Scripps Research, Jupiter Medical Center partner for cancer study

In a first for both institutions, Jupiter Medical Center, the area's Number One Preferred Hospital, and The Scripps Research Institute, one of the world's largest private, non-profit biomedical research organizations, are teaming up to conduct research on human cancer tissue.

"This is an opportunity for some of our patients to contribute to cancer research through the donation of tissue," said Jeanine Secor, RN, BSN, CRCC, Oncology Clinical Research Manager at Jupiter. "This is the first time Scripps Florida will be testing human tissue from Jupiter Medical Center. That tissue will come from consenting Jupiter Medical Center patients with breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer."

According to Secor, the research team in Scripps Florida's Department of Molecular Therapeutics will need tissue from a minimum of 160 patients out of the approximately 900 positive cancer diagnoses Jupiter issues each year. She said the alliance with Scripps Research would help Jupiter Medical Center comply with a requirement by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) that a minimum of 2 percent of Jupiter's cancer cases be registered to clinical trials, including tissue donation. The 2 percent requirement is necessary for Jupiter to maintain its elite designation as a CoC Accredited Cancer Center. Currently, the Medical Center's research is exceeding this minimum standard and offers trials on many types of cancers.

Jupiter Medical Center surgeons will assist in recruitment over the next 6 months to obtain the 160 patients needed for the study. Participating surgeons include doctors Luis Arroyo, Donna Pinelli, John A. P. Rimmer and Thomas Rowe. Also involved is Medical Oncologist Edit Tolnai, Principal Investigator and Paul Garen, Chief Pathologist.

"This collaboration underscores the fact that some of the best medical care and most groundbreaking medical research in the world is happening right here in Jupiter. We are honored to be working with Scripps Research Institute and excited by what the future may hold," Secor added.