Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 7, 1 Iulai 1986 — Drs. Blaisdell, Ching Conducting Study [ARTICLE]

Drs. Blaisdell, Ching Conducting Study

HawaiianVolunteersNeeded for Cancer Research

Of all the ethnic groups in Hawaii, native Hawaiians suffer the highest incidence of breast and lung cancer. Clara Ching, Ph. D and Kekuni BIaisdell, M.D. are eonducting research to find out why. The National Cancer Institute has awarded the Hawaii Biological Response Modifiers Research Laboratory (H1-BRM), a part of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, a grant to conduct a Hawaiian cancer family study. Dr. Ching, an immunobiologist, is principal investigator and Dr. Blaisdell is co-investigator. The study is examining whether high risk Hawaiian families and non-Hawaiian families with mukiple cases of cancer may have some immunologic or genetic deficiency that predisposes them to the disease. Other studies have demonstrated that high cancer groups laek a natural eell whieh destroys tumors and viruses in the body. These natural killer or NK cells appear to help fight cancer development as part of the body's immune system. People with cancer may have low NK levels or defective NK cells. Researchers are looking at ways to increase the numbers and effectiveness of NK cells by stimulating them with bodily substances such as interferon and other biological response modifiers. Dr. Nathaniel Ching of the U.H. Medical School Department of Surgery is working on this phase of the project in collaboration with HI-BRM to develop the most advanced cancer therapy for Hawaii's cancer patients using Biological Response Modifiers such as Interferon and Interlukin. Dr. Clara Ching and Dr. Blaisdell are asking people of Hawaiian ancestry to participate in the study in order to provide more effective tools in the fight against cancer. The researchers are anxious to secure the participation of two groups of Hawaiians in the study. 1. Hawaiian patients with cancSr of the breast and lung and their immediate families: parents, bro-

thers, sisters and if possible children. 2. Hawaiian families with or without a history of eancer. This group will be examined to determine whether immunologic and genetic deficiencies may affect the natural immune system and in-

crease the risk of developing cancer. If you are willing to participate in this important eancer research please fill out and return the form printed below. If you would like more information about the project, eall Dr. Clara Ching at 595-2753.

I 1 HAWAl'I BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE MODIFIERS RESEARCH LABORATORY i JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE | ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL, SULLIVAN 477 2230 LILIHA ST., HONOLULU, HAWAI'I 96817 TELEPHONE: (808) 595-2753 j PLEASE PRINT Date j J NAME: J First Middle Last I HOME ADDRESS: HOME PHONE # J Street Address WORK PHONE # J City State Zip Code |I AM % HAWAIIAN. SEX: M F DATE OF BIRTH mo/day/yr |DO YOU OR ANY OF YOUR O'HANA HAVE CANCER? YES NO IF YES: Please eheek. # Number of cases: 1-2 3+ Type of cancer: Breast Colon Lung Other (specify):_ ! j