Final Portfolio

And so we come to the end.  Here is my Final Portfolio.  I hope that you take the time to read through it and see the way I have grown as a writer throughout the semester.
Thanks.

Immune System-What's Your Role Here?

Researchers at University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center have discovered a novel way of treating pancreatic cancer by activating the immune system to destroy the cancer's scaffolding.  This was tested in a small group of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and several patients had positive results with their tumors shrinking substantially.

Rather than the immune system needing to attack the cancer directly to be effective, attacking the dense tissues surrounding the cancer is an approach, similar to attacking a brick wall by dissolving the mortar in the wall.

The immune system was able to eat away at this tissue surrounding the cancer and tumors fell apart as a result of that assault.

However, when looking at post-treatment tumor samples, researchers found there were no T cells to be seen.  Instead, there was an abundance of another white blood cell known as macrophages.  Macrophages were attacking what is known as the supporting tissue around the tumor called the tumor stroma.  Researchers used a cell surface receptor called CD40 antibodies to teach the macrophages to attack the tumor.  T cells can't seem to get into the tumor or its surrounding tissue because of the density and hostility of the area surrounding pancreatic cancer.  They are now working on a way to supercharge the macrophages response and to get the T cells into the tumor's microenvironment.

So basically, if scientists can get T-cells and the macrophages to double team the tumor, they could overpower the tumor.  Let's hope this trial continues and that scientists can figure out how to overpower these tumors.

Making Progress

University of California San Francisco scientists have found a link between inflammation and pancreatic cancer.  A link has been found between molecules found in an inflamed pancreas and the early formation of pancreatic cancer.--What does this mean you ask?  This discovery may help scientists identify new ways to detect, monitor, and treat pancreatic cancer.
The UCSF team, led by Matthias Hebrok, PhD. discovered two molecular "signals" produced abundantly in the pancreas during inflammation--a protein named Stat3--helps to initiate the early stages of pancreatic cancer.  Another protein, called MMP7, appears to affect metastasis, or the spreading of the tumor.
In lab experiments, Hebrok and colleagues showed that blocking these proteins in mice shrunk the number of lesions that can lead to cancer and reduced the extent of cancer metastisis.
Their experiments also showed MMP7 may be a clinical indicator of the pancreatic cancer stage, possibly making it useful as a marker for more aggressive disease.

Hopefully, these scientists will continue making progress and help find a way to treat, detect, and monitor this terrible disease.

Kick Pancreatic Cancer

After looking through all of the posts I have done, I realized that I have yet to talk about an event that took place that was close to my heart.  At Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, Pa, an event was started two years ago by the girl's soccer team known as Kick Pancreatic Cancer.  This event was started for Ken Moore, the father of Waynesburg soccer player Catherine Moore.  He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and after Catherine talked to her team about the disease, they decided to do something about it.  The event was planned to take place during a girl's soccer game in October.  The girl's team wore purple jerseys, donated to them by Under Armour and did their best to create publicity for the event.  The team created a Facebook page inviting friends both near and far to come and support the girls and to support the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, who would be receiving any money the team raised.  The girl's team sold purple t-shirts, Hirshberg Foundation wristbands, and cutout soccer balls that said in memory or in honor of.  They also had different baskets you could buy tickets for with various items inside.  All the money from the concession stand was also donated.

This event may not seem like a huge deal, but I have gone two years in a row because one of my closest friends is on the soccer team and made me aware of the event.  She was very close to my mom and even had the date she died written on the back of her legs during the game.

The most amazing thing about this event, is that the girl's set a goal to raise around $1,000.  In reality, they raised $10,615.  What an awesome achievement.

My Profile Essay

Even though I turned in my profile essay and you can all access it via my blog, I thought that I would give you a little information about my interview and what I learned about my interviewee, as well as things we talked about that didn't make it into my paper.

I interviewed a woman named Annette Fetty-Santilli.  She is a volunteer for PanCAN and works as the West Virginia Affiliate Coordinator.  This organization became a part of her life after her brother passed away from pancreatic cancer.  Since his death three years ago, she has been involved in a number of events that help to raise both money for research as well as awareness for pancreatic cancer.

As someone who understands the loss of a close loved one from this terrible disease, I got to talk to Annette not just about her story, but also about mine.  We talked a lot about the way the person fighting the disease changes and starts to slip away as the disease progresses.  We agreed that watching this happen and being unable to do anything about it was one of the most difficult aspects.

Although I have spoken to friends and family about the loss of my mom, it is very different talking to someone who knows the way you feel and has seen what you have seen.  Not everyone realizes the deteriorating conditions that happen when this disease claims the life of a loved one and the image that is etched in my mind of my mom's final days are forever with me, whether I try to forget them or not.

Annette and I talked a lot about moving on with life after such a loss and the everyday struggles that we both face.

Overall, the experience of this interview was a good one for me.  I made a new friend and learned that everyone struggles with moving on.  Three years later or thirteen years later, life is still different and you just have to adjust to it.

The New and Improved Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act (S 362/HR 733)

So I talked before about the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act and how it was denied.  But people are fighting back, and this post is about the new and improved Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act.

The House of Representatives 733 is sponsored by Representative Anna G. Eshoo of California.  This act was introduced on 2/16/2011.  The committees involved include the House Energy and Commerce.  The latest major action happened on 2/28/2011 when the act was referred to the House subcommittee.  It's current status is that it is being referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Here is a list of cosponsors supporting this act:

Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 3/11/2011
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 3/11/2011
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 3/11/2011
Rep Cooper, Jim [TN-5] - 3/11/2011
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 3/11/2011
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 3/4/2011
Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 3/17/2011
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 3/16/2011
Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6] - 3/14/2011
Rep Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [PA-8] - 3/15/2011
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 3/8/2011
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 3/11/2011
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 2/28/2011
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 3/11/2011
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] - 2/16/2011
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 3/9/2011
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 3/11/2011
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 3/14/2011
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 3/11/2011
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 3/15/2011
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 3/17/2011
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 3/14/2011
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 3/17/2011
Rep McKinley, David B. [WV-1] - 3/17/2011
Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] - 3/15/2011
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 3/15/2011
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 2/28/2011
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 3/4/2011
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 3/11/2011
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 3/15/2011
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 3/14/2011
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 3/14/2011
Rep Reichert, David G. [WA-8] - 2/16/2011
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 2/28/2011
Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] - 3/8/2011
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 3/14/2011
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] - 3/14/2011
Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] - 3/14/2011
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 3/9/2011 

The Senate 362 is being sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.  This act was also introduced on 2/16/2011.  The committees involved include Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.  The latest major action took place on 2/16/2011 when the act was referred to the Senate Committee.  The current status is that the act has been read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension.  The list of cosponsors include the following:

Sen Begich, Mark [AK] - 2/16/2011
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 2/16/2011
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 2/28/2011
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 2/16/2011
Sen Franken, Al [MN] - 3/15/2011
Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] - 2/16/2011
Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] - 3/7/2011
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 2/16/2011
Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] - 2/16/2011
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 2/28/2011
Sen Merkley, Jeff [OR] - 3/1/2011
Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 3/14/2011

Relay For Life

So, even though Relay For Life is not specific to pancreatic cancer, it's still very important.  The Relay For Life is hosted by the American Cancer Society.  It is an event that involves walking or running around a track or path, depending on the location, for up to 24 hours in length.  Teams are formed and sponsored in order to raise money, but you don't have to be on a team to participate.  The amazing thing about Relay For Life is that it occurs in many different locations throughout the year.  It is something that I have personally participated in both before my mom was diagnosed and after.  Although I never formed a team, I always made a t-shirt and spent as much of those 24 hours at the track that I could.  There are many things to do at Relay.  There are baskets to buy tickets for, live music, games, and food.  But one thing about Relay that I love the most is the Luminaria.  As the sun sets, light shines on in the form of illuminated bags, each bearing the name of someone who has battled cancer.  Some celebrate survivors, some honor those who lost the fight.  Everyone is given a candle and a silent lap is dedicated to all who have battled cancer.  A display of luminarias is set up and shines in the shape of the word "HOPE."  Hope is a word that is very important to those who have been touched by cancer.  Without hope, you don't have anything.
Click Here for the list of Relay For Life events in the area.
WVU's Relay For Life takes place on April 15, 2011 with registration taking place at 6pm and the WVU Track opening at 7pm.  38 days left.  $17,691.21 raised so far.  What will you do?

Pancreatic Cancer Research & Education Act (S 332/HR 745)

The Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act was first introduced to Congress on January 28, 2009.  According to www.govtrack.us, the act hoped to accomplish the following things:

• Amend the Public Health Service Act to require that the Secretary of Health and Human Services establish and implement a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative that would address the high mortality rate associated with pancreatic cancer.
• Require the Secretary to establish the Interdisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Coordinating Committee that would:
1.  provide advice on overall research objectives and benchmarks; 
2. develop and annually update a strategic plan for pancreatic cancer awareness;
3. conduct evaluations and make recommendations to the Secretary, the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) regarding the prioritization and award of NIH research grants relating to pancreatic cancer.
• Require that the Secretary develop a primary care provider education program about pancreatic cancer.
• Require that a communication tool kit be developed for patients and their families that focuses on specific pancreatic cancer issues relating to patient choices and care by the Director of NIH and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Allow grants to be awarded by the Secretary to research institutions for use in developing innovative compounds or technologies for the prevention, early detection, or treatment of those cancers with five-year survival rates of less than 50%.
• Require that pancreatic cancer is the Secretary's focus during the initial five fiscal years of awarding such grants.
• Allow that two additional Specialized Programs of Research Excellence focusing solely on pancreatic cancer be designated by the Secretary.

This Act didn't make it very far, and I think that is a terribly tragic thing.  I don't think I understand what it is Congress needs to hear before they decide that this disease is something they really need to push back against.   But some are fighting hard, as this Act is being reintroduced to Congress.  It may pass, and it may not, but I am sure of one thing:  Those who believe in fighting against this disease are going to push back against Congress, and I think Congress should be scared.

What I'm Doing to Make a Difference

The National Familial Pancreas Tumor Registry (NFPTR) was established at The Johns Hopkins Hospital on January 1, 1994. It is a research study aimed at identifying the causes of pancreatic cancer. This organization is something my dad and I looked into after my mom passed. So what can I do? Well, because both my mother and my great-grandmother had the disease, that leaves a family line of the disease. This is the main purpose of the NFPTR; to use family medical history in order to attempt to find the gene that is linked with familial pancreatic cancer.

So here I sit, with a large packet of papers that are asking me every question possible about my mom's side of the family. It's a long list, but I am more than willing to fill it out. The problem is, my mom's mom, who I call Nana, is 92. Her mind is great, but trying to have her recall how her siblings died and when and what age they were, is a lot on her. So I will be turning to my uncle to help me answer the rest of the questions that I cannot find the answers to.

I encourage you, if you have multiple family members who have the disease or have passed away from the disease, or even if you just want to learn more, to check out the NFPTR website. It has so much information on it. If you have family members who have or have passed away from the disease, write to the NFPTR. I encourage you to join. Take some time out of your busy schedule. I know everyone has a million things to do, but this is important. You can learn a lot about your family you may not know, and you may even help add that last piece it takes to find that gene and find a cure.

I'm taking the time to try and make a difference. How about you?

Stand Up to Cancer

I think it's time for a positive, happy blog.  This subject can be a sad one to talk about, so how about some ways that we can make a difference.

Stand Up to Cancer launched in 2008.  The organization funded their second commercial-free telecast on September 10, 2010 and received over $80 million in pledges from people around the world to accelerate ground-breaking research and bring new treatments to patients.   The SU2C broadcast was dedicated to the over 12 million U.S. cancer survivors illustrating how groundbreaking research can change the tide in the fight against the disease.  Celebrities and stars of every kind appeared during the show, encouraging people to donate to this organization and to stand up to cancer.
I haven't been on the website in a little while, but when I got on recently, I found a new section I didn't notice before.  It's called Launch a Star.  The Constellation is a tribute space to honor anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis.  For as little as a $1 donation, you can launch or add to a star in the name of someone you love who received a cancer diagnosis.  I think this is a really interesting way to honor those who have fought or are fighting this disease.
The website is really great and you should take the time to look around it if you have a chance.  You can shop SU2C gear, read feature stories about what new research is being done, news headlines about new discoveries and many other things.  Look around, donate, take a stand.





Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, passed away on July 25, 2008. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September of 2006. He survived almost 2 years after his diagnosis. Although this may not be the happy survival story you were expecting, the way that Randy Pausch handled his disease is an uplifting, wonderful story. You can watch his Last Lecture on youtube. It's a wonderful lecture.

What's New 2011?

2011- New Discoveries

Researchers at the Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute have sequenced all known human genes in a series of ten pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas (also known as islet cell tumors and endocrine tumors).  Islet cell tumors of the pancreas are different from adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.  These tumors are derived from neuroendocrine cells and tend to be slow growing tumors that are treatable even after they have metastasized.  They can produce dramatic symptoms since these tumors may secrete hormones that produce side effects due to excessive secretion of the hormones.
This discovery is important because researchers found that one-sixth of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas have mutations in genes coding for proteins in the mTOR pathway.  Currently, there are drugs available that target the mTOR pathway.  This suggests that doctors will be able to treat only those with mTOR pathway mutations with the medicine without having other patients endure in a treatment that will not help them.
Researchers also discovered a new cancer pathway by locating mutations in two genes (ATRX and DAXX) that have not been reported before in any tumor.  This is important because it helps scientists to learn more about the function of the genes by providing insight into the fundamental biology of neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas.
Scientists also found that tumors with the ATRX/DAXX mutations as well as in gene MEN-1 have a significantly better prognosis than tumors that lack these mutations.

I know all these scientific terms can be confusing, but they aren't really terms I can switch out.  Hopefully you can read over it a few times and understand why these discoveries are so important.  Research never stops.  If research stops, the chance for a cure stops.  Every discovery is a step in the right direction.

It's Go Time!

Let me just say that starting this blog was incredibly difficult for me!!  I was able to create it without a problem, but filling this box with enough words, and more importantly, the right words, has been stretched out through one episode each of Pretty Little Liars, Castle, and The Next Great Baker as well as helping to bath my roommate's puppy Rocco.  Now that I am done procrastinating, let's get down to business!

For my blog, I am going to concentrate on research and clinical trials that doctors are working on around the United States in hopes of finding some way to diagnose the disease earlier, or to treat it with a higher chance of success. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers out there.  Early detection is uncommon, pancreatic cancer spreads quickly, and recurrence is likely. This topic has a lot of significance to me because my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of 2007 and passed away from the disease six months later.  I think it is a terrible tragedy that the prognosis for this disease is so bad.  I wish I were skilled in science and math and could go into a medical field, but those skills are not mine.  Writing is a way that I can tell others about the disease and ways that they can help raise awareness.  On that note, let's start with a few facts.

Did You Know?...

• Pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common site of new cancers  
• It is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women
• It comprises 6% of all cancer-related deaths

• At the time of diagnosis, 52% of all patients have distant disease and 26% have regional spread
• The relative 1 year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 24% and overall 5 year survival is 5%
• The collective median survival time of all patients is 4 to 6 months

• Age is the most significant risk factor for pancreatic cancer
• After the age of 50, the frequency of pancreatic cancer increases linearly
• At age 70, the pancreatic cancer mortality rate is approximately 60 deaths per 100,000 persons per year
• Median age at diagnosis is 69 in whites and 65 in blacks

Causes

•  40% of pancreatic cancer cases are sporadic in nature
• 30% are related to smoking
• 20% may be associated with dietary factors
• 5-10% are hereditary in nature

 This is just a quick look at pancreatic cancer.  This is only the beginning of the semester and I have a lot to learn, and hopefully also a lot to teach!  For now though, I am going to bed, or else I will sleep through this class tomorrow and this will have been for nothing!  Until next time...