Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care works in tandem with the Albert Einstein Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in the Bronx and Westchester County, to provide comprehensive cancer treatments for all adults with solid tumors or hematologic malignancies. Over 250 clinical research trials in all aspects of human cancer are currently being conducted within the Center.
Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care believes that using the power of research improves technologies, therapies and, most importantly, patient outcomes. Our faculty is committed to providing patients with the newest treatments in cancer care, informed by the most innovative research in cancer treatment and diagnosis.
National Programs
The Department participates in several national programs including:
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). Albert Einstein is a Main Institution in the ECOG, which conducts international clinical trials throughout the U.S. and foreign countries. Members of the Einstein faculty are Committee Chairman and Principal Investigators on ECOG studies.
New York Gynecologic Oncology Group (NY GOG). The Oncology Department is a lead organization in the NY GOG, which is a consortium of medical schools in New York and Wisconsin organized to conduct novel clinical trials in gynecologic malignancies.
AIDS Consortium. The Oncology Department at Albert Einstein is a member of this new consortium to conduct trials in AIDS-related malignancies.
START Program. The START trial, conducted by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Program (NSABP) will test new chemopreventive agents in women at high risk for breast cancer.
Ongoing Programs
The Department has several ongoing programs for the treatment of adult malignancies including:
Phase I Development. The Department is currently participating in a Phase I Cooperative Agreement with the NCI to study new agents that are just emerging from preclinical trials.
Gene Therapy. Three gene therapy programs in head and neck and liver cancers are ongoing.
Vaccines/cytokines. This is a collaborative effort with Dr. Howard Kaufman in the Department of Surgery. The department is studying numerous new vaccines and new biologic agents in solid tumors.
GI Malignancies. The Oncology Department is also collaborating with the Department of Surgery on new programs for the management of liver metastases. These include:
Hepatic artery infusions of chemotherapy;
Chemoembolization;
Radiofrequency, ablation;
Cryosurgery.
PET Scanning. Oncology and Nuclear Medicine are collaborating on a new program to visualize cancers below the limits of detection with CT scan or MRI using positron emission tomography (PET scanning). A clinical trial was recently approved.