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CLINICAL NOTES
During the fi rst week of May, the Methodist DeBakey
Heart & Vascular Center opened a multidisciplinary valve clinic that provides easy access for patients with complex diseases of the cardiac valves.
The clinic is led by national experts in diagnostic cardiac imaging, interventional cardiology, robotic procedures and cardiac surgery to provide the best care possible. The clinic also hosts a valve board and maintains a robust clinical database of complex valve disorders to support research and advances in the treatment of cardiac valve disease.
Cardiologist Dr. Stephen Little is director of the new clinic, which streamlines the diagnosis and treatment process for patients by offering a unique coordination of services. !
Surgical oncologist Dr. Shanda Blackmon is studying an investigational drug that may vaccinate people against lung cancer. The vaccine trial is the largest study ever conducted on treatment for lung cancer. As part of the trial, study participants will be injected with a protein that is found in the tumor so that researchers can study whether the patient’s immune system will recognize and destroy cells with this protein. It is hoped that recurrence of cancer will be delayed or prevented. The study drug is called an antigen-specifi c cancer immunotherapeutic (ASCI). By incorporating a protein specifi c of the cancer, this drug will use the immune system to fi ght the cancer. Even after complete removal of a lung tumor and affected lymph nodes, there is still a risk that the cancer will return. This risk is considered to be high enough to require additional treatment, such as chemotherapy, after surgery. However, even with the most aggressive chemotherapy, the cancer returns in many patients. Both patients who receive chemotherapy after surgery and those who receive surgery without chemotherapy will be included in this study. This study will enroll approximately 2,270 subjects worldwide with MAGE-A3 positive non-small cell lung cancer. !
Featuring: • Full service, 24/7 emergency room • Staffed by board-certifi ed physicians and emergency medicine trained nurses • 10 exam rooms • Fully digital radiography suite • Full chemistry lab on-site • 64-slice CT scanner
6565 Fannin Houston, TX 77030
A Founding Member of the Texas Medical Center
Non-Profi t Org. U.S. Postage PAID Houston, Texas Permit No. 6311
LEADING MEDICINE®
THE METHODIST HOSPITAL SYSTEM
HOSPITALS The Methodist Hospital
6565 Fannin Houston, TX 77030 713-790-3311 Methodist Sugar Land Hospital
16655 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-274-7000 Methodist Willowbrook Hospital
18220 Tomball Parkway Houston, TX 77070 281-477-1000 San Jacinto Methodist Hospital
4401 Garth Road Baytown, TX 77521 281-420-8600 RESEARCH The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
6565 Fannin Houston, TX 77030 713-441-1261
IMAGING Methodist Breast Imaging Center
2615 Southwest Freeway Suite 110 Houston, TX 77098 713-441-PINK (7465) Methodist Imaging Center
8333 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77024 713-793-XRAY (9729) EMERGENCY CARE Methodist Emergency Care Center
2615 Southwest Freeway at Kirby Houston, TX 77098 713-441-ER24 (3724) PHYSICIAN REFERRAL/ HEALTH INFORMATION METHODIST PHYSICIAN REFERRAL 713-790-3333 Health information via the Internet methodisthealth.com
WELLNESS Methodist Wellness Services
713-441-5978
PHILANTHROPY The Methodist Hospital Foundation
8060 El Rio Houston, TX 77054 832-667-5816
