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We wanted to update you on a very encouraging report from Dr. Ben Alman regarding our Collaboration for a Cure Drug Screening Project. This project involves screening libraries of over 100,000 available drug agents to identify those which inhibit desmoid tumor cell growth without affecting normal cells. Researchers have already tested five libraries and have received scores of "hits" on desmoid cells -- many more than had been originally anticipated!
Dr. Alman will be reporting more details on their findings at our Patient Meeting and Research Workshop in September. Register here to join us at the Patient Meeting.
The positive hits bode well for the possibility of identifying new effective desmoid tumor therapies. The identified agents and compounds will next be tested in human desmoid cell cultures and mouse models. They will also be analyzed to determine their underlying biologic mechanism to identify new pathways that are activated in beta-catenin in desmoid tumors. This data will be used to inform new research into the biology of how beta-catenin causes desmoid tumors.
The hope is that the Collaboration for a Cure project, which is being funded at a cost of $1 million over a four-year period, will identify a multi drug regimen using agents that are already FDA- approved for patient use, which can then safely be tested for efficacy in patients.
Funds raised at Running For Answers in September will help fund the second year of this project. Each dollar raised is making a difference! This is YOUR research. Please get involved. Even if you can't come to Philly, you can raise funds virtually or consider having your own fundraiser. Contact Lynne Hernandez at [email protected] to get started!
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5K & Kids' Fun Run on September 27 & 28, 2014 in Philadelphia! This is your opportunity to learn about treatment options and current research. 
