Timeline and Milestones of Discovery at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
2007
Cancer Prevention Breakthrough
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists have provided definitive evidence that oral HPV infection, acquired through oral sex, is a stronger risk factor for oropharyngeal head and neck cancer than is combined heavy use of alcohol and tobacco. HPV infection is an important cause of cancer among those exposed to alcohol and tobacco as well as non-smokers and nondrinkers. This has tremendous implications for cancer prevention.
Johns Hopkins Develops Pancreas Cancer Screening Model
People with a family history of pancreas cancer now have a way to accurately predict their chance of carrying a gene for hereditary pancreas cancer and their lifetime risk of developing the disease. Developed by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers, the novel computer software tool is designed to help genetic counselors and physicians decide who would most benefit from early screening.
2006
Kimmel Cancer Center Called Research Powerhouse
Science Watch newsletter names five Kimmel Cancer doctors as the best in their field and the most often cited in all of cancer research worldwide.
Kimmel Investigators Crack Cancer Code
Cancer genome, or blueprint, for colon and breast cancers uncovered.
U.S. News and World Report Ranks Kimmel Cancer Center Third Best in Nation
For the 15th consecutive year, U.S. News ranks the Kimmel Cancer Center in the top three cancer hospitals in the national. The Center continues to be the top ranked Center in the mid-Atlantic region.
New Standard of Care: A 50-year-old method for delivering chemotherapy directly into the abdomen was re-evaluated for patients with ovarian cancer after a seven-year study of more than 400 revealed increased survival rates in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.
Detecting Cancer Cells: A method to screen body fluids for certain kinds of cells and some of their genetic blueprint is twice as accurate at spotting breast cancer cells as a pathologist’s view with a microscope.
Preventing Cancer: Sulforaphane-filled broccoli sprouts, in oral and topical form, shown to re-activate a cancer-preventing gene pathway in breast, lung, stomach, and skin cancers.
Kimmel Faculty Leaders in Cancer Care and Research: Nancy E. Davidson was been elected President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for a one-year term beginning in June 2007.
Shortened Telomeres Linked to Cancer Development. Carol Greider, leading telomere/telomerase researcher, wins Lasker Award.
2005
Vaccines, A New Treatment Weapon for Cancer
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers are encouraged by early results of a treatment vaccine for pancreatic cancer, a disease with few options and low odds for long-term survival. At about two years into a study of 60 patients, the researchers report that 88 percent survived one year and 76 percent are alive after two years. Therapeutic cervical cancer vaccine developed and tested in women with advanced disease.
Getting Therapy Right to the Cancer: The breast ducts, or channels that produce milk and carry other secretions throughout the breast tissue, are most often where breast cancer originates. Now, investigators are exploring the benefits of delivering chemotherapy directly to these ducts. Promising animal studies of this method of delivering anticancer drugs, known as intraductal chemotherapy, has led to phase I clinical trials in women with very early breast cancer.
New Use for Statins: In a 10-year study of more than 30,000 health professionals, researchers at Johns Hopkins and Harvard found that the longer men take cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins, the far less likely they are to develop advanced prostate cancer.
2004
Epigenetics: The Less Understood DNA Alteration
Epigenetics is the study of gene alterations that occur without mutating the DNA. Instead of mutating, genes are altered by a cellular mechanism known as methylation. Methylation of tumor suppressor genes has been shown by our investigators to silence them, allowing cancers to start. Demonstrating the significance of this work, the FDA recently approved the first demethylating agent, a drug that reduces methylation in genes and restores their function. In addition investigators have used epigenetic biomarkers to develop screening tests for cancer, to help guide surgeons in removing cancerous tumors, predict drug resistance, and to pinpoint more aggressive cancers. Steven Baylin’s epigenetics research is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as the most outstanding in its SPORE (Specialized Program of Research Excellence).
Super Oncogene Identified: Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and Howard Hughes Medical Institute have found mutations in a gene, called PIK3CA, linked to the progression of colon and other cancers. The gene is the most commonly mutated oncogene.
Blood Test Detects the Silent Cancer: Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers have designed a blood test to detect ovarian cancer using three proteins found in common in the blood of women with the disease.
Prestigious Faculty Honors: Bert Vogelstein received Spain’s Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research. The award is considered that country’s Nobel Prize.
2003
Elusive Cancer Stem Cell Identified
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists have identified the cell likely to be responsible for the development of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow that destroys bone tissue.
Genetic Mistake Causes Most Thyroid Cancer Researchers: The Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have found that a single genetic mistake in the BRAF gene causes about two-thirds of papillary thyroid cancers.
Cutting Off the Blood Supply to Tumors: Antiangiogenesis agents found to cut the blood supply to tumors halting their growth and stopping the deadly invasion into other tissue and organs, keeping tumors in a chronic, stable phase.
Gamma Knife: State-of-the art Gamma Knife Center opens using the latest computer and robotic technology and precisely-targeted x-ray beams to perform knifeless surgery on brain tumors and other brain diseases.
2002
Stool Test Detects Earliest, Curable Stage of Colon Cancer
Scientists at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins have developed a safe and reliable stool test that can detect the earliest, curable stages of colon cancer. Detects mutated APC gene in DNA found in stool.
Voice-Box Saved with New Larynx Cancer Therapy: Standard therapy changes for larynx cancer and the voice box is spared after investigators proved that combined treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, had the same success rate at surgically removing the cancerous voice box for most patients.
Old Drug Leads to New Cure: High does cyclophosphamide without bone marrow transplant cures aplastic anemia several autoimmune diseases.
Cause of Resistant Leukemia Identified: FLT3 mutation identified and linked to a treatment resistant form of acute myeloid leukemia. Drugs that target the mutation are developed and tested.
Cancer Pain experts develop HOP (Hopkins Opioid Program) a computer program accessible by handheld PDAs and used to properly choose and prescribe dosages of pain killers for cancer patients.
SKCCC and Howard University team up to study and develop interventions for cancer disparities among minority populations.
Hopkins scientists develop Digital SNP “snip”, a diagnostic blood test for ovarian cancer that identifies DNA shed from ovarian cancer cells.
Investigators discover relationship between well known oncogene c-myc and a newly discovered enzyme called PRDX3. PRDX3 acts like a switch turning on c-myc and tumor cell development.
AMACR gene identified as prevention and early diagnostic marker for prostate cancer.
2001
Sidney Kimmel makes historic $150 million donation—the single largest gift to JHU—for cancer research and patient care at Johns Hopkins, naming the Cancer Center as The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.
Center receives more than $2 million for cancer research through the Maryland Cigarette Restitution Fund, established from awards from the multi-state lawsuit against cigarette manufacturers. High minority cancer rates are a major focus.
Investigators prove high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy, alone without bone marrow transplantion, is an effective therapy for many aplastic anemia patients.
ID1 gene identified as early diagnostic marker for melanoma.
Gene-based therapy targets FLT-3 gene, the culprit in a lethal form of acute myelogenous leukemia.
New Drug Development capitalizes on basic science discoveries developing drugs and compounds that block genes altered by abnormal methylation, mutated genes, and blood supplies to tumor cells.
Combined chemotherapy/radiation regimen saves voice box for many laryngeal cancer patients.
Basic scientists show stem cells help repair damaged tissue and organs. They study stem cell infusion as therapy for cancer treatment toxicity, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and other diseases.
2000
Researchers develop pancreatic cancer vaccine and prove it activates immune cells against pancreatic tumor cells.
Investigators uncover genetic alteration that inhibits how brain cancer cells respond to chemotherapy and development of drugs to block the gene’s function begin.
A Hopkins investigator becomes the first to definitively link the sexually-transmitted virus HPV to the initiation of certain oral cancers.
A Cancer Center surgeon develops a breast endoscope that allows doctors to look inside breast ducts detecting lesions 1/100 the size of those seen with MRI and mammography.
Prototype for a non-invasive screening test for cancer is developed and detects DNA from tumor cells in body fluids such as urine, saliva, sputum, and breast lavage fluids.
Conversion test developed is nearly 100 percent effective in unmasking hidden gene mutations in patients with a family history of colon cancer.
1999
The Bunting Blaustein Cancer Research Building opens bringing together more than 400 cancer researchers and staff.
1998
A saliva test that detects squamous cell head and neck cancer is developed.
The Breast and Ovarian Surveillance Service, Colon Cancer Risk Assessment Service and Familial Cancer Service are established to provide genetic counseling, testing, screening recommendation, and test prevention strategies for individuals and families at high risk of developing cancer.
The Center opens the first prostate cancer specimen bank to collect tissue, blood and urine from prostate cancer patients and gain new information about the disease.
Palliative Care Program is established.
The Pediatric Oncology Outpatient/Inpatient Unit (POP IN) opens allowing many children, including BMT patients, to receive their therapies as outpatients.
1997
Johns Hopkins and NCI create joint fellowship training program for Pediatric Oncology.
Construction of the $59 million, 217 square foot Cancer Research Facility begins.
1996
People who smoke are found to have twice as many P53 mutations as those who do not. It is the first definitive biologic link between smoking and cancer.
A button-sized Polymer Implant is developed to deliver steady doses of pain medication for up the three months.
The enzyme telomerase is identified as a tumor marker for breast cancer.
A screening test that detects bladder cancer cells in the urine is developed.
Construction of the new $125 million, 134 bed Comprehensive Cancer Center begins.
Polymorphisms, previously thought to be harmless, are found to lead to cancer. One such abnormality in the APC gene is linked to familial colon cancer.
1995
Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Center opens.
The Bone Marrow Transplant IPOP Center opens transferring this intensive therapy to a largely outpatient procedure.
1994
DNA replication errors, called Clonal Markers, are used to detect cancer cells in body fluids, tissues, and secretions, at the very earliest stages, before they are detectable by Pathology.
The Center is awarded a grant from the NCI to launch a Comprehensive Breast Cancer program focused on clinical and basic research, prevention strategies, and the development of new therapies.
SAGE, a computerized system that allows researchers to simultaneously study thousands of genes is developed and helps pinpoint differences between normal and tumor cells.
Endothelin-l, a potent blood vessel constrictor linked to heart disease, is found to play a role in advanced prostate cancer.
The GSTPl gene is found to be inactivated in prostate cells causing benign tumors to turn malignant.
1993
The Center is awarded a record three SPORE grants for lung, gastrointestinal, and prostate cancer research.
A class of anticancer compound, called Topoisomerase Inhibitor, is shown to initiate antitumor responses in treatment-resistant cancers.
Abnormal Methylation is found to disable tumor suppressor genes, leading to the loss of normal cell function.
Elutriation Augmentation, that removes T-Cells but preserves stem cells, reduces bone marrow transplant complications and hospital stays.
The Center becomes one of the first in the nation to use a 3-D radiation simulation devised for more precisely planned radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy prior to surgery improve success rates in Esophageal Cancer patients.
The Pediatric Oncology Long Term Survivors Program becomes one of only a handful in the country to treat and make recommendations to prevent long term medical problems associated with childhood cancer therapy.
1992
A group of breast cancer survivors and concerned Maryland women raise $2.l million to fund one of the nation’s first breast cancer research chairs and fellowships.
1991
Hopkins pediatric oncologist performs first cord blood transplant for leukemia.
Programmed cell death, in which a specific biochemical message is sent to the cancer cell, is used to trigger hormone-dependent breast cancer cells to die.
The National Familial Brain Tumor Registry, one of the largest collection of data on brain tumors in the world, is located in the Center and provides the first evidence that brain cancers can occur as a family disorder.
1990
A blood test that identifies genetic mutations associated with an inherited form of colon cancer is developed and made available to high risk families. It is the first genetic screening test for cancer.
Molecular markers that point to the earliest steps in the development of lung cancer are identified.
1989
The Center performs one of the first umbilical cord blood transplants, and the first in a leukemia patient.
New drug regimen for acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in children increases survival from 50% to 90%.
New treatment delivers radioactive “seeds” into the airways, extending life for inoperable lung cancer patients. The same type of therapy is now used to treat prostate cancer.
Topoisomerase Inhibitors induce programmed cell death in Leukemia cells.
Genetically-Engineered tumor cells are used to supercharge the immune system to seek out and destroy cancer cells. This vaccine prototype is today being studied in clinical trials for kidney, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
The P53 gene is linked to the progression of colon cancer. It is later found to be the most commonly mutated gene in all cancers and marks the beginning of a decade-long series of genetic discoveries associated with the initiation and progression of colon cancer.
1988
“Hot Spots” of increased DNA methylation in human cancers are found and shown to play a key role in the genetic instability of tumors.
The Center’s unrelated bone marrow donor pool produces its first match.
1987
Patents awarded for CD34 human stem cell antibodies.
Biodegradable BCNU Polymer Implants are approved for clinical trials in brain tumor patients.
Thalidomide is used successfully to treat graft versus host disease.
1986
The Joanne Rockwell Memorial House, a home-away-from-home for patients traveling to the Center for cancer treatment, opens. Another similar facility, the Hackerman-Patz House, opens two years later.
The Center is the only in the region to perform stereotactic brain surgery, computer-generated knifeless surgery used to destroy deep-seated tumors and blood vessel malformations in the brain.
Timed Sequential Therapy for Leukemia results in long-term remissions for 70 perent of patients treated.
1985
The center’s nursing research program is initiated.
Department of Patient and Family Services starts.
1984
Discovery of the CD34 antibody makes it possible to isolate and collect bone marrow stem cells.
The anticancer compound Paclitaxel is refined at the Center and hailed as the most promising new anticancer drug in decades. It becomes standard therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer and shows promise in lung and breast cancer therapy.
Dual chromosome losses are linked to Wilm’s Tumor, a childhood kidney cancer.
1982
NCI selects the Center as a site for phase l clinical trials of new anticancer drugs.
Pediatric Neuro-Oncology program begins.
1981
Neuro-Oncology study group forms pulling together diverse specialists for patient care and basic and clinical research.
1980
The cancer cell purging drug 4-HC is developed making autologous (self-donor) bone marrow transplants possible.
1979
The Center is awarded an NCI grant for new drug development.
1978
The first Community Outreach proposal is developed to ensure our mission of transferring our discoveries to the community.
Breast lesion and evaluation program offers the first nurse-run screening clinic.
1977
The Hemapheresis Center opens to supply platelet support for patients. In 1998, at also includes the unrelated bone marrow donor pool and human stem cell bank.
The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center opens as one of the first Comprehensive Cancer Centers under the National Cancer Act.
1976
The Cancer Information Service (CIS) opens at the Hopkins Oncology Center.
Division of Pediatric Oncology established.
1975
The Center establishes one of the nation’s first cancer pharmacology programs and begins developing and testing novel new drugs and compounds for the treatment of cancer. It quickly earns NCI recognition and a grant for Phase I trials of these drugs.
1974
Construction of the existing Oncology Center began.
The Nuclear Matrix is identified as the site for DNA replication shedding light on the cellular changes that cause normal cells to turn malignant.
The first diagnosis and treatment of Neoplastic Disorders course is held.
1973
The Department of Oncology is established with just 13 faculty members. By 2003, the Cancer Center has more than 342 faculty and is a world leader in the research and treatment of cancer.
Oncology is granted departmental status at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
The University and hospital trustees authorized construction of the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center.
Johns Hopkins is designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. | 
