LOS ANGELES (June 11, 2012) - Rowan Chlebowski, M.D., Ph.D., lead investigator at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed), was recently named as a recipient of the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)-American Cancer Society Award and Lecture. This distinguished award is presented annually to recognize a person who has made a significant contribution to cancer prevention and control, research, or practice. Dr. Chlebowski was recognized at ASCO's Annual Meeting, which was held June 1-5, 2012 in Chicago, Ill.
"We'd like to congratulate Dr. Chlebowski on this well-deserved honor," said David I. Meyer, Ph.D., president and CEO of LA BioMed. "Dr. Chlebowski has been at the forefront of breast cancer therapy and prevention for nearly two decades, and the significant discoveries he's made in this area continue to help women who suffer from this disease."
Dr. Chlebowski is best known for his work on significant clinical trials related to breast cancer prevention and therapy and women's health. He reported results of the Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (WIINS), a multi-center adjuvant trial where a lifestyle intervention reduced breast cancer recurrence, at the 2005 ASCO Annual Meeting Plenary Session. As a Women's Health Initiative (WHI) investigator, Dr. Chlebowski led reports on estrogen alone and estrogen plus progestin influence on cancer endpoints. The findings of adverse effects of combined estrogen plus progestin use on breast cancer and several other diseases have substantially decreased use of menopausal hormone therapy worldwide with associated reduction in breast cancer incidence.
"The results have been extremely gratifying—it likely means that thousands of women were spared a breast cancer diagnosis," said Dr. Chlebowski.
More recent analyses in the WHI randomized trial evaluating estrogen alone in women with prior hysterectomy found the surprising outcome of lower breast cancer incidence with hormone use. In addition, analyses in the WHI identified potential metformin (a commonly used diabetes therapy) and bisphosphonate (used for osteoporosis therapy) to reduce breast cancer risk as well.
"Our research is primarily directed at evaluating new paradigms for preventing breast cancer, a disease which has claimed the lives of so many," said Dr. Chlebowski.
About LA BioMed
Founded in 1952, LA BioMed is one of the country's leading nonprofit independent biomedical research institutes. It has approximately 100 principal researchers conducting studies into improved treatments and cures for cancer, inherited diseases, infectious diseases, illnesses caused by environmental factors and more. It also educates young scientists and provides community services, including prenatal counseling and childhood nutrition programs. LA BioMed is academically affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and located on the campus of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.LABioMed.org