THE MICHAEL CUCCIONE PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY LABORATORY
Finding a Cure for Childhood Cancer Tweet
To ensure that childhood cancer research continues to progress to greater heights, the Michael Cuccione Foundation has reached an agreement to fund the Michael Cuccione Laboratory for Childhood Cancer Research at the Research Institute at BC Children's Hospital.
Your donations will be directly forwarded to fund ongoing childhood cancer research. The Michael Cuccione Foundation is committed to educating you on where your donations are going and how they are helping the fight against childhood cancer. The letter below has recently been written by Dr. Sandra Dunn, molecular biologist, who is working to find new effective treatments for childhood cancers in the Michael Cuccione Laboratory for Childhood Oncology Research:
Dr. Sandra Dunn:
"... One of the most crucial things in successfully treating childhood cancer is developing therapies that target the cancer cell's survival, yet allow healthy cells to remain unscathed. Finding ways to do this allows children with cancer to be treated using relatively low doses of chemotherapy, which is so critical in helping kids handle treatment and recover strong.My research group and I are looking at several common drugs that have been shown to stop the growth of cancer cells. Through our research, we've found a key process in cancer cell function - the interaction of two proteins that help cancer cells survive treatment; if we can block the interaction of these proteins, we can destroy the cancer cells without hurting the healthy cells. This protein is also found in breast cancer. So what we learn from this will also benefit breast cancer.
Our research is also trying to develop new diagnostic tools for early cancer reoccurrence. At this time, unfortunately, the available tests that detect a returned cancer are expensive and invasive. However, my research has found a serine protease known as urokinase plasminogen activator (UPA) that clearly shows when cancer has returned. It is our hope that this discovery will lead to the development of a new blood test, which is especially good news for childhood cancer survivors because, with long lives before them, early diagnosis of a relapse is essential for fast, life-saving treatment..."
Click here to learn more about our Researchers and their study profiles »
Mark your calendar, come and join us at the following fundraising events! We promise, it will be fun!
Checkout our news section to learn about the latest developments taking place at our Childhood Cancer Research Program & The Michael Cuccione Pediatric Oncology Laboratory at the Child & Family Research Insitute, BC Children's Hospital.
