Press Releases

2010

April 22	Blasting Away Liver Tumors It can start as skin, lung or bone cancer, but when it's not stopped early, many cancers spread to the liver. read more

April 19	Pregnant Woman Undergoes “Kinder, Gentler” Brain Surgery at Saint John’s Health Center Pregnant Woman Undergoes “Kinder, Gentler” Brain Surgery at Saint John’s Health Center Neuroscience Institute by Surgeons Using Brain Port Device read more

January 12	John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Receives $1-Million Grant from Abraxis Bioscience A $1 million grant from Abraxis Bioscience, Inc. to a world-famous research laboratory at John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center could help save lives of cancer patients by helping doctors more rapidly assess whether a treatment is working or not. read more

2009

August 30	Saint John’s Health Center Appoints Internationally Recognized Neurosurgeon Former Chair of Neurological Surgery at University of Pittsburgh to Develop New Neuroscience Institute  read more

June 12	The Breast Center at John Wayne Cancer Institute Benefits from Televised Fundraiser With thousands of shoes offered at half the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, shoe lovers had the opportunity to splurge in the name of charity at the 15th annual QVC Presents “FFANY Shoes on Sale” event during Breast Cancer Awareness Month last October. read more

April 13

The Best Minimally Invasive Route For Brain Tumor Surgery A landmark study by neurosurgeons at John Wayne Cancer Institute and Saint John’s Health Center is giving brain surgeons the edge in planning delicate operations. The study focuses on two minimally invasive “keyhole” approaches used to remove brain tumors: operating either through a nostril (endonasal transsphenoidal route), or through an eyebrow (supra-orbital route). read more

April 10

CerRx Inc. Secures World-Wide Exclusive License from John Wayne Cancer Institute and CHLA on New Formulation of Vitamin A Analog to Treat Cancer John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles have granted CerRx Inc., worldwide exclusive rights to intellectual property and know-how related to a novel formulation of a Vitamin A analog to treat cancer, as a single agent or in combination with partnering agents.  read more

2008

December 4	Kinder, Gentler Brain Surgery: Minimally Invasive Nasal Route Patients diagnosed with a brain tumor affecting the body’s “master gland” have encouraging news: When the tumor is removed using minimally invasive surgery, patients can enjoy a good chance of restoring normal hormonal function and recovering their health. read more

December 4

21st Century Brain Surgery: Minimally Invasive Methods, Experienced Surgeons Give Patients the Advantages They Need Being diagnosed with a brain tumor can be devastating news. But thanks to a decade of advances in minimally invasive surgical procedures and improvements in instrumentation, patients today have a far better chance of recovery—without the risks of traditional “open-skull” surgery or other techniques. read more

November 25

Pioneering Research Led by JWCI Scientists Results of a pioneering study led by researchers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center show that sensitive molecular diagnostic techniques can effectively upstage early stage colorectal cancer patients believed to be cancer-free according to conventional methods. The findings could lead to more sensitive cancer detection, as well as more consistent ways of identifying patients who would benefit most from adjuvant therapy after surgery for colorectal cancer. read more

August 27

Donald L. Morton, MD, to be honored at ACCC’s Oncology Economics Conference Rockville, MD - Donald L. Morton, MD, will receive the Association of Community Cancer Centers’ 2008 Clinical Research Award. He will be honored for his extensive research, leadership, and commitment to individuals with melanoma. Dr. Morton is chief of the Melanoma Program and director of the Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. read more

July 30

Saint John’s Health Center and John Wayne Cancer Institute Receive $15-Million Gift from the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Reflecting the passion for life and legacy of philanthropy of the founder of Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines, The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation has given $15 million to Saint John’s Health Center and the John Wayne Cancer Institute to name the Cancer Clinics in Saint John’s new Keck Diagnostic and Treatment Center. read more

July 6

THE BREAST CENTER AT JOHN WAYNE CANCER INSTITUTE BENEFITS FROM With thousands of shoes at half the suggested retail price, shoe lovers had the opportunity to splurge in the name of charity at the 14th Annual QVC Presents “FFANY Shoes on Sale” event during Breast Cancer Awareness Month last October. The John Wayne Cancer Institute Breast Center at Saint John Health Center was one of the beneficiaries of the televised fundraiser that benefits breast cancer research and education institutions. read more

June 24	John Wayne Cancer Institute Receives Grant to Study Long-term Health Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries Santa Monica, CA – The John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center announced today that it has received a grant from the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment to study pituitary hormonal failure (hypopituitarism) in retired football players. read more

June 17	John Wayne Cancer Institute Receives Grant to Study The John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center announced today that it has received a grant from the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment to study the possible link between head injuries and pituitary hormonal failure (hypopituitarism) among retired football players. read more

June 3	Saint John’s Health Center Trustee and John Wayne Cancer Institute Board member Julia Gouw Named Philanthropist of the Year Julia Gouw has been named Philanthropist of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Ms. Gouw is a member of the Board of Trustees for Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, and also serves on the Board of the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s. read more

May 21	DNA Modification Seen in Colorectal Tumors Helps Predict Outcomes, John Wayne Cancer Institute Researchers Find Santa Monica, CA – An international study led by researchers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center has found that modifications to DNA found on multiple chromosomes in tumors can help to predict outcomes in patients with early-stage rectal cancer. read more

April 12	Jeff Hilebrandt Presented With the Wrangler Award Oklahoma City, OK - Jeff Hilebrandt was recently presented with the Wrangler Award at the Western Heritage Awards Ceremony, on April 12, 2008. read more

February 1	John Wayne Cancer Institute Researchers Show that a Key Protein Appears to Enable Spread of Melanoma to the Small Intestine Santa Monica, CA – A study by researchers at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center has shown that a receptor protein found on melanoma cells appears to facilitate the disease’s spread to the small intestine. read more