Stand Up To Cancer

As we near the end of an inspiring and historic week in America, I can't help but be excited about all the change and progress our country has seen in the past forty years - and hope that soon we'll see some change in the way our country tackles the issue of healthcare in general and cancer specifically. President-Elect Obama has spoken in the past of his mother's battle against cancer. Sadly, he also lost his grandmother to cancer this week, one day before becoming the country's first black president.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6095465.html

We launched a star in Madelyn Dunham's honor. You can view and add to it here:
http://www.standup2cancer.org/constellation-launch?starId=14977

Earlier this week, the University of California San Francisco launched BreastCancerTrials.org, a free online service that allows women diagnosed with or at risk for breast cancer to find clinical trials. "Every advance in our understanding and treatment of breast cancer has come from clinical trial results," said one of the docs involved with the project. "The more we can empower our patients to find out about and participate in trials, the faster we will be able to complete trials, and the sooner this new knowledge will translate into better care and outcomes for all patients."
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/11/06/free-web-site-lists-breast-cancer-clinical-trials.html

There's actually some good news for migraine sufferers this week. New research indicates that women who get migraines may have a much lower risk of developing breast cancer than their headache-free peers. Turns out most migraine triggers in women are hormone-related, same way breast cancer can be hormone-related.
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/news/20081105/migraines-may-cut-breast-cancer-risk

And now some not so cheery news. The LA Times reports that new research out of Harvard shows that B vitamins and folic acid, while useful in many ways, don't cut cancer risk. Because these supplements help with DNA synthesis and repair, some had theorized that they might be natural cancer-fighters. No cigar this time, though.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2008/11/folic-acid-and.html

Did you know that worldwide, stomach cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death? Researchers had previously identified risk factors including a high-sodium diet, smoking and H. pylori bacterial infection (seen mostly in underdeveloped nations). Now Columbia scientists have identified elevated levels of a single immune system protein as a major contributor to the disease, proving that chronic inflammation really does significantly raise risk.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081105135126.htm

Finally, this week Michael Crichton, bestselling author of Jurassic Park and many many other novels, died of cancer after a long, private battle with the disease. As anyone who's ever spent an entire day lost in the underseas world of Sphere can attest, we just lost a fantastic imagination. (Seriously, read it.) He was 66.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aYJs56Zfe_X0&refer=muse

To end on a light note, see Christina Applegate on the set of Samatha Who?
http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2008/11/06/christina-applegate-on-the-set-of-samantha-who

That's it for this week - see you next Thursday . . .

--Cat

Posted on November 6, 2008 7:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

- By Laura Ziskin

This past September 5th, Stand Up to Cancer launched in a powerful way. Thanks to a landmark broadcast on three major networks, the passion, support and dedication of leading doctors and scientists, and generous contributions from the entertainment community, corporate sponsors and the general public, we raised more than $100 million for innovative cancer research projects. Now, to paraphrase Tony Kushner, it is time to let the great work begin:

In early October, Lisa Paulsen, Noreen Fraser and I (representing the Executive Leadership of SU2C) traveled to Philadelphia to attend a dinner on the eve of the inaugural meeting of the Stand Up To Cancer Scientific Advisory Committee. Dr. Raymond DuBois, president, and Dr. Margaret Foti, chief executive officer, of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), our scientific partner, hosted the dinner. Nineteen of the twenty Committee members, including the two representatives of the SU2C Advocate Advisory Council, attended the meeting. Nobel Laureate Dr. Phillip Sharp presided over the meeting, along with vice chairs, Dr. Brian Druker and Dr. Arnold Levine. For Lisa, Noreen and me, it was our first time meeting many of these extraordinary scientists who have generously agreed to donate their time and expertise to our mutual cause.

We already knew Dr. Sharp and Dr. Druker, of course, both of whom were featured in the Stand Up To Cancer broadcast. Dr. Sharp took me around before the dinner and gave me a personal introduction to a number of the other attendees, including Dr. Levine who was a key figure in the discovery of the p53 tumor suppressor gene; Richard Kolodner who has done seminal work in genetic recombination and DNA repair; Tak Mak who co-discovered the T-cell receptor, a key component of the immune system; Cecil Pickett from Biogen Idec, who is a world expert in drug development; Vicki L. Sato, whose expertise is in both drug development and business in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industries; and Samuel Wells, who, Dr. Sharp reminded me, is the only surgical oncologist on the Committee, and is a pioneer in treatments for thyroid and other endocrine cancers. It was a heady experience to have this much brain power together in one room. But what was really rewarding was to hear first-hand how genuinely excited and challenged they all were to be such an important part of this endeavor. To learn more about our Scientific Advisory Committee go to: http://www.standup2cancer.org/su2c/advisory.

In July, the AACR put out a broad call for ideas for cancer research "Dream Teams," reflecting the following general SU2C principles:

SU2C is committed to improving the outcomes for cancer patients by raising awareness of the importance of the problem and providing significant incremental resources to apply to its eradication. SU2C understands that its goals can only be achieved through the support of very high quality research and has formed a partnership with AACR to facilitate the distribution of research support in a fashion that both promotes the highest quality science and adheres to the specific priorities of SU2C:

1. SU2C aspires to support proximal translational research. By this we mean both laboratory and clinical research bridging the gap between basic science and the bedside, clearly focused on the problem of human cancer, with a discernible potential to lead to the development of markedly better treatments or preventions for this disease as rapidly as possible. SU2C places the highest priority on initiatives with the greatest potential to translate within the funding period and that address the greatest unmet medical need.


2. SU2C believes that open communication, collaboration and cooperation between the best scientists and clinicians is essential to moving the research agenda forward as rapidly as possible and is therefore critical for cancer patient welfare. SU2C therefore wishes to foster group efforts and discourage individual and institutional competition in its funding activities.


3. SU2C wishes to promote goal-directed research. While it is understood that true innovation and major improvements in cancer prevention and treatment will begin with the best basic laboratory research, projects that are most consistent with SU2C objectives will unambiguously embody and specifically articulate a clear bedside objective.


4. SU2C is committed to maximizing the efficiency with which scientists pursue the research objectives we support. We therefore wish to minimize the time spent in preparing proposals and awaiting funding and optimize the time spent on SU2C projects. Noreen, Lisa and I addressed the group at dinner and thanked them for their commitment. We also each encouraged them to think boldly in their upcoming meetings; to think out of the box; and to think about what will get better treatments to patients in the fastest way possible. It was gratifying when Dr. Sharp, Dr. Druker and Dr. Levine each took the podium to address the group. Dr. Levine spoke about how far we have come since Nixon's war on cancer. How in those days we thought all cancers were caused by viruses. How we have subsequently learned about the effects of chemicals and carcinogens; about the role of aging in cancer; and most importantly about how genetic changes can cause cancer. Indeed, technology has given scientists so many new tools and they now understand the mechanisms of cancer so much better. Dr. Levine reinforced that cancer researchers are on the cusp of real breakthroughs.

Dr. Druker then told the story of a colon cancer patient who asked him when there would be better treatments. He told the patient things were moving forward and that new treatments were just down the road. The patient was not satisfied. When Dr. Druker went home and recounted this to his wife, she reminded him that you cannot ask a cancer patient to have "patience". We need answers now, and Dr. Druker and cancer researchers around the world are committed to finding them. Finally, Dr. Sharp said that the entire Committee understands that the SU2C leadership, and the public we continue to rally, have given them an incredibly difficult challenge, but that they were all really turned on by that challenge and dedicated to doing their very best to deliver results.

We left the dinner more excited than I think we had been throughout the entire year we had been working on SU2C. This was what we had been working and waiting for. The next morning these scientists would meet to discuss their charge from the SU2C and to evaluate the proposals that were submitted. This meeting marked the beginning of an important process to identify the most exciting team projects to be supported by SU2C funds. In the coming weeks and months, Dr. Sharp and the vice chairs of the Committee will be updating all of us on their progress. I will do my best to pass on their findings to all of those who have generously supported our cause. But for all of us who were in the room October 9th, I can tell you there was a feeling of enormous excitement that the end of cancer has begun.

Posted on November 17, 2008 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (102)

Well, things are finally settling down again in America. The election's over, so now all eyes are on President-elect Obama - including the eyes of the cancer community. In this commentary from SU2C friend Lance Armstrong, Obama is urged to redouble the government's commitment to fighting cancer now.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/09/armstrong.cancer/

Meanwhile, scientists at Washu St. Louis have successfully decoded the complete DNA of a cancer patient for the first time. "This is the first time that we've been able to look at the entire set of genes from a cancer patient," said one of the clinicians involved in the study. "And that's key because that's going to help us understand what goes wrong."
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-10-voa31.cfm

In other research news, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a method for viewing individual breast cancer cells for several days at a time. The technique has yielded new information on how cancer cells invade tissues and reach blood vessels in the early stages of metastasis.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/546378/

Speaking of breast cancer, here's a new way to raise awareness: through a film festival. Next week Toronto will play host to the Breast Fest Film Festival (great name, right?), which aims to use the expressive power of film to educate audiences. And what's the opening night feature? Living Proof, of course, the Lifetime movie about SU2C friend Dr. Dennis Slamon.
http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/November2008/11/c7242.html

There are plenty of ideas from Canada we should be stealing down here in the good ol' US of A. Here's another one: stricter bans on farm pesticides, which have been shown to pose a cancer risk to farmers, rural residents and possibly even the general eating public.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081112.wpesticides12/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20081112.wpesticides12

We don't see a lot of news about brain cancer, but here's an exciting development: researchers at Tel Aviv University have determined that some people are genetically predisposed to the disease, just like some people are more susceptible to breast, colon and prostate cancers. Scientists now hope to find genes associated with brain tumors to better determine who is at risk.
http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=45362654

Finally, did you know that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month? The campaign centers on raising awareness and education the American public about the causes of the most lethal form of cancer. To learn more about Lung Cancer Awareness Month, visit the Lung Cancer Alliance online. And to read about this year's Great American Smokeout on November 20th, click here.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20081110/LOCAL1803/811100391/1267/LOCAL01

A side-note: Glam.com has featured SU2C holiday gift items on their blog, including photos of celebrities sporting our star necklaces. Read the Glam.com article: Holiday Gifts That Stand Up To Cancer.

That's it for now. Check back with us Thursday to learn more!

--Cat

Posted on November 13, 2008 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

With just a week to go until Thanksgiving, I thought maybe this time around it would be nice to focus on positive news in the world of cancer research and care. Life isn't easy for women with an inherited BRCA mutation, but researchers at Cedars-Sinai here in LA are working on targeted therapies to help repair their DNA damage - potentially staving off cancer. "I am sure that this is just the beginning of a long list of targeted therapies that will do the same thing," said one of the docs involved in the study. Now there's something to be thankful for.
http://www.wftv.com/health/18024762/detail.html#-

Meanwhile, a new study out of Texas shows that older cancer survivors can benefit from "home-based programs" aimed at helping them eat better and exercise more. The study's participants lost weight and body mass and improved their physical strength - and all that was needed was a few mailings on diet and exercise and some phone calls from counselors.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/18/AR2008111802113.html

According to research presented Tuesday at the AACR's annual meeting, Canadian docs may have found a genetic trait that can predict which former smokers will develop lung cancer and which won't. The researchers looked at former smokers who had had lung cancer and former smokers who hadn't and found differences in the levels of DNA damage between the two, suggesting that one group was more susceptible to damage than the other.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/18/AR2008111802114.html

And that's not the only lung cancer news to come out this week. Looks like cruciferous veggies (such as broccoli) are loaded with a protective nutrient that helps protect smokers against cancer. Smokers who ate these veggies (also on the list: cauliflower and Brussels sprouts) cut their lung cancer risk by as much as 55%. Of course, the best way to cut your lung cancer risk is still to quit smoking.
http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/local/health_wtnh_broccoli_reduces_smokers_risk_lung_cancer_2008111915153_rev1

Chemotherapy may be the best way to fight a host of cancers, but it takes its toll on the patient's body. That's why I was happy to read about new research showing that the enzyme super oxide dismutase can help relieve the side effects of chemo. The enzyme is a powerful antioxidant shown in 19 different studies to increase cancer patients' survival time and their response to treatment.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Photos-Peptides-Discovered-Alleviate-Chemotherapy/story.aspx?guid={6A6CDAB6-F36E-4C17-A80C-78218B5E1D54}

Finally, the same Australian scientist who developed the cervical cancer vaccine believes he may have developed a similar skin cancer vaccine. It works the same way - by targeting papillomavirus, this time in the form of a very common skin infection that can linger in the body, eventually leading to cancer. Already shown to work in animals, the vaccine starts human trials next year and could hit the market as early as 2014.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,453009,00.html

Okey doke - that's all for this week! See you next time and happy Thanksgiving!

--Cat

Note: Cat will be taking a break from Weekly Links next week due to Thanksgiving. Please look for her next installment on December 4th!

Posted on November 20, 2008 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

This is Debbie Quesenberry. Our daughter Pearce was on Stand Up To Cancer. Just thought I would give you an update and maybe you can pass it along to everyone else involved with SU2C.

Pearce completed her fourth and final treatment in early October. Her last round of chemo was horrible; Pearce was terribly ill. After completing treatment, Pearce had an MRI. That MRI showed a new area of concern. Needless to say, we were terribly upset. The doctors told us if the area of concern did turn out to be another tumor, they would not treat it. We spent the next three weeks in a complete panic waiting for the next MRI.

Pearce had the MRI on November 11th. The doctors called yesterday to tell us her MRI was clear and the area of concern was gone! Pearce Quesenberry has completed treatment and is NED: No Evidence of Disease.

We can't wait to come back next year as SURVIVORS from this horrible monster. We are having a party for Pearce -- we are celebrating her "Kicking Cancer's Butt!"

************

Hi, I'm Pearce Q. I participated in the Stand Up To Cancer event in September. It was so inspirational to see all the survivors. I had gone through 31 radiation treatments and four rounds of aggressive chemo. When I heard stories about survivors' journeys it made me feel good. It gave me strength to push through all the hard times.

I would like to thank everyone who donated and everyone who made this event possible. I gained so much hope when I found out how many people had donated. I know that one day cancer will be nothing and no one will ever have to suffer again. I had a great time and can't wait to come back next year as a survivor.

Posted on November 24, 2008 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (60)