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Pancreatic Cancer
Medical Breakthrough
Pancreatic Cancer Action
Network Funding Assists University of Pennsylvania Researcher
in Pursuit of Early Detection Methods
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec. 10, 2003: -- A major scientific
discovery, funded in part by the Pancreatic Cancer Action
Network (PanCAN), may revolutionize the detection and
treatment of one of the most deadliest cancers known to man --
pancreatic cancer. David A. Tuveson, MD, PhD, of the Abramson
Family Cancer Research Institute at the University of
Pennsylvania, led the team that developed and characterized
the first animal model that describes the creation and
characterization for ductal pancreatic cancer. His discovery
provides insight into the development of future diagnostic
tests for early disease detection as well as potential
therapeutic strategies. The research will be published online
in Cancer
Cell.
In May 2003, Dr. Tuveson received a Career Development Award
for early-career scientists engaged in pancreatic cancer
research from PanCAN and the American Association for Cancer
Research (AACR). The two-year grant provides $100,000 of
direct research expenses. "Attempts to identify humans with
early pancreatic cancer have been largely unsuccessful due to
the anatomic location of the pancreas and the small size of
the presumed precursor lesions, termed pancreatic
intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN)," said Dr. Tuveson. "Working
with Drs. Emanuel F. Petricoin and Lance A. Liotta and other
colleagues at the NCI, we have uncovered a molecular signature
of PanIN in the serum of mice that is highly predictive for
the presence of early pancreatic cancer. Support from the
AACR-PanCAN career development award helped make this
possible."
"This is a clear indicator that increased funding will lead to
better detection and treatment methods and, eventually, to a
cure," said Julie Fleshman, PanCAN Executive Director. "The
groundbreaking research by Dr. Tuveson opens the door for
others interested in studying pancreatic cancer, and PanCAN
will continue to support their efforts."
"This gives us cause for hope at a time when pancreatic cancer
research has been almost non-existent," said Paula Kim,
President and Founder of PanCAN, a national patient advocacy
organization for the pancreatic cancer community. "Our goal is
to make significant strides against this disease so that in
the near future, the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer will no
longer be a virtual death sentence." Earlier this year, Kim
testified about pancreatic cancer before the subcommittee on
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related
Agencies of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on
Appropriations. TOP
The breakthrough is particularly important due to the
aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer, the 4th leading cause of
cancer death in the U.S. for men and women. Pancreatic cancer
carries a 99 % fatality rate; however, despite this statistic,
the federal government invests less money on pancreatic cancer
than any other leading cancer. In 2002, the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) spent 33.1 million dollars -- less than 1
percent of its cancer research budget -- on pancreatic cancer
research. TOP
Pancreatic Cancer Facts
Approximately 30,700 people will be
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year in the United
States and 30,000 people will die from the disease.
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Pancreatic
cancer has the #1 fatality rate of all cancers.
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Pancreatic
cancer is the #4 cancer killer in the United States amongst
both men and women.
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The 99%
mortality rate for pancreatic cancer is the highest of any
cancer.
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Pancreatic
cancer does not discriminate by age, gender or race and only
4% of patients will survive beyond 5 years.
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The average life
expectancy after diagnosis with metastatic disease is just
3-6 months.
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An estimated
33.1 million dollars was spent on pancreatic cancer research
in 2002 of the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) cancer
research budget. This is just a mere 0.8 of 1% of the NCI's
4.176 billion dollar cancer research budget for 2002.
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Despite the
especially lethal nature of pancreatic cancer, the
research spending per pancreatic cancer patient is only
$1092, the lowest of any leading cancer.
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No effective
early detection methods have been developed, there are
minimal treatment options available and very little research
is under way due to limited research funding. TOP
About PanCAN
PanCAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999
by surviving family members of individuals who died of
pancreatic cancer. Visit www.pancan.org to obtain more
information, e-mail info@pancan.org, or call 1-877-272-6226
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