With a successful career, six children, and a devoted husband, Kim Hall-Jackson is a perfect example of an active woman. As a professional event planner, Kim built a reputation of excellence and leadership. She reveled in being in control of details—the scheduling, the catering, the organization—and satisfying the overall needs of the client. Abruptly finding herself in a situation outside of her control proved more difficult than any event she could ever plan; this situation literally meant life or death.
Kim was getting ready for work one day when she noticed blood in her stool. She disregarded it at first since it was a small amount. With no family history of colorectal cancer, Kim did not suspect anything, and at her next cancer screening she expected to receive a clean bill of health. She was in shock to hear that the doctors had found a tumor located in her rectum. They performed a biopsy, and unfortunately Kim was diagnosed with Stage 1 colorectal cancer. Surgery was scheduled, the tumor was removed but, the cancer had already reached her lymph nodes, indicating she was now Stage 3. Kim would require more aggressive treatments including chemotherapy and radiation.
Cancer was not in the foreseen details of her life. Not colorectal cancer. Not Stage 3. But she knew she had to fight, and she would need the right medical team to help her succeed.
Though she didn’t quite know what she was looking for, she knew it was important to have a connection with her doctor and the whole care team. Kim found the connection she was looking for at Penn Medicine with Dr. Ursina Teitelbaum. With a fervent desire to beat cancer and a shared passion for motherhood, Dr. Teitelbaum and Kim made a pact to work together as a team.
Dr. Teitelbaum put Kim’s concerns to rest by explaining the multidisciplinary care she would receive at Penn. Each member of her medical team introduced themselves to her. Kim was moved when she was gifted a $50 gift certificate that a former cancer patient left for the next patient. This act of generosity warmed her heart and inspired her to find a way to give back as well.
While working full-time, Kim received high dose chemotherapy as part of a combined chemoradiation approach. She says the hardest part of the treatment was when the two were combined. She would go to the hospital, endure radiation treatment, go home and have chemo treatment. Every time a dose was delivered it sounded like a Polaroid camera taking a picture—until eventually, Kim's kids would say "cheese" each time they heard it.
Kim has a wonderful community of family, friends and colleagues that supported her through her journey. Her positive spirit and humor perpetually shone through, especially in the chemotherapy and radiation suites.
Kim has earned the title of “Cancer Survivor” and has been declared cancer-free. She serves as an advocate for colorectal cancer awareness and prevention in the African American community, holding events and spreading information about early detection and clinical trial participation.
Recently, Kim has joined a cohort of cancer survivors and caregivers of patients with cancer as part of ACC’s Cancer Clinical Trials Community Ambassador Program to increase awareness and access to cancer clinical trials in the diverse communities of Philadelphia.
“I hope through my advocacy and as an Ambassador I can help the ACC build bridges in communities to clinical trials. This is an important area that we need to focus on to improve information, access, and participation,” says Kim.
A Message From The Director
At the Abramson Cancer Center, we are dedicated to one thing—providing patients with compassionate, innovative cancer care.
It is truly an honor to lead a cancer center that is a part of a university so rich in collaboration, accomplishment, and excellence. Everyone at Penn is doing their part to translate innovative ideas in cancer research to the forefront of patient care.
Teams working together, across disciplines, sharing knowledge—and very generous philanthropy that provides flexible resources to pursue high-risk, high reward concepts— that is what is happening at Penn.
The momentum of the Abramson Cancer Center has never been stronger as we continue to implement visionary ideas to address the biggest challenges in cancer and find solutions.
This issue of Penn’s Abramson Report exemplifies the true effect our research has on patient care, and, most importantly, the impact our patients have on the Abramson Cancer Center.
From Kim Hall-Jackson to Alex Vitale, Vanessa Chavis, Sarahjane Hehre, and Kristina Burke, read how our patients serve as our strongest advocates, and examples of the power of Penn. You will also read more about the continued impact of the Abramson Family, as well as the legacy of our first patients treated with revolutionary CAR T cell treatment more than 10 years ago. We also share more about new opportunities created to increase diversity among students.
In this issue it is just as evident as it always has been that together, as a community, we are paving the path to a cancer-free world.
With the help of this year’s donors, I was able to conduct research through the Perelman School of Medicine as an integrated member of the Koumenis Lab led by Constantinos Koumenis, PhD. As part of the radiation oncology department at Penn, this lab focuses on delineating the mechanisms which tumor cells use to cope with genetic or environmental stress. Once these key mechanisms are known, this team then focuses on developing molecular approaches to delay metastasis, tumor growth, and ultimately boost survival rates in patients afflicted with cancer.
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to pursue a future in medicine, and this opportunity with the Koumenis Lab reaffirmed my love for medicine. Because of this opportunity and the financial support, I felt much more comfortable traveling from California to Philadelphia and living here over the summer. Not only did I learn techniques and methods unique to the laboratory, but I was also able to apply my theoretical knowledge in biology and chemistry to research methods.
My work in the lab involved breeding and genotyping genetically modified mice, performing in vivo/vitro experiments with mice, imaging immunofluorescent tissue samples, and quantifying experimental data. The translational research I was conducting focused mainly on the Integrated Stress Response and the role of transcription factor ATF4 in tumor growth and metastasis.
I think the most memorable experience was at the end of the summer when I was given the chance to present my findings and conclusions to all the lab members. While giving my presentation, I almost forgot how much work was required to finish my project and was amazed with how much information I was able to share with others.
I hope to continue researching with the Koumenis Lab this school year. I have been inspired and hope one day I too can publish my own paper in a highly respected medical journal.
Part of a series of posts by recipients of the University of Pennsylvania 2021 Career Services Summer Funding Grant.
Alex’s Story: Creating Change is Not a Rare Occurrence
For as long as Alex Vitale can remember, she has been living life in between doctor's appointments. She was only five years old when doctors at Wills Eye Hospital surgically removed a tumor on her optic nerve, which would only be the beginning of her path to an eventual diagnosis of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease—a rare and systemic genetic syndrome that impacts the body and can also cause cancer.
For Alex, this meant that all the usual ups and downs of growing up, including high school and college, were lived in the 3-6 months between tests, scans, and visits to her care team at Wills, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center.
“While other kids were living their lives and stressed about all the normal things, which I was also stressed about, I had this dread of my next doctor’s appointment. Each millimeter of growth in a scan on my tumors felt like a further step away from a normal life,” says Alex.
VHL syndrome is caused by mutations of the tumor suppressor gene VHL that predispose patients to the development of cysts and tumors in several systems and organs, including the central nervous system, retina, kidneys, pancreas, adrenal glands, and reproductive organs. Most of these cysts and tumors are benign, but can still grow and can negatively affect the organs and structures around them. Some tumors, such as those found in the kidneys and pancreas, may become cancerous. Unfortunately, this was true in Alex’s case.
In 2016 Alex learned she had renal cell carcinoma, as well as multiple tumors on her pancreas and cerebellum, and needed to undergo both a major pancreas surgery and brain surgery.
“I stayed local for college so I could be close to Penn. My 20’s were defined by my health situation. And each time I went in the tumors had grown. It felt like it would never get better,” says Alex.
Gaining Control and Options
Then everything changed for Alex. Katherine L. Nathanson, MD, Maria Bonanni, MSN, CRNP and her oncologist, Vivek K. Narayan, MD, MSCE asked her to be part of a clinical trial for the drug belzutifan. “I trust Dr. Narayan with my life, literally, so when he asked me, I didn't hesitate. Besides the wonderful staff and all the excellent physicians who treat you like family and who are there for you beyond just your cancer care, Penn is a special place because of the opportunity to be a part of things such as clinical trials. People don't even have to ask because no matter what their questions are when it comes to their health, they know I will always say go to Penn! You are treated like family, and you can be part of your care plan and a part of research that helps others,” says Alex.
Within months of joining the trial, Alex’s doctors found considerable shrinkage of her renal cell and pancreatic tumors.
“This was like setting a new clock on my life. Not only did it pause the growth, I felt I had more time on my side. It helped change my perspective to be cautiously optimistic with the time I do have.”
Alex now lives in Delaware and enjoys being close to her family and friends. She is grateful for her team at Penn who now feel more akin to friends these days.
Clinical Trials Lead to New Therapies
In 2021, the FDA approved belzutifan, an oral HIF-2alpha inhibitor, for treatment of patients with certain types of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated tumors including renal cell carcinoma, central nervous system hemangioblastomas, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
Collaborations between clinical trial participants, scientists, and funders—and Penn’s interconnected model that translates discovery—are what makes FDA-approved therapies possible, with 17 to date based on work from ACC members.
This exciting new drug is a first-in-class compound that leverages more than a decade of basic science by M. Celeste Simon, PhD, to understand cancer hypoxia, which is when tumor cells have been deprived of oxygen. As a tumor grows, it rapidly outgrows its blood supply, leaving portions of the tumor with regions where the oxygen concentration is significantly lower than in healthy tissues.
True to Penn’s collaborative nature, this translational research was made possible by faculty across the ACC, including Drs. Celeste Simon, Roger Greenberg, Eric Brown, and Brian Keith. With one of the largest VHL programs in the country, ACC was a major participant in the definitive clinical trial, led by Drs. Narayan and Nathanson, and Maria Bonanni.
Vanessa Chavis
Vanessa Chavis has dedicated her life to helping others. A doting mother and grandmother, she works at a local nonprofit that empowers Black and Brown people to enhance the quality of their health and overall well-being by providing access to culturally sensitive, high-quality healthcare, HIV/ AIDS services, health education, and social services. In 2018, Vanessa didn’t feel well, and this time, it was her own health she needed to focus on.
“I had to take the advice I give others; I had to be my own advocate. I had to fight for myself this time, and I knew I needed to be at the right place to help me,” says Vanessa.
Vanessa was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic lung cancer. Two large masses were found on her lung and one on her brain, causing her to have focal seizures and a host of symptoms and pain. Vanessa was told her cancer was too advanced and that she didn’t have any options.
For Vanessa that wasn’t good enough. She came to the Abramson Cancer Center for a second opinion. “It was a whole new day when I came to Penn. They explained everything to me so I could be part of my own care—and they gave me options. I had hope,” says Vanessa. The team created a care plan including surgery, Gamma Knife, and immunotherapy. “They use your own immune system to figure out your cancer. That’s amazing,” says Vanessa about getting these novel therapies.
For Vanessa, coming to Penn offered more than treatment—it empowered her to be part of clinical trials to help patients in the future. “Not a lot of people—especially women of color—have opportunities to be on a clinical trial. I know from my work in the community that there isn’t always this opportunity,” says Vanessa. “That’s why I told Dr. Marmarelis to 'sign me up!' for anything and everything. And to everyone going through this scary time I say, 'do it!' Reach out, ask, be part of a clinical trial, and come to Penn!”
Passionate about dance, cooking, time with family and friends, and her faith, Vanessa has renewed hope and is happy to share about her personal health experience so that she can help others.
Tag Time Happy Hour
Sounds like something you might want to join in on—and join they did. Hundreds of people are part of the compassionate Tag Time community who support the Burke family as they face cancer with bravery, humor, and, of course, giving back.
Every day between 5 and 6 p.m., whether at home in Philadelphia’s Fitler Square neighborhood or in the kitchen at Wm. Mulherin’s Sons, chef Jim Burke takes a pill called Tagrisso to treat his lung cancer, a diagnosis he received in August 2020. His wife, Kristina, a "lifer" in the restaurant business who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, took to calling the ritual “Tag Time Happy Hour,” to create a positive space with son Daniel, 11, and daughter Sadie, 7. The couple’s friends turned it into a ritual, too—calling, texting, sending cheery videos, and dropping off wine to keep up their spirits. Now Kristina and Jim have turned this ritual into a fundraiser for lung cancer research.
In celebration of their impact—$100,000 raised and counting—and the people who make up their community, Kristina shares the inspiration behind their family tradition and how Philadelphia creates connections that heal.
The Abramson family has a long legacy of championing cancer care and research at Penn Medicine. A new $10 million gift from the Abramson Family Foundation further enables the Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) to continue redefining the cancer journey for patients and their families. In recognition of the gift, the lobby of the new Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has been named in memory of beloved matriarch, the late Madlyn K. Abramson, who passed away in 2020.
This generous new gift builds on Madlyn and Leonard’s dream for how to treat cancer. From the beginning, they have been steadfast believers in the power of our faculty and staff’s bold ideas and compassion that bring hope to patients and their families.
The Pavilion’s Madlyn K. Abramson Lobby truly reflects the vision of compassionate care held by its namesake, and generations of Penn Medicine patients will now be inspired with the same hope and healing that Madlyn championed throughout her life.
Moved by a vision to support science-driven, patient-centered approaches to cancer, the Abramson family has given more than $163 million to propelling the Abramson Cancer Center’s global reputation as a leader in cancer research and care. Community is at the core of the Abramsons’ generosity, including $1 million in support for Penn’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic for related research driven by ACC researchers.
“The Abramsons’ impact on Penn Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania simply cannot be overstated,” said J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, “and we are honored to be able to celebrate Madlyn’s enduring vision in such a meaningful way.”
The 17-story Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, which opened in October 2021, is a 1.5 million-square-foot, future-ready facility featuring 504 private patient rooms and 47 operating rooms. The adaptable building helps accelerate bench-to-bedside research, allowing Penn Medicine to continue driving advanced care. For example, the Pavilion has a dedicated oncology ICU right next to the inpatient oncology unit on the same floor—something not seen at other hospitals across the country that helps teams quickly and efficiently provide all levels of care patients may need.
“Inside the Pavilion and across every part of our health system, we are working together to build on the momentum Madlyn, our dear friend and champion, helped launch,” shared Kevin B. Mahoney, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
Passionate philanthropists like the Abramson family—and the community of donors they galvanize—fuel the Abramson Cancer Center's core mission of preventing, detecting, and treating cancer.
When it comes to the health of our nation, there is no better return on investment than training a diverse workforce—young innovators who will transform the way we think about and treat cancer.
A newly expanded program is helping to address the lack of minority representation in today’s research community by building a pipeline of minority health services researchers who personally understand the social, economic, political, and environmental determinants of racial and ethnic disparities in medicine and health care.
A philanthropic gift from Thomas Rosato and his family has helped expand a successful pilot initiative into the Summer Research Program for Students Underrepresented in Hematology-Oncology.
The aim of this intensive summer program is to encourage students from the Perelman School of Medicine who are underrepresented in today’s health setting to explore their interest in oncology research and care. In addition to a stipend to offset living expenses, over an 8-week period these students receive direct learning with the world-class faculty at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center and connect in a unique way to the broader oncology community that helps provide a deep, meaningful experience as students consider which directions to take their medical careers.
10 Years Later: Celebrating Long-Lasting Remissions
In the summer of 2010, Bill Ludwig and Doug Olson were battling an insidious blood cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). They both received numerous treatments, and as remaining options became scarce, they volunteered to become the first participants in a clinical trial of an experimental therapy underway at the Abramson Cancer Center. The treatment would eradicate their end-stage leukemia, generate headlines across the globe, and usher in a new era of highly personalized medicine. Called Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells, these genetically modified tumor-targeting cells are a living drug made for each patient out of their own cells.
Recently, an analysis of these two patients published in Nature by Penn Medicine researchers and their colleagues from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia explains the longest persistence of CAR T cell therapy recorded to date against CLL and shows that the CAR T cells have remained detectable at least a decade after infusion—with sustained remission in both patients.
“This long-term remission is remarkable and witnessing patients living cancer-free is a testament to the tremendous potency of this 'living drug' that works effectively against cancer cells,” said J. Joseph Melenhorst, PhD, a researcher involved with this work at Penn. “Witnessing our patients respond well to this innovative cellular therapy and being able to give them more time to spend with loved ones makes all of our efforts worthwhile.”
CLL, the first cancer in which CAR T cells were studied and used at Penn, is the most common type of leukemia in adults. While treatment of the disease has improved, it remains incurable with standard approaches. Eventually, patients can become resistant to most therapies and many still die of their disease.
Olson was diagnosed with CLL in 1996 and Ludwig in 2000. By 2010, their cancers had mutated and no longer responded to standard therapy. But as CAR T cell patient pioneers, both achieved complete remission that year. Olson, a former scientist, has taken up distance running and completed six half marathons. He also fundraises for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and supports newly diagnosed patients. After his treatment, Ludwig, a retired corrections officer, traveled the country with his wife in a motor home and celebrated milestone events with his family—from holidays to grandchildren—until his death resulting from COVID-19 complications in 2021—years beyond what he anticipated at diagnosis.
26.2 Miles Closer to the Cure
Grieving for a loved one comes in many forms.
For Sarahjane Hehre, running the Nashville Marathon this past November to raise money for Dr. Sunita Nasta’s follicular lymphoma cancer research at the ACC became her way of honoring her father Dan. Sarahjane and Dr. Nasta share a meaningful connection—Dr. Nasta was her father’s physician.
In October of 2017, Dan Hehre was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, Stage 4 Mantle Cell non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The prognosis left the family feeling devastated and hopeless, and they turned to Penn for options. Dr. Nasta and her team created a therapeutic plan to extend Dan’s time with his family, uplifting the remainder of her father's life with a more positive narrative of hope. Sarahjane is grateful for the optimism and healing the ACC brought to her family during such a challenging time, and she continues to spread the resilience and courage her father’s journey has instilled in her.
In the spirit of giving—and collective healing, because cancer impacts everyone—Sarahjane offered her friends and family an opportunity to reserve a mile in tribute to their own “special warrior.” “I was determined to keep in mind all of the strength cancer patients and their families have upheld,” shared Sarahjane.
Her list of warriors grew, and they brought much needed motivation along the 26.2 mile run. “I feel incredibly humbled and blessed to run for such an important cause. This race proved that love lasts forever, it does not matter if they are here or there, love lives on. I was honored to represent this love.”
Through her Giving Page, Sarahjane was able to spread the word and to raise impactful funds. “This is for the doctors and nurses. The researchers and hospital janitors. This is for the Abramson Cancer Center. And from my perspective, this is for you, Dad.”
Support the Abramson Cancer Center’s mission to advance cancer research, education, and patient care and to fuel hope.
ONLINE: PennMedicine.org/Abramson/Donate
GIVING PAGES: givingpages.upenn.edu
EMAIL: Abramson-gifts@upenn.edu
PHONE: 215.898.0578
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