Letter from Lisa Switzer, M.A., CEO |
Greetings, everyone.
Well now that August is here, we can certainly call this “the dog days of summer.” I daresay that when we were younger, time seemed to slow down over the summer months, but that certainly hasn't been the case for us at WSCR-NCORP. Since just about this time last year, we have been heavily engaged in a strategic planning process. Throughout the year, led by Decio Mendez of Flyn Consulting and our executive leadership, several members of our staff worked on subcommittees alongside a subset of our board members. I am happy to report that we were able to present the findings of that work to our Board of Trustees during a retreat on Saturday, July 24th.
At this point, I’m not at liberty to say much about what we presented, but I can say that the board and our team are very excited about the direction we are going and the vision we are creating. Our goal is to develop a business model that is innovative, robust and sustainable out of which we can continue to be true to our mission of bringing cancer clinical studies into local communities for the broadest array of patients in need of access. We will provide updates throughout the coming year as we begin to actualize elements of our strategic plan.
On other fronts, I am happy to report that we received our NCI NCORP grant notification for the coming year and we received the full grant amount! While the amount we receive from the grant award is not nearly enough to cover our costs, it is significant that we have support of the NCI. Being an NCI affiliate is an honor and a badge of distinction. We are grateful to be one of 34 NCORP organizations across the country.
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Physician Spotlight: Dr. Patrick Richard, MD |
What role as a radiation oncologist specialist do you play in any given cancer research clinical trial?
As a radiation oncologist, I participate in the regularly feasibility meetings held by WSCR, in which a team of physicians and research professionals assess opening potential new clinical trials in Colorado for many different types of cancer. I weigh in on the radiation aspects of the protocol, from the technical aspects to the planning aspects to the different arms of the trial. Among the lenses we apply is ensuring the trial fits the standard of care for all patients who enroll. What is remarkable to me is that these are cooperative, national studies therefore asking very important questions.
I am based in Boulder, Colorado so it is also essential to assess the capacity of each proposed trial to be successful in enrollment of eligible cancer patients in the Boulder area specifically. Every patient population, every clinic, is different and unique in terms of its patient base.
Recently a big focus of my research has been related to prostate cancer treatments. In these, we need the partnership of urologists and other physician providers outside of Rocky Mountain Cancer Center Boulder who are likely to refer their patients to a trial. This highlights one of the chief barriers to cancer patients’ enrollment on NCI clinical trials, the healthcare systems in which people are receiving medical care. Navigation the health care system today can be complicated. Creating awareness among other outside physician providers in our geographic area and fostering collaboration are key to the success of the enrollment process.
For patients, another barrier that is important to address is to acknowledge that clinical trials are burdensome. While that is harsh to say in a sense, it is true and vital to achieving enrollment goals. For a patient who would like to explore joining a clinical trial, there are several additional steps, including screening for the trial, enrollment, adhering to study protocols and the factor of randomization, that are not a part of ordinary cancer treatment. All people will receive the standard of care in the trials on which I am the investigator, and some will receive the treatment being researched. Yet even if a patient is not receiving the experimental treatment because of randomization, s/he is contributing in a crucial way to research that could positively impact the lives of thousands of cancer patients in the future.
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Physician Spotlight: Dr. Patrick Richard, MD (cont'd) |
What lies ahead for cancer research in 2021?
Advances in radiology oncology include the delivery of very few high doses of radiation as treatment for tumors, instead of more frequent lower doses. This type of therapy is less toxic and means fewer visit for the patient to the doctor’s office. This type of radiation is called FLASH. FLASH radiotherapy is radiation treatment delivered at ultra-high dose rates compared to conventional radiation treatment.
“Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of both curative and palliative cancer care. However, radiotherapy has been severely limited by radiation-induced toxicities. If these toxicities could be reduced, a greater dose of radiation could be given therefore facilitating a better tumor response. Initial pre-clinical studies have shown that irradiation at dose rates far exceeding those currently used in clinical contexts reduce radiation-induced toxicities whilst maintaining an equivalent tumor response. This is known as the FLASH effect.” (source: Frontiers in Oncology, January 17, 2020)
Another promising care option being researched is the use of immunotherapy either alone or with radiotherapy in the treatment of oligometastatic cancers. Oligometastasis is a type of metastasis in which cancer cells from the original (primary) tumor travel through the body and form a small number of new tumors (metastatic tumors) in one or two other parts of the body. For example, cancer cells may spread from the breast to form one or two new tumors in the brain or spread from the colon to form new tumors in the liver.
In the future, these types of cancer may be more treatable with immunotherapy and radiotherapy advances being studied today. A good explanation of the new concepts is offered in an October 5, 2020 NCI article titled, A More Treatable Kind of Metastatic Cancer?. “Rarely are the terms “cure” and “metastatic cancer” used together. That’s because cancer that has spread from where it originated in the body to other organs is responsible for most deaths from the disease. But in 1995, two cancer researchers put forth a controversial concept: There is a state of cancer metastasis that isn’t necessarily fatal. They called it oligometastatic cancer, describing it as existing between a cancer that is contained to where it originated (e.g., the breast or colon) and one that has spread extensively throughout the body.”
I look forward to the findings of the studies underway across the U.S. and the impact they could have on improved treatments for tumors.
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Save the Date of Oct. 21: Inaugural Women's Impact Giving Circle Gathering to be held at CADA |
Our new Women's Impact Cancer Research Giving Circle is a space for women who wish to learn about the latest trends in cancer research and support patient outreach, particularly to practices serving women from under-resourced communities. Members of this giving circle contribute $250 or more annually to WSCR-NCORP.
The first meeting of the Women's Impact Circle will take place on Thursday, October 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Colorado Automobile Dealerships Association building on Speer Blvd. That evening, Circle members and their guests will enjoy appetizers, desserts and wine. Our keynote speaker will be Patrice Hauptman who is the Executive Director of the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA).
Patrice believes change is possible, and most of her work has been cause oriented. She started her work life in Washington DC in the US Senate, and then moved on to federal campaigns and advocacy work. There she also help start a national nonprofit called The Interfaith Alliance, which happens to have a chapter in Colorado. She returned to Colorado to work in the family business before returning to nonprofit work. She has worked at Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance for 6 years.
For more details on this new giving circle and to receive an invitation to join us on October 21st, please contact Laura at 720-475-5728 or email her at LGabbay@westernstatesncorp.org
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Pictured above is Patrice Hauptman, our guest speaker for our inaugural Women's Impact Circle event this fall. |
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2021 Community Partner Sponsor Spotlight: GRAIL |
GRAIL and MCED technology: A game-changing approach to cancer detection that could rewrite the current expectations for cancer survival
GRAIL, Inc. is an innovative healthcare company combining science, technology and population-scale clinical studies to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. Formed in 2016 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, GRAIL is made up of a world-class team of leaders, scientists, clinicians, engineers, and other experts. GRAIL utilizes machine learning algorithms and patient samples to detect the cell-free nucleic acids (cfDNA) that tumors shed in the bloodstream. The result: a single blood draw that can enable early cancer detection.
GRAIL is one of a few companies developing a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test, developing technologies to detect multiple forms of cancer at earlier stages even when individuals do not have symptoms, and before it has spread throughout the body.
MCED technologies combine advances in the study of the human genome and computing power to identify trace cancer cells in the bloodstream through a noninvasive blood draw to identify dozens of deadly cancers. Data shows that GRAIL’s Galleri test can detect more than 50 cancers and predicts tissue of origin with a high degree of accuracy. GRAIL has 12 clinical trial sites throughout Colorado.
By detecting more cancer early, MCED can enable better treatment outcomes, and save lives. Nearly 1,700 Americans lose their lives to cancer each day, making it the 2 nd highest cause of death. In 2021, it is estimated that 8,420 Coloradans will die of cancer. [1]
This year – it is estimated of the top 10 kinds of cancer deaths in Colorado, six do not currently have routine screening tests.[2] And 71% of cancer deaths in America are from cancers with no current screenings available thus leading to many going undetected until patients are symptomatic and at late stages of disease.
Detecting cancers early results in better health outcomes for patients and reduces the human and economic toll of cancer. The five-year cancer-specific survival when diagnosed earlier – before cancer has spread – is 89% compared to 21% when it is detected after the cancer has spread [3]. This game-changing approach to cancer diagnosis could rewrite the current expectations for cancer survival.
As MCED technologies work their way through additional evidence generation and the Food and Drug Administration’s approval process, a paradigm shift is taking place in the cancer detection space. We will soon be screening individuals for cancer rather than screening only for individual cancers.
Our sincere thanks to GRAIL, Inc. for its generous philanthropic support of our programs in 2021.
[3] Based on 5-year cancer-specific survival rates. Source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence - SEER 18 Regs Research Data, Nov 2018 Sub. Includes persons aged 50-79 diagnosed 2006-2015 “Early/Localized” includes invasive localized tumors that have not spread beyond organ of origin, “Late/Metastasized” includes invasive cancers that have metastasized beyond the organ of origin to other parts of the body.
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Pictured above are Anne and Tom Dea with the memorial plaque at City Park in Denver honoring Bill Dea (in memoriam) |
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Our Thanks to the Bill Dea Memorial Golf Event for Choosing WSCR and Cancer Research to Benefit from the 27th Annual Tournament
at City Park
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On Saturday, September 4, 2021, an estimated 100 players and supporters will be headed to the new City Park to participate in the 27th Annual Bill Dea Memorial Golf Tournament. Since its inception, the tournament has benefitted cancer research by donating all proceeds to the Western States Cancer Research NCORP (as well as when the nonprofit was known as the Colorado Cancer Research Program prior to 2019).
The registration fee is $98 per golfer and includes a golf cart, a round of golf, lunch and awards and prizes at the clubhouse after play. Shotgun start is at 7:30 a.m. and promises to be a very fun time for a wonderful cause once again this year.
In interviewing Tom Dea, one of the family members who was part of the start of this charity tournament in 1994, he explained that their father Bill passed away after a fight with cancer on September 3, 1993. Bill loved to golf and had fun playing always. It is in this spirit that the tournament each year is all about having fun, ensuring new memories are made and that there is no shortage of laughter throughout the day. Family members are always on hand to cheer on the golfers and include stepmother, Kathy Quinn Dea, and the 11 children Bill raised! In chronological order, their names are Mike Dea, Tim Dea, Dan Dea, Steve Dea, Mary Matamoros, Ron Dea, Ann Dawkins, Tom Dea, Pat Quinn, Philip Quinn and Mike Quinn.
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Deferred Charitable Annuities: Retirement Plans in Disguise |
Planned giving, such as deferred gift annuities, provides you the opportunity to make a donation to help cancer patients and their physicians gain access to innovative treatment options, including clinical trials, in their own communities. As part of your overall financial planning for your assets and the tax benefits of charitable giving, as well as your estate planning, legacy gifts help you arrange a major charitable contribution in the present so you can see the powerful impact of your philanthropy.
How it works
- Transfer cash or other property to WSCR-NCORP
- WSCR-NCORP agrees to make payments for the life of one and up to two annuitants (payments are backed by our entire assets)
- The balance of the transfer inures to WSCR-NCORP
Benefits
- Payments for life that are favorably taxed
- When gift is funded with cash, part of payment will be tax-free
- When gift is funded with appreciated property, part will be taxed as capital gain, part will be tax-free, and part will be taxed as ordinary income
- Federal income-tax deduction for a portion of your gift
- Gift will provide generous support for cancer research in local communities at WSCR-NCORP
Learn More about our Planned Giving Program
Please contact our Major Gifts and Planned Giving Officer I 720-475-5728
We recommend consulting with your own legal and tax accounting advisors before making any type of planned gift.
Visit the Planned Giving Options section of our Ways to Support WSCR-NCORP webpage on WesternStatesNcorp.org by clicking here.
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WSCR-NCORP team enjoying our July staff picnic at Washington Park |
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Our main office phone is 303-777-2663.
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