Sarcoma Foundation of America Initiates Sarcoma Tumor Genotyping Program
DAMASCUS, Md. – September 30, 2015 – The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), an organization dedicated to increased research and awareness for sarcoma, a rare cancer of the connective tissue, today announced that it has initiated a fundraising campaign to support the genotyping of sarcoma patient tumors in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).
Tumor genotyping is the process by which a sample of the patient’s tumor is evaluated for genetic abnormalities that may drive healthy cells to become tumor cells, creating a growing tumor. If the tumor genotyping identifies a genetic abnormality that is potentially treatable by an approved or experimental drug, it is important for the patient’s doctor to have this information available when determining the best treatment plan possible for the patient.
The SFA plans to raise $500,000 in the first phase of the campaign and has already secured funding equal to 20 percent of this goal. These funds will allow doctors at MSK to determine the genetic profile of the tumors for up to 500 patients.
“This is an incredibly important initiative for the SFA. Helping to provide the genomic information required to help sarcoma patients and their doctors make the best treatment decisions is critical to patients receiving the best care possible,” said SFA Chief Executive Officer Bert E. Thomas IV, PhD. “This program will also increase the sarcoma genomic data available to researchers at a time when personalized therapies are having such a significant impact on outcomes for cancer patients around the world. The SFA is dedicated to bringing innovation to the sarcoma patient community.”
By funding sarcoma tumor genotyping, the SFA and MSK will make it possible for sarcoma patients to get the best treatment for their individual tumor, while generating a larger pool of sarcoma genomic data for researchers to study. This data will aide researchers in their quest to better understand the underlying causes of sarcoma, leading to new and more efficacious treatments.
“The generosity of the Sarcoma Foundation of America will allow us to collect critical information on these tumors at an unparalleled rate,” said William D. Tap, MD, Chief of the Sarcoma Medical Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering. “Our goal is to pinpoint the genetic drivers of sarcoma, which will ultimately lead to more personalized treatments for patients. We are deeply grateful for their vision and support in this endeavor.”
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About the Sarcoma Foundation of America
The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, is an advocate for increased research to find new and better therapies with which to treat patients with sarcoma. Sarcoma is a rare cancer in adults (1 percent of all adult cancers) but rather prevalent in children (about 15 percent of all childhood cancers). For more information, please visit www.curesarcoma.org.
Contact Information
Lori Hoffman
(301) 253-8687