A Progress Report on Stand Up To Cancer
Posted on December 3, 2008 8:48 AM
November 24, 2008
To Our Members, SU2C Supporters, and the Cancer Community,
As you know, Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) kicked off on September 5th with a star-studded televised fundraising event that aired simultaneously on all three major U.S. television networks and, indeed, all over the world. The results were amazing: to date, more than $100 million has been raised for cutting-edge translational cancer research programs that hold great promise to improve the quality of patient care and save lives.
We and our colleagues on SU2C's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) have been entrusted with the wonderful, albeit weighty, responsibility of selecting "Dream Teams" of investigators--groups of top researchers from institutions in the U.S. and abroad who will combine their multidisciplinary expertise to address critical areas in translational cancer research.
The call for ideas for Dream Team projects that was issued by SU2C's scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), was quite novel, so none of us had an informed expectation about the response it would elicit. From every vantage point, the submissions were extraordinary:
- We received 237 ideas. Given that the teams can include a leader and up to eight principal investigators, as well as two patient advocates, that number reflects the input of thousands of scientists with a broad array of expertise. The process clearly inspired applicants to think creatively about how they could reach across natural boundaries, of both institutions and nations, to collaborate more effectively and accelerate progress.
- The ideas covered many different cancer sites and encompassed a wide spectrum of topics--from prevention, personalized medicine and targeted drugs, angiogenesis, immune therapy, stem cells, epigenetics, and microRNAs, to the use of emerging technologies such as molecular imaging and nanotechnology--that are increasingly important in cancer research.
One of Stand Up To Cancer's important goals is to assure that the projects we support have sufficient resources to really make an impact over the course of the grants' three- year duration. Seventy percent of SU2C's funds will go to translational cancer research Dream Teams. Depending on the scope of each project, the total grant for each Team may reach approximately $15 million over the three-year period, assuming that milestones and objectives are being satisfactorily pursued and achieved.
Making these recommendations is a formidable challenge that each of the 20 SAC members (scientists and clinicians who are experts in translational research, as well as two patient advocates) takes very seriously. We held an intensive two-day meeting last month where the discussion and analysis of the submissions was always rigorous and often spirited. Committee members initially ranked each submission. We then focused on the top 25, which was narrowed to a group of 16. Ultimately, we selected eight ideas to pursue further.
The three of us who serve as the SAC Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons then met with the prospective leaders of each of these eight highly rated Teams. It was a great privilege, during these conversations, to have an opportunity to share with them the Committee's suggestions to help shape the content of the ideas as well as the constitution of the Teams. We came away from these meetings thrilled with the quality of the science being proposed and impressed by the commitment of these prospective leaders to translate scientific discoveries to the clinic to improve patient care.
These eight groups have now been asked to submit comprehensive proposals describing their research plans, which the Committee will review within the next few months to make final recommendations about which of these exciting projects to fund. We anticipate that the final Dream Teams will be selected in the spring. Clearly, there will be much to do going forward to complete agreements and initiate the work of these multi-institutional teams.
Stand Up To Cancer is also offering Innovative Research Grants which will provide significant support for early career investigators whose novel, high risk ideas--while they may have great potential for translational application--are often not funded by conventional sources. The request for letters of intent for these grants has been issued by the American Association for Cancer Research, and is posted on the AACR website, www.aacr.org.
For those of us who have been involved in science for many years, being a part of Stand Up To Cancer is an exhilarating experience. The opportunity to confront many of the traditional barriers to research progress head-on doesn't come along often, and SU2C is designed to do just that. The scientific review process is rigorous and transparent, and a great deal has been accomplished in a short period of time. We believe that SU2C has the potential to quicken the pace of translational research by combining the talent, skills and experience of the nation's and world's top investigators to tackle some of the most critical issues confronting biomedical researchers today. In addition, it is likely that talented young investigators at these institutions will be involved with these important team science projects.
Rapidly moving new research discoveries out of the lab and into the clinic in order to save lives is what Stand Up To Cancer is all about, and it is a goal that honestly seems within reach. We will continue to provide you with periodic updates and progress reports.
Sincerely,
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Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D.
Chairperson, SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee
Institute Professor
David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
Watch Translating Science, a SUTV video with Dr. Sharp
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Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D.
Vice Chairperson, SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee
Professor
Institute for Advanced Study
Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Princeton, NJ
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Brian J. Druker, M.D.
Vice Chairperson, SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee
Professor of Medicine
Oregon Health Sciences University Cancer Institute
Portland, OR
Watch Finding A Better Way, a SUTV video with Dr. Druker
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Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D.
AACR President
Member, SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee
Provost and Executive Vice President
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Watch Taking A Chance, a SUTV video with Dr. DuBois
Read Making It Personal, an article from Dr. DuBois in the SU2C Magazine
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Drs. Sharp, Levine, Druker and DuBois are members of the full Scientific Advisory Committee. Please click here for more about the committee.
Weekly Links - 12/4/08
Posted on December 4, 2008 3:23 PM
The National Cancer Institute's annual report is out, and there's some good news just in time for the holiday season. Rates of new cancer diagnoses and deaths for both men and women in the US have fallen - for the first time since reporting began in 1998. The most common cancers in both genders have seen drops in both incidence and mortality, including colorectal, prostate and breast. But lung cancer incidence and mortality is still on the rise in 18 states - mostly those that have yet to pass anti-smoking laws.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/11/25/cancer.deaths.decline/index.html
This NY Times editorial the NCI report helps break down the data, highlighting both the encouraging decline in death rates and a few disturbing countertrends. "If the decline means that fewer people are contracting cancer, then that is great news," says the piece. "But if it simply means that fewer cases are being diagnosed because fewer people are getting screened for breast and prostate cancer or can afford to visit a doctor, then that is bad news."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/opinion/03wed3.html
Elsewhere, the Grey Lady reports on new research showing that some cancers may just go away on their own. This phenomenon has been observed rarely in melanomas, kidney cancers and neuroblastoma, but a new Norwegian study indicates that even invasive cancers can disappear on their own. However, the ACS warns that this information should be taken with a grain of salt. "Their simplification of a complicated issue is both overreaching and alarming," said the ACS' director of breast cancer screening.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/health/25breast.html?_r=2&em&oref=slogin
SU2C friend Patrick Swayze is speaking out against some reports that his pancreatic cancer has spread. Hard at work on a new series called "The Beast," Swayze says he's still winning the fight against the often fatal disease: "Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease and from the moment I was diagnosed, I knew I was in for the fight of my life. It's a battle, and so far, I've been winning. I'm one of the lucky few that responds well to treatment."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,460527,00.html
A fresh round of research indicates that the cervical cancer vaccine is indeed safe and well-tolerated by the vast majority of young women. A new Australian study looked at data resulting from over 380,000 doses of Gardasil and found that only 35 of the girls experienced "hypersensitivity" reactions and seventeen of those tolerated further doses very well.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/04/AR2008120402156.html
Here's a great Washington Post piece on breast cancer "previvors," women like Christina Applegate who undergo prophylactic mastectomies in order to better their odds of beating the disease. "The previvor is the patient that takes action against this and tries to counter this by having the operation before the cells start acting," says Dr. Ricardo Meade, a reconstructive surgeon. "She is potentially avoiding chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and those are two of the hardest things that a human has to go through."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/03/AR2008120300958.html
Finally, this week brings the news that Olympian Eric Shanteau is back in the pool after undergoing surgery to remove testicular cancer. "I don't condone putting off surgery," he said in reference to his decision to swim in the Olympics before being treated. "It's an aggressive disease. I'm the poster child for early detection."
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/12/04/shanteau.html
That's all for this week. Check back next Thursday for more!
--Cat
How To Talk To Girls
Posted on December 9, 2008 7:47 AM
Have you heard yet about Alec Greven, the country's teensiest relationship expert? The Colorado nine-year-old is the author of "How To Talk To Girls," a new book of dating advice featuring such timeless and universal gems as "Most girls don't really like bugs and gross things" and "Pretty girls are like cars that need a lot of oil."
Well, now it looks like the little Romeo has a new move to add to his playbook: "Donate money to charity." (Girls LOVE it!) During his appearance on the Today Show last week, Alec announced that he will use some of the money he earns from this book to donate to Stand Up To Cancer.
He has already started his own team on SU2C.org:
The Giving Team
and has already made a $10,000 donation to his team!
Check out some of Alec's advice in his own words:
Thanks so much, Alec - we definitely appreciate your help!
Weekly Links - 12/11/08
Posted on December 11, 2008 3:01 PM
Last week's big news, as you'll recall, was that cancer incidence and mortality are both on the decline in the US. This week's big news is a little more sobering. Global health experts now anticipate that cancer will surpass heart disease as the number one killer of people worldwide by 2010. "The global cancer burden doubled in the last 30 years of the 20th century, and it is estimated that this will double again between 2000 and 2020 and nearly triple by 2030," says a new WHO report. What's the primary culprit? You guessed it: smoking.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081209/ts_nm/us_cancer_world_5
Speaking of the worldwide cancer epidemic, there's big trouble in little China, where the provincial village of Liukuaizhuang, overrun by factories making rubber, chemical and paints, now has a cancer diagnosis rate of one in fifty. One spokesman for the county says the problem has been exaggerated and there is not yet an answer as to whether the heavy industrial presence is causing the epidemic, but environmentalists beg to differ. "Pollutants including heavy metals like mercury and lead have already got into the food chain and all these chemicals will affect the normal function of cells," said one.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081211/wl_nm/us_china_reforms_cancer_3
New research on the lifestyles of pediatric cancer survivors confirms what most already knew: that childhood cancer survivors experience more depression and anxiety in their adolescent years than other teenagers and may even experience problems with cognitive abilities thanks to radiation and chemotherapy.
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-health-cancer1202,0,6194905.story
Meanwhile, a coalition of pediatric cancer physicians and researchers is calling for the implementation of a global evaluation system for neuroblastoma, one of the most common childhood cancers. Because research criteria haven't been standardized in the past, it is exceedingly difficult to compare clinical trial results and determine the best treatment strategies. Researchers hope their new classification system will change all that. "By working together, physicians will be able to ask questions about treatment approaches that would otherwise not be possible to ask in a single cooperative group or country because of the small numbers of patients," said task force co-chair Susan Cohn.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/547208/
Here's some disturbing news. New research suggests that Clomid, one of the most common fertility drugs used today, could cause uterine cancer. The study followed women who've had fertility treatment for 30 years, looking at their lifetime risk of developing various cancers, and found a much higher occurrence of uterine cancer. But previous studies have not found a similar link, so experts that more research be done.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/11/earlyshow/health/main4661991.shtml
Finally, I loved the story of these six women's cancer doctors who've formed a band called N.E.D.--"No Evidence of Disease." Songs with titles like "Rhythm Heals" and "False Pretenses" aim to both inspire and educate patients. Though the oncologists earned their medical degrees over the course of eleven years, on average, it only took a few months for them to land a record deal. You can look for their album in November of next year.
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2008/12/07/2008-12-07_all_hail_the_rock_docs.html
That's all I've got for you this week, but check in next Thursday for more!
--Cat
A Note To Our Readers
Posted on December 15, 2008 1:16 PM
Just a quick note to let you guys know that, just like you're reading our blog entries, we're reading your comments. It is our intention to make the site as informative and interactive as possible. Most recently, the leaders of Stand Up To Cancer's Scientific Advisory Committee posted an update on where we stand with assembling Dream Teams and the incredible response they received from scientists and researchers from all over the world. We work closely with our colleagues at the American Association for Cancer Research to reply to inquiries that require deeper knowledge of the subject matter so that we are providing the most accurate information available. Thank you for being a part of the SU2C community. We love hearing from you!
To read the recent update, please read:
A Progress Report on Stand Up To Cancer
Calling all SU2C Team Captains, new and old!
Posted on December 15, 2008 6:56 PM
This holiday season, Stand Up To Cancer is hoping that you will join our end-of-the-year "Dedication Team Challenge."
Team Challenges are a great way for people who have been touched by cancer to band together and make a difference. Our last Team Challenge was incredibly successful, raising over $100,000 in just 20 days.
Especially in the weeks leading up to the holidays, we are reminded of those we love who are or have been affected by cancer.
Between the dates of December 16th and Midnight December 31st EST, we are asking each team to raise at least $1000 dollars in honor of someone who has been affected by cancer.
The team that raises the most money during the dates of the challenge will be announced on network television in 2009 and will have the opportunity to have a loving dedication to the team's honoree read on the air. Both new teams and old teams are eligible to participate.
Its hard to ignore it: this holiday season, many of us are feeling the pressure of bad economic times. Team Challenges allow us all to give just a little bit, but at the same time feel like we are contributing in a much bigger way.
Whether you give a dollar or 100, whether you start a team or make a donation to an existing one... the important thing is that we all take a moment to get involved.
Join us in our fight to make future holidays cancer-free for every family. Thank you.
Jules DiBiase
Editor-in-Chief
StandUp2Cancer.org
Click Here to Participate in SU2C Teams
A View From JingleBall
Posted on December 17, 2008 5:04 PM
Last Friday, I had the privilege of attending Z100's Jingle Ball All Access Lounge in NYC. For those of you who don't know, the Jingle Ball is a huge concert that happens every holiday season at Madison Square Garden. This year, Z100 generously donated $1 per ticket to SU2C!
The All Access Lounge was a place where fans could go to win tickets or win a chance to meet there favorite artists. SU2C had a booth there - we gave away buttons and t-shirts and great DVDs of Just Stand Up. Tons of people came to the booth to register at SU2C, join the Stand, or add a star to the Constellation. It was a young and excited group, and everyone was really supportive. The sad part of it was almost everyone who came by the booth knew someone really close to them who had cancer.
I was very fortunate to meet a woman, Marge Lee, who, as a result of watching the Stand Up To Cancer show, went to get a colonoscopy and found out she had cancer. Amazingly, only three months later, she has undergone treatment and is cancer free. Congratulations, Marge.
Also at the event was Stacy Goldberg, a pediatric oncologist and the captain of one of our winning teams from the last team challenge. The team Crush Kid's Cancer David Archuleta's Angels has raised more than $40,000 since late August. Stacy, Marge, and Marge's two children were able to meet David and thank him for all his support for all kinds of children's health issues, including cancer.
We would like to thank everyone at Z100 and all the fans who came out to the Jingle Ball All Access Lounge. With your continued support, we can all make a difference in the fight against cancer.
SEE MORE PHOTOS ON FLICKR!
Watch a video from Jingle Ball!
- Jules
Weekly Links - 12/18/2008
Posted on December 18, 2008 5:18 PM
This week's round of cancer news brings a fresh update on the dangers of smoking. According to a recent analysis of several studies, there is a "significant" link between the bad habit and an increased risk for developing colorectal cancer. The meta-analysis, published in the most recent issue of JAMA, notes, "We believe that smoking represents an important factor to consider when deciding on the age at which CRC screening should begin, either by lowering the age in smokers or increasing the age in non-smokers."
http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/4393
The holidays are all about nifty new toys, so how about a cool gizmo that helps detect skin cancer? The portable, handheld device uses a light technique to reveal inflamed scar tissue and non-melanoma skin cancers. "Today, people can check their blood pressure at monitors available in every drugstore," said one of the scientists behind the device. "If people could check for skin cancer just as readily, I think more skin cancers would be detected in their earliest and most treatable stages."
http://www.skininc.com/skinscience/physiology/36373984.html
A team of German researchers have identified the molecular mechanism cancer cells use to defend themselves against chemo. It's a complex physiological process involving both nitrogen monoxide and surviving, a protein that prevents the programmed death of cancerous cells. What does all of this mean? "This allows us to quickly and effectively identify mechanisms that are not restricted to a specific indication," said one of the professors involved in the study." This ultimately benefits patients, as the results of the initial research benefit them sooner."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217095600.htm
A new study out of the Yale School of Public Health indicates that many girls aren't getting the cervical cancer vaccine because of both public concerns that it encourages promiscuity and because of its high price tag. Most of the 326 adults surveyed believed that adolescent sexual activity would nearly double among girls receiving the vaccine.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217190441.htm
Just this morning on CNN.com I saw this piece, which profiles the parents of children with cancer and cites the experts on how to break the news to children of varying ages. Though telling the truth is recommended for every age group, Lawrence Wolfe, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York, notes, "I don't think that future-predicting truth telling is necessary -- the kind where you're looking into a crystal ball. 
"If the child is sophisticated to say, 'Am I going to die of this?' you can answer that it's a possibility, but we're embarking on a plan now to try to keep that from happening."
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/12/18/ep.children.bad.diagnosis/index.html
I loved this story: the Austin, Texas branch of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is teaming up with the American Housing Foundation to provide free housing for breast cancer patients who are having trouble holding down work while undergoing treatment. In the next few weeks, 25 families will be moved into units in local apartment buildings thanks to the program.
http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/topnews/story/Austin-offering-free-housing-for-some-breast/ZstjcH6cl0GtCUEchouwAw.cspx
Finally, September 5th Special Participant Pearce Quesenberry and her mom recently posted on our blog, celebrating Pearce's declaration of being N.E.D! (Click here to read this post.)
Katie Couric has written of her personal encounter with inspirational young Pearce, which you can read and watch here:
The Girl Who Stood Up To Cancer: www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/12/18/couricandco/entry4675613.shtml
That's all I've got for this week. Your humble Weekly Links narrator will be on Christmas break until January 8, but check back in with us then for more news you can use, and in the meantime, happy holidays!
--Cat
