Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation 2024 Grant Awardees
Medical College of Wisconsin
Pancreatic cancer outcomes remain dismal, even for the ~20% of patients that present with early-stage, surgically-resectable disease. These patients, which typically undergo months of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by resection of the primary tumor, frequently recur with metastases within a just a few years after surgery. This illustrates the fact that pancreatic cancer cells spread to distant organs early in disease, and disseminated tumor cells are resistant to current therapies. To achieve long-term survival, there is a critical need for novel approaches to clear disseminated tumor cells and prevent future outgrowth.
Our previous studies demonstrated that chemotherapy-induced liver damage can accelerate pancreatic cancer liver metastasis through induction of programs linked to increased collagen and matrix deposition. Here we propose to test if disrupting the pro-metastatic, matrix-rich environment can prevent the survival and outgrowth of liver metastases. We will use genetically engineered mouse models and clinically-relevant pharmacologic approaches to define the impact of matrix-targeted treatment. Our major goal is to reveal novel therapeutic opportunities for dismantling the pro-metastatic liver niche, and ultimately prevent metastatic progression in surgically resectable patients.
Livestrong at the YMCA
LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA is a research-based program to help adult cancer survivors reclaim their health. Through LIVESTRONG, we support, guide, and assist cancer survivors in improving their strength and physical fitness, diminishing the severity of therapy side effects, developing supportive relationships, and improving their quality of life. LIVESTRONG is led by certified instructors who support participants in achieving their holistic health goals. This 12-week program meets two days per week for 90 minutes each day to create a community, guide them through safe physical activity, help build supportive relationships, reduce stress, and improve confidence and self-esteem.
The YMCA of Greater Waukesha County recognizes the significant financial strain cancer can impose, which is why the program is offered entirely free of charge to participants. This commitment ensures that financial limitations do not hinder access to this invaluable resource. This unwavering support allows LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA to remain accessible and available to all eligible individuals, providing a lifeline of support and empowerment without any financial burden.
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
The MMRF is at the forefront of accelerating the development and delivery of novel therapies, leveraging data to drive optimal treatment approaches, and empowering myeloma patients and the broader community with information and resources to extend their lives.
The MMRF Patient Navigation Center (PNC) is a unique service that enables myeloma patients and caregivers to connect with patient navigators who previously worked as oncology nurses for guidance and support throughout their journey. MMRF Patient Navigators answer questions, share resources, ensuring patients have what they need at every step in their disease journey. Our Navigators manage nearly 3,000 cases each year via video, phone, and email. We survey patients and caregivers who contact the PNC to evaluate knowledge gain and behavior changes following interactions with our navigators. Respondents report high rate of seeking second opinions, feeling more confident in treatment discussions, and considering clinical trials as a result of their engagement with our team.
Team Phoenix at Aurora Health Care
Team Phoenix empowers women to become proactive in their own health care and survivorship, move beyond the title of cancer survivor, and redefine themselves as athletes through the introduction to the joys of exercise and living well by training for a sprint triathlon. The14-week program is tailored to each individual's abilities and can be modified for patients experiencing cancer treatment side effects. As teammates, they motivate and support one another as they achieve new and exciting milestones together, transforming themselves and their bodies from survivor to athlete.
University of Michigan
By 2030, younger adults (aged 50 years and younger) will account for over 30% of all colorectal cancers (CRC) in the U.S. In parallel to this rapidly changing demographic, there will be an increasing number of CRC survivors, many with persistent and burdensome symptoms impacting quality of life. Although substantial efforts have been made to improve cancer outcomes following CRC treatment, far less attention has been aimed at the growing population of younger adults who have the potential to live with treatment-related effects for longer periods of time. Furthermore, treatment regimens are largely informed by studies of older adults with distinct tumors and may have different psychosocial stressors. In addition, the long-term implications of CRC treatment and their effects on health and lifestyle may differ across age groups. An in-depth understanding of these implications will shed light on decision-making and survivorship, which currently fail to address the unique burdens of CRC among younger adults as an independent population. This proposal aims to examine the impact of colorectal cancer and its treatment among younger adults and identify the unmet needs of colorectal cancer survivors. Importantly, our findings may also be applied broadly to other cancers affecting younger adults with similarly burdensome symptoms and treatment-related effects.
Starr Children's Fund 2024 Grant Awardees
To ensure that they're always at the forefront of medical research, the Children’s of Alabama offers a three-year Hematology/Oncology fellowship program where physicians participate in stem cell transplants, inpatient clinics, outpatient clinics, and scholarly research.
The Bart and Cherry Starr Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Fund was established to fund an annual salary for a fellow at Children's of Alabama who will undergo specialized training for one more year in the field of blood and marrow transplant (BMT).
Children’s of Alabama
Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor in children occurring outside the brain. For children with high-risk neuroblastoma, the chances of surviving this disease are very poor, usually less than 50%. MYCN is a gene responsible for driving the bad behavior of high-risk neuroblastoma. Many attempts have been made to target this gene with therapies, but so far, none have been successful. We have designed two novel compounds that act on the MYCN gene in three different ways to decrease its function as a driver of neuroblastoma. We believe that these compounds will decrease growth of neuroblastoma cells in culture in the lab and neuroblastoma tumor growth in animals. In addition, we plan to study how these compounds may help drugs that are already used to treat neuroblastoma work better. If current chemotherapy drugs worked better, we could decrease the amount of chemotherapy that we give to kids, decreasing the short- and long-term side effects of treatments. At the completion of our studies, we will have gathered important information that will help us advance our compounds towards use in children with high-risk neuroblastoma.
Hopecam
For over 20 years, Hopecam has been on a mission to create a better quality of life for children with cancer by virtually connecting them with their classmates and peers. To make these connections, we provide tablets, laptops, WIFI access, and Hopecam resources at no cost to families. Every time a child is diagnosed with cancer and isolated from friends, their mental health is at risk. Hopecam can change that trajectory by virtually connecting kids with their world. Hopecam helps kids feel more supported and less depressed through the power of connection.
Each application was reviewed by our Medical Advisory Committee comprised of national oncology experts, who provided recommendations to the Board of Directors for final consideration and approval. Learn more about the Medical Advisory Committee at https://www.lombardifoundation.org/medical-advisory-committee/.