From The Editor's Desk: A Focus on Cancer Services

As we close out the calendar year 2017, this issue focuses on one of Ochsner's six destination centers of excellence. This winter issue of the Ochsner Journal features cancer-related papers and includes a robust mix of original research articles, literature reviews, and topical case reports. An editorial leads off the collection and details the lessons learned and the progress made in building a phase 1 cancer research program at Ochsner. The original research papers stress the strong multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment at Ochsner, beginning with two papers from the Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, two contributions from the Department of Hematology and Oncology, and a paper from the Department of Surgery. Highlights of the literature reviews include papers about cutting-edge therapies, the increasing role of interventional radiology in the treatment of liver cancers, and the value of providing palliative care services to patients with cancer beginning early in their treatment. Case reports round out the focused content of this edition by telling the stories of individual patients.

The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center of Ochsner Health System is home to one of the largest and most comprehensive cancer centers in the Gulf South. In fact, Ochsner now offers more clinical trials than anywhere else in the region. Oncologic research leading to new cancer treatments has been a hallmark of Ochsner throughout its 75-year history. Ochsner physicians are specialized to provide treatment for specific types of cancer, including those that are most complex and difficult to treat. The present environment of cancer care is backed up by the entire Ochsner team of healthcare professionals, including physicians, radiation oncologists, oncologic nurses, researchers, speech and language pathologists, and social workers—just to name a few. Services for adult and pediatric patients and their families span diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from disease.

As we conclude yet another year of publishing the Journal, I would like to thank all of our many authors and peer reviewers for their efforts to constantly improve our publication. Our Ochsner Publishing Services team is to be congratulated for their constant work to enhance the quality of what we do, and it is my humble opinion that this publication would not be possible without their expertise and constant advisement. As we close out this year, Happy New Year-2018 to all of our readers. This edition of the Ochsner Journal is our gift to each of you and includes our best wishes for a beautiful ending to 2017.

On the Cover:

The background image shows a normal pancreas. The islet of Langerhans is surrounded by exocrine pancreatic tissue. The circular insert shows a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor, grade 1, of pancreatic tail growing in a trabecular pattern (hematoxylin and eosin stain 20x). Images courtesy of Thom Smilari, MD, Department of Pathology, Ochsner Clinic Foundation.