Improve functionality and persistence of Chimeric Antigen Receptor redirected T cells in refractory/relapsed sarcoma patients by Beclin1 modulation
Substantial progress has been made in the treatment of paediatric patients affected by oncological malignancies over the past decades. However, children with high-risk, metastatic or relapsed disease continue to have poor prognosis despite aggressive multi-modal conventional therapies, which are associated with significant toxicity. In this scenario, paediatric sarcomas, which account for approximately 10% of all childhood solid malignant cancers, have the disadvantage to be indolent diseases with metastasises already at diagnosis and therefore more difficult to treat. In fact, the cure rates of localized disease are generally >70%, while the prognosis for children with disseminated, recurrent or refractory disease still… Read More »
Sarcoma Awareness Month Social Media Kit
Sarcoma Awareness Month (July) was created to raise awareness of the needs of people diagnosed with sarcoma. The theme for Sarcoma Awareness Month is “Raising Awareness to Create Survivors.” We have many things planned for the month including Wear Yellow Day on July 10, Light Up for Sarcoma on July 26 and SFA’s Washington, DC, and Virtual Race to Cure Sarcoma on July 20. No matter how you choose to participate during Sarcoma Awareness Month, you’ll make an impact supporting the sarcoma community. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and share and like our posts. Hashtags: #SarcomaAwarenessMonth… Read More »
Analysis and Implications of the Difference in Response Rates to a Treatment For Metastatic Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is the most common childhood malignancy, with a sharp decline in survival rates upon metastasis. We have previously demonstrated administration of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) of anti-CTLA-4/anti-PD-L1 to mice inoculated with a K7M2 metastatic osteosarcoma (mOS) cell line resulted in ~50% survival with complete tumor clearance. Differences in response rates to ICB treatment are common among patients with the same malignancy across various cancers. However, unlike inbred lab mice, human patients have diversity in genetic makeup and other factors, causing the discrepancy in ICB response to remain poorly understood. There is an urgent need to identify the cause of… Read More »
Unwinding new therapeutic opportunities in rhabdomyosarcoma: the role of RNA helicase DDX5
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood characterized by the inability to exit the proliferative myoblast-like stage. RMS can be divided in two main histopathological subtypes: alveolar (ARMS), mainly characterized by chromosomal translocations resulting in the oncogenic fusion transcription factors (PAX3- or PAX7-FOXO1); and embryonal (ERMS) characterized by a more heterogeneous genomic profile associated with activation of various tumor-promoting signaling pathways and/or loss of tumor surveillance. Alveolar RMS is the most aggressive subtype, associated with frequent metastasis at the time of diagnosis and limited response to treatment, resulting in poor survival rates, emphasizing the need to develop… Read More »
SFA Partners with the My Pediatric and Adult Rare Tumor (MyPART) Network
The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) is proud to have partnered with the My Pediatric and Adult Rare Tumor (MyPART) Network, a project coordinated through the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Center for Cancer Research (CCR). The MyPART Network is a group of patients, family members, researchers, advocates, and healthcare providers who are working together to find treatments for childhood, teen, and young adult rare solid tumors. MyPART believes that working together will help accelerate the discovery of treatments for rare cancer. The MyPART Networkwas established to bring together patients, their family members, healthcare providers, patient advocates, and researchers to… Read More »
What is Sarcoma?
Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer and typically produces malignant tumors derived from the connective tissue. There are more than 70 sarcoma types and subtypes. Soft Tissue Sarcoma Soft tissue sarcoma broadly defines cancers that develop in the body’s soft tissues (i.e. muscles, tendons, fat, lymph vessels, blood vessels, and nerves). While these cancers are most commonly found in the head, neck, arms, legs, chest, and abdomen, they can develop anywhere in the body. There are various different types of soft tissue sarcoma, and depending on the type of soft tissue the cancer started in, the cells will look… Read More »
My Sarcoma Story – Anna
Anna’s Story: While on vacation in July of 2016, I began experiencing severe abdominal pain. I was able to feel a mass (it was the size of a golf ball). When I returned from vacation I was immediately seen by my physician. He recommended an ultrasound. The radiologist suggested a biopsy ASAP. That next week I received a telephone call from my physician stating I had cancer! I was seen by a local oncologist within days. I was diagnosed on July 29, 2016, with Ewing’s Sarcoma, which is not common in adults. Ewing’s Sarcoma usually affects children and young adults…. Read More »
Kevin Reilly
Kevin Reilly’s story isn’t merely about survival. It’s a tale of overcoming tremendous adversities and realizing the potential to be a true champion. When cancer surgery left Kevin Reilly without his arm, four ribs and a large portion of his left shoulder, many well-meaning people told Kevin he would no longer be able to carry on the life he’d been leading. Fortunately, Kevin ignored them. He went on to achieve incredible goals and overcome overwhelming obstacles that will make you marvel at the strength of the human spirit. Because when a human being is forced to come to terms with… Read More »
Karen P. Cooper
Karen Picard Cooper’s year-long battle with cancer ended June 9, 2015, at the Hospice of Baton Rouge Butterfly Wing. She began her life May 17, 1954, and spent her childhood in Converse, LA, graduating from Converse High School as valedictorian in 1972. She was joined in Holy Matrimony to James Clint Cooper Jr. August 17, 1972, and later moved to Baton Rouge and raised their children Deyvon, Callie, Angelle, Kara and Clint. She was a loving mother and devoted Nana to two granddaughters, Silver and Aries. She enjoyed reading, was passionate about her two granddaughters, politics, LSU football and baseball…. Read More »
Christian M. K. Martin
Young composer, conductor, and teacher Christian Michael Kendall Martin, aged 25, passed away Thursday, February 20, 2014, following a brave battle with synovial sarcoma. He was born in Saratoga Springs, NY, on May 6, 1988. Christian was a loving young man and devoted son with a deep well of courage. Christian wanted to highlight the need for research and awareness of synovial sarcoma to enable support for patients and families affected by this disease. Christian’s family encourages memorial contributions may be made to the Sarcoma Foundation of America through this memorial page. A Little Bit About Christian: Christian had been… Read More »
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP)
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) is a tumor of the skin. It is a rare type of sarcoma with low-to-intermediate grade malignancy. It comprises less than 0.1% of all cancers and about 1% of all soft tissue sarcomas. DFSP tumors occur in the dermis layer of the skin and can invade deeper subcutaneous tissue, such as fat, fascia, and muscle. They are slow-growing, and spread laterally or sidewise. They may increase in size more rapidly during pregnancy. If left untreated they can come through the skin, ulcerate and become painful. If they are not completely removed they will likely return in the… Read More »
Wednesday Warrior – Jearlean
Pretty girl blues. Was this a label I put on myself or allowed others to give me? Why did I allow myself to hide deep in my pain? I hid behind my outer beauty, clothes, and the truth within. I displayed outer beauty, but was suffering on the inside with low self-esteem, pity, and unhappiness. Could my beauty cover up my hurt? I desperately wanted to be accepted. Yes, I had a darling personality and nobody could take that away, but was it enough to mend the hurt and internal pain? My parents sacrificed for all my brothers and sisters,… Read More »