Who we are.

Join the fight against pancreatic cancer! The 2015 Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk is Sunday, November 1st at Sloan's Lake Park, Denver, CO.

All the money raised goes directly to pancreatic cancer research thanks to the Lustgarten Foundation!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Celebrity Chef Sandwich Charity Challenge Support Lustgarten

VOTE TODAY!!

Michael Ferraro from New York, NY, Executive Chef of Delicatessen and macbar. Recently named one of Zagat's "30 Under 30: New York's Hottest Up-and-Comers," Michael competes for the Lustgarten Foundation with his "Pan-Roasted Chicken Thigh Sandwich, Castelvetrano Olive Pesto, Tri Color Roasted Pepper Aioli, Burrata Cheese on Ciabatta Bread."

 
Please click on the link www.makethatsandwich.com for complete details and to vote for Michael.  If Michael wins, The Lustgarten Foundation will receive $10,000!!  You can vote everyday between now and Labor Day.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

NCI Bulletin: Chemotherapy Regimen Extends Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Chemotherapy Regimen Extends Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients

The most common type of pancreatic cancer, an adenocarcinoma (Photo by Ed Uthman)

A four-drug chemotherapy regimen has produced the longest improvement in survival ever seen in a phase III clinical trial of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest types of cancer. Patients who received the regimen, called FOLFIRINOX, lived approximately 4 months longer than patients treated with the current standard of care, gemcitabine (11.1 months compared with 6.8 months).

Results from the trial, which was conducted at 48 hospitals in France, were published in the May 12 New England Journal of Medicine.

The regimen includes the drugs fluorouracil (also known as 5-FU), leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin. Because of serious side effects, the treatment is not suitable for all patients with metastatic disease, several pancreatic cancer researchers cautioned. But for patients who are candidates, based on having what is called a good performance status, the regimen will likely become the standard of care, the researchers noted.

"Clearly these are the best results we've seen to date for advanced pancreatic cancer patients in terms of response rate and overall outcome," said Dr. Al Benson of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, who was not involved with the study. "But this is a potentially very toxic combination," he continued, "so there has to be a note of caution when considering patients for this regimen."

Results from the trial were somewhat unexpected. Over the last few decades, numerous chemotherapy drugs have been tested alone and in various combinations in patients with pancreatic cancer, almost always with little or no impact on disease progression or survival.

Clinicians and patients still have to weigh the risks versus the benefits of treatment, stressed Dr. Jack Welch of NCI's Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis. "But the benefit of the FOLFIRINOX regimen is really hard to overstate in terms of what's been accomplished in pancreatic cancer to date."
Trial Design and Patient Selection


[T]he benefit of the FOLFIRINOX regimen is really hard to overstate in terms of what's been accomplished in pancreatic cancer to date.

—Dr. Jack Welch
The French clinical trial employed an efficient design, Dr. Welch noted. The study eventually enrolled 342 patients but began as a more modest randomized phase II trial. Based on tumor responses seen in the first 88 patients, the French research team expanded the study and was able to include the participants from the phase II trial in the phase III trial population.

All patients in the trial had a performance status of 0 or 1, based on a commonly used scale of 0 to 5. Approximately 20 to 25 percent of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer likely fall into this category and would be candidates to receive FOLFIRINOX, explained Dr. Philip A. Philip of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.

In addition to the improvement in overall survival, nearly one-third of patients in the FOLFIRINOX arm of the trial had some tumor shrinkage, compared with only 9 percent of patients in the gemcitabine arm.
Based on the presentation of the trial's initial survival results last year at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, "community oncologists are increasingly adopting this regimen in day-to-day practice," Dr. Philip said.

The serious side effects associated with the FOLFIRINOX regimen include neutropenia, neuropathy, and gastrointestinal problems. And yet, more patients in the gemcitabine arm dropped out of the study because of side effects, noted the study's lead investigator, Dr. Thierry Conroy of the Centre Alexis Vautrin and Nancy University, in an e-mail.

In addition to performance status, patient age (those younger than 76) and liver function determine which patients are candidates for the regimen, Dr. Conroy explained.

Because of the high risk of neutropenia associated with the FOLFIRINOX regimen, Dr. Benson added, oncologists need to proceed with caution before using it in patients who have a biliary stent. Biliary stents are common in patients with pancreatic cancer, he said, because tumors that form in the head of the pancreas can often obstruct the bile duct, preventing it from feeding properly into the small intestine; a stent is used to alleviate the obstruction.

Neutropenia, Dr. Benson continued, puts patients with biliary stents at increased risk for infections that can lead to sepsis, a potentially fatal blood infection.

Looking for Less-Toxic Combinations
Although the trial results are welcome news, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done in this disease, Dr. Philip stressed. "New drug development must not ignore the patients with lesser performance status who cannot tolerate this regimen," he said.

Researchers are now looking to build on the success of the FOLFIRINOX regimen. For example, Dr. Conroy and his colleagues are planning to test it as a post-surgical, or adjuvant, therapy in the small proportion of patients who are diagnosed with earlier-stage disease and who are candidates to have their tumors surgically removed.

FOLFIRNOX's efficacy opens up new avenues of investigation, stressed Dr. Welch, including using it as a backbone on which to piggy back other treatments, particularly targeted therapies that don't have overlapping toxicities. The regimen also needs to be "dissected" and optimized to determine if all four drugs are required or if dosages can be adjusted so that the efficacy can be maintained while alleviating or mitigating some of the regimen's serious side effects.

"For many years all we had as a chemotherapy backbone was gemcitabine," Dr. Welch said. "Now we can be much more flexible in our thinking."

Carmen Phillips

Monday, August 29, 2011

WEEKLY REMINDER!

Keep voting for Michael Ferraro's Pan-Roasted Chicken Thigh Sandwich, Castelvetrano Olive Pesto, Tri Color Roasted Pepper Aioli, Burrata Cheese on Ciabatta Bread.” at #1, let's win $10,000 for The Lustgarten Foundation!

Remember to vote daily (now through Labor Day 2011)
www.makethatsandwich.com

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Cancer League of Colorado

Cancer League of Colorado, Inc. was founded by five women whose families were affected by cancer.  These women personally experienced the heartache that comes with the disease.  From their individual struggles grew a joint commitment to raise money for research and patient care.  Their dream in founding Cancer League is to help find a cure for cancer.
From the beginning, Cancer League has been committed to supporting cancer research and has raised and dispensed approximately $10 million to support Colorado research, patient care and family programs.  Cancer League grants have been made to projects across Colorado and have helped thousands of individuals and families fight cancer.


 Cancer League of Colorado, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization composed entirely of volunteers.  Unique to non-profits, Cancer League has no paid staff and no offices.  All operating expenses are covered by membership dues.  Cancer League now has more than 400 volunteer members who share the commitment to fight cancer.  Cancer League of Colorado Bylaws as PDF file


Cancer League of Colorado has a compassionate approach to raising dollars for cancer research and patient services within the State of Colorado. We are a 501 (c) 3, founded in 1969, with the mission of finding a cure for, or the means to control, cancer. We are unique in that our organization has no paid staff and no offices. Membership dues pay for all operating expenses.


Cancer League's philosophy states that, "We are a cohesive, caring group with close relations among our members to work toward our goal of fundraising to find a cure for cancer."

Our compassion is in our caring members, dollars raised, and volunteers' time. We reach out with our advisory boards and the time and effort they put in to directing our grant programs. We are companions together as a group of more than 400 members who give personally of their time to make our mission a reality.


Our Services:

Based on recommendations from our Scientific Advisory Board, each year the Funds Allocation Committee distributes monies for research and service grants. The Scientific Advisory Board is a group of Colorado medical doctors and research specialists who volunteer their time to insure the funds are sent to worthy organizations throughout the state of Colorado. Research for such grants is conducted at several facilities, which include the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Colorado State University, Children’s Hospital and the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Care. Generally 90% of Cancer 


League’s funds are awarded for research grants; the remaining 10% are awarded to service grants.
Service grants are awarded to organizations for such things as hospice care, educational materials, care to indigent patients and recreational activities for children fighting cancer. Past recipients include Boulder Hospice, Doctors Care, AMC Native American Cancer Research Program, Qualife Wellness, and the Visiting Nurses Association. All organizations benefit patients only in the state of Colorado.


Cancer League of Colorado, Inc. was a founding institution for the Cancer Center at the University of Colorado Health Science Center, the only comprehensive cancer center in the Rocky Mountain Region. (website, Contact: Libby Printz)
The League was also instrumental in funding the Colorado Ronald McDonald House and Qualife, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for cancer patients.
Cancer League funded research has been successful in leading to groundbreaking discoveries, particularly in the field of genetic research. Our funding played a major role in the following discoveries:
  • Establishment of a link between DDT and testicular, prostate and breast cancer.
     
  • Discovery of a protein that controls silencing DNA cell processes, which, if mutate, can lead to cancer.
     
  • Identification of cancer-specific gene expression markers.
     
  • Discovery of a region of cell cycle protein, which is essential for its function in regulating normal cell division.
     
  • Discovery of the gene targets involved in acute leukemia in humans.

For more information, visit ... http://www.cancerleague.org/

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Seven Levels of Healing

The Seven Levels of Healing program is designed for patients and families who want to combine the very best conventional medical treatments for cancer and other illnesses with an expanding array of complementary therapies and mind/body approaches to healing. The Program is based on the belief that for healing to be complete, all the dimensions of who we are as human beings -- mental, emotional, spiritual, as well as physical -- must be addressed in a meaningful and effective way.

While supporting patients to find and receive the highest quality medical care and attention to the needs of the physical body, the Program also guides patients and family members through the important and profound dimensions of the mind, heart, and spirit that can profoundly impact all aspects of the healing journey.
The Program coherently addresses seven distinct levels of inquiry and exploration that are necessary for awareness, healing, and transformation to occur at the deepest levels -- and which help patients and family members to navigate the journey as skillfully and effectively as possible.\

Learn more at: http://www.geffenvisions.com/seven_levels_of_healing/index.htm

Supporting Lustgarten outside of Denver

If you are not from Colorado, and are looking for opportunities to help fight pancreatic cancer, Lustgarten hosts a number of walks throughout the US.  Here are just a few that are coming up this month ...


Friday, August 26, 2011

Meet our fighters






From Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers. After a full year of filming, we take a moment to touch base with Rhonda, Cindy and Dale. These cancer fighters reflect on the webisodes, their lives since filming, and how participating in Prove Love Heals has affected them. We thank them for volunteering to share their personal experiences at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers and for letting thousands of people into their lives.


See the video at www.proveloveheals.com

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Timer - "Nutritious Dishes"


Another fun reminder that eating healthy is an important part of cancer care.  Sometimes it's easier said then done, but trying to be smart about it goes a long way towards maintaining and regaining your strength.  

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Steve Jobs Resigns As CEO Of Apple


steve-jobs1
Breaking News:  Steve Jobs, who has long battled pancreatic cancer, resigns from Apple.

Title says it all. More to come. For now, the letter from Steve Jobs himself:
To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community: 
I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.
I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee. 
As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple. 
I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role. 
I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you. 
Steve
Update: Apple has confirmed that Apple COO Tim Cook will replace Jobs as CEO, following Jobs’ own recommendation. Considering that Cook has filled in for Jobs in the times of his medical leaves (including the one he has been on this year), this has been widely expected if and when it came time for Jobs to step down.
Also as requested, Jobs has been elected as Chairman of the Board and will remain with the company in that capacity. Cook will join the Board as well.

http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/24/steve-jobs-resigns-from-apple/?icid=maing-grid7|aim|dl1|sec1_lnk2|89190

Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Walk: Clinton County, OH

Clinton County, OH
Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk
Sunday, August 28, 2011

http://2011clintoncountywa​lk.kintera.org/
Pre-Registration Fee $50
Walk-In Registration Fee $60
Registration 10:00 am
Walk starts at 11:00 am

Join us on Sunday, August 28, 2011 at JW Denver Williams City Park, Wilmington, OH. Pancreatic Cancer Research Events are a great way to increase funding for research and raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. Lustgarten Foundation Events serve as a wonderful celebration of the progress being made in the fight against this disease, and your important participation provides hope for the future. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Fight, Fight, Fight. Be a volunteer!

Are you or someone in your family struggling with pancreatic cancer?  

Do you want to get involved and help fight this awful disease?  

Join the team of Coloradans running the Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Walk. It's an annual event started by the Phillips Family that's held at Sloan's Lake each November.  

While there is a dedicated team, we can always use more help!!  Not only would you be supporting a great cause, but you'll also have the opportunity to others whose lives have been touched by pancreatic cancer.  We're one community fighting for a cure.



What to volunteer?  Email us at: rphill1126@yahoo.com or kimphillips14@gmail.com

Monday, August 22, 2011

Walking for a Cure!


It's time to register for the Denver Walk.


The incredible support of friends like you has helped grow the Walk Series to a major force in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Through 2010, the Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk Series has raised more than $12.7 million! Please join us at The Denver Walk, and help us build on this success.

Once registered, you will receive a Starter Kit in the mail. The Kit contains materials you need to reach your fundraising goal. Our on-line registration site also provides information on how you can create your own personalized fundraising Web Page, send e-mails to your personal contacts, track donations and send thank-you emails to your walk supporters.


Volunteer at the Walk

Volunteers are among our greatest assets: from venue selection to cheering participants across the finish line, we rely on volunteers to help organize, manage and implement every aspect of our Walks. Simply stated, volunteers make it happen!

100% of donations will go directly to pancreatic cancer research. Cablevision Systems Corporation underwrites all of The Lustgarten Foundation's administrative expenses to ensure that 100% of every donation goes directly to pancreatic cancer research.

The Cancer Club: Helpful Links and Resources

Exciting links and connections to our many friends on the Internet...

We understand the importance of humor in our everyday lives and even more so at a time when we are challenged with cancer diagnosis and treatment. You have made The Cancer Club your source for inspirational books, comforting cancer survivor gifts plus humorous cancer cartoons and products for people and families dealing with cancer. Maybe you have experienced the humor of the founder, Christine Clifford,  in person and found a new way to look at cancer.

Below we have provided a way for you to continue this positive therapy for all types of cancer. Find humor, jokes, breast cancer survivor stories and many other inspirational humorist thoughts from the following resources. Please contact us if you need additional information on our services.

 AATHumor The Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor. When it comes to illnesses such as breast cancer and humor, this organization is committed to advancing our knowledge and understanding of how they relate to healing and well-being.

Allen Klein Check out our friend's site. Author of "The Courage to Laugh". Allen Klein, MA, CSP is an award-winning professional motivational keynote speaker and best-selling author who shows audiences worldwide how humor can help them deal with everyday trials and tribulations as well as triumphing over tragedy.

Angel Foundation Improving the quality of life throughout the cancer experience. Christine is proud to serve on the Board. .

The Breast Care Site Christine Clifford, CSP writes a monthly column for this site. Please visit often.

The Cancer Game An excellent way to get some stress or anger out over your frustration with cancer. Humorous computer game for cancer patients to enjoy.

Directory4Health.com Online health directory and health resource to find a wealth of information – whether it be how to obtain a certain breast cancer book you are looking for, get health care public speakers for your next event, or obtain services related to natural hygiene, cosmetic, emergency, breast cancer, skin disorders, non-toxic living, medication and more.

Discover Meditation. Receive FREE weekly meditations from best-selling author Pragito Dove. Benefits for your health, wealth, and happiness. Includes Laughter & Tears meditations. Pragito is a gem of funny motivational speakers and can be heard through radio appearances and interviews.

HealingThreads Original Healing Threads collection of personal patient apparel specifically designed by cancer patients to ensure dignity for people facing chemotherapy and radiation.

Hidden Cancer Cures Just as different crops thrive in one type of soil, and poorly or not at all in others, so too cancer cannot exist in healthy terrain. The terrain of cancer has been charted, and the means to cure and avoid it can be done at home. Find ways to obtain books about cancer preventive nutrition.

JestHealth Jest for the Health of It!: Author of 'Compassionate Laughter'. Founder Patty Wooten RN, clown, humorist has an amazing resource list of products and services devoted to laughter and humor.

KidsCope This non profit organization was formed to help families and children better understand the effects of cancer and chemotherapy in a parent.

Lemon-aidesfriends You don't have to face cancer alone because now there is Lemon-Aide the "I Am Here For You Clown". Because cancer affects not only the body but also the emotions there is Lemon-Aide!

MyPinkScarf If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, visit this site and get your very own pink scarf!

Natural-Humor-Medicine.com The Laugh Doctor: Natural-Humor-Medicine.com is a How-To-Do-It guide to rediscovering your lighter side by using humor in health care management. Filled with stories, articles, and resources that underscore humor's curative powers with tips and tricks for unlocking humor's natural medicine it is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Pancreatica.org -- Confronting Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatica.org provides a concentrated wealth of current and topical scientific and medical information about pancreatic cancer. Here you can sign up for their newsletter or buy the pancreatic cancer support book, “100 Questions and Answers About Pancreatic Cancer”.

PICCZEES Fashionable, comfortable cover-ups for day and night to protect PICC lines.

Robert's Review NEWEST cancer treatments and research breakthroughs reported daily.

Salon 2000 Day Spa Salon 2000 Day Spa is working together with The Cancer Club and Angel Foundation to create Pampering Partnerships. They are celebrating the Gift Of Life by offering individuals going through cancer treatments complimentary services every second Wednesday of each month. An individual can decide which service he or she would like to experience. The complimentary services include hair, nail or spa.

Shared Experience Shared Experience is a collection of first-hand accounts by cancer patients and the people who love and care for them. Find the support you need by reading through some of these cancer survivor stories and experiences.

Victoria's Quilts Request a quilt for cancer patients.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

The Cancer Club

If you would love to help and inspire someone who is dealing with cancer, welcome to The Cancer Club.
Founded by 15-year cancer survivor (and popular humorist/author) Christine Clifford, this is where you can find:
Inspiration: Interesting and helpful articles, award-winning cartoons, and our inspiring, free eNewsletter.
The Club Store: Perfect gifts to bring a smile, a lift, a laugh--or all three--to your loved one or friend.
You can also submit a name to our Prayer List and the person will be added to our prayers.
Presentations: For the perfect opening or close for your special event, learn about Christine and her internationally-acclaimed and inspiring presentations.
So look around, thank you for coming,
and don't forget to laugh!™ 


http://www.cancerclub.com/

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Colorado Documentary: Gasland

From the 2010 Documentary film Gasland. A woman in Colorado talks about her experience with Encana's Fracking near her house. Her father drank from the creek before the gas seep was known about. He died of Pancreatic Cancer.




Learn more at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOu9Q6rtOTM


Here's some additional information from Wikipedia.  More detail on the director and the information about the production and all involved.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasland

Friday, August 19, 2011

Pancreatic Cancer News Feed

Check out Lustgarten's NEW RSS News Feed. 
Read articles relating to Pancreatic Cancer Research and stay on top of all the new news. http://www.lustgarten.org/Page​.aspx?pid=1053

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Cancer Survivorship Conference, hosted by MD Anderson


Join in on September 16-17, 2011for the Anderson Network's Cancer Survivorship Conference.  There will be a variety of speakers on issues important to cancer patients/survivors and their caregivers.
Learn more on their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=201086933284980

Cancer Survivor Inspiration ...

Interesting blog with thoughts, readings, inspiration and other cool stuff for those whose lives have been met with cancer.


http://cancersurvivorinspiration.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Boulder Chef Helps Fight Cancer


HoseaRosenberg.jpeg
BRAVO'S TOP CHEFS COOKING AT GALA: The American Cancer Society's 11th annual Hope Gala is Saturday at 8 p.m. at The Shops at Canal Place. Cox Communications and Langenstein's are sponsoring four Top Chefs contestants - Ed Cotton, Betty Fraser, Hosea Rosenberg, and Tracey Bloom - who will compete for Best Dish. Local restaurants will also provide food. 


The Gala is open to the public and tickets, $150 or $300 patron level, are available at www.NewOrleansHopeGala.org



Hosea Rosenberg (pictured) competed in the season that brought the Top Chef finale to New Orleans.


Learn more about Hosea and his work at Jax in Boulder at http://www.chefhosea.com/

WEEKLY REMINDER!

Keep voting for Michael Ferraro's Pan-Roasted Chicken Thigh Sandwich, Castelvetrano Olive Pesto, Tri Color Roasted Pepper Aioli, Burrata Cheese on Ciabatta Bread.” at #1, let's win $10,000 for The Lustgarten Foundation!
Remember to vote daily (now through Labor Day 2011)
http://www.makethatsandwich.com/

Cancer survivor fights back with social media



Cancer comes in many forms.  

Here's an inspirational story of one teenager who is using social media to help her fight her fight against lymphoma. 

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Support Lustgarten: The Setauket Yacht Club Foundation

Show your support and help raise funds for pancreatic cancer research by purchas...ing a Village Cup Purple Ribbon Pin for $20.00. Please make check payable to The Setauket Yacht Club Foundation and send your donation to: The Lustgarten Foundation/Attn: Suzanne Beck, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714. Make sure to include a note that your are purchasing a Village Cup Purple Ribbon Pin and your mailing address.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Support Lustgarten: In New York State

The Lustgarten Foundation, he Z Association of New York (ZANY) and Vettes in Perfection (VIP), with the support of the New York Racing Association (NYRA)would like to welcome car enthusiasts to the Saratoga Flat track for a “CRUISE IN for HOPE” Benefiting the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Sunday, August 21, 2011 – 9am to 4pm.
Proceeds will benefit the Albany Walk!
For more information visit: https://www.lustgarten.org/Document.Doc?id=314

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Benign or Cancerous? Gene Test Predicts Cancer Potential in Pancreatic Cysts

Release Date: 07/20/2011

pancreatic cyst

Johns Hopkins scientists have developed a gene-based test to distinguish harmless from precancerous pancreatic cysts.  The test may eventually help some patients avoid needless surgery to remove the harmless variety. A report on the development is published in the July 20 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
The investigators estimate that fluid-filled cysts are identified in more than a million patients each year, most of whom have undergone CT or MRI scans to evaluate non-specific symptoms, such as abdominal pain and swelling.

Bert Vogelstein, M.D., co-director of the Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, and his colleagues analyzed precancerous cysts from 19 patients and searched for mutations in 169 cancer-causing genes. They found mutations in the KRAS gene, well-known for its prevalence in pancreatic cancers, and the GNAS gene, which had not previously been associated with pancreatic cancer. In both KRAS and GNAS, the mutations occur at a single coding spot in the DNA, the equivalent of a typo in a word within an entire encyclopedia. KRAS and GNAS genes produce signaling proteins, relaying signals from the cell surface to areas within the cell.
The researchers then tested a total of 132 precancerous pancreatic cysts for mutations in KRAS and GNAS. GNAS mutations were found in more than half of the samples (87 of them), and KRAS mutations occurred in 107 samples. Nearly all (127) had mutations in GNAS, KRAS or both. The mutations occurred in large and small, high- and low-grade cysts, and in all major types of the most common precancerous pancreatic cysts. There were no major differences in age, gender or smoking history for people with GNAS or KRAS mutations in their cysts' cells.

Finally, the investigators tested tissue from pancreatic cancers that had developed in eight people with GNAS-mutated cysts. Seven of the eight had GNAS mutations in their cancer, as well as cells in the cysts.
GNAS and KRAS mutations were not found in benign cysts, although KRAS mutations did appear occasionally in a rare type of cyst with a relatively low potential to become cancerous.  These rare, mostly benign cysts are less challenging to diagnose because of their location within the pancreas and type of patient, according to the investigators.

"There has long been a need for accurate, quantitative ways to identify cysts that are more worrisome and to help patients avoid unnecessary surgeries for harmless cysts," says Vogelstein, the Clayton Professor of Oncology at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

"Most cysts are benign," says pathologist Ralph Hruban, M.D., director of Johns Hopkins' Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, "but distinguishing between the harmless and dangerous ones is challenging for doctors and patients alike."

Generally, patients with a cyst that appears harmless and is less than 3 cm in size are monitored to watch for growth of the cyst or other concerning features such as a solid nodule. With cysts that appear more worrisome, surgical removal is often recommended, but the procedure requires removal of a portion of the pancreas as well, and complications like a pancreatic fistula (fluid from the pancreas leaks through the surgical incision), eating difficulties and prolonged recovery can develop, according to Christopher Wolfgang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of surgery, pathology and oncology and director of pancreatic surgery at Johns Hopkins.

CT scans, MRI imaging, and enzyme and secreted antigen levels in cyst fluid are imprecise markers for precancerous potential, adds Wolfgang.

Genetic analysis of the kind reported in the new study offers a new way to sort the potential of these cysts to cause malignant trouble.

The investigators caution that cyst fluid removal, an invasive procedure, also has its caveats and can cause bleeding, infection and inflammation in a very small percentage of patients.

Further studies on a larger number of patients must be done before the gene-based test can be widely offered. Vogelstein says, however, that the technology for developing a gene-based test in this case is relatively straightforward because "the mutation occurs at one spot in both of the genes."

Major funding for the study was provided by the Lustgarten Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to funding pancreatic cancer research. Other funding was provided by the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research, the Sol Goldman Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, the Joseph L. Rabinowitz Fund, the Michael Rolfe Foundation, the Indiana Genomics Initiative of Indiana University, which is supported in part by Lilly Endowment Inc., the J.C. Monastra Foundation, Swim Across America and the National Institutes of Health.

Johns Hopkins University has filed a patent application on inventions described in the study mentioned in this news release.

Additional scientists participating in the researcher included Jian Wu, Hanno Matthaei, Anirban Maitra, Marco Dal Molin, Laura Wood, James Eshleman, Michael Goggins, Marcia Canto, Richard Schulick, Barish Edil, Alison Klein, Luis Diaz, Kenneth Kinzler, and Nickolas Papadopoulos from Johns Hopkins; Peter Allen from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; and C. Max Schmidt from Indiana University.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/benign_or_cancerous_gene_test_predicts_cancer_potential_in_pancreatic_cysts

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Chemotherapy Regimen Extends Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients


The most common type of pancreatic cancer, an adenocarcinoma (Photo by Ed Uthman)
A four-drug chemotherapy regimen has produced the longest improvement in survival ever seen in a phase III clinical trial of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest types of cancer. Patients who received the regimen, called FOLFIRINOX, lived approximately 4 months longer than patients treated with the current standard of care, gemcitabine (11.1 months compared with 6.8 months).
Results from the trial, which was conducted at 48 hospitals in France, were published in the May 12 New England Journal of Medicine.

The regimen includes the drugs fluorouracil (also known as 5-FU), leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin. Because of serious side effects, the treatment is not suitable for all patients with metastatic disease, several pancreatic cancer researchers cautioned. But for patients who are candidates, based on having what is called a good performance status, the regimen will likely become the standard of care, the researchers noted.
"Clearly these are the best results we've seen to date for advanced pancreatic cancer patients in terms of response rate and overall outcome," said Dr. Al Benson of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, who was not involved with the study. "But this is a potentially very toxic combination," he continued, "so there has to be a note of caution when considering patients for this regimen."
Results from the trial were somewhat unexpected. Over the last few decades, numerous chemotherapy drugs have been tested alone and in various combinations in patients with pancreatic cancer, almost always with little or no impact on disease progression or survival.

Clinicians and patients still have to weigh the risks versus the benefits of treatment, stressed Dr. Jack Welch of NCI's Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis. "But the benefit of the FOLFIRINOX regimen is really hard to overstate in terms of what's been accomplished in pancreatic cancer to date."

Trial Design and Patient Selection
[T]he benefit of the FOLFIRINOX regimen is really hard to overstate in terms of what's been accomplished in pancreatic cancer to date.

—Dr. Jack Welch
The French clinical trial employed an efficient design, Dr. Welch noted. The study eventually enrolled 342 patients but began as a more modest randomized phase II trial. Based on tumor responses seen in the first 88 patients, the French research team expanded the study and was able to include the participants from the phase II trial in the phase III trial population.

All patients in the trial had a performance status of 0 or 1, based on a commonly used scale of 0 to 5. Approximately 20 to 25 percent of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer likely fall into this category and would be candidates to receive FOLFIRINOX, explained Dr. Philip A. Philip of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.

In addition to the improvement in overall survival, nearly one-third of patients in the FOLFIRINOX arm of the trial had some tumor shrinkage, compared with only 9 percent of patients in the gemcitabine arm.
Based on the presentation of the trial's initial survival results last year at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, "community oncologists are increasingly adopting this regimen in day-to-day practice," Dr. Philip said.

The serious side effects associated with the FOLFIRINOX regimen include neutropenia, neuropathy, and gastrointestinal problems. And yet, more patients in the gemcitabine arm dropped out of the study because of side effects, noted the study's lead investigator, Dr. Thierry Conroy of the Centre Alexis Vautrin and Nancy University, in an e-mail.

In addition to performance status, patient age (those younger than 76) and liver function determine which patients are candidates for the regimen, Dr. Conroy explained.

Because of the high risk of neutropenia associated with the FOLFIRINOX regimen, Dr. Benson added, oncologists need to proceed with caution before using it in patients who have a biliary stent. Biliary stents are common in patients with pancreatic cancer, he said, because tumors that form in the head of the pancreas can often obstruct the bile duct, preventing it from feeding properly into the small intestine; a stent is used to alleviate the obstruction.

Neutropenia, Dr. Benson continued, puts patients with biliary stents at increased risk for infections that can lead to sepsis, a potentially fatal blood infection.

Looking for Less-Toxic Combinations
Although the trial results are welcome news, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done in this disease, Dr. Philip stressed. "New drug development must not ignore the patients with lesser performance status who cannot tolerate this regimen," he said.

Researchers are now looking to build on the success of the FOLFIRINOX regimen. For example, Dr. Conroy and his colleagues are planning to test it as a post-surgical, or adjuvant, therapy in the small proportion of patients who are diagnosed with earlier-stage disease and who are candidates to have their tumors surgically removed.

FOLFIRNOX's efficacy opens up new avenues of investigation, stressed Dr. Welch, including using it as a backbone on which to piggy back other treatments, particularly targeted therapies that don't have overlapping toxicities. The regimen also needs to be "dissected" and optimized to determine if all four drugs are required or if dosages can be adjusted so that the efficacy can be maintained while alleviating or mitigating some of the regimen's serious side effects.
"For many years all we had as a chemotherapy backbone was gemcitabine," Dr. Welch said. "Now we can be much more flexible in our thinking."

Carmen Phillips

Friday, August 12, 2011

The website for the Denver Walk is now LIVE!


Join us on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Sloan's Lake Park, Denver, CO. 

 Pancreatic Cancer Research Events are a great way to increase funding for research and raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. Lustgarten Foundation Events serve as a wonderful celebration of the progress being made in the fight against this disease, and your important participation provides hope for the future.

Start your team today!  Learn about the walk and how to register at: http://2011denverwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=491347







Lacey Henderson running all the way to London


While Lacey didn't have pancreatic cancer, she knows what it's like to have cancer.  Here's a great inspirational story from the Denver area.  
http://www.denverpost.com/olympics/ci_18142199


Often, someone who doesn't know Lacey Henderson will spot the prosthesis replacing much of her right leg and blurt: "What happened to your leg?"

"I had cancer," Henderson routinely answers.

"Oh, that's horrible! I'm so sorry."

Henderson smiles and responds, "I'm not. I get great parking."

Three weeks short of her 22nd birthday, Henderson is on the verge of graduating from the University of Denver, where she majored in Spanish and minored in French and international health. Shortly after finishing four years on the Pioneers' cheerleading squad, she searched for a new athletic challenge this spring and last weekend locked up a berth on the U.S. team for the 2012 Paralympics in London.

The Denver native and graduate of Regis Jesuit High School needed to crack 20 seconds in the 100 meters in an official timing format to qualify for the U.S. team in the women's "T42" Paralympic classification, for athletes with single-leg amputations above the knee. She did so at the state high school track and field meet in Lakewood last weekend.

At Jeffco Stadium on Friday, she ran in the Paralympic exhibition 100 meters, but clipped her "racing" prosthetic with that of the boy in the next lane. After falling, Lacey got up and finished. The next day, she tried again in the Special Olympics 100 at the same meet. Her time was 19.98 seconds — two one-hundredths under what she needed.

It was symbolic. When she gets knocked down, she gets back up.

"I don't really have time for the cancer to come back at this point, so I'm feeling pretty confident," she said at DU's Driscoll Student Center. "It really wouldn't work with my schedule."

"Tired of being sick"

When Lacey was in the fourth grade, the diagnoses were that she had baker's cysts or, simply, "growing pains." Doctors then detected a tumor in her right knee. It was a soft-tissue synovial sarcoma, rare and found mostly in adult men. The survival rate is considered low, but it's so rare there isn't a huge sample. The most famous victim was actor Robert Urich​, who died at age 55 in 2002.

Chemotherapy made Lacey violently ill and didn't seem to be working on the sarcoma. As doctors discussed the options with her and her parents — Linda and T.J., a longtime area high school track coach — the major one was amputation.

"I just wanted to be a normal person again and go back to school and I was tired of being sick," Lacey said. "So I said, 'Take it, I don't want it.' "

The amputation came in the spring of 1999. She also had a spot on her lung, but the chemotherapy zapped that.

"May 19 was my 12-year anniversary of being cancer free — and one-legged," she said. "I've been lucky. It has brought so many amazing things into my life, it has given me so many opportunities and so many gifts."

In early 2003, though, she was the target of harassment in her eighth-grade year at Hill Middle School. Some of it was vile or threatening online postings. Some of it was direct taunting about her prosthetic.

"It started off as people pretty sure just being uncomfortable with the leg," she said. "Towards the end, it was girls that just didn't like me."

In biology class, several girls placed remains of dissected frogs in her backpack.

Her parents moved her to Dora Moore School. The next year, she uneasily started at the girls division of Regis Jesuit, but discovered she loved it. "It was like going to camp for four years and you become close to your classmates," she said.

She was a cheerleader at Regis Jesuit, then at DU, doing all the athletic and acrobatic stunts. "I would have to watch for a while to see how people did (new routines)," she said, "and then I'd say, 'OK, this leg of mine might make me take a little bit longer, but I'm going to figure out how to do this if it kills me.' "

Denver attorney Julie Warren was DU's cheerleading coach during Lacey's stint on the squad. She admitted she wondered before Lacey's tryout about her physical capability and safety. "Then, probably within 10 minutes, I knew it was a nonissue," Warren said. "She had been so physically active during her youth and high school years, and prepared herself to do these physically challenging moves, she fit right in. That inspiration happened from Day One of meeting her.

"It was never a question of her not being able to do something the other girls did. That was incredibly impressive and a credit to her mental power and tenacity."

Advocate and athlete

While serving as a counselor at a camp for amputees last summer, Henderson started thinking more about being an advocate for their cause and about competing athletically to widen her impact.

This spring, she started working out as a track athlete, even taking up pole vaulting, which isn't included in the Paralympics. Her father was renowned for turning out pole vaulters in coaching stints at Aurora Central, Rangeview, Cherry Creek and Regis Jesuit, and now he's tutoring his daughter.

"It's not so much that I'm proud of her," said T.J., a project manager for Monarch Investment Co. "I'm inspired by her. We didn't know if she was going to live because of the type of cancer she had.

"After she got the prosthetic, when people would say 'handicapped' to her, she'd say she didn't like that word and she didn't like 'disabled.' She'd say, 'I'm not disabled, I'm differently-abled.' She doesn't let anything hold her back."

Chris Hoyt of BioDesign Inc. provided Lacey's racing prosthetic leg, and Mike Mattivi and Michael Branch​ also coach her. While training and finishing up school, she has continued her routine of working part-time as a waitress, making visits to Children's Hospital to speak with cancer patients about to undergo surgery, and appearing at local schools, as she did at Bear Creek Elementary on Wednesday.

Henderson tells other young amputees that they don't need to meekly accept such things as prosthetics that don't fit well.

"I say we've been through losing a limb, but it's no reason to live any less than you had before," she said. "And those people who are those boring, 'I have all my body parts,' able-bodied type of people, they need to realize too that we are amputees and missing a limb — it doesn't mean we have less capacity than anyone else to do things."

Terry Frei: 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com
On the horizon for Lacey Henderson

In her T42 category in Paralympic competition, former Regis Jesuit High School and University of Denver cheerleader Lacey Henderson has few choices of events — the 100 meters and the long jump. She also probably could compete "up" in classification in the 200 meters, going against women with less extensive leg amputations.

Challenged by the consensus that athletes with a leg amputated above the knee aren't capable of getting the leg push necessary to compete in the pole vault, Henderson has taken that up too and has cleared 9 feet.

The catch is that for an event to be included in the Paralympics in London next year, six women in the same or nearly the same "T" categories have to meet the qualifying standard — and come from at least four countries.

"What we're trying to do is finagle our way to see if we can put on exhibitions in the pole vault at the Pan American Games or London," Henderson said. "I feel like if somebody just sees that you can do it, especially T42s, that's also a motivator for other people to do it."

Health Apps: Not All Created Equal

By Laura Nathan-Garner, MD Anderson Staff Writer
http://www2.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/2011/07/health-apps-not-all-created-equal.html
iphone.jpgDo you use a smartphone or tablet to manage everything in your life -- even your health?

Well, you're not alone. A growing number of people are downloading health apps to help with everything from weight loss to quitting smoking.

But if you're like me, there's a good chance you don't end up using most of the health apps you download -- at least not regularly. That's not surprising, say our health technology experts.

"Many companies are in such a hurry to sell their app that they don't conduct a study to see if users will adopt real, lasting change," says Alexander Prokhorov, M.D., Ph.D., director of MD Anderson's e-Health Technology Program and professor in the Department of Behavioral Science.

Here's some good news, though. There are some effective health apps out there -- if you know what to look for.
Learn how to find these apps in this month's issue of Focused on Health.

You'll get our experts' tips on how to choose apps that can actually help you reach your health goals. And, you can get a head-start on better health with our list of recommended mobile and web apps.

You'll also learn how using our Cancer Risk Check online tool can help you get more out of your next doctor's appointment. Plus, you'll find out how to serve up healthier food portions with the government's new MyPlate icon and interactive tool, the Daily Food Plan.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Want to get involved? Help us fight pancreatic cancer in Colorado!

Are you or someone in your family struggling with pancreatic cancer?  

Do you want to get involved and help fight this awful disease?  

Join the team of Coloradans running the Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Walk. It's an annual event started by the Phillips Family that's held at Sloan's Lake each November.  While there is a dedicated team, we can always use more help!!  Not only would you be supporting a great cause, but you'll also have the opportunity to others whose lives have been touched by pancreatic cancer.  We're one community fighting for a cure.

What to volunteer?  Email us at: rphill1126@yahoo.com or kimphillips14@gmail.com