Science

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ASCO Connection • 12th March 2024

Dr. Kamal Menghrajani on Advancing Leukemia Research and Participating in the Biden Cancer Moonshot

An endowed grant from Conquer Cancer provided Dr. Menghrajani with protected research time in the lab. It also inspired her to pursue leadership and public service opportunities in cancer care.

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ASCO Connection • 12th March 2024

Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, Provides an Endowed Future for Oncology Research and Cancer Care

By providing a ceaseless stream of funding, endowed grants ensure that oncology research and programs don’t fall victim to economic pressures and funding limitations. Here, a group of Conquer Cancer donors reflect on what drove them to endow a Young Investigator Award.

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ASCO Connection • 12th March 2024

Impact Stories: Empowering Innovation and Delivering Meaningful Results in Cancer Care

To accelerate scientific breakthroughs, enhance health equity, and improve patient outcomes for all, Conquer Cancer supports some of the most promising oncology research and programs around the world. This includes supporting efforts that advance not only research, but also continuing education for oncology providers and promotion of the highest-quality, equitable patient care.

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ASCO Connection • 20th December 2023

Addressing Cancer Disparities for Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Patients Through Machine Learning

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities have some of the lowest rates of inclusion in clinical trials and cancer research. The resulting lack of NHPI cancer data leads to poorer health outcomes and fewer supportive resources for patients from these populations.

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ASCO Connection • 3rd November 2023

Targeting Tumor-Protective Proteins to Improve Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer

It’s infamous as a “silent disease,” with symptoms that rarely make themselves known until too late. But one Conquer Cancer-funded researcher may have found a way to improve the odds, even for patients with advanced-stage pancreatic cancer.

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ASCO Daily News • 11th October 2023

Trial Data Sharing Promotes Research Transparency and Fulfills a Promise to Patients

Patient participation in clinical trials is vital to advancing cancer research, yet few adult patients enroll in these studies. Those who do enroll give substantial time to clinical trials and take experimental drugs that may come with serious side effects, knowing their research involvement could help improve care for future patients.

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ASCO Daily News • 6th September 2023

Accelerating Local Solutions for Patients With HIV and Breast Cancer

In Tanzania, where HIV infection and breast cancer are major concerns, it’s becoming increasingly critical to research the intersection of these two diseases. This is precisely the research focus of Sarah Nyagabona, MD, MMed. She works to better understand how HIV infection affects the health-seeking behaviors of patients with breast cancer.

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ASCO Connection • 29th August 2023

From the U.S. to Brazil: Enhancing Immunotherapy for Advanced Prostate Cancers

Prostate cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer worldwide. While the standard treatment—androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)—targets prostate cancer even in its advanced stages, most patients rapidly develop resistance to ADT and often experience side effects like fatigue, anemia, bone loss, and erectile dysfunction.

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ASCO Daily News • 24th August 2023

Leveraging Surgery to Mitigate Lymphedema and Improve Pain Management for Patients

For patients with breast cancer, the effects of lymphedema can have a profound impact on quality of life. While sufficient research exists on the localized inflammation caused by lymphedema, few studies have explored how this condition affects the body as a whole. Even fewer—if any—have looked at how lymphedema-correcting surgeries could help. It’s a problem that Dionisia Quiroga, DO, PhD, hopes to solve.

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ASCO Connection • 20th July 2023

Personalizing Treatments for Patients With Metastatic Uterine Leiomyosarcoma

Accounting for less than 1% of cancer diagnoses each year and between 10% to 20% of sarcomas overall, leiomyosarcomas are both aggressive and highly recurrent—with patients facing a 50% rate of recurrence and, for metastatic disease, an average survival of just 12 to 18 months. While this aggressive tumor can occur in anyone, it’s most likely to affect the uterus, making it most common among women and people with female reproductive organs.

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Conquer Cancer • 21st June 2023

Improving Radiation Treatment and Sexual Health Outcomes in Gender-Diverse Patients

Of the many challenges attached to pelvic cancer, sexual health outcomes often prove especially difficult following radiation treatment. While numerous studies explain the impacts of post-radiation on male sexual function, similar research is scarce for female and gender-diverse patients. It’s a gap that Dr. Marshall hopes to bridge.

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ASCO Connection • 18th May 2023

Dr. Chrisann Kyi Pursues Early-Phase Development of Targeted Immunotherapies for Patients With Gynecologic Cancers

A mother with cervical cancer has tried every standard treatment available to her, but her cancer continues to recur. She wants to live long enough to see her daughter graduate from high school. Despite having an immune system exhausted from standard chemotherapy, she takes a leap of faith...

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ASCO Daily News • 10th May 2023

Dr. Matthew Painschab Works to Mitigate Treatment-Related Infections for Patients in Malawi

For patients undergoing chemotherapy for blood cancers, the risk of developing fever and infections is not only heightened but even more lethal. In places like Malawi, where many people live more than four hours from the nearest oncology clinic, that risk can be particularly virulent.

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Conquer Cancer • 18th April 2023

Rare Blood Cancers: Advancing Treatment Approaches for Patients

One of the most challenging parts of Dr. Jithma Abeykoon's job is the moment when he realizes that, despite all his best efforts, he's run out of treatment options for his patients. He thought he'd reached such a point when treating Anya Magnuson, a young woman and aspiring photographer diagnosed with a rare blood cancer called Erdheim-Chester disease.

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ASCO Connection • 9th March 2023

Mapping the Global Reach of Donor-Funded Research

Since 1984, ASCO and Conquer Cancer have provided more than 2,600 grants and awards to researchers domestically and internationally, with 80 countries represented by recipients. Meet a few of many investigators around the globe whose vital work is accelerating research for patients with cancer.

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ASCO Connection • 9th March 2023

Colombian Researcher Leverages Immunity to Help Treat Patients With HPV and Lung Cancer

In Colombia, lung cancer is among the most frequent types of cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in patients with male sex characteristics. Here, patients often present with additional diseases that are linked to lung cancer diagnoses, including human papillomavirus (HPV). Despite the harmful effects and negative reputation of HPV, the infection could help doctors more effectively guide the course of care for patients with certain types of lung cancers.

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ASCO Connection • 9th March 2023

Conquer Cancer Grant Recipients Bring Research IDEAs to LIFe

An eager group of oncologists from around the world enters the ASCO Annual Meeting for the first time. The oncologists—recipients of the International Development and Education Award (IDEA) from ASCO and Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation—belong to this global community of the brightest minds in cancer research. Each of them shares a vision to advance research and care for patients in their home country.

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Conquer Cancer • 18th January 2023

Improving Radiotherapy for Patients with Cervical Cancer in Ghana

In Ghana, cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer, and the second cause of all cancer deaths. The rise of three-dimensional (3D) radiotherapy presents a promising and more effective approach for patients, but access to this treatment advancement in Ghana is limited. Dr. Scott, of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, stands ready to help.

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ASCO Connection • 18th January 2023

Dr. Stacey A. Cohen Studies Genetic, Environmental Factors in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is on the rise among younger adults and Black communities. Researching the influence of genetics and environmental exposure in colorectal cancer is vital to advancing personalized treatment and care for high-risk populations.

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ASCO Daily News • 1st December 2022

Patients With Cancer Face Financial Hardship. Dr. Veena Shankaran is Determined to Help.

Research focused on the financial burdens facing patients with colorectal cancer is helping oncologists mitigate financial toxicity more effectively across the cancer care continuum.

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ASCO Connection • 7th November 2022

Dr. Clement Dove Okello on Improving Treatment Response for Patients With HIV-Associated Lymphoma

In Uganda, a 63-year-old patient with HIV-associated lymphoma needs nuanced care. This aggressive disease combination does not yet have an effective solution, and can be especially toxic for patients in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV is prevalent and oncologic resources are limited.

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ASCO Connection • 13th September 2022

Dr. David Kurtz Develops, Applies Liquid Biopsies for Lymphoma Care

Implementing liquid biopsies into clinical practice is helping oncologists make cancer care easier and more tolerable for patients with lymphoma. Most patients with this cancer type require six or more intense rounds of chemotherapy for the best chance of survival, but such regimens can be physically, financially, and emotionally taxing.

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Conquer Cancer • 9th August 2022

Connecting Kids in Lebanon with More Efficient Cancer Care

In Lebanon, children with cancer face life-threatening gaps in referrals to specialists and delayed diagnosis to cancer care. To connect patients in Lebanon with timely treatment, Dr. Saab, of the American University of Beirut Medical Center, used support from a 2017 International Innovation Grant (IIG) to train pediatric providers and enhance communication between primary and oncology care.

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Conquer Cancer • 2nd August 2022

Dr. Liliana Vásquez & Team Launch Mobile App to Help Children in Peru Access Cancer Care

In Peru, where late detection of childhood cancer is triple that of high-income countries, nearly half of kids with cancer are diagnosed after their disease has advanced. To connect patients in Peru with efficient care, Dr. Vásquez, of the Medical Association of Clinical Oncology of Peru, used support from a 2017 International Innovation Grant to build a digital referral tool.