RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Moffitt Cancer Center Receives $3.6 Million Grant to Study E-CigarettesFive year research study will investigate long term use of e-cigarettes and their value for quitting smoking

Moffitt Cancer Center has received a $3.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the use of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, over the next five years.

Rather than burning tobacco like traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes “vaporize” a liquid that usually contains nicotine, and the user inhales the vapor like they would inhale normal cigarette smoke. The use of e-cigarettes has risen dramatically since their introduction a decade ago.

Although very little is known about the safety of these new products, they are thought to be much less dangerous than conventional cigarettes. Most e-cigarette users report that they began using the product in an attempt to quit or cut down on smoking. However, there has been little research to date on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes for quitting smoking.

The goal of the new Moffitt grant is to learn how e-cigarettes

Moffitt Puerto Ricofrom toA Newsletter from the Puerto Rico Advisory Council for Moffitt Cancer Center

FALL 2015

To make an appointment, call 1-800-456-3434, ext. 4685

Tobacco Research and Intervention Program (TRIP) TRIP has three interconnected missions:

• RESEARCH The primary mission of TRIP is to conduct high-quality research on psychosocial and behavioral factors that contribute to tobacco use.

• SERVICE TRIP provides service to the community through its tobacco control programs, such as the Forever Free smoking cessation clinic. In addition, faculty and staff from TRIP provide consultation and education on tobacco-related matters throughout the state and nation.

• TEACHING TRIP offers a supervised training environment for college undergraduates, doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows pursuing interests in tobacco research, psychology and behavioral medicine.

Visit MOFFITT.org/TRIP to learn more.

are used over time, and whether users are eventually successful at quitting smoking.

According to the lead investigator on the project, Thomas Brandon, PhD, director of the Tobacco Research and Intervention Program at Moffitt, “Public health researchers are really playing catch-up with the explosion of e-cigarettes onto the marketplace.”

Moffitt researchers plan to enroll 2,500 e-cigarette users throughout the United States, and follow them for 24 months. The research is expected to provide valuable data about the long-term use of e-cigarettes and their value for quitting smoking.

“Millions of smokers are using e-cigarettes to try to quit smoking, yet because there is a lack of data, we are not able to advise them whether that is an effective smoking cessation strategy. This study should provide some answers that will be very useful to smokers as they consider ways to quit,” Brandon explained.

SKIN CANCER, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT The Puerto Rico Advisory Council for Moffitt Cancer Center hosted its eighth lunch ‘n learn event in April. Featured presenters Dr. Jonathan Zager and Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez, two of Moffitt Cancer Center’s leading surgical oncologists, spoke to a group of more than 150 attendees about the latest screening methods, treatment options and research advances in the fight against skin cancer. With help from Moffitt’s Mole Patrol, Dr. Zager and Dr. Gonzalez and their colleagues also performed free skin cancer screenings during the event. Thank you to the Advanced Home Health and Taxeda Pharmaceuticals for cosponsoring the event.

Wellness and Well-Being5 Easy Ways to Prevent Cancer Leading a healthy lifestyle that includes a proper diet and exercise are keys to preventing cancer.

1. Aim for 2.5 hours of cardio and one hour of strength training each week

2. Eat a plant-based diet, such as vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains

3. Watch out for foods high in fat, sugar and salt

4. Avoid nicotine and tobacco use

5. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink

Meet the DoctorSCOTT ANTONIA, MD, PHD

Dr. Scott Antonia serves as the department chair and program leader for Moffitt Cancer Center’s Thoracic Oncology department. He also is the program leader for the Immunology Program.

Dr. Scott Antonia received both his medical degree and a doctorate in immunology from the University of Connecticut Health Center. He completed an internal medicine residency at Yale University School of Medicine and pursued additional training at Yale through a medical oncology fellowship and post-doctoral fellowship in immunobiology. He is a professor of oncology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.

Dr. Antonia’s research interests focus on immunotherapy and immunobiology, in particular gene-modified tumor cell vaccine trials. He has designed and conducted numerous cutting-edge studies and has two patents for technologies he has developed. Dr. Antonia joined the Moffitt team in 1994.

Scott Antonia, MD, PhD

GET INVOLVED! JOIN THE PUERTO RICO ADVISORY COUNCILThe Puerto Rico Advisory Council for Moffitt Cancer

Center was established in November 2010. Lead by

Kimberly Casiano, a member of Moffitt’s national

Board of Advisors, the Council consists of a group

of grateful patients, family members and friends

who work together to raise awareness about cancer

and Moffitt in Puerto Rico.

If you are interested in helping with event planning,

fundraising, marketing, communications and new

membership, email us at PuertoRico@Moffitt.org

or call 1-800-456-3434, ext. INTL (4685). Visit

MOFFITT.org/PuertoRico for more information.

Cancer is the most common cause of death among Latinos. It is estimated that one out of every three Latina women will be diagnosed with cancer during her lifetime. Given the increasing Latino population in the United States, more emphasis has to be placed on educating this population about cancer. Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, along with collaborators at the University of South Florida, recently published a study about the attitudes and cultural perspectives of Latinas undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. The article also discusses their cancer experiences and the ways they manage stress associated with cancer.

Moffitt researchers and collaborators interviewed 33 Latina breast cancer patients either during focus group sessions or in-depth interviews. The majority of the women were born outside of the United States and 45 percent of participants stated that Spanish was their only language. The team also interviewed 10 cancer care providers and advocates to assess their opinions about Latina cancer care and compare their responses to patient responses.

The cancer patients and care providers had some of the same opinions about the key problems facing Latina cancer patients. They agreed that there is a lack of information for the Latina community about cancer and its treatment that can cause confusion and stress among patients when combined with communication barriers.

Many described family-related issues as important stress-inducers during cancer treatment, including fear of not being able to provide and care for their families, not wanting to be a burden to their family and being far away from their native country and their families.

Despite these stress inducers, 64 percent of the cancer patients stated that they had not received any type of stress management tools or information during their chemotherapy.

The researchers then asked the participants how they managed the stress associated with cancer. Latina patients and their providers stated that prayer, reading the bible and spirituality helped reduce stress. Spending time with family and trying to

maintain a normal day-to-day routine also was given as a stress reducing option by both sets of participants. Techniques that were only mentioned by the cancer patients included exercise, reading educational material, listening to music, staying positive, watching TV and deep breathing exercises.

Researchers emphasized that educational material for Latina cancer patients should be developed in their native language and written by writers who are familiar with their culture. It is important to consider regional variations within Latino communities throughout the United States, be inclusive of Latina families and be cognizant of the attitudes, beliefs and obligations of Latinas to their families.

Caring for the Caregiver When you are caring for a loved one, it is easy to put your needs on the back burner and disregard your own health. Here are some tips to help you focus on your own well-being:

• Get a good night’s sleep

• Nourish your body with healthy meals

• Take time for you

• Explore relaxation methods

• Seek support when needed

WHAT MAKES MOFFITT DIFFERENT?

# 1 Moffitt Cancer Center is the top-ranked cancer hospital in Florida based on the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for Cancer Care rankings released in July. Moffitt is No. 18 overall in cancer. Moffitt, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, has been recognized by U.S. News since 1999.

#2 Moffitt is expanding. This fall, the Moffitt McKinley Outpatient Center will open and will provide an additional 207,000-square-feet of clinical and treatment areas. The new six-story facility will house the breast and skin cancer clinics, radiology and breast imaging, infusion center for chemotherapy and other intravenous treatments, a clinical research unit, blood draw and lab, pharmacy, the Morsani Patient and Family Center, retail space offering specialty items, and a café.

#3 As a world-class cancer hospital, Moffitt sees patients from around the globe. The Language Services Department works to improve access to high-quality care for patients with diverse language and communication needs. The department is staffed with live interpreters who are available to bridge the communication gap between patients and their healthcare providers in Spanish and American Sign Language. Additionally, it offers supplemental video and telephone interpreting services to provide culturally competent interpretation services to all patients regardless of the language they speak.

Latina Women Undergoing Chemotherapy Need More Culturally Relevant, Language-Specific Stress Management Tools

Many described family-related issues

as important stress-inducers during

cancer treatment, including fear of not

being able to provide and care for their

families, not wanting to be a burden to

their family and being far away from

their native country and their families.

Moffitt Puerto Ricofrom toA Newsletter from the Puerto Rico Advisory Council for Moffitt Cancer Center

12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612-9416

© 2015 MOFFITT CANCER CENTER. All rights reserved.

FLORIDA IS THE OFFICIAL PLACE OF BUSINESS FOR THE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER FOUNDATION. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 1-800-435-7352 TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SERVICES REGISTRATION NUMBER CH-4675. NO PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS IS RETAINED BY A PROFESSIONAL SOLICITOR, 100% OF ALL DONATIONS ARE RECEIVED BY THE FOUNDATION

Summer Program for the Advancement of Research Knowledge (SPARK)

The SPARK Program is an investment in the future of science and medicine. The program was created to nurture the interest of college undergraduates pursuing careers in medicine or science. Training with experienced scientists and physicians, the interns learn to work independently as well as part of a team. Over the past decade, the program has trained well over 400 undergraduates. For more information, please contact us by email at SPARK@Moffitt.org

U-54 PSM – MCC PartnershipThe Ponce Health Sciences University (formerly Ponce

School of Medicine) and Moffitt Cancer Center Partnership program is a collaborative effort that promotes education, research, and training opportunities for young scientists and medical students in the area of cancer investigation in the Puerto Rican population. The main goal of the PSM-MCC Partnership Training/Career Development Core is to increase the number, competence and success of these cancer professionals. The Core provides Ph.D. and medical students the opportunity and funding to complete basic and translational laboratory research projects at either PHSU or MCC. For more information about the partnership, visit PSM-MOFFITT.org.

Do You Have Questions Or Need An Appointment? We’re Here To Help! Call International Referral

Services at 1-800-456-3434, ext. INTL (4685) or

e-mail InternationalReferrals@Moffitt.org. For more

information, visit MOFFITT.org/International.

1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488) | MOFFITT.org | MoffittCancerCenter | MoffittNews | MoffittNews

“�My�experience�in�Moffitt�Cancer�Center�has�been�an�

enormous�learning�opportunity�from�day�one.�Everyone�

is�eager�to�help�you�learn�and�succeed�with�challenges��

at�hand.”� —�Félix Ricardo Chico García

“�Everyone�can�benefit�from�an�opportunity�like�this.�Don’t�

be�afraid�of�getting�out�of�your�comfort�zone�because�

here�at�Moffitt�Cancer�Center,� they�treat�you�well�and�

people�are�very�kind.”� —�Antonio T. Raimundí

STUDENT PROFILES

FÉLIX RICARDO CHICO GARCÍA, 22

Hometown: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

College/University: Ponce Health Sciences University — School of Medicine

Degree: MD

DAYANA C. REVERÓN ALVALLE, 22

Hometown: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

College/University: Medicine Program at Ponce Health Sciences University

Degree: B.S. in Biology from University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Campus

YARIANA E. RODRÍGUEZ -ORTÍZ, 19

Hometown: Ponce, Puerto Rico

College/University: Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico; Ponce Health Sciences University

Degree: B.S. General Science; M.D.

STUDENT PROFILES

ANTONIO T. RAIMUNDÍ, Age 22

Hometown: Dorado, Puerto Rico

College/University: University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Campus

Degree: Molecular Biology

STEPHANIE RIVERA-RIVERA, 22

Hometown: Toa Alta, Puerto Rico

College/University: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus

Degree: Molecular Biology

DANA M. SAAVEDRA ROMÁN, 20

Hometown: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

College/University: University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology