Dr. Carmen Calfa Appointed Chair-Elect of Clinical Trial Group

Carmen Calfa, M.D., a breast cancer medical oncologist and associate director of community outreach at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has been appointed chair-elect of the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR™) Steering Group of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

The TAPUR Study was the first clinical trial launched by ASCO, in 2016. Dr. Calfa has been the principal investigator for the study at Sylvester. The trial collects data on the safety and efficacy of drugs already approved for some cancers by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, when they are used for other advanced cancers based on the genomic profile of an individual’s tumor. Sylvester is one of only two sites in Florida offering participation in this study, which expands access to targeted therapies.

Dr. Carmen Calfa

“The TAPUR Study is a clinical trial for individuals diagnosed with advanced cancer for whom standard treatment hasn’t worked or stopped working,” said Dr. Calfa. “In addition, the person’s cancer must have at least one genomic variation that can be targeted with specific drugs already approved for another cancer type.”

Dr. Calfa will serve as chair-elect of the TAPUR Steering Group for the 2021-2022 term, followed by a one-year term as chair, and one year as past chair. She was appointed by Eric P. Winer, M.D., FASCO, the incoming ASCO president-elect, and formally approved by the Society’s Board of Directors.

The Steering Group oversees study operations, establishes data sharing and publication policies, reviews plans to add or remove drugs from the study, and approves participation of additional clinical study sites.

“I am grateful to Dr. Richard Schilsky, the national principal investigator for the TAPUR Study, Dr. Winer, and the TAPUR team for trusting me in this leadership role,” Dr. Calfa said. “I know I will use my voice to advocate for promoting and facilitating awareness, education and equity in precision medicine cancer care.

“Our culturally diverse patient population at Sylvester can not only benefit from having the opportunity to receive precision medicine treatment close to their homes but can also contribute to advances in research that will lead to cancer cures, and that’s what we need.”

Dr. Calfa, who is medical co-director for the cancer survivorship program at Sylvester, has published many scientific papers and abstracts on breast cancer. She leads a multidisciplinary survivorship team of breast cancer experts who work to address the physical, emotional, spiritual, and nutritional needs of their patients.

“As a National Cancer Institute designated cancer center, Sylvester’s team is here to offer patients treatment options when all others have failed,” Dr. Calfa said. “Every patient comes to our door with the hope that they can live longer and better-quality lives. We are here to make those dreams come true.”

American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASCO, and TAPUR are trademarks of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc., used with permission.

Tags: American Society of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Carmen Calfa, TAPUR