Summer 2012 - The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive ...

At the Forefront of Discovery ®The Future of Personalized MedicineBegins with 1200 PatientsA research study initiated at TheUniversity of Chicago (UChicago)Medicine is using genetic informationto transform the way medicineis practiced.The first-of-its-kind study, the1200 Patients Project, is testing overthree years whether genetic informationis useful for physicians inguiding treatment decisions for theirpatients.Under the current model ofmedicine, physicians might ordera genetic test for their patients, butobtaining the results takes time. Or,physicians might prescribe severalmedications before finding an effectivedrug.The 1200 Patients Project wasdesigned to preemptively testpatients a single time and retainPeter O’Donnell, MDthe genetic information for use indeveloping personalized therapeutics over their lifetime.Pharmacogenomics, or the study of how a person’sunique genetic make-up influences their body’s responseto drugs, is an important facet of personalized medicine.Individualizing MedicationsThe 1200 Patients Project is the brainchild of the newlycreated Center for Personalized Therapeutics, which isdirected by Mark Ratain, MD, the Leon O. JacobsonProfessor of Medicine and UCCCC associate directorfor clinical sciences.“I am grateful for the institutional and philanthropicsupport we have received that has enabled us to initiatethis important project,” said Dr. Ratain.The study began in January 2011 and, by April 2012,has already enrolled more than 700 patients. PeterO’Donnell, MD, assistant professor of medicine andthe principal investigator for the study, said, “Patientswant their doctor to think of them as an individual, not adisease that’s being treated.”When patients sign up for the study, they agree tosubmit a single blood sample. Each patient’s blood istested for all known genetic markers that might predicttheir response or likelihood of developing side effectsfrom hundreds of drugs, including chemotherapy agentsand other medications prescribed to cancer patients.Genomic Prescribing SystemThe results will then bereceived by a dozen UChicagoMedicine physicians—includingthree who specialize incancer—participating in thestudy as early adopters. Since noprevious technology platformexisted to easily interpret thesefindings, Dr. O’Donnell collaboratedwith the University’sCenter for Research Informaticsto build a genomic prescribingsystem that contains publishedpharmacogenomic informationand integrates patient results.The system uses both sets ofinformation to generate an easyto-readsummary. A doctor maythus avoid a “trial-and-error”scenario and, instead, choosethe specific medication or dosebased on the individual patient’s likelihood of responseand or likelihood of adverse effects.“Our idea is that maybe the doctor will treat thepatient in front of them differently because they knowsomething about their genetics,” said Dr. O’Donnell.“That is the ultimate goal of pharmacogenomics––tomake medicines work better.”Seeking AnswersConsulting the genomic prescribing system is an extrastep for the physician. This study is examining whetheror not such a process is feasible for use in routine patientcare. The study will determine whether doctors canadapt to using the system regularly, as well as indicatewhether using the system leads to improved treatmentdecisions.“One of the most exciting aspects of this study isseeing how it could be integrated in routine care,” saidDr. O’Donnell.Although this is an initial study, Dr. O’Donnell andcolleagues have already begun to think about undertakingmore studies to understand how this new model ofcare will affect patient health outcomes.A Little More With…Peter O’Donnell, MDAssistant Professor of MedicineIf you were not a physician, what would yourprofession be?I wouldn’t trade being a physician with any other profession—itis my dream job. But if I could do another professionfor just a week, I always thought it would be neatto be a professional baseball broadcaster (but just for aweek).What do you do for relaxation?I enjoy running, and I enjoy playing baseball with mykids.Where have you been that you feel everyoneshould go?Bryce Canyon [Utah] is amazing, but it doesn’t get thepublicity that other national monuments do.If you could visit any research lab in the world, wherewould it be … and why?Where Louis Pasteur did his work—that would be fascinatingfrom a historical perspective.What projects are you working on at home?I’m not a ‘handyman’ around the house, so my homeprojects are normally centered around trying to teachmy 3-year-old son how to memorize large groups ofinteresting things, like all the U.S. Presidents by only theirfaces, or all the baseball teams by their cap symbols.Who is the person you most admire?Abraham Lincoln. He stood for something that hebelieved deeply in, and he saw the purpose of his life ascorrecting a wrong that he saw in his world—at greatcost to himself, and often with the support of no onebut himself.What was the last book you read?Two I really enjoyed recently: The Gate: The True Story ofthe Design and Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge byJohn van der Zee (I’m fascinated by the Golden Gate),and Jeffrey Toobin’s Too Close to Call: The Thirty-Six-DayBattle to Decide the 2000 Election (I love reading aboutAmerican history).What is the most daring thing you have ever done?I don’t consider myself a daring person. Risk-taking, ingeneral, makes me very uneasy. But there are times inlife when you do have to step out of a comfort zone andtake a chance.If you had one piece of advice for someone consideringyour field, what would it be?Always remember that patients will put their (complete)trust in you, and that’s an incredibly humbling privilege.If you remember that, it makes all the hard work worthevery minute.UChicago Medicine Team Walks for CancerThe University of Chicago (UChicago) Medicine participated in the American Cancer Society’s 2012 Walk & Roll in April at SoldierField. Surpassing its goal of $2,500, the UChicago Medicine team raised nearly $3,000 to support the American Cancer Society’slifesaving work in research, education, advocacy, and patient services.(from left) UCCCC ProgramAdministrator Lee Baksas,Eileen Dolan, PhD,professor of medicine,and UCCCC writer JaneKollmer staff the tent forregistered walkers.Thousands of people walked, biked, or skated along Chicago’s lakefront.Members of the UChicago Medicine community prepare to walk 5 miles in support of cancer advocacy efforts.cancer.uchicago.edu 3