Robert Cameron, MD: A Pioneer in Thoracic Surgery and Mesothelioma Treatment at UCLA

Robert Cameron, M.D., stands as a prominent figure in the field of cardiothoracic surgery and surgical oncology. As a Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, he has dedicated his career to advancing the treatment of chest diseases, with a particular focus on mesothelioma. His work encompasses a broad spectrum of surgical interventions, from cancer screening to complex surgeries and cutting-edge clinical trials.

Expertise and Specialization

Dr. Cameron's expertise lies in the surgical management of diseases affecting the lungs, pleura, esophagus, chest wall, mediastinum, and diaphragm. His specific areas of focus include:

Mesothelioma
Esophageal Cancer
Lung Cancer
Thymus Tumors
Pectus Deformities (excavatum or carinatum)
Hyperhidrosis
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS)

He offers a comprehensive range of services, encompassing cancer screening, radical surgical procedures, and the most advanced clinical treatment trials.

A Leader in Mesothelioma Treatment

Dr. Cameron is particularly renowned for his pioneering work in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer. As the Director of the Mesothelioma Program at UCLA, a program recognized as one of the world's leading centers, he has championed a lung-sparing surgical approach that has gained increasing acceptance as a superior alternative to the more radical extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), which involves the removal of the entire lung. Dr. Cameron authored a seminal paper on the "con" side of EPP, published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, which remains one of the most widely cited papers on the subject.

Lung-Sparing Pleurectomy/Decortication

Dr. Cameron helped to develop a lung-sparing surgery, a surgical procedure that is less radical and does not remove the entire lung for pleural mesothelioma patients. Called lung-sparing pleurectomy/decortication, Dr. Cameron has been refining it and treating patients with it for more than twenty years. Patients who are generally healthy and physically fit enough to handle invasive surgery are good candidates for this procedure, which involves two main parts. The first is a pleurectomy, where the chest cavity is opened up and the surgeon removes portions of the lining of the affected lung(s). The second part, decortication, involves the removal of tumor growth inside the pleural lining.

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Patients who receive the procedure, which Cameron has performed more than 300 times, typically have a longer life expectancy - ranging from nine to 19 months following surgery - than those who don’t. While there is no known cure for mesothelioma, Cameron’s goal with this procedure is to save the lung, remove as much as the tumor as possible, and treat mesothelioma as a chronic illness. In fact, he is outspoken in his opposition to the arguably radical practice of lung removal (extrapleural pneumonectomy, or EPP).

Percutaneous Cryoablation Program

In collaboration with Dr. Fereidoun Abtin, an interventional radiologist at UCLA, Dr. Cameron has developed a program in percutaneous cryoablation for recurrent mesothelioma in the chest. This innovative approach has demonstrated a local control rate of over 95%.

International Symposium on Lung-Sparing Therapies

In 2011, Dr. Cameron initiated an International Symposium at UCLA on Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. This annual event, organized in collaboration with Dr. Joyce Fried, brings together national and international experts to highlight rational therapies that preserve lung function while effectively treating cancer.

Research and Innovation

Dr. Cameron's commitment to advancing the field extends beyond surgical practice to encompass research and innovation.

"Punch" Worthington Research Laboratory

Dr. Cameron previously established the "Punch" Worthington research laboratory, funded by a generous donation from one of his patients. This laboratory is dedicated to investigating asbestos-related cancers, specifically lung cancer and mesothelioma. The laboratory has received grants to evaluate the roles of hyperthermia, interferon, chemotherapy, and anti-angiogenic therapies in tissue culture models. Initial reports from the laboratory have challenged the clinical use of hyperthermia, suggesting that its use is not justified. The laboratory is also preparing papers on the use of cryotherapy in vitro and has investigated the effects of betadine and water, demonstrating some antitumor effects from these "therapies." These findings have the potential to significantly alter the approach to intraoperative adjunctive therapy for mesothelioma.

Novel Cryotherapy Device Development

Based on the research findings from his laboratory, Dr. Cameron is collaborating with Dr. Warren Grundfest in the School of Engineering to develop a novel therapy device for applying cryotherapy to the inside of the chest during surgery.

Mesothelioma Virtual Bank

Dr. Cameron has also worked to participate in a national mesothelioma virtual bank, aimed at collecting tumor and tissue specimens and gathering correlative clinical information.

IL-4 Based Immunotoxin

Previous research by Dr. Cameron demonstrated that IL-4 receptors were up-regulated on mesothelioma cells, making these cells sensitive to an IL-4 based immunotoxin. This molecule has been licensed to a small drug company, and efforts are underway to create a sustained release form and complete additional testing for a potential FDA-approved phase I/II human trial.

3-D Multicellular Culture System

Dr. Cameron is also collaborating on the development of a novel 3-D multicellular culture system that will reduce the need for preclinical animal testing and facilitate the understanding of immune system interactions in the tumor microenvironment.

Contributions to the Veterans Administration

In addition to his work at UCLA, Dr. Cameron serves as the chief of thoracic surgery at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. He has significantly increased the caseload at the VA, leading to the recruitment of a second surgeon, Dr. Svetlana Kotova, whom he mentors. He has also established a minimally-invasive robotic-assisted program at the VA. Since 1998, the WLAVA has partnered with UCLA Medical School to develop rational strategies to treat mesothelioma. Through this partnership, the same innovative treatments offered at UCLA, one of the world’s leading mesothelioma treatment centers, are also available to veterans at the WLAVA.

The Mesothelioma Center for Excellence at the WLAVA was renamed the Elmo Zumwalt Treatment & Research Center in 2013. An Admiral in the United States Navy, Admiral Zumwalt was exposed to asbestos while serving his country on naval ships.

Other Surgical Expertise

Dr. Cameron also has expertise and research interests in other areas: minimally-invasive and robotic surgery, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, chest wall tumors, and thoracic outlet syndrome.

For nearly the past 10 years, he has been the only general thoracic surgeon at UCLA to use the da Vinci surgical robot and is recognized nationally for this expertise. He has developed advanced minimally-invasive robotic-assisted procedure for thymic tumors and myasthenia which allow patients to have surgery without chest tubes or major incision and to go home in 24 hrs saving thousands of healthcare dollars. Finally, he is developing a similar minimally-invasive robotic-assisted thoracic outlet procedure as well as diaphragm plication for eventration.

Education and Training

Dr. Cameron earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan and the UCLA School of Medicine, graduating in 1984. He followed graduation from medical school with a surgical internship at the same location in 1985. He stayed at UCLA for two surgical residences from 1985 to 1986 and 1989 through 1992. In between those residencies, Dr. Cameron spent a few years at the National Cancer Institute on a fellowship in surgical oncology. After his second year, he obtained early membership to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society after his second year. After completing his degree, Cameron received training as a clinical associate in surgical oncology at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland; a general surgery residency at UCLA; and a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Cornell-New York Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Honors and Distinctions

Dr. Cameron has received several honors and distinctions throughout his career.

Publications and Presentations

Dr. Cameron has authored or co-authored more than 35 papers regarding oncology, thoracic surgery, and other topics in medical journals. He has also contributed to numerous book chapters and has presented his research at national and international conferences. He has authored or co-authored a number of papers on oncology and thoracic surgery and has reviewed articles for Cancer Research, the Annals of Surgical Oncology, the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, the Journal of Immunology, and Journal of the National Cancer Institute, and other medical publications. In addition, he has written more than 38 medical book chapters, edited two medical textbooks, and has given several lectures on mesothelioma treatment and related matters.

A Legacy of Innovation and Compassionate Care

Dr. Robert Cameron's career is marked by a relentless pursuit of innovation and a deep commitment to providing compassionate care to his patients. His pioneering work in lung-sparing surgery for mesothelioma has transformed the treatment landscape for this challenging disease, offering patients renewed hope and improved outcomes. His research efforts promise to further advance our understanding and treatment of mesothelioma and other thoracic malignancies.

Key Facts About Mesothelioma

Military veterans account for over one-third of Americans diagnosed with mesothelioma.
The average time between a person’s first exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma (latency period) is more than 40 years.
More than 80% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the pleura (pleural mesothelioma).
Less than 20% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma).
A history of asbestos exposure can be found in more than 80% of mesothelioma cases.

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