Avera is expanding its cancer research to more locations, one of which is the Helmsley Center at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre.
Dr. John Lee is the Clinical Medical Officer for Cancer Research at the Avera Cancer Institute. He says they’re working toward the goal of offering the majority of their clinical trials at all Avera Cancer Institute locations.
Along with Pierre, Avera Cancer Institute centers are located in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Mitchell and Yankton in South Dakota and in Marshall, Minnesota.
Dr. Sreekanth Donepudi is an oncologist with Avera Cancer Institute in Pierre. He says researchers know immunotherapy works well in triple-negative breast cancer patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This trial will help discover if it works well in early stage breast cancer as well.
Patients have the option to participate in clinical trials in addition to standard treatment and the Pierre location has enrolled its first patient in a cancer clinical trial, Marlene Traversie from Mission. This trial is evaluating the role of immunotherapy in patients with early stage triple-negative breast cancer. Currently, immunotherapy is only approved for patients with more advanced cancer.
The Helmsley Center in Pierre is the first Avera Cancer Institute site outside of Sioux Falls and Aberdeen to offer clinical trials to cancer patients.
Group photo, front: Clinical trial participant Marlene Traversie. Back row: Dr. Sreekanth Donepudi, oncology research supervisor Michaela Bertram, oncology research coordinator Kathryn Bohnenkamp and Dr. John Lee.
Photo credit to Avera St. Mary’s Hospital and the Helmsley Center.
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