Blog

2022 Gala Volunteer Spotlight

As the 2022 TargetCancer Foundation Gala approaches, we are pleased to feature some of our wonderful volunteers, whose efforts are integral to the Gala’s success. 

Meet TargetCancer Foundation volunteer Tracy Holt. Originally from Boston, Tracy currently resides in Hingham, MA and is a Litigation Practice Manager at Mintz Levin. Tracy was inspired to get involved with TCF after she lost her mom to uterine carcinosarcoma in 2019. Tracy firmly believes that awareness and advocacy are vital to changing outcomes for those facing rare cancer. She is inspired by TCF, which not only supports and brings awareness to the rare cancer space, but also focuses its fundraising in order to make a real impact on research and treatment advancement for rare cancers. This is Tracy’s second year on the Gala planning committee. We are very grateful to have Tracy as part of the TCF community!

Promising New Cholangiocarcinoma Treatment Findings

An exciting paper was recently published in Cancer Discovery highlighting the promise of the recently FDA approved FGFR inhibitor drugs for an even broader population of cholangiocarcinoma patients with FGFR2 fusions. The Evan Schumacher Fund for Rare Cancer Research at TargetCancer Foundation directly supported Dr. James Cleary’s work at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute leading to these important developments. His work was also informed by TCF’s longstanding commitment to cell line creation for cholangiocarcinoma, beginning over a decade ago in Dr. Nabeel Bardeesy’s lab at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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Importance of Local Physicians at the TRACK Virtual Molecular Tumor Board

 

 

 

 

 

The rapid progress made over the last decade in bringing comprehensive genomic profiling to rare cancer patients has created the opportunity to significantly expand the treatment options available to them. However, many physicians, especially in the community setting, have not had the opportunity or training to effectively interpret and relay the results of comprehensive genomic profiling for their patients. Continue reading

TRACK (Target Rare Cancer Knowledge) Virtual Molecular Tumor Board

 

The TRACK Study incorporates many features that make it unique and especially significant for rare cancer patients. One of these features is the Virtual Molecular Tumor Board (VMTB). The TRACK VMTB unites a ‘braintrust’ of medical oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, genetic counselors, and others- all who specialize in rare cancers and are experts in reading and interpreting the comprehensive genomic profiling reports that a TRACK patient receives. The group reviews each patient’s case for an in-depth discussion of their medical history and individual molecular profile in order to offer recommendations for on-label, off-label, or clinical trial treatments for these extremely difficult to treat cancers. Continue reading

Grief- You’re Back Again?

Written by Kristen Palma, TargetCancer Foundation President.

Here is what I have learned about grief after having to cope with it for eleven years.  It is like that old t-shirt in the back of your drawer that pops up every year when you are doing your spring cleaning. You forgot it was there but it shows up each season and for some reason you decide to keep it- never ready to let it go. But you never wear it either. Continue reading

Rare Cancer Research During COVID-19

By TCF research grant recipients Nabeel Bardeesy, PhD, of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center,  and Adam Bass, MD of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Since 2010, TargetCancer Foundation has supported Dr. Bardeesy’s work in cholangiocarcinoma, and Dr. Bass’ work in gastroesophageal cancer Continue reading

My Story of Grief: Experiencing the loss of a loved one during COVID-19

By Kimberley Balkus, TCF volunteer and advocate

2,403 days.

The number of days that my mom, Geri Keegan, lived with cholangiocarcinoma. She was given one year to live and every additional day we had with her was an absolute blessing. Continue reading

In Julienne’s Footsteps: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to Honor a Life

By guest writer Karen Dempsey

The bonds that Julienne Morriss Callaway forged and the values she embraced in life have been instrumental in sustaining her family in the aftermath of her death from cholangiocarcinoma. Continue reading

An Insider’s Perspective

Dr. Monika Laszkowska, a gastroenterology fellow, next to the poster she presented at the 2019 TargetCancer Foundation Think Tank on Advancing Gastroesophageal Cancer Research. She shares her reflections on her experience at the meeting below. Continue reading

2019 Cholangiocarcinoma Research Grant Announcement

TargetCancer Foundation is proud to announce a new two-year, $240,000 grant to the Bardeesy Lab at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center brings our overall investment in cholangiocarcinoma research to over $1 million since 2011. 

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