John Wayne Cancer Institute Doctors Are Honored By ASCO

   Eddy C. Hsueh, M.D. and Mathew Hwayup Chung, M.D. of the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center, were honored at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) at its 37th Annual Meeting in San Francisco on May 9.
   Dr. Hsueh, honored for his clinical investigation of “Endogenous Immunity as Target for Melanoma Immunotherapy,” was one of eight physicians in the nation who received the Career Development   Award for their unique approaches to clinically oriented research and exceptional accomplishments in independent, self-initiated clinical investigation. 
   Dr. Hsueh’s investigation involves utilization of an individual’s immune system in order to combat melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer. 
   Dr. Chung’s Merit Award acknowledged his ongoing clinical research of the immunotherapy vaccine CancerVax in treating melanoma by stimulating the immune system to fight the disease. Merit Awards are given to second or third -year oncology fellows working in an oncology laboratory or clinical research setting.
   The ASCO Awards Program, now in its 17th year, selects leading young clinical oncologists from across a broad range of specialties from the United States and around the world.
   “These doctors represent an elite group of clinical investigators incorporating 21st century medicine and technology to develop creative and judicious research to advance cancer care, treatment and prevention,” said Janice P. Dutcher, M.D., Chair of ASCO’s Grant Selection Committee, Associate Director for Clinical Affairs at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center and Professor of Medicine at New York Medical College. “ASCO is committed to supporting young researchers and excited at the prospect they offer for new and improved cancer therapies for today’s patients.”
   The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional society representing physicians from 100 countries who treat people with cancer. It has 16,500 members. 
   The John Wayne Cancer Institute is a nonprofit center for cancer treatment and research. Focusing on translational research and combining scientific discovery with clinical application, the Institute is a vanguard in the early detection, treatment and prevention of cancer.