VCU Massey Cancer Center Opens Clinical Trials at Southside Regional Medical Center

By Anne Buckley

Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center’s radiation oncologists are now offering clinical trials at Southside Regional Medical Center, enabling patients in the Tri-Cities area to participate in the latest medical studies without having to travel to Massey’s flagship center in Richmond.

Radiation oncologists from Massey provide radiation therapy under a joint agreement with SRMC. The physicians include VCU faculty members Michael Hagan, M.D., Ph.D., Olubunmi Abayomi, M.D., and Drew Moghanaki, M.D., who have considerable expertise in the treatment of prostate, breast, gastrointestinal, lung, and other cancers.  

One of the clinical studies is examining whether the drug Lovostatin can help improve cosmetic outcomes of radiation to the soft tissue of the breast. It is a Phase II study for patients with invasive -- or in situ -- epithelial breast cancer.

Another study is exploring disparities in health literacy and patients’ adherence to their cancer treatment plans. It will collect data from participants who are newly diagnosed with cancer to determine how much they understand about their diseases and treatment regimens.

Both of these studies are led by researchers of the VCU Massey Cancer Center. Extending these studies to Petersburg is made possible in part by a grant from the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission to Massey in 2008.  

“The vast majority of our patients and their referring physicians have expressed gratitude that national-caliber radiation treatment for cancer is available here in Petersburg,” said Moghanaki, who practices at the SRMC location fulltime. “Adding clinical trials to our menu of offerings creates the best of all worlds for cancer patients.”

VCU Massey Cancer Center is one of two National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers in Virginia that carries out the nation’s cancer research. It offers the most clinical trials in Virginia.

Trials often offer patients newer therapies that may prove to be better than the current best standard of care. The scientific monitoring and data-gathering from clinical trials help to advance the field of medicine.

For information or to schedule an appointment, call the Radiation Oncology department at the SRMC Cancer Center, 804-765-5850.