Breathe California Awards Grant to Local Lung Cancer Researchers
Palo Alto, Calif. - Breathe California is proud to announce that it has awarded a $25,000 research grant to Stanford University to explore the use of a new lung cancer drug that has shown promise in combating the deadly disease.
“Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer, yet it is also one of the most underfunded,” said Roslyn Bienenstock, Board Director for Breathe California of the Bay Area. “We are very pleased to be able to support critical local research in search of new life-saving treatments for lung cancer patients.”
The grant will help fund Stanford University studies that are looking into new applications of bevacizumab, a cancer drug developed by Genentech and commonly known as Avastin. The drug, which works by blocking new blood vessel formation in tumors, has been the first to provide a significant survival advantage for patients with advanced lung cancer when added to traditional chemotherapy. However, nearly half of the patients with lung cancer are ineligible to receive treatment because of potential side effects such as bleeding.
“Bevacizumab has opened a new door for lung cancer therapy, but many patients are still excluded from receiving the drug because of theoretical safety concerns,” said Dr. Heather Wakelee, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Oncology at Stanford University and lead researcher for the project. “We are hoping to show that patients traditionally excluded from this therapy can be safely treated and receive the same benefits from the drug. We are also looking to explore the use of this agent in an area in which it may actually help cure more patients, including those with early stages of the disease.”
Dr. Wakelee’s team will use clinical trials to explore the use of bevacizumab among three lung cancer populations that are currently ineligible to receive bevacizumab. These include:
- Patients whose cancer has spread to the brain.
- Patients who are receiving an alternative pair of chemotherapy drugs (carboplatin and gemcitabine) that is often better tolerated than the standard regimen of carboplatin and paclitaxel.
- Patients in the early stages of the disease who have had lung cancer surgery.
The grant was awarded to Dr. Wakelee’s team through Breathe California’s research program. The agency’s program seeks to support local scientists and research projects that pursue new ways to combat lung disease. This year’s grant was largely funded by a contribution from the Elsie & Josephine Colombo Charitable Trust.
Breathe California of the Bay Area fights lung disease in all its forms and works with its communities to promote lung health. For the past 96 years, Breathe California has worked to address local lung health issues through a variety of education, advocacy, research and patient support services.
Media Contact: David Low
(408) 998-5865
david@lungsrus.org