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Foundation expands its research reviewing body to meet strategic research investment objective

NEW YORK, NY (April 30, 2024) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) has expanded its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) by five new members. Led by Katerina Politi, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, the Scientific Advisory Board’s primary purpose is to review, evaluate and select lung cancer research proposals worthy of financial investment. In addition, members of the SAB provide opinion and guidance on relevant lung cancer data.

“We are honored and delighted to have these exceptional lung cancer experts join our SAB,” commented Dr. Politi. “Advancing the most promising science in lung cancer is of utmost importance to the SAB and we are thrilled to have these leaders committed to fostering lung cancer research join the Board. This expansion is an important step as we work towards meeting our current strategic objective of tripling LCRF’s research investment by the end of 2024 and meeting our future strategic priorities.”

LCRF’s newest members of its Scientific Advisory Board:

Shirish M. Gadgeel, MD
Chief of Division of Hematology and Oncology,
Associate Director, Henry Ford Cancer Institute/Henry Ford Health

Dr. Shirish Gadgeel is the Chief of Division of Hematology/Oncology at Henry Ford Health. A medical oncologist by training, his area of interest is lung cancer research in general and drug development in lung cancer, in particular. He has conducted and participated in many lung cancer-specific trials and in phase I trials, including investigator-initiated trials based on laboratory research. Dr. Gadgeel has also been a principal investigator of a Southwest Oncology Group trial, S0528, S1507 and NCI protocol 7389 and co-author on major phase III trials ALEX and Keynote 189 which changed the standard of care. He has also engaged in many epidemiologic studies in the field of lung cancer, publishing on features of lung cancer in African Americans and in young patients. He served as the co-leader of the Molecular Therapeutics Program of the Core Cancer Center Grant of Karmanos Cancer Institute before joining University of Michigan and was the site PI for the NO1 grant awarded to the California Cancer Consortium. Subsequently, he was co-leader of the Thoracic Oncology Research Program and the Mary Lou Kennedy Research Professor in Thoracic Oncology at the University of Michigan prior to joining Henry Ford Cancer. Dr. Gadgeel’s clinical research experience spans 20 years. He is a member of the steering Committee of the Lung Cancer Committee of Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG). In addition, he is a member of the Editorial Board of Clinical Lung Cancer and a reviewer for many journals including New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology and Journal of Thoracic Oncology. He has served as faculty for the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and as a member of the Education Committee of ASCO, as well as a member of the Career Development Committee of the International Association of Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). Dr. Gadgeel received the NCI Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award in 2012.

Aaron Hata, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Aaron Hata is an Assistant Physician in Hematology-Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is Principal Investigator of a translational and basic research laboratory in the MGH Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research. Dr. Hata’s research focuses on understanding mechanisms of drug sensitivity and resistance to targeted therapies for lung cancer. His group has discovered mechanisms of clinical acquired drug resistance in EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET and KRAS-driven lung cancers, and he has played an instrumental role in the development of novel therapeutic approaches for overcoming drug resistance. His research has also yielded important insights into how tumor cells persist and evolve during therapy. Dr. Hata received his MD and Ph.D. degrees from Vanderbilt University and completed an Internal Medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Medical Oncology fellowship at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Hata is also an Associate Member of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, an Investigator in the Ludwig Center of Harvard, and a member of the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center Lung Cancer SPORE. In 2023, he was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation. Dr. Hata is also a 2012 grant recipient of LCRF’s legacy organization, United Against Lung Cancer (UALC).

David MacPherson, PhD
Professor, Human Biology Division
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Dr. David MacPherson’s lab applies genomic approaches and in vivo models to understand the molecular underpinnings of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).  His lab studies patient tumor samples and employs genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models as well as patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models in their interrogation of genes that drive SCLC initiation and progression.   They also employ GEM and PDX models in efforts to understand and improve responses to novel and to standard therapies, with an eye towards clinical translation. Dr. MacPherson co-leads the Fred Hutch Cancer Center Lung Program, and he co-leads a Lung Cancer NIH SPORE project focused on inhibition of the LSD1 demethylase in SCLC and translation of this therapeutic approach to the clinic. He is a member of the SWOG Lung Committee and member of the Gene Regulation in Cancer NIH Study Section. Dr. MacPherson is also an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington.  He is committed to training and teaches an introductory graduate course, MCB539, The Biology of Neoplasia.

Taofeek Owonikoko, MD, PhD
Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Professor in Oncology & Executive Director
University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, PhD, is the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Professor in Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Executive Director of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He also holds the role of Senior Associate Dean of Cancer Programs at the School of Medicine and the Associate Vice President of Cancer Programs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. A translational physician-scientist, board-certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine, he has a clinical focus on the management of patients with lung cancer. His research interests span the spectrum of preclinical experimental therapeutics, biomarker discovery, and translation of promising laboratory findings into lung cancer clinical trials.

He is currently an elected member of the Board of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Treasurer-Elect of ASCO. He serves as an Editorial Board Member for several highly regarded academic journals including Cancer, Journal of Thoracic Disease, and Translational Lung Cancer Research. Dr. Owonikoko is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society for Hematology, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Lastly, he has been an NIH Study Section Member for the past 11 years and is a chartered member for the NIH Clinical Oncology Study section.

Dr. Owonikoko has authored/co-authored more than 250 peer-reviewed original manuscripts including reports of original research in leading journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Cell, Science, Nature, JCO, Lancet Oncology, Cancer Discovery, and Cancer Cell. His work has been broadly cited with more than 50,000 citations and an h-index of 85. He has received peer-reviewed extramural grant funding in support of his research from the US National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, private foundations, and pharmaceutical partners.

Rocio Sotillo, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University
Head of the Division of Molecular Thoracic Oncology
German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ

Dr. Rocio Sotillo, a Pharmacist from the University San Pablo-CEU in Madrid, made significant contributions to cancer research during her Thesis at the Spanish National Cancer Center (CNIO) and her postdoc at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her work illuminated the roles of cyclin dependent kinases and mitotic checkpoints in tumor development.

In 2010, she established her lab at the EMBL-Mouse Biology Unit in Italy, funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the European Research Council (ERC). In 2015, she became a full Professor at the German Cancer Research Center, focusing on understanding the mechanisms that drive lung and breast cancer development, progression, and therapy response. Her recent achievements include developing unique mouse models to induce different oncogenes in somatic lung epithelial cells in vivo using CRISPR/Cas9 that will serve as preclinical models to study the most efficient combinational therapies in lung cancer. Dr. Sotillo is a 2009 grant recipient from LCRF’s legacy organization, United Against Lung Cancer (UALC.)

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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 419 research grants, totaling nearly $44 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information about the LCRF grant program and funding opportunities, visit LCRF.org/research.

Posted in Announcements, In the NewsTagged ,

By Joanne Gaget
April 2024

So how did I get lung cancer? Well, if you’re a lung cancer patient like me, I’m certain that this all too common question has played over and over in your mind as well; much like an endless repeat of a badly broken record (and yes, in light of today’s technology I am unabashedly dating myself here)! Walking back through the last six decades of my life, I reflected on the remarkable strength of my respiratory system and the fact that I never had a cough…except when I contracted the first variant of Covid in 2020. Oh and yes, there was that one time I had bronchitis due to an issue with mold. Moreover, I had always taken excellent care of my general health, staying fit and eating an exceptionally well, pesco-pollo vegetarian diet, in addition to long-held restrictions on processed, fast foods and sugar. So what gives?

Following my diagnosis, I came to understand that in general there is an assumption of guilt and shame that accompanies a diagnosis of lung cancer, especially for smokers and former smokers. But what about the never smokers? Why are they unceremoniously lumped into this mark of disgrace? Having dwelled in this self-sabotaging space as a former smoker, I too have put myself through these paces, questioning everything in a fruitless plight to identify exactly where I went wrong. I thought….

  • Maybe it was my exposure to second hand smoke when I was a child in the 60s and 70s? Both of my parents were heavy smokers, delighting in their habit everywhere, in the car, in the house, in restaurants, everywhere! But neither of my parents developed lung cancer, nor any other form of cancer for that matter.
  • Maybe it was because I smoked in my party girl days of late teens and early 20s? I smoked with my girl friends in the high school restroom stalls, then moved onto the smoky discotheques of the late 70s and early 80s, smoking happily without abandon. After quitting cold turkey at the age of 27, I was guilty of the occasional social cigarette at infrequent French soirees where smoking is still considered common place. So maybe it was the exposure to first and second hand smoke from many moons ago?
  • But maybe it was the toxic landfill that I lived nearby in my 30s. On one sultry summer night in late August 1995, the local landfill erupted with fires from within its belly, breaking the surface and spewing forth toxic plumes of heavy smoke so thick I couldn’t see the neighbor’s house across the street. It was an unmitigated environmental disaster that also contaminated the soil and aquifer. Ever present in the air was a pungent odor from the hydrogen sulfide that mixed together with other odorless chemicals released in a toxic stew that caused chronic illnesses for so many of the residents within a five mile radius. Depending on which way the wind was blowing, my home was pummeled by these toxic plumes for over a year. But still, I never coughed. I was absolutely convinced I had lungs made of steel, which is why I took up the fight to close this landfill, once and for all. But that’s another story for another time!
  • I went on to question…maybe it was the radon in the basement of another former home in Connecticut?
  • Maybe it was the black soot that mysteriously clung to the surfaces of our apartment in a Manhattan pre-war, walk-up? Or maybe it was the billowing exhaust from idling automobiles and buses just outside the large open windows of our second floor Haussmann style apartment in Lyon, France?
  • Maybe it came about from all the cortisol that coursed through my body from chronic stress that I wasn’t always successful in managing as a Type A personality?
  • Maybe it’s all of the above. Or perhaps maybe…it’s just random occurrence.

My lung cancer journey began back in February 2021, by happenstance. I didn’t have any of the classic symptoms, other than I didn’t feel well and I was unusually tired. I reluctantly caved to a trip to the local emergency room for what appeared to be an abdominal hernia or aneurysm. The physician ordered an angio CT scan that revealed a lung mass in the upper lobe of my right lung, which lucky for me was not accompanied by a suspected aortic aneurysm. After many consultations and further testing, it was agreed that the first phase of my cancer treatment plan was to remove the upper right lobe using robotic assisted surgery.

Understanding the diagnosis

In determining staging, it is now customary to send the tumor specimen for additional testing of genetic mutations, as lung cancer can be managed for many patients with targeted therapy or immunotherapy, in addition to traditional chemotherapy and radiation. If you happen to come up positive as I did, it was said that this finding was like winning the lottery…although I must admit that I didn’t quite feel the sort of exuberance one might expect. However, I did feel that a bit of my Irish luck had come back my way, in the sense that I would be given yet another weapon in my arsenal. In reading and re-reading the pathology reports through a broad range of emotions, I came to better understand my diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer, subtype adenocarcinoma with a positive EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) exon deletion 19 mutation. Patients, in particular females with this type of lung cancer, tend to have minimal or no smoking history and currently represents about 10-15% of lung cancers in the United States (although interesting is this subtype is significantly more prevalent in the Asian populations).

Since my cancer had spread to a lymph node and invaded the visceral pleura, my second phase of treatment was chemotherapy (4 rounds of Cisplatin/Carboplatin and Alimta), followed by the third phase of targeted therapy with the medication Tagrisso, a tablet taken daily for up to 3 years. I dove head first into reading and understanding all that I could get my hands on about my disease, which included all published works on many other genetic mutations and respective treatments related to lung cancer. What I learned more importantly is that lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of both men and women in the United States, causing more deaths each year than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. Yet awareness of this fact is low, and lung cancer does not have nearly the resources, support and public empathy that many other diseases have. This is likely due in large part to the strong, pervasive stigma associated with lung cancer.

Moving beyond blame

Given all of my efforts in retracing time, place, behaviors and events, I now know that I will never come to understand precisely whether my cancer was the result of one cause or a combination of factors, including the genetic mutation. With that conclusion, I chose not to waste precious time beating myself up over my past personal choices or environmental circumstances that were beyond my control. In keeping with self-care, I chose to focus my energies on the big business of living in peace and gratitude with the finest human being I’ve ever known…my extraordinary husband Bruno, along with my strong faith in God, who mercifully guides my every step. In feeling enormously blessed by the love, support and connection to family, friends, healthcare providers, the staff at Ann’s Place and to those who travel alongside me or similarly, I remain committed to being a voice, no matter how small, in creating awareness wherever and whenever an opportunity arises. Like so many, I too once harbored ill-informed perceptions about the causations of lung cancer. But today, with the recent advances in treatment, this widespread cancer is not an immediate death sentence, nor should it be perceived as a well deserved punishment for every lung cancer patient in equal measure. Through compassion and education we can all do our part to banish the stigma against those most in need of our sincerest empathy regardless of smoking status, thus leaving painful and wrongful judgments forever a notion of the past.

At the Aqueduct in Avon, France (photos by Bruno Gaget)
Posted in Journeys, PeopleTagged , ,

Patients, caregivers, and others interested in lung cancer research gathered at The RiverMarket Kitchen and Bar in Tarrytown, NY on April 13 to hear about the latest developments and important topics in lung cancer. LCRF Together New York offered an opportunity for the community to connect while learning about promising therapies for treatment.

Brendon Stiles, MD, and Balazs Halmos, MD, MS, from Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center had a lively discussion with the group and moderator Isabel Preeshagul, DO, MBS, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Stiles is the Vice Chair of LCRF’s Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Preeshagul is the Chair of LCRF’s Education & Engagement Committee, and Dr. Halmos is a previously funded LCRF researcher.

The panel began with an important discussion around lung cancer screening – why it’s so essential to be screened if you are eligible, and their strategies for increasing awareness and screening rates in their own practices. Early-stage lung cancer was the subject of some especially compelling conversation, particularly around recent studies that provide practice-changing guidance around how we treat early-stage disease using neoadjuvant therapy. 

The speakers also touched upon the role of next generation sequencing (NGS) testing in the early-stage setting and how that can impact care. With the approval of adjuvant osimertinib based on the ADAURA data and new ALINA data published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) for those harboring ALK fusions, the importance of NGS testing regardless of staging is becoming increasingly imperative. The event closed out with updates on targeted therapies and antibody drug conjugates, and excitement around what’s coming down the pipeline for small cell lung cancer. As always, those gathered had many insightful questions, which also provided an opening for getting to know others in the lung community. 

Dr. Stiles shared his excitement around the incredible progress in lung cancer treatment during the last decade, highlighting the critical role that LCRF and the research we have funded over the years has contributed to these significant advancements and improved outcomes for patients.

“Gatherings like this one are so essential for the lung community because not only are we are able to learn from experts in the space but more importantly hear from patients, caregivers and advocates the true needs and areas where we can be most impactful.”, said Dr. Preeshagul.

Be on the lookout for other events happening near you, as well as our #TogetherSeparately livestream talks.

Drs. Halmos, Stiles & Preeshagul

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Bristol Myers-Squibb | Genentech, a member of the Roche Group

Posted in LCRF TogetherTagged ,

April 2024

Caroline with her boys

Caroline, a nurse practitioner who lives in Louisiana, was more familiar with lung cancer than she cared to be. “About 15 years ago, my maternal aunt was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer – in her 40s – and died a year later. And she was a never smoker, very healthy,” she explained.

“We all thought, ‘okay, that’s random.’ Fast forward to 2021, my maternal grandmother was also diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Another never smoker. Thankfully, my grandmother lives in Houston and got into MD Anderson. They mentioned the EGFR mutation, so she got tested and was positive. That led to my mom getting tested – she tested positive for the gene. Then I tested positive.”

Her mother, who lives in New Jersey, was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering for stage 1 lung cancer.  “I actually was pregnant at the time she had her surgery. After I had my baby, I had my first CT scan, which showed all the nodules.”

Fortunately, Caroline had already decided that if she needed treatment, she wanted to go to her mom’s thoracic surgeon. “I had surgery in October 2022, and I actually had a lot of complications. I had a chest tube for two months, and I had to go back to the operating room twice,” she said. “Even though I loved my team at MSK, I live in New Orleans. I’m going to need surveillance for the rest of my life, and it’s too far away.”

Caroline found a thoracic surgeon at MD Anderson, and is very happy with her new medical team. She undergoes screening every 6 months to monitor her remaining nodules.

A network of support

To cope with the uncertainty, “I surround myself with a strong network of family and friends,” she said. “I focus on the present by finding joy in small daily activities and cherishing any positive moments.” She is especially grateful for her husband, her two young boys, and her family and friends.

“My husband has always been by my side and able to advocate for me when I physically or mentally was unable to myself. I am also fortunate to have a large group of girlfriends from my hometown that are still my best friends. We get together often and talk daily through a group chat. I am impressed and blessed with how supportive they have been – visiting me while I was in the hospital, helping with my kids, and always there for advice or if I needed to vent.”

As a urologic oncology NP, Caroline is keenly interested in research developments. Dr. Geoff Oxnard, a thoracic medical oncologist in Boston, has developed techniques in cancer genomics and has a special interest in the EGFR T790m germline mutation. When Caroline found out she had the mutation, she decided to fly to Boston and meet with him.

“He’s the one who really inspired me to get involved. He told me that as a doctor, he can only do so much to raise awareness… it’s going to take a patient to share their story and get the word out.”

> Learn more about biomarker testing
> View the web series, Your Path Forward after a Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Posted in Journeys, People, Women & Lung CancerTagged , , ,

For our April Together Separately livestream talk, Julia Rotow, MD, and Isabel Preeshagul, DO, MBS, discussed resources available to patients and caregivers, assembling and managing a care team, and questions to ask at appointments. Dr. Rotow is Clinical Director, Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

Watch the recording below.

Posted in Together SeparatelyTagged ,

The good news

The FDA recently granted approval to tepotinib for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with MET exon 14 skipping alterations.

Why it’s important

MET alterations occur in 3-4% of patients with NSCLC, and those alterations are responsible for driving the development of the cancer. Patients who have MET exon 14 skipping alterations are typically older individuals at 70 years or greater. The Vision trial was a Phase 2 study that evaluated tepotinib in different groups of patients. In those with exon 14 skipping alterations who were not previously treated, 57% had at least a 50% shrinkage of their cancer, and the control of the disease lasted for a median of 46 months. For patients who had previously received treatment, the response rate was 45%, and in many the cancer control lasted for more than 12 months (JAMA Oncology, Volume 9, pages 1260-66, 2023). The drug was also beneficial for patients with brain metastases. The treatment was well tolerated with leg swelling as the most common side effect.

What it means for patients

Tepotinib represents an effective oral treatment for patients with advanced MET exon 14 mutated NSCLC. This is particularly important since these patients tend to be older individuals. Prior to this advancement, chemotherapy had been the standard treatment. This also emphasizes the value of doing biomarker testing to evaluate newly diagnosed lung cancer patients for abnormalities such as MET exon 14 skipping mutations so that the appropriate treatment can be prescribed. It is interesting to note that the Vision trial also allowed the use of liquid biopsy (blood sample) to detect the MET alteration.

What to watch for

Research continues to be done involving tepotinib as well as other novel MET inhibitors. It is important to note that these agents are being tested in other MET abnormalities in addition to the MET exon 14 skipping alterations. There is always room for improvement for these patients to extend their survival.

Read the FDA announcement

Read about LCRF grantees who currently are working on MET-related projects:

  • Amanda Bradley, PhD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
  • Xiuning Le, MD, PhD, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
  • Emiliano Cocco, PhD, University of Miami – Dr. Cocco’s team is collaborating with Dr. Alexander Drilon’s clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Drilon is a member of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Posted in Research, Science Made SimpleTagged , ,

Meet the newest member of LCRF’s science team, and hear a quick update on the foundation’s research program as well as news from the lung cancer space. Watch the video below.

Featured:
Aubrey Rhodes, LCRF Executive Director
Dhru Deb, PhD, Senior Director, Research & Administration
Antoinette (Toni) Wozniak, MD, Chief Scientific Officer

Posted in ResearchTagged ,

By Jeff Stibelman
March 2024

I was first diagnosed with cancer of the cervical spine on January 1, 2017, after experiencing very severe nerve pain down my whole right side. Thankfully, due to the sensitivity of what was to be my operation, my doctor sent me to one of the best surgeons in the country at USC Keck MD Center, LA, California. At that time I was told in the beginning it was a schwannoma, a non-cancerous lesion, but it was on my main nerve, hence the excruciating pain, affecting my whole right side. I had to wait for weeks with a lot of pain, since they thought it was benign. I finally had quite an extensive surgery, it lasted for many hours. After a week stay in ICU I found out it was atypical, and it was indeed, cancer!

Because of the sensitivity of the surgery and fear of paralysis, they only removed 3/4 of the tumor, leaving me with some slight paralysis and of course the remaining cancer. Next was radiosurgery radiation to try to get the remainder. I was then included by my surgeon as part of a study and in his classes at USC as my case was very unusual. He wanted to keep me there as a patient because of it being so rare I stayed for 3 months until insurance disallowed me from staying any longer.

Jeff with his oncologist

Before I left, my doctor at USC, who wanted to keep me, taught me what to say, how to say it and what to ask for and most importantly to advocate for myself. He taught me so much, he is an amazing human. So after radiation I went back to my original care facility, I was seen by a neurologist oncologist every three months for MRIs, labs and scans that included a full body scan. Everything seemed to be going pretty well and stable until fast forwarding to March of 2021 when I decided being immuno-compromised I would get the COVID vaccine. Before doing so my PCP who I’ve been seeing and knew for a very long time suggested I come in and he do a complete physical on me since I hadn’t had one for a couple years. All looked great, he listened to my heart and lungs and they sounded all clear by stethoscope. However, I was complaining of a slight cough, so my doctor decided at that time to do a chest x-ray, as I hadn’t had one for quite some time.

Now mind you, at this point a lot of doctors would have just said everything looks good. You probably have a slight cold starting, so go home and get some rest and drink a lot of fluids. But because I’ve known him for so long, he decided to take the extra step and give me the x-ray. He said go down and do the X-ray and come right back up again so he can read it instead of waiting for it to come up in the portal. As I walked back in the room, it was evident by the look on his face, which I’ve seen before, and I knew in my heart what it meant when this normally very stoic doctor looked visibly concerned. He turned the screen and showed me what was a very large mass in my lower right lobe. He ordered a PET scan, CT scan, and MRIs. Then he referred me to see a pulmonologist who did an Ebus (scoping and sampling of the mass for testing) which showed that I had stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer, with mets to a lymph node, brain and some bones. The new scans also referred back to my 2017 chest CT saying that the mass has grown significantly. You’re probably thinking “what, wait, did I miss something?”

Yeah, you heard me right – it was never mentioned in the radiologist report back in 2017 when it was Stage 1a and operable – and when statistically I had a better chance of a cure, or at a minimum, a much longer life. I was misdiagnosed. So off to my oncologist I went who gave me 6 months to a year to live (yes, I asked) and she ordered radiation and chemotherapy to start ASAP. At this point, knowing I’ve heard those three little words before (“you have cancer”), I had two ways to go – so to quote one of my all-time favorite movies, the Shawshank Redemption, either “I can get busy living or get busy dying” so I chose life!

By the grace of G-d she also did biomarker testing, and right before I was to start both chemo and radiation I found out that I had the EGFR mutation Exon 19 Deletion and was able to do a TKIs targeted therapy. So in April 2021 I started Tagrisso (which didn’t exist until only 6 years ago, awareness and research did that). Unfortunately, I still have the lung mass, but it has shrunken, and my five brain lesions and lymph nodes are NED so far. As far as my bone metastasis, I do what is called Zometa infusions to strengthen them from fracture. So the good news is I’m stable which we all know is a big win.

Video: Jeff talks about biomarkers

And if not for that simple chest X-ray – and dare I say, COVID – I might not have been here telling you my story. So, I continue, what I started from the time of my very first diagnosis in 2017 till today, to be an advocate to raise more awareness for testing and research, to find a cure and stop the stigma of this terrible disease called Lung Cancer. It can be silent and is the number one cancer killer. “If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer.”

At the Fight For Air Climb

I also urge new and previously diagnosed cancer patients, caregivers or anyone affected, to be proactive, to advocate for yourselves. Being quiet does not work. Push for more answers, push for more testing, get second opinions if you’re not getting the result. This is what I learned from my misdiagnoses and advocating. I also believe telling your story is very important; again, staying quiet doesn’t work. No, it’s not always easy, but others need to hear it and we need to tell it, for more awareness, to find cures for this number one killer. I am always available for all my sisters, brothers, caregivers or anyone who is touched by lung cancer.

Until then, stay strong but always positive.

Posted in Journeys, PeopleTagged ,

Foundation honors Mark G. Kris, MD

NEW YORK, NY (April 2, 2024) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is pleased to announce Dr. Mark G. Kris as its honoree for the 3rd annual Evening of Innovation Gala, which will be held on September 24, 2024 at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan. Members of LCRF’s Board of Directors and Gala Committee are committed to showcasing LCRF’s impact through recognition of an individual whose support of the organization and the field of lung cancer research is unparalleled, and someone who exemplifies the spirit of LCRF to improve the lives of persons with lung cancers through research.

As a thoracic oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dr. Kris’s clinical and research accomplishments over the last four decades have transformed lung cancer care both nationally and internationally. He has played a prominent role in the discovery and use of chemotherapy and later targeted therapies matched to the genetic changes found in each person’s cancers. He was part of a small group of investigators that developed the medicines today given routinely to every patient to prevent nausea and vomiting. The lives touched by this effort are truly innumerable. Dr. Kris is a tireless patient advocate and a visionary. He strives to create “what comes next” to better treat and cure lung cancers. In addition to his other roles, he mentors young physicians who are today becoming the new leaders in the field.

Dr. Kris was a founder of The Lung Cancer Mutation Consortium (LCMC) in 2009. Fifteen years later, his leadership drives LCMC’s fourth iteration, the LEADER trial set to enroll 1000 persons with lung cancer before surgery at 20 institutions across the United States. This project supported by LCRF will open a new chapter in targeted therapy. Combining targeted therapies with surgery offers the best hope today to use precision medicine to lead to cures.

Dr. Kris’s impact at the Lung Cancer Research Foundation spans decades, beginning with an advisory role in Joan’s Legacy. He has been a vital member of the Scientific Advisory Board for over 10 years and played an essential role in building LCRF’s research program. His guidance to the founding members of LCRF has shaped its strategic trajectory. His leadership and direction empower LCRF to fund the brightest minds and make the biggest impact for patients. “The contributions to lung cancer treatment by Dr. Kris are innumerable,” remarked Aubrey Rhodes, Executive Director of LCRF. “He has relentlessly championed finding ways to improve his patients’ lives, both through research and  as a doctor. He has been an advisor and mentor to many and has contributed so much to the lung cancer community. It is only fitting that we honor him, and his impact, at the Evening of Innovation gala.”

Colleen Conner Ziegler, LCRF’s Board of Directors Chair commented: “He has not only provided his patients with excellent care throughout his career, but he has also pushed for research to do even better than we do today. He is a real champion for innovative research, and we’re pleased to honor him at this year’s gala event.”

“I’m humbled to be chosen for this honor,” said Dr. Kris. “The real champions are my patients, their loved ones, my nurse and physician colleagues who bring discoveries to our patients, and our  researchers in the laboratories. We look particularly to our scientists to discover the breakthroughs we need in the clinic.  I believe in the power of collaborative science, and that working together, facing head on these complex challenges, we will find a way to realize the dream to cure all person’s lung cancers. The first step to reach this goal is to believe that cure is possible for each patient. I ask you to dream with me. Thank you for the recognition of my work.”

The 2024 Evening of Innovation Gala will take place at 6 pm on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at the Metropolitan Club in New York City. We will hear from the people whose lives Dr. Kris has touched during the event and provide attendees with opportunities to make their own impact on lung cancer research. More details can be found at LCRF.org/gala.

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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 419 research grants, totaling nearly $44 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information about the LCRF grant program and funding opportunities, visit LCRF.org/research.

Contact:
Sheila Sullivan
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, LCRF
ssullivan@LCRF.org

Posted in Announcements, EventsTagged ,

March 30 is National Doctors’ Day, and once again we invited you to send thank you messages to the physicians who have made a difference in your life. Here are a few of the kudos you shared with your inspiring doctors!

Thank you to doctors everywhere who are using the results of lung cancer research to give their patients better, longer lives.

It’s never too late to support research in honor of your own doctor. Make your own tribute here.

To Mohamed Mohamed, MD,
Wesley Long Cancer Center
“Thank you, Dr. M, for taking this difficult journey with me, being sensitive to my needs, while still recommending the most effective treatments and encouraging me every step of the way. I am very grateful for your care.”

To Lecia Sequist, MD, Mass General Hospital and
Sarada Gurubhagavatula, MD, Summit Health
“I think of you often and want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you did for Bill and me. After Bill was diagnosed with cancer, we were so fortunate to have found such kind, caring and dedicated doctors. From the moment we met you, we knew that we had come to the right place. As Bill would often say, you were not only amazing doctors but wonderful people. We both felt so much more at ease after we spoke to you, and we trusted all of the advice that you gave us. I know that if it had not been for you, we would not have had nearly as much time together. I can’t thank you enough for giving us the precious gift of time.”

To Brad Hiatt, DO, MercyOne Hospital
“I am so grateful to my oncologist, Dr. Brad Hiatt at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moine, IA! He’s the best..I was stage 4 lung cancer and I thought I was doomed! I began my fight in 2019 and my two tumors are in the dormant stage and I hope they stay that way! I will be 75 in June and almost 5 years ago since my cancer was diagnosed..I have wonderful doctors! Thank you, Dr. Hiatt and team! You are all a blessing!”

To Joshua Sabari, MD, NYU Langone
“Dr. Sabari is extremely knowledgeable about developments in the field and is very giving of his time even though he is super busy. Most important,  as a patient, he eases my worries and I know my care is top-notch.”

To Christina Mangiaracina, DO,
Delancy Medical Group, Penn Medicine
“Thank you for your commitment to early detection & intervention. I wish all doctors shared your dedication to patients and your understanding of lung cancer.”

To Alexander Drilon, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering
“Thinking of you and JAMIE, and all of your staff on this day of thanking DOCTORS. Can’t tell you how much you all meant to us during my mom‘s treatment. We were blessed to have you all as our care team. We still miss her every day.”

“Thanks for what you did for my wife, Nita.”

“You gave my mother over 7 years of life with stage 4 using cancer. We worked to keep the virus away and you worked to stay ahead of all mutations. She died last January, NOT due to the cancer. Thank you for all your do!”

“There will never be enough words to express my gratitude for the care, compassion and dedication you have to your patients and improving lung cancer outcomes. I am blessed to have you and your staff as a part of my team and am grateful for your attentiveness, thoroughness and knowledge. Thank you for giving me hope! I feel like the lucky one to have you in my corner!”

To Catherine Shu, MD, Columbia University
“Super grateful for the care you provide me and others facing lung cancer. I am privileged to be your patient!”

To Jennifer Garst, MD, Duke University Medical Center 
“I am forever grateful for you. Your kindness, expertise and knowledge has gotten me through two lung cancers. I am so lucky that Dr. Garst and my surgeon, Dr. Tom D’Amico, are at DUMC. I am alive because of these physicians. Dr. Garst’s compassion and expertise has kept me grounded for the last 20 + years.”

To Ryan Brisson, MD, University of Florida
“Your dedication to the field of radiation oncology is such a blessing to our community! Thank you for your focus on reducing the toxicity of cancer treatment, allowing your patients to lead longer, fuller lives.”

To Matthew Gubens, MD, MS,
UCSF – University of California San Francisco
“Thank you for all you’ve been doing and continue to do!”

To Heather Wakelee, MD,
Stanford Medicine Cancer Center
“Thank you for your excellent guidance and support.”

Posted in People