Mission
Thank you to the generous donations of our corporate sponsors. We thank you from
the bottom of our hearts.
the bottom of our hearts.
Please join us in finding gentler cures for children by becoming a corporate partner.
What We Fund:
I Care I Cure is currently reviewing our research grant selection process and will be publishing application details, procedure and selection process on the website in the coming months. Please direct inquiries to info@icareicure.org.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric malignancy. Despite advances in the treatment used in the childhood ALL since the 1960’s, many important questions remain to be answered in order to improve current therapy and patient survival rates. Until now, T-ALL was not associated with chromosomal aberrations. The origin of this disease remained unknown until the recent discovery of Notch1 mutations in the majority of T-ALL patients making Notch1 the major oncogene in T-ALL (oncogenes are the genetic portion of cells found to be responsible for improper or cancerous cell mutation). This discovery fueled an effort to understand Notch1 function in leukemia and identify drugs that could block its activity. Going a step farther in determining the target cells, Dr. Cathelin and her team have recently discovered that the NF-kB signaling pathway is an important downstream target of Notch1 activation in T-ALL cells.
In other words, Dr Cathelin’s lab has isolated how the T-ALL cell genetically operates and some of the molecular signals that propel cancerous growth of those cells. Dr. Cathelin’s research will address the importance of the NF-kB signaling pathway in the T- cells transformation and suggest alternative therapy that could affect disease progression and patient survival.
Acute leukemia impacts adults and children of all ages with 18,610 new cases and 10,410 deaths estimated this year. Although therapies are improving for these diseases, much remains to be understood in order to develop more effective and longer lasting treatment options. Dr. Link’ lab is committed to finding better therapeutic options as demonstrated through unique model systems that they have generated. Unlike most leukemia model systems, the system in Dr. Link’s lab manipulates human cells to resemble actual human leukemia. These cells are transformed with a common gene abnormality (MLL-AF9) seen in both myeloid and lymphoid leukemia. These cells can be forced to resemble myeloid or lymphoid acute leukemia. Additionally, this system can be utilized to initiate either type of leukemia in a mouse model system.
Based on current literature and preliminary data, Dr. Link’s lab has chosen to examine a signaling pathway (FLT3 tyrosine kinase) that when it malfunctions, can cause leukemia. Dr. Link will try to determine the stage of cell growth at which this signaling malfunctions and the specific signals that are important in this activation. This will help identify alternative targets for treatment of leukemia focusing on the FLT3 signaling pathway. The results from this research should provide valuable information in selecting chemotherapeutic treatment options for patients suffering from the highly common leukemia subtypes that will be examined.
2008 Research Grants Awarded
Not wasting any time at all, I Care I Cure has awarded two research grants for research that will further our mission of finding gentler treatments for childhood cancer. By working together with Hope Street Kids, a nationally-recognized leader in funding important childhood cancer research, we have awarded $25,000 to each of two ground-breaking studies that can lead to targeted, less-invasive therapies for common childhood cancers. The Board of I Care I Cure has authorized the award of another $100,000 in the coming months for other research projects selected by our Medical Grant Committee. Those grants will be selected and awarded by February 1, 2009.I Care I Cure is currently reviewing our research grant selection process and will be publishing application details, procedure and selection process on the website in the coming months. Please direct inquiries to info@icareicure.org.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric malignancy. Despite advances in the treatment used in the childhood ALL since the 1960’s, many important questions remain to be answered in order to improve current therapy and patient survival rates. Until now, T-ALL was not associated with chromosomal aberrations. The origin of this disease remained unknown until the recent discovery of Notch1 mutations in the majority of T-ALL patients making Notch1 the major oncogene in T-ALL (oncogenes are the genetic portion of cells found to be responsible for improper or cancerous cell mutation). This discovery fueled an effort to understand Notch1 function in leukemia and identify drugs that could block its activity. Going a step farther in determining the target cells, Dr. Cathelin and her team have recently discovered that the NF-kB signaling pathway is an important downstream target of Notch1 activation in T-ALL cells.
In other words, Dr Cathelin’s lab has isolated how the T-ALL cell genetically operates and some of the molecular signals that propel cancerous growth of those cells. Dr. Cathelin’s research will address the importance of the NF-kB signaling pathway in the T- cells transformation and suggest alternative therapy that could affect disease progression and patient survival.
Acute leukemia impacts adults and children of all ages with 18,610 new cases and 10,410 deaths estimated this year. Although therapies are improving for these diseases, much remains to be understood in order to develop more effective and longer lasting treatment options. Dr. Link’ lab is committed to finding better therapeutic options as demonstrated through unique model systems that they have generated. Unlike most leukemia model systems, the system in Dr. Link’s lab manipulates human cells to resemble actual human leukemia. These cells are transformed with a common gene abnormality (MLL-AF9) seen in both myeloid and lymphoid leukemia. These cells can be forced to resemble myeloid or lymphoid acute leukemia. Additionally, this system can be utilized to initiate either type of leukemia in a mouse model system.
Based on current literature and preliminary data, Dr. Link’s lab has chosen to examine a signaling pathway (FLT3 tyrosine kinase) that when it malfunctions, can cause leukemia. Dr. Link will try to determine the stage of cell growth at which this signaling malfunctions and the specific signals that are important in this activation. This will help identify alternative targets for treatment of leukemia focusing on the FLT3 signaling pathway. The results from this research should provide valuable information in selecting chemotherapeutic treatment options for patients suffering from the highly common leukemia subtypes that will be examined.
I
Care I Cure has already awarded
$50,000 in research grants
for research that will further
our mission of finding gentler
treatments for childhood
cancer.
ICIC will award another $100,000 in early 2009.
THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE!!
ICIC will award another $100,000 in early 2009.
THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE!!
