Andrea Bertotti, MD, PhD

Andrea Bertotti, M.D., Ph.D. 
Istituto per la Ricerca e la Cura del Cancro, Candiolo, Italy 

Improving targeted therapy in colorectal cancer through xenopatients

Grant amount: $100,000 over 2 years

Dr. Bertotti has created a unique collection of “xenopatients”–mice which are implanted and living with more than 300 different human colorectal cancer tumors. Each tumor has been meticulously analyzed for gene expression, exome, and cell pathways. With this grant, he will be able to test (in mice rather than in patients) how specific human tumors with defined genetics respond to specific drugs and combinations. Bertotti’s work will also speed the search for biomarkers—tests that could predict which drug will work for an individual’s specific metastatic colorectal cancer.

Dr. Bertotti’s research marks a milestone for Fight Colorectal Cancer: It is our first-ever two-year $100,000 grant to a scientist whose work fights advanced stage colorectal cancer.

Dr. Bertotti has already made a mark in colorectal cancer research. “Andrea has stood out as one of the most brilliant young scientists of our institution,” said Dr. Paolo Comoglio, Scientific Director of the IRCC. He led “a huge institutional effort” to create the library of genetically analyzed human tumors transplanted into mice. With those human tumor samples, the laboratory will focus on the 40 percent of human metastatic cancer samples in which the tumor is held stable—but does not shrink—when treated with Erbitux (cetuximab).

Using the mouse models, the lab will be able to safely test a combination treatment, adding lapatinib (another drug which works similarly but in a different pathway than Erbitux). The scientists will analyze the cells, looking for biomarkers that predict response to the treatments, as well as other pathways for which new drugs could be developed. If the drugs substantially shrink a subset of tumors, the research could potentially move into clinical trials.

“His work will be ground-breaking and exactly in line with the reason Lisa Dubow created this fund—to support a promising researcher working to advance the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer,” said Carlea Bauman, president of Fight Colorectal Cancer.

Make an investment in colorectal cancer research. Donate to the Lisa Fund today.

You may start hearing the word “sequestration” a lot over the coming months. It’s a big word that might not mean a whole lot to you now, but make no mistake – it could have a big impact on your life.

To sequester means to set apart or to take something away until a debt has been repaid. Last year, when Congress passed the Budget Control Act, it said that funding for discretionary programs – those are programs that Congress funds each year through the appropriations process – must be cut by $1 trillion over 10 years. It also directed a joint Congressional committee to identify an additional $1.2 trillion in savings over 10 years.

This “super committee” failed to agree on a deficit reduction plan, and that failure put discretionary programs – like cancer research and cancer prevention programs – on a collision course with sequestration; automatic funding cuts set to take effect on January 2, 2013.

Throughout the fall, Fight Colorectal Cancer will keep you updated on this issue and we will likely ask you to speak up about it as well. In the meantime, we urge you to take a moment to learn more about sequestration, and how it may impact your life.

More information, provided by the Coalition for Health Funding

• Sequestration Frequently Asked Questions
• “Think Before You Cut” flyer
• Grassroots Tool Kit

Fight Colorectal Cancer advocate Rose Hausmann

On July 10, more than 100 cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, researchers and physicians will unite on Capitol Hill as One Voice Against Cancer. “Prioritize and protect funding to fight cancer” will be the strong yet simple message they deliver to their lawmakers.

Fight Colorectal Cancer is an active member of One Voice Against Cancer and will be represented on Capitol Hill by an outstanding team of colorectal cancer advocates, but they need your support.

“I’m No Miracle” is an advertising campaign that will be launched by One Voice Against Cancer this week. Take a moment download or print the ad and email, fax or mail it to your lawmakers along with a personalized message about why funding for colorectal cancer research and prevention is important to you.

As House and Senate lawmakers consider spending for the 2013 fiscal year, they are under tremendous pressure to cut billions from the federal budget. It is our job to remind Congress that they have choices when it comes to spending priorities. Now is not the time for Congress to slow the rate of discovery and squander opportunities to transform cancer care for patients and survivors.

Please support the 100 cancer advocates (including 8 from Fight Colorectal Cancer) and email your Members of Congress in support of cancer research funding today.

Thank you for your time and support.

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) says that declining budgets at the National Institutes of Health a crisis standing in the way of bringing cancer research to patient’s lives.

For the past ten years, NIH budgets have been essentially flat.  Factoring in rising research costs, flat funding means a loss of nearly $6 billion dollars in purchasing power.

AACR is calling on its members and the advocacy community to work even harder with Congress to invest in medical research.  The AACR board of directors said,

Therefore, the AACR announced this morning that it plans to redouble its efforts to engage with Congress to make research funding a higher national priority, raise public awareness of the importance of continued investment in cancer research, and call on its 34,000 members and broader advocacy community constituencies to join together to help better explain and illustrate the value of cancer research and biomedical science to the economic health and well-being of this nation.

AACR President Judy E. Garber, MD, MPH said,

We already see the effects on our most precious resource, young investigators. This is potentially disastrous, as we are relying on them to ensure the continuing pipeline of new discoveries that will have ever greater impact on the welfare of patients and the public health.

AACR is holding its 2012 annual meeting in Chicago this week – Accelerating Science: Concept to Clinic.