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PHYSICIAN
SPOTLIGHT
Dr. M. Maitland DeLand, FACR,
FACRO, FASLMS
 Since
dedicating her career to improving the treatment of cancer,
Dr. M. Maitland DeLand, FACR, FACRO, FASLMS, President and Medical
Director of OncoLogics, Inc., has maintained the philosophy
that cancer care close to home is the best medicine. It is
the reason she has established over eight clinics in various
cities across southern Louisiana and Mississippi, and outfitted
each with dedicated professionals and advanced treatment
technologies. It is also the reason she established a
cancer clinic dedicated solely to women.
“There are many women’s
centers throughout the state that focus on a broad range
of services such a gynecological, obstetrics, breast care,
etc. Now, there is one clinic focused solely on the
treatment of women's cancers,” says Dr. DeLand.
“There are many issues involved with treating
cancer in a woman besides the actual administration of radiation.
There are things to consider such as skin reactions, hair
loss, and a broad range of psychological issues that women
encounter during treatment.”
“I pioneered a study using
a yellow light LED Photomodulation to reduce the effects
of skin reactions to radiation therapy. Skin reactions occur
during radiation therapy and can reach various levels of
intensity, which can cause an interruption in treatment.
This yellow light treatment protects the skin from radiation
damage. In a recent study, 19 patients were exposed to yellow
light LED Photomodulation after radiation treatment, and
a control group was given none. In LED-treated patients,
94.7% had grade zero or one reaction. In the control group,
85.7% had a grade two or three reaction. My research has
initiated formal clinical trials, which will be conducted
at the Mayo Clinic and the University of California – Irvine.”
“We are also involved in research with
a red light LED machine, which can be used to stimulate hair
growth after certain cancer treatments. Some chemotherapy
agents and radiation treatments can cause the loss of scalp
hair—cranial epilation. The red light LED machine is
already in use for age related balding, and has helped some
cancer patients with hair re-growth after treatment. Maintaining
each patient’s identity as a woman and increasing quality
of life during treatment is the main focus of the center.”
“All of these modalities
and more available at our women's cancer treatment center
located at 5000 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Building 4.
It's the first of its kind in the state: a high tech
yet extremely patient-oriented and personal center dedicated
to cancer treatment for women,” says
DeLand. “It
is also strategically located next to a diagnostic center,
which will house the only Aurora Breast MRI in Lafayette,
as well as the only computerized breast ultrasound in the
state.”
Another giant leap in improving the treatment
of cancer in Louisiana occurred in July 2007. OncoLogics entered
into an agreement to purchase a Clinatron-250™ proton
beam radiation therapy (PBRT) system from Still River Systems.
OncoLogics is one of the first treatment centers
in the world to commit
to this technology, which many in the medical community
consider the gold standard for treating cancers—especially
in children and young adults.
Currently, only four U.S. health care facilities
have large-scale proton beam radiation therapy systems, which
carry a price tag topping $150 million for the equipment
and building. OncoLogics will be purchasing a newer, smaller,
more economical cyclotron that can produce and deliver protons.
This new technology still comes with a hefty price tag.
"Proton Beam Radiation
Therapy is among the best on the market for treating cancers
in the head and neck, chest, brain, abdomen and prostate,"
says Dr. DeLand. "Impressive clinical outcomes have
also been reported for stereotactic applications, arteriovenous
malformations (AVMs), prostate, lung, and ocular treatments.
It is also the preferred radiation treatment for pediatric
patients."
There have been enormous advances in external
beam standard photon therapy, but their focus is to alter
the beam of radiation, use different treatment plans, or change
the delivery system to achieve the maximum dose of radiation
to the tumor. Photons by nature, however, deliver a higher
radiation dose at the point of entry into the body, and then
gradually deliver lower doses along the beam path, until they
leave your body. The significance of the proton beam is that,
unlike photon systems, protons enter the body, slow down,
and then stop AT the tumor site. They deposit their energy
within the malignant tissue, which eliminates the radiation
from exiting the body. This is especially important when treating
children and young adults, as well as tumors that lie next
to critical structures, such as the spinal cord or ocular
nerve. The nature of the beam itself will, in some cases,
reduce treatment times, reduce the number of treatments, and
is a boon to patients whose health precludes cancer surgery.
"Still River is currently manufacturing
the major components of our machine, which will then require
significant testing and assembly. In the meantime, OncoLogics
is identifying site location and will begin developing construction
plans for the complex facility. This process will take several
years,“ says DeLand, "but we are anxious for its
installation and excited to provide this extraordinary treatment
to our patients. With the machine centrally located in the
state, we anticipate patients will come from a 100 to 200
mile radius to receive treatment.”
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