For all the talk about how television will melt your mind, last night The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences proved that TV has the power to warm your heart and impact positive change in communities and society at large. The Television Academy Honors recognized those programs in 2008 that exemplified "Television with a Conscience," which depicted issues in a compelling, emotional and insightful way. Stand Up To Cancer was honored alongside stellar programs including HBO's documentary, Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football, the ABC series Brothers & Sisters and Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Morgan Spurlock's FX series, 30 Days, PBS' Holocaust drama, God on Trial, the CBS special A Home for the Holidays, and the Animal Planet series Whale Wars. These programs tackled challenging topics including racial integration, adoption, gun control, sexual orientation, animal rights, and questions of faith.
The final award of the evening was presented to SU2C for their landmark program, which brought together three networks for the fight against cancer and raised more than $100 million in innovative cancer research. Before introducing the award, host Dana Delany, one of the many celebrities who appeared on the Sept. 5th broadcast, joked about having a mammogram on live TV, "I thank all three networks for encouraging me to touch myself." Then presenter Brad Garrett, another SU2C celebrity participant, delivered a hilarious monologue about a digital rectal exam. "I don't want to go all Katie Couric on you," said Garrett. "But I get a colonoscopy every three weeks."
Renowned producer, and cancer survivor, Laura Ziskin accepted the award flanked by the Stand Up To Cancer leadership team, a group of extraordinary entertainment executives, all of whom were touched by cancer and united to take a stand against this vicious disease. The group included Noreen Fraser, Sherry Lansing, Ellen Ziffren, Lisa Paulson, Rusty Robertson and Sue Schwartz.
"As a cancer survivor, I'm determined to beat it. Some 1,500 Americans die every day of cancer. That's criminal," said Ziskin. "We can make a difference -- and we are."
Ziskin was inspired by the moving evening and the emotional stories from the other recipients. In her trademark energetic manner, Ziskin asked the audience to get involved in every way they could and promised the first wave of dream team collaborations between scientists would be announced in the coming weeks. "I don't know if we have saved a life yet," said Ziskin. "But I promise you, we will."
My colleagues Noreen Fraser and Sue Schwartz and I had the privilege of representing Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) at the American Association for Cancer Research's (AACR) 100th annual meeting, which was an awe-inspiring experience. Scientific breakthroughs are being made right now that will propel us into a new era in the fight against this disease, and there was palpable energy and excitement among the 17,000 members of the cancer research community gathered in Denver for the meeting. Here's my best layperson's shot at describing some of what I saw and heard there.
As the conference began, several scientists who were being honored spoke. Their accents spanned the globe; their ages, at least a few decades; and their distinctive personal stories ranged from a cancer researcher who is himself a cancer survivor, to a young female investigator -- with a litany of discoveries to her credit -- who is also the mother of four-year-old triplets. The projects run the gamut of cancer research, but all are making significant contributions to the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of the disease. Some were extremely complex, and others readily understandable to a person with no science training. (In the latter category, I was fascinated to hear that a substance produced in the roots of a germinating "curcubita pepo L" -- known to you and me as a common zucchini -- has significant potential for the development of a pharmacologic agent to prevent certain types of cancer.) Three things were reiterated by each scientist recognized: an incredible commitment to stopping cancer in its tracks, compassion for the patients who suffer with it, and profound gratitude for their families' understanding about long hours spent in the lab.
The site of the plenary session, deep within the Mile High City's Convention Center, could have held a few football fields. Looking out over the sea of faces, I was struck by the massive amount of brainpower gathered in that single room . . . you could almost imagine little signs with really high IQ numbers hovering over each person's head! ALL of that brainpower is dedicated to ending cancer, and its potential is enormous. Though the space was huge, it felt bursting with possibility.
While getting to be a "fly on the wall" at this meeting, I thought a lot about the principles on which Stand Up To Cancer is based. Scientists need more money for research, and the type of multi-institutional collaboration SU2C will fund clearly spurs efficiency and innovation. The entertainment industry is uniquely positioned to help catch the public's attention, and our efforts -- to convey how hopeful thing are in cancer research right now and communicate that everyone can help scientists accelerate the pace at which their work produces tangible benefits for patients -- are ongoing.
SU2C actually received an award for that at the conference, but the real heroes (as you may have just heard Katie Couric say in the video) are the scientists, AND all of you who are doing whatever you can to contribute to research. Significant SU2C Dream Team grants will be awarded this spring, and we are profoundly grateful for your support. AACR's distinguished public service award is rightfully shared with everyone who has been a part of Stand Up To Cancer in its first year. Thank you!
Kathleen Lobb, Member, Stand Up To Cancer Executive Leadership Committee
Congratulations to Jesse Ash, whose short film "Magical Cure" -- winner of SU2C's 2008 Film Challenge -- has just won not one, but twoWebby awards. "Magical Cure" won best online video in the public service and activism category as well as a People's Voice award. Go Jesse!
Remember a few weeks back when I mentioned that Farrah Fawcett is making a documentary about her experience battling anal cancer? Next week NBC will air the documentary as a two-hour special called "Farrah's Story." "This film is very personal," Fawcett said. "At the time, I didn't know if anybody would ever see it. But at some point, the footage took on a life of its own and dictated that it be seen." You can check it out May 15 at 9 p.m. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/05/06/2009-05-06_nbc_sets_farrah_fawcett_cancer_show.html
Roche's cancer drug Avastin has just been cleared by the FDA for use against with glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. The FDA fast-tracked clearance after two studies published in March showed impressive responses in patients treated with the drug. Avastin is still being evaluated for effectiveness against ovarian and prostate cancer, so stay tuned. http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSL644559520090506
In an Ohio-based study of 434 women, 3T MRI - which is MRI at a high magnetic field strength - was found to detect a significant number of breast lesions not found with either mammography or ultrasound. "Our study suggests an important role for 3T MRI in such high risk groups for an early diagnosis of breast cancer and better accuracy in evaluating the extent of disease--a crucial factor in appropriate therapy planning," said the study's lead author. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090505162448.htm
Here's a little much-needed good news about lung cancer, one of the most lethal forms of the disease. New research out of MGH indicates that exercise may be beneficial to lung cancer patients. The patients in the study were enrolled in an exercise program that included aerobics and weight training; over half experienced a significant reduction in lung cancer symptoms. http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/05/06/Exercise-may-benefit-lung-cancer-patients/UPI-15671241590766/
In less hopeful lung cancer news, another new study shows that women may be more vulnerable than men to the cancer-causing agents in cigarettes. Researchers looked at 683 lung cancer patients and found that female patients tended to be younger when they developed the disease - in spite of smoking fewer cigarettes on average than their male counterparts. "Lung cancer is not only a man's disease, but women tend to be much more aware of other cancers, such as breast cancer," one of the docs involved with the study said. "Several case-control studies seem to suggest that women are more vulnerable to tobacco carcinogens than men." http://www.forbes.com/feeds/hscout/2009/05/04/hscout626607.html
Finally, I loved this piece from the New York Times in which Well Blog contributor Dana Jennings writes about his experience being treated for - and recovering from - prostate cancer. "The flowering trees in my neighborhood - magnolia and crab apple, dogwood and weeping cherry - are all billow and burst," he writes. "Meanwhile, the robins hold sunrise conclaves on the front lawn, and the night birds gab and gossip past midnight. I think I know how those birds feel . . . I, too, find myself giddy with the optimism of spring." http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/after-a-winter-of-cancer-the-optimism-of-spring/
Members of the Stand Up To Cancer executive leadership committee, Sue Schwartz and Rusty Robertson, joined Laura Ziskin and SU2C Management Committee member Dr. John Glaspy, M.D., M.P.H. at the annual meeting of thinkLA. thinkLA brought together leaders in business, media and advertising from across Southern California for this year's conference with the theme "Ideas That Inspire . . . "
The Stand Up To Cancer team is grateful to thinkLA and Tom Sebastian for the invitation and journalist Brian Unger for moderating the SU2C panel. Thanks, especially, to Brian Unger for sharing the story of the challenges his own family has faced with cancer. His openness and candor set the tone for the discussion.
The panel presentation moved the audience with the story of how Stand Up To Cancer's unique cancer research model was born. Laura and her team detailed for the audience the critical importance of breaking down the barriers between scientists and the institutions which fund them, to create a model for collaboration that will get new therapies to cancer patients more quickly. In the lively discussion, Dr. Glaspy compared the fight against cancer to the need to "storm the beach", again and again, armed with new weapons of treatments and therapies.
Dr. Glaspy, in humor, characterized SU2C as a "populist takeover of the cancer research establishment". While SU2C certainly is committed to reach across barriers and boundaries to help build a populist movement, of course it relies on the scientists and their discoveries to bring new treatments to patients, as quickly as possible.
When Rusty shared with the audience that reducing cancer cases by just 1% would save the country $5 billion, there was an audible gasp. "There's your economic stimulus package!" she told everyone.
In the spirit of collaboration, the SU2C team called upon the advertising and media community of Los Angeles to join with them and their partners to contribute to the cause and help build awareness for Stand Up To Cancer's efforts to end the devastation of cancer.
This week brings news of a new genetic test for cancer patients - one that can predict whether colon cancer will recur. The test, made by the same company that makes a genetic test for breast cancer, has done well in early trials, although it has not been able to predict a patient's response to chemotherapy, as researchers originally hoped. It could be available as early as 2010. http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1341664220090514
As a longtime motion sickness sufferer, I already knew ginger pills had the potential to ease nausea . . . and now research confirms that the natural remedy works for the nausea caused by cancer drugs as well. In a study of 614 people with cancer, a low dose of ginger was found effective at quelling the stomach upset that often accompanies cancer treatment - and it did so without any side effects or drug interations. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE54D68I20090514
A new implantable device could one day replace biopsies as the standard method of monitoring cancer growth. According to a study in this month's Biosensors and Bioelectronics, someday implants, which have been used successfully in mice, could provide up-to-the-minute updates on what a tumor is doing, including whether it's growing, how it's responding to treatment and whether it has metastasized. "What this does is basically take the lab and put it in the patient," said the doc who developed the device. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090513173501.htm
I really enjoyed this helpful article from the New York Times, which looks at the sunscreen "arms race" - the process by which manufacturers up the SPFs on their sunscreen bottles in hopes of attracting more buyers. "If adequately applied, sunscreens with sky-high SPFs offer slightly better protection against lobster-red burns than an SPF 30," the article clarifies. "But they don't necessarily offer stellar protection against the more deeply penetrating ultraviolet A radiation, or so-called aging rays." Keep that in mind when you head to the beach this summer. And remember: "Dermatologists now advise using sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15 and UVA-fighting ingredients like an avobenzone that doesn't degrade in light or Mexoryl SX." http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/fashion/14SKIN.html?_r=1
A new therapy developed in Canada could help treat 30% of all cancers, according to researchers from the University of Montreal. The technique involves the common anti-viral drug ribavirin, which, it turns out, suppresses the activities of a certain cancer-causing gene. "Our results are the first to show that targeting eIF4E in humans is clinically beneficial," the study's lead author said. "We also found that ribavirin not only blocks eIF4E, it has no side effect on patients." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090513173503.htm
Thanks to an outpouring of support from philanthropists, people from all walks of life, corporations and public-spirited organizations across the country, we have a chance to strike a real blow against cancer, which still claims more than half a million American lives each year. For me, as for so many, the fight is personal.
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), the charitable initiative launched in May 2008, announced the first round of three-year grants this week, totaling $73.6 million. The money is going to SU2C "Dream Teams" of top scientists at different institutions to help them get promising new treatments to cancer patients -- and do it fast.
Cancer took both of my parents -- my father died of lung cancer in 2005 and my mother of ovarian cancer just two years later. I have many friends who are contending with the disease, and we will all somehow be touched by cancer some day.
I am privileged to run the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the collective philanthropy for the television and film businesses. We've been part of an extraordinary coalescing of people within the entertainment community around two ambitious goals this past year: convey to the American people that we are on the cusp of great advances in cancer research, if only we can all come together to support this research; and facilitate new and better ways for scientists doing the research to work together. From the person who can contribute $1 to the corporations and philanthropists who can make a multi-million dollar gift, each and every one of us can make a difference.
Donors at all levels responded enthusiastically, and after the broadcast, $100 million had been raised for cancer research programs.
Raising the money was one challenge; devising a model for investing the funds in projects with the greatest potential to bear fruit in a compressed time-frame is quite another. Our scientific partner, the prestigious American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and a core group of scientists developed a roadmap centered on getting new therapies to patients quickly. The clear starting point was that Stand Up To Cancer will fund only "translational" research, which is all about moving science out of the lab and into real-world treatments in the clinic, where they can save cancer patients' lives.
The plan was designed to hit impediments to progress head on, such as the natural boundaries and competitiveness that can exist between research centers. Requiring the "best and the brightest," both from different institutions and disciplines, to collaborate is at the heart of SU2C's Dream Team approach.
When Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp of MIT signed on to chair the committee that would recommend which teams be funded, other august scientists quickly followed. Painstakingly narrowing the initial 237 team ideas to five team grant recipients was a complicated, time-consuming and -- particularly for the finalists -- uniquely interactive process.
The five teams chosen include more than 200 researchers, with representatives from cancer advocacy groups participating to ensure that the patient's point of view is always taken into account. The projects touch on many of the most innovative areas in cancer research, which increasingly focus on deciphering genetic and cellular events that cause cancers to occur and allow them to spread, and on developing interventions that will prevent or reverse these events.
Sherry Lansing, Katie Couric, Laura Ziskin, Noreen Fraser, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Ellen Ziffren and Kathleen Lobb are the core group, as well as myself, from the entertainment and media businesses who worked to develop SU2C. For Laura and Noreen, this is intensely personal as they are cancer survivors. As a tribute to my parents and on behalf of my colleagues, as well as everyone else in our industry and all the scientists involved, I can tell you we are in it for the long haul. And we hope the American people will be, too. The breadth and number of proposals that were received points to how many promising projects are out there going unfunded. Donating to support cancer research, especially in today's economy, is challenging, but working together, we can all stand up to cancer, ending it once and for all.
--Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF)
In case you haven't already heard, SU2C had some exciting news of its own to announce this week. Our Scientific Advisory Committee has announced its first five Dream Teams, slated to receive over $70 million in funding over the next three years. You can read all about our 2009 Dream Teams and their projects here: http://www.standup2cancer.org/meet_the_dream_teams.php
Using a cutting-edge gene scanning method, Harvard researchers have identified a gene mutation involved in as many as 30% of cancers, according to a study published in the journal Cell. The KRAS mutation has proved resistant to targeted cancer therapies so far, but there could be a way to "silence" them, thereby creating a drug with a better chance of fighting KRAS-mutation cancers like leukemia, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer.
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE54R5X420090528
Here's some good news from the American Cancer Society's annual report on "Cancer Facts and Figures": fewer people are getting cancer now, and fewer people are dying from it. A decrease in deaths from lung, prostate and colorectal cancer between 1990 and 2005 accounted for the change in men's death rates, and a similar decrease in colorectal and breast cancer accounted for the change in women's death rates. The incidence of cancer is also on the decline, falling 1.8% per year for men and 0.6% per year for women. http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2009/05/27/2009-05-27_cancer_deaths_are_on_the_decline.html
A new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute confirms what many already suspected: that survivors of pediatric cancer have a high risk of developing a second primary cancer later in life. The study is the first to look at childhood cancer survivors in the long-term, following a group of over 47,000 people who were diagnosed with pediatric cancer from 1943 to 2005. "This study quantified long-term temporal patterns of increased risk of cancer at specific sites in survivors of childhood cancer," the authors wrote. "The results may be useful in the screening and care of these individuals."\ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090526162840.htm
It's summertime again, and that means it's time for the beach, the pool, and the immersion in SPF 15 that comes with both. Except now some experts are saying sunscreen does little to reduce your risk of developing cancer. In fact, by blocking your skin's intake of vitamin D, it could be upping your chances of developing the disease. "Our reliance on sunscreen as protection against skin cancer is about as effective as the emperor's magic clothing," the author of this fascinating - and frightening - article says. http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=1195
Finally, the WaPo has a great article on the food-as-medicine trend. Daphne Miller often prescribes food instead of drugs to patients for whom medication isn't working or is causing untenable side effects. For instance, did you know that white button and shiitake mushrooms can boost your immune system - and that the best way to experience the boost is to eat the actual mushrooms, not take supplements? "A tasty dish made with inexpensive ingredients from the local market could sidestep many [patient] concerns," Miller writes. "After all, food is the one medicine that we seem quite willing to swallow -- at least three times a day." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/22/AR2009052202280.html
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!
