2017 Visionary Leader Award Goes to Dr. Loehrer for Ifosfamide and Thymus Cancer Research

Dr. Patrick J. Loehrer received the American Society of Clinical Oncology ASCO’s 2017 Allen S. Lichter Visionary Leader Award for his research on Ifosfamide and rare thymus gland cancer.

The “Allen S. Lichter Visionary Leader Award” recognizes people making revolutionary advances in oncology or inspiring others through their oncology leadership and foresight. It is being presented for the first time this year.

What Is Ifosfamide?

Ifosfamide (brand name Holoxan) is a chemotherapy drug that disrupts cancer cell DNA structure and prevents multiplication. It also suppresses the immune system. Today, it is used for lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma and advanced breast, testicular, ovarian, stomach and lung cancers. Dr. Loehrer’s ifosfamide research in testicular and pancreatic cancer contributed importantly to the drug’s approval by the American Food and Drug Administration FDA.

A Compulsory Choice That Shaped His Life

As a medical student at Rush Medical College, Dr. Loehrer did not intend to choose oncology. At the beginning of year 4, hematology/oncology was the only available elective. This requirement gave him a chance to meet Dr. Lawrence Einhorn, a pioneer in treating testicular cancer patients with platinum .

Dr. Loehrer: “Until meeting Dr. Lawrence, the cancer patients I saw could not be treated and were dying. Dr. Lawrence could cure young testicular cancer patients. I then told him: ‘I have decided this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to choose oncology and work with you.’”

After medical school, Dr. Loehrer joined Indiana University’s Oncology Department, where he still works.

When he began in oncology, Dr. Lawrence and his colleague Dr. Stephan D. Williams were actively researching testicular cancer. Dr. Loehrer began investigating new pancreatic cancer treatments. Dr. Williams directed him to a new Egyptian ifosfamide study. In subsequent work, Dr. Loehrer obtained successful results with ifosfamide in pancreatic cancer. Inspired by this, he tested Mesna (used against side effects of ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide) in testicular cancer patients unresponsive to platinum chemotherapy or with recurrent disease, achieving successful results.

“One day, Larry (Dr. Lawrence) came to our journal club with the X-ray of the first patient [receiving this treatment]. They had shown that the tumor shrank. Ifosfamide had worked. The expression on Larry’s face told me I had succeeded. It was an incredibly meaningful moment emotionally and became the turning point of my career.”

Other Research

Dr. Loehrer did not stop at Ifosfamide research; he also studied rare thymus gland cancer. He founded the Hoosier Cancer Research Network, now active in more than 300 locations worldwide, to encourage oncology communities to engage more in research and clinical trials. He is currently working in a treatment and research program for cancer patients in Kenya.

Offering Hope to Cancer Patients in Kenya

Dr. Loehrer says of his work in Kenya:

“When I first joined [the program in Kenya], patient care was in a very poor state. Patients went to a local pharmacy regardless of their cancer type and received whatever chemotherapy drug happened to be available.”

The program has made great progress over the last ten years. Its cancer center has four radiology centers, chemotherapy centers, radiation oncologists, gynecological oncologists and a medical oncologist. Approximately 8000 patients attend each year. Approximately 60 thousand women have also undergone breast and cervical cancer screening there.

Dr. Loehrer’s work on Ifosfamide and cancer patients in Kenya deserves admiration and should inspire all our young people. Drawing inspiration from valuable scientists like him will contribute greatly to the development of science in our country.