) member Susan Getz, BCAB member Heidi Rieger, Basser Young Leadership Council co-chair Jenny Sorin, and Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice Allison Werner-Lin, PhD. The discussion was moderated by journalist and bioethicist Jill Werman Harris.

The event was held at the Jonathan Adler Studio in SoHo, NYC; in addition to hosting the panel discussion, Jonathan Adler donated $2,500 from the evening’s purchases in support of the Basser Center’s mission.

Parents often experience a range of emotions about their child’s BRCA status. As moderator Jill Werman Harris stated, “To talk about the lived experiences of BRCA mutation carriers – there are so many complex aspects of genetic predisposition and the tremendous impact that BRCA can have on family dynamics and between family members.” The panel featured personal and compelling stories of experience, strength, and wisdom.

Heidi Rieger learned that she carried a BRCA2 mutation in early 2016 and subsequently underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy and removal of her ovaries. She is a mother of three daughters – and shared her experience as a parent living with a BRCA mutation. For many people, the heaviest burden of having a BRCA mutation is passing it on to one’s children.

Allison Werner-Lin, PhD drew upon her nearly twenty years of research on the experiences of young adults with BRCA mutations and other inherited cancer risk variants, as well as her mental health practice as an oncology social worker specializing in children and families affected by cancer. Dr. Werner-Lin shared, “This is one thing among millions that your children will inherit from you. They will inherit so much of your personality, your love, your passions, your interests, proclivities, and sensitivities. This is one piece of a very large, complicated, ever-evolving puzzle about how your children will experience the world — and something we can also help them navigate.”

Allison Werner-Lin, PhD drew upon her nearly twenty years of research on the experiences of young adults with BRCA mutations and other inherited cancer risk variants, as well as her mental health practice as an oncology social worker specializing in children and families affected by cancer. Dr. Werner-Lin shared, “This is one thing among millions that your children will inherit from you. They will inherit so much of your personalities, your love, your passions, your interests, proclivities, and sensitivities. This is one piece of a very large, complicated, ever-evolving puzzle about how your children will experience the world — and something we can also help them navigate.”

Susan Getz has been active in various philanthropies focused on empowering women and teens to take responsibility of their own breast health over the years, in addition to her work with the Basser Center. Susan was initially diagnosed with breast cancer at 32 years old in 1990, before the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations were discovered. Susan learned years later she has a BRCA2 mutation and shared how this has affected her daughter. “My daughter, Anabel, really grew up in the context of my second breast cancer diagnosis, and she was always a curious, pragmatic child, so from an early age she was involved with advocacy and fundraising [for breast cancer causes]. It was part of her DNA, but I don’t think she realized what the potential of a hereditary mutation like this could mean for her until later in her teen years. It’s created anticipatory anxiety, for which the Basser Center’s community is helping to address.”

Jenny Sorin learned in 2018 that she carries a BRCA1 mutation, and after watching her mother, BCAB and PLC co-chair Helene Sorin, battle breast cancer not once — but twice — Jenny elected to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy followed by reconstruction. Jenny openly shared the ups and downs of her journey with a BRCA mutation. “My entire life from what I can remember has really been colored by my family’s experience with breast cancer, and that in a way helped prepare me for my own BRCA mutation diagnosis. For such a long time I had been carrying this fear and vulnerability based on my mom’s breast cancer journey. Gaining knowledge through the Basser Center community has helped me find a sense of relief and options.”

Watch the full panel and learn more at basser.org/parents-leadership-community.