A specialized research laboratory dedicated to diagnosing breast cancer even earlier than current methods is being established at the Yale Cancer Center with a $500,000 gift from Los Angeles philanthropist Marcia Israel.
In designating her gift for The Marcia Israel Laboratory for Earlier Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, Ms. Israel cited the "excellent research" being undertaken at the center under the direction of Dr. Vincent T. DeVita, and stated that "seeing a mass on a mammogram is not early enough."
Research in the new laboratory will focus on developing new tests capable of detecting very small clusters of cells before they become visible on a mammogram. New technologies in the field of cancer research now make it possible to determine mutations in single cells as well as in genetic material extracted from a very small number of cells. The biological materials obtained through such methods as fine needle aspiration -- which is already being used to detect breast and other cancers -- can be closely analyzed for genetic alterations that are the hallmark of cancerous cells. New technologies also make it possible to look for mutated cancer molecules in the blood of patients.
"Researchers at the Yale Cancer Center have hopes not only of improving the detection of small cancers, but also of being able to identify women whose breast tissue is about to become cancerous," says Dr. Jose Costa, deputy director of the center, who will supervise the new laboratory. "These are the patients on whom we will ultimately want to test new cancer-preventing therapies."
The Marcia Israel Laboratory for Earlier Diagnosis of Breast Cancer will begin preliminary research by next month. Scientists have already begun to adapt the latest technological advances to the study of patient samples, and in collaboration with investigators and physicians from the Yale Comprehensive Breast Center, the design of clinical trials using the new techniques is underway. Dr. DeVita, who is also professor of internal medicine (oncology), will coordinate the laboratory's activities with ongoing clinical studies at the Yale Cancer Center.
Ms. Israel is currently adjunct professor at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (USC), where she teaches in the undergraduate Entrepreneur Program. She founded and was chief executive officer of "Judy's" and "G.H.Q. For Men," 104 specialty fashion stores that were sold in 1989. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to chair a committee dealing with small and minority business ownership, on which she served for six years.
In 1982, the Secretary of the Navy appointed her to an 11-person board which governed the billion-dollar business of the Navy and Marine exchanges. She served for three two-year appointments and received a Medal for Distinguished Service. Her other honors and business awards include the Woman of the Year Award from the Los Angeles Times, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the USC business school and being named as "officier" by the National Order of Merit, which is equivalent to the Legion of Honor. A life trustee on the board of directors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, she recently became a member of the Director's Advisory Board of the Yale Cancer Center.
The Yale Cancer Center is one of 27 Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country designated by the National Cancer Institute, and is the only one in southern New England. Bringing together the resources of Yale-New Haven Hospital and the School of Medicine, its mission encompasses patient care, research, cancer prevention and control, community outreach and education. The Cancer Information Service -- a program of the center funded by the National Cancer Institute -- provides up-to-date information on cancer prevention, detection and treatment. Trained cancer specialists are available to answer questions Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).