Friday, June 8, 2012

Beat Sarcoma donates $15,000 to Stanford

Beat Sarcoma recently donated $15,000 to Stanford University, which is funded to do a large study on leiomyosarcoma specimens from tumors that arise either in the uterus or in the soft tissues throughout the body. They will compare these leiomyosarcomas to other sarcomas that occur in the uterus, including endometrial stromal sarcoma and its recently discovered variants. Matt van de Rijn of Stanford said, "The money will be used at least to a great extent to cover the costs doing the analysis on twelve endometrial stromal sarcomas in this way. We believe that this will be a very valuable addition to our dataset and hope that we will identify not only novel diagnostic markers but also potential therapeutic targets."

Monday, March 26, 2012

BeatSarcoma makes a $15,000 research gift to UCSF

Beat Sarcoma recently donated $15,000 to help fund Dr. Nakakura's sarcoma research at University of California San Francisco. Dr. Nakakura is active in bench-to-bedside (translational) studies aimed at earlier detection of neuroendocrine tumors at at time when there is still the possibility of surgical resection. He is also investigating new and novel therapies for patients with advanced disease who have inoperable tumors.

“We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing partnership with BeatSarcoma. Your critical support of our translational research studies will help us to rapidly bring discoveries from the lab to our patients.”



Dr. Eric Nakakura is a cancer surgeon who specializes in tumors of the pancreas, bile ducts, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. He also treats soft tissue sarcomas, including tumors of the retroperitoneum, trunk and extremities. At the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, he participates in the management of complex gastrointestinal tract cancers, soft tissue sarcomas and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors, including carcinoid and islet cell tumors.

For more information on Dr. Nakakura's research, visit http://surgicaloncology.surgery.ucsf.edu/faculty/surgical-oncology/eric-nakakura,-md,-phd.aspx.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Canadians: Online Discussion for Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients

Attention Canadians! Consumer Vision, a national market research company located in Toronto, is seeking individuals who have been diagnosed with Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma to participate in a three day online discussion board.

To qualify, patients must have been diagnosed with Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma, and currently be undergoing treatment.

Patients will be able to participate in the three day online board from the comfort of their home and at their convenience.

They are offering a $175 honorarium to all those who qualify and participate.

(Canadian residents only, please.)

If you're interested, contact Melissa Vodopia toll-free at 1-866-967-1596 or via email at Melissa.Vodopia@consumervision.ca.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Sarcoma Trial at National Cancer Institute

We wanted to pass on some information on behalf of Dr. Shivaani Kummar at the National Cancer Institute to inform you about a trial for which they are currently recruiting at the NIH - National Cancer Institute. The study is a randomized Phase II trial of Sunitnab vs. Cediranib Monotherapy to treat Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma, with cross over at disease progression. A snapshot of basic information pertaining to the trial is below. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
NCI Referral Office: 1-888-NCI-1937 (ncicssc@mail.nih.gov)
or
Lauren Powell, Clinical Research Coordinator: 301-451-0992 (lauren.powell@nih.gov)


Sunitinib or Cediranib for Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma

Sponsored by: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01391962

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare, highly vascular tumor accounting for less than 1% of soft tissue sarcomas. There is no effective systemic treatment for patients with metastatic ASPS. Little is known with regards to relevant molecular markers as potential therapeutic targets. Cediranib (AZD2171) and sunitinib (SU011248), oral small molecule inhibitors of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases, are showing preliminary evidence of activity in patients with ASPS.

Objective:
Part I: Determine the objective response rate (ORR) of single-agent cediranib and single-agent sunitinib malate in patients with advanced ASPS.
Part II: Determine the ORR of cediranib in patients who progress on the sunitinib arm, and determine the ORR of sunitinib in patients who progress on the cediranib arm.
Determine the progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months in Part I and in Part II of the study for single-agent cediranib and single-agent sunitinib malate in patients with advanced ASPS.
Evaluate gene expression in tumor biopsies obtained at baseline and after treatment (at the Clinical Center, NCI only).

Eligibility:
· Patients age greater than or equal to 16 years with histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic ASPS.

· Patients must not have received treatment with any VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (e.g., cediranib, sunitinib, pazopanib, sorafenib); however, prior treatment with bevacizumab is allowed.

Contact:
NCI Referral Office: 1-888-NCI-1937 (ncicssc@mail.nih.gov)
or
Lauren Powell, Clinical Research Coordinator: 301-451-0992 (lauren.powell@nih.gov)
Locations:
United States, Maryland- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD.