Physicians at the Hoag Family Cancer Institute (HFCI) came together this past spring for a powerful gathering that highlighted groundbreaking advancements in the fight against cancer. This Cancer State of the Union was a showcase of innovation, collaboration, and the profound impact of philanthropy in pushing the boundaries of cancer treatment.

These discussions underscored how philanthropic support at Hoag helps attract world-class talent and accelerates research that is transforming patient care in our community and beyond. “Recruitment of the best and most talented physician-scientists is an essential part of the strategy of the Hoag Family Cancer Institute,” said Teresa Conk, senior vice president and chief clinical institutes officer, in introducing the panel. “They’re committed to bringing the most promising novel treatments and innovations to our patients here in Orange County.”

Here’s a snapshot of the groundbreaking developments spotlighted at the event:

Carlos R. Becerra, MD
Margaret Givan Larkin Endowed Chair in Developmental Cancer Therapeutics and medical director of Hoag’s Cancer Clinical Research 

In 2023, HFCI opened 55 early phase I and phase II clinical trials and enrolled 83 patients. “We have a very strong clinical trial portfolio, and we’re continuing to expand the number of studies available for the population we serve here in Orange County. Our goal is to make the most promising therapies available to our patients, right here in Orange County,” Dr. Becerra said. He added that sponsors are eager to open trials at Hoag because of the streamlined, less bureaucratic process and the collaborative relationships being fostered with our physicians. Hoag now averages 90 days to open a study, as compared to nine to 12 months at an academic medical center.

Tiffany L. Beck, MD, MPH, FACOG
Co-director of Hoag’s Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Trials Program

Dr. Beck said most ovarian cancer patients previously did not survive past five years. “Now we’re seeing survivors that are decades out,” she said. She credits immunotherapy and targeted molecular therapies for creating changes in the standard of care for ovarian and other gynecologic cancers. Dr. Beck also noted that Hoag is currently one of only two sites nationwide taking part in a phase I trial using oncolytic virus injections to treat ovarian cancer. “We had a groundbreaking publication,” Dr. Beck said, “and now we’re proud to be part of the phase III trial for that.” Dr. Beck further noted that each time her group participates in a trial, “our patients here at Hoag directly benefit.”    

David J. Benjamin, MD
Medical oncologist

Dr. Benjamin joined Hoag in 2023 after completing a fellowship in genitourinary (GU) cancer. A co-author of more than 50 publications, he recently opened two phase III clinical trials, one in early-stage bladder cancer and the other for a rare form of kidney cancer. “The hope is that these therapies will one day be the standard of care,” he said, adding that they are already available to patients enrolled in the trials at Hoag.

Brian S. Kim, MD 
Radiation oncologist

Dr. Kim thanked philanthropy for keeping Hoag at the forefront of radiation oncology technology, which he said advances faster than perhaps any other medical field. Using Hoag’s new MRI-guided radiation technology, he said, “We’re able to image tumors in real-time with MRI, and we can adapt [treatment] plans on a day-to-day basis. It allows us to not just increase the dose to the tumor but also to minimize side effects.”

Michael J. Demeure, MD, MBA, FACS, FACE 
Otis Healy Family Endowed Chair in Applied Genomics and program director of the Hoag Precision Medicine Program 

Through its focus on genomic profiling of tumor cells, the Precision Medicine Program further advances Hoag’s clinical studies. With more than 5,000 tumors genomically sequenced and a highly organized patient database, Dr. Demeure said Hoag can tailor treatment to each patient. The database also helps Hoag recruit patients quickly for trials. “We can identify those patients that would benefit from a new trial that has been opened and let them know there is a new drug or clinical trial for their specific type of cancer,” Dr. Demeure said.

Jared A. Forrester, MD 
Hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeon

Dr. Forrester joined Hoag in 2023 and is already launching a trial using an implantable device to deliver an immunotherapeutic agent to treat locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer, ”usually detected at stage IV,” is just 13%, but studies show intervention at stage I can increase survival to 83%. Dr. Forrester also shared that in summer 2024, Hoag became the second California site with HistoSonics technology, an ultrasound-based technique that uses ultrasonic pulses to destroy tumors at a subcellular level.

Tara E. Seery, MD
Director of hepatobiliary cancer and co-director of cell therapy 

Dr. Seery joined Hoag in part to conduct research on natural killer (NK) cell therapy, which stimulates the body's immune system to fight cancer. “We did the first NK cell trial for pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Seery said, noting that philanthropy helped fund the expansion of the trial, drawing patients from around the world to participate. Building on the data from this successful multiple-line trial, Dr. Seery has written a protocol for a first-line trial utilizing grant funding from California’s stem cell research fund.

Steven Q. Wang, MD
Medical director of dermatologic oncology

With philanthropic support, Hoag recruited Dr. Wang and became the first hospital west of the Mississippi with the VECTRA WB360 whole-body imaging system. Using 92 high-fidelity cameras, the VECTRA maps moles and lesions on patients at high risk for melanoma. “We can detect skin cancer early without having to do numerous unnecessary biopsies,” Dr. Wang said. “This innovative device really advanced and distinguished Hoag’s Dermatologic Oncology Program.”

The event concluded with a significant reminder from Dr. Wang about the collaborative spirit that defines the Hoag Family Cancer Institute. “When you’re taking care of cancer, it’s not just the one specialist or one physician; it’s a team of physicians,” he emphasized. This teamwork, fueled by philanthropy, is what truly sets Hoag apart. Together, these dedicated physicians and scientists are driving cutting-edge innovations that promise to revolutionize cancer care and improve patient outcomes.

Top photo, from left to right:

Teresa Conk, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Institutes Officer, Dr. Brian Kim, Dr. Jared Forrester, Dr. Steven Wang, Dr. Tara Seery, Dr. Tiffany Beck, Dr. Carlos Becerra, Dr. David Benjamin, Dr. Michael Demeure, and Dori Holnagel, Vice President of the Hoag Family Cancer Institute

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