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ONCOLOGY UPDATE in South Florida ...ONCOLOGY UPDATE in South Florida

Oncology Innovators
BROWARD HEALTH NORTH
JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER
COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER

Jorge Hurtado, MD
Shanel Bhagwandin, DO
Jorge Hurtado, M.D., hematologist and oncolo-
Dr. Shanel Bhagwandin is the medical director of the gist, is redefining the way cancer is treated at
Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology Program at Jupiter Broward Health North’s Comprehensive Cancer
Medical Center. He also is medical director of Surgical Center. Hurtado and the cancer team focus on
Oncology Network Development the Mount Sinai using sophisticated scientific cancer research com-
Hospital New York. A graduate of Lake Erie College of bined with groundbreaking genetic testing to devel-
Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Bhagwandin completed his op individualized, patient-focused, comprehensive
general surgery residency at the University of Illinois cancer treatment plans.
at Chicago and his fellowship training at the Icahn “Practicing precision medicine with molecular
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. He is board certified in general surgery and profiling in a majority of solid and liquid tumors,”
in complex general surgical oncology. Dr. Bhagwandin’s clinical and research interests said Hurtado, “allows my colleagues and me to
include the diagnosis and treatment of complex malignancies of the liver, pancreas, and develop customized treatment plans of targeted
biliary tract, in addition to gastric and esophageal cancer, colon and rectal cancer, sarco- therapy, immunotherapy or chemo-immunothera-
ma, and melanoma. He specializes in the management of advanced peritoneal carcino- py to deliver the maximum clinical benefit to our patients. We are committed to pro-
matosis through the application of Hyperthermic IntraPeritoneal Chemotherapy viding effective side effect management.”
(HIPEC) and cytoreductive surgery, a technique that combines surgery with circulating Utilizing advanced technologies, such as liquid biopsy and both somatic and
hot chemotherapy directly into the abdomen. germline next generation gene sequencing, enables a customized treatment plan for
each patient.
“This provides optimal results in with a wide variety of tumor types ranging from
Subscribe to... lung, breast and colon to more rare entities such as sarcomas,” Hurtado said.
Board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology, Hurtado
SOUTH FLORIDA HOSPITAL NEWS & encourages those he’s treating to remain hopeful, since new discoveries and treat-
ments are always being developed. It is something he has seen firsthand as a
HEALTHCARE REPORT today! researcher and principal investigator on a number of academic studies.
Call 561-368-6950 or email Hurtado, has been working with the team at the Broward Health North’s Cancer
Center since December 2017. Together they are focusing on cancer research to one
carol@southfloridahospitalnews.com
day find breakthroughs that will hopefully cure all types of cancer.
to request a subscription form.

BROWARD HEALTH
MEDICAL CENTER
Shared Mehmet Hepgur, MD

Medical oncologist, Mehmet Hepgur, M.D., is using innova-
Broward Health Medical Center’s hematologist
tive therapy treatment based on genetic and other
Suites biomolecular studies. In the last three years, Hepgur
has seen patients with stage 4 cancer go into com-
plete remission with the use of next-generation
sequencing (NGS) and immunotherapy.
NGS was historically a difficult and costly test, but
now it is accessible to every stage 4 cancer patient in his care. The procedure involves
sending the patient’s tumor tissue - or in some cases blood cells - to a lab where the whole
genome is sequenced and analyzed. A report showing the mapping of the patient’s gene
then enables Hepgur to identify certain cancer mutations in the gene. He can then pre-
scribe a certain drug for the patient that can specifically target that cancer mutation.
“In the past, all patients received standard chemotherapy for lung cancer, but it turns
out not all lung cancers are the same essentially,” said Hepgur. “Some lung cancers may
have different mutations and thus benefit from different drugs. We tailor the treatment
based on that information.”
Immunotherapy is another treatment option used by Hepgur. Immunotherapy uses the
patient’s immune system to fight the cancer and also strengthens the immune system
fighting those cancer cells. In some cases, the tumor never returns.
“Cancer is very clever and can find a way to disguise itself against the immune system
and thus grow and spread,” said Hepgur. “With immunotherapy, we essentially utilize a
certain drug that removes the disguise between the immune system and cancer cells.”

Coming Next Month...

• Annual Salute to Cardiology
• Cardiology/Heart Health Month/Profiles
• Education Update
• The Prospect of Malpractice Reform
• Malpractice Products & Challenges

For advertising information call Charles Felix at 561-368-6950
or email charles@southfloridahospitalnews.com

24 January 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News