Funding the science that leads to cures
A big part of the Steven Vanover Foundation’s mission is to support cancer research. We are currently raising funds to support two campaigns: a DSRCT clinical study taking place in New York and the addition of a genomics lab technology in Louisville, KY. Learn more about these projects below.
Norton Cancer Institute Genomics Lab
Norton Cancer Institute boasts a new Genomics Lab that will take cancer care to the next level, thanks to a generous gift from the Steven Vanover Foundation. The $250,000 gift funded new Norton Cancer Institute lab technology. The technology, called Next Generation Sequencing, allows for faster lab results that help physicians determine personalized treatment options for patients. Norton Healthcare is first healthcare organization in Louisville with this capability.
Previously, Norton Cancer Institute had access to Next Generation Sequencing through an outside vendor. By bringing the technology in-house, Norton Cancer Institute is able to receive lab results in a shorter time, getting patients on a personalized treatment plan much faster. The technology examines cancerous tumors for specific mutations. Physicians then use that information to build personalized therapeutic cancer treatments that best target the mutations present in a patient’s cancer.
Therapeutic study for Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor patients
The Steven Vanover Foundation currently supports a clinical trial led by Shakeel Modak, M.D., at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY.
This is one of the very few clinical trials studying treatments for desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCT) in the United States. DSRCT is the rare form of soft tissue sarcoma that affected Steven.
The Phase I study evaluated the safety and efficacy of utilizing antibodies, along with chemotherapy, to treat DSRCT. These antibodies were developed to recognize tumor cells, and are delivered by injection. Utilizing this method means that radiation is targeted directly to tumor cells. This is important because this treatment is potentially less toxic and more effective than traditional radiation therapy.
The Steven Vanover Foundation has donated over $400,000 to this study, making it the largest single contributor to the study’s funding, and allowing the study to move forward into Phase II. This money is used to support the production of these innovative antibodies into treatment, and to cover associated costs. These funds are vitally important because this clinical trial receives np government funding.
Results from the study have not yet been published, but preliminary data is showing increased 14-month survival rates.
Dr. Shakeel Modak explains how this clinical study is making a difference in the lives of patients with DSRCT.
Thanks to committed supporters like the Steven Vanover Foundation, MSK has informed us of recent progress made in the following areas:
In the Phase I study, they observed that patients with DSRCT who received IP RIT plus whole-abdominal radiotherapy (WA-RT) after undergoing debulking surgery had significantly improved progression-free and overall survival compared to those who did not get RIT.
They therefore initiated a Phase II trial (MSKCC IRB 19-182) to test the combination of the optimal dose of IP RIT established in the phase I trial and WA-RT. Funding for correlative studies including monitoring efficacy using cfDNA was obtained from several sources including the Steven Vanover Foundation.
The trial opened in July 2019 and they treated the first patient with IP RIT. No unexpected adverse events have been encountered thus far. Blood and peritoneal fluid have been collected and will be analyzed as stated in the protocol. Accrual on the protocol continues.