Dedicated oncologist Natasha Tiffany, MD, practices at Oregon Oncology Specialists as a physician partner. In this capacity, she sees patients at both Salem Hospital and at the clinic. In addition, Natasha Tiffany, MD, is an attending physician and affiliate assistant professor at Oregon Health Sciences University, and is committed to improving cancer care in the area.
Compared to the rest of the country, Oregon has one of the lowest new cancer rates, yet the death rate in the state rests around the middle. The American Cancer Society estimates that about only 23,300 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in Oregon in 2019, but roughly 8,270 residents in the state will die because of cancer in that same year. The majority of these deaths will result from lung and bronchus cancers. These types of cancers are believed to be the second most common type of cancer in 2019, following female breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer seen in Oregon, particularly in Lake, Clackamas, Josephine, and Yamhill Counties. Although the American Cancer Society estimates state that lung and bronchus cancer will be the second most common type of cancer in the state in 2019, prostate has historically come in second, and lung cancers in third. These cancers affect roughly 2,358 and 2,682 Oregonians per year, respectively.
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A physician partner at Oregon Oncology Specialist and affiliate assistant professor at Oregon Health Sciences University, Natasha Tiffany, MD, has been practicing medicine for upwards of two decades. During that time, Natasha Tiffany, MD, has become familiar with treating a range of cancers, such as lung cancer and breast cancer.
The results of a recent study published in Science Translational Medicine revealed a new blood test that could help physicians better monitor women with early stage breast cancer to prevent recurrence. Known as TARDIS, or targeted digital sequencing, the test was developed by researchers from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). Scientists created the test by sequencing tumor biopsy tissue from more than 30 women with different stages of breast cancer. Based on these samples, scientists isolated potential mutations that were unique to the cancer cells, and identified founder mutations. These founder mutations were subsequently used to create a personalized assay of each patient that could identify breast cancer DNA in blood samples. Initial studies of the new test found that TARDIS was capable of finding tumor DNA in all patient blood samples. Existing liquid biopsies were only successful in finding this DNA in 50 to 75 percent of patients. The test successfully identified tumor DNA when blood concentration was as low as 0.003 percent, making TARDIS 100 times more sensitive than other tests. While more research is still needed to determine the efficacy and accuracy of TARDIS, researchers find the initial results promising. An increased ability to track tumor development in women with breast cancer would help physicians create more targeted treatment and therapy options. Further, the test would assure patients and physicians that tumor DNA was no longer in the body, and help some women avoid surgery altogether. Natasha Tiffany, MD, an experienced oncologist based in Salem, Oregon, treats cancer patients at Oregon Oncology Specialists, where she is a physician partner, and at Salem Hospital. She also teaches as an affiliate assistant professor with Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. At Oregon Oncology Specialists, Natasha Tiffany, MD, and the practice’s team of doctors utilize state of the art cancer care strategies, including immunotherapy. Immunotherapy harnesses the power of a patient’s immune system to attack and destroy cancer cells. This category of cancer-fighting treatment encompasses many distinct approaches. For example, some immunotherapies rely on genetically modified viruses that eliminate malignant cells, while another relies on a patient’s T-cells. The year 2018 was a significant time for immunotherapy advancements. For instance, several immunotherapy drugs secured Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The regulatory body approved Pembrolizumab, a medication that prevents tumors from utilizing part of the immune system to their own benefit, to treat people living with advanced cervical cancer. Other immunotherapy drugs approved by the FDA include Durvalumab and Nivolumab. In addition to drug approvals, immunotherapy research continues to show promise. In one example, researchers are actively exploring vaccines to boost the immune response against such cancers as glioblastoma and melanoma. |
AuthorNatasha Tiffany, MD, is a physician, educator, and research scientist currently working in Oregon. A Partner and Physician in a private practice located in the state’s capital city of Salem, Dr. Tiffany teaches at her alma mater, Oregon Health & Science University, where she is an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Hematology and Medical Oncology Division. Archives
October 2019
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