Today (10 November 2023), ALK+ International has announced a gift of just under £50,000 to The Institute of Cancer Research, London, to build a tissue bank of ALK-positive and other oncogene-driven lung cancers. This will support Dr Paul Huang and Professor Sanjay Popat in their research into treatment resistance in ALK- and EGFR-positive oncogene-addicted lung cancers.
The ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) mutation was discovered in 2007 and the first ALK targeted therapy treatment was approved in 2011. It occurs in 5% of all lung cancer patients (72,000 new cases and 64,000 deaths annually globally), and affects mainly young people – about 50% of ALK-positive lung cancer patients are diagnosed at about age 50, many in their 30s.
The donation from ALK+ International will provide a structured framework within which both tissue and blood specimens can be collected from patients for analyses, allowing researchers to identify new tests as well as characterise how the tumours become resistant to targeted therapies.
The co-founders of ALK+ International, Joanna Jonathan, Jamie Gibbard and Cat Gibbard, and Chair and Trustee Yvonne Diaz and Jan Clark commented: “Supporting life-changing research is the reason ALK+ International exists. The ICR is one of the world’s leading cancer research institutions and we’re thrilled to support the work of Professor Popat and Dr Huang. This grant demonstrates that together we can make a difference. We are particularly grateful to everyone who donated and supported our ethos over the past 18 months.”
Dr Paul Huang, Molecular and Systems Oncology Group Leader at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, added: “ALK+ cancers are cancers of unmet clinical need and it’s often only possible for us to research cancers like this because of the incredible fundraising efforts of patient- and family-driven charities. We’re so grateful to have the support of ALK+ International to help us start this project into cancers caused by ALK+ mutations. Their support will help us put the infrastructure in place to do research towards developing better and kinder treatment strategies for people with ALK+ cancers, and beyond, who currently have a poor prognosis.”
ALK+ International is a charity dedicated to increasing the life expectancy of ALK+ cancer patients by fundraising for medical research, providing grants, advocating for patient interests, and collaborating with the wider medical, research, regulatory and patient groups.
Today, they have announced a gift of just under £50,000 to The Institute of Cancer Research, London, to build a tissue bank of ALK-positive and other oncogene-driven lung cancers. This will support the work of Dr Paul Huang and Professor Sanjay Popat in their research into treatment resistance in ALK- and EGFR-positive oncogene-addicted lung cancers.
Co-founders of ALK+ International, Joanna Jonathan, Jamie Gibbard and Cat Gibbard, and Chair and Trustee Yvonne Diaz and Jan Clark stated: “Supporting life-changing research is the reason ALK+ International exists. The ICR is one of the world’s leading cancer research institutions and we’re thrilled to support the work of Professor Popat and Dr Huang. This grant demonstrates that together we can make a difference. We are particularly grateful to everyone who donated and supported our ethos over the past 18 months.”
Dr Paul Huang, Molecular and Systems Oncology Group Leader at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “ALK+ cancers are cancers of unmet clinical need and it’s often only possible for us to research cancers like this because of the incredible fundraising efforts of patient- and family-driven charities. We’re so grateful to have the support of ALK+ International to help us start this project into cancers caused by ALK+ mutations. Their support will help us put the infrastructure in place to do research towards developing better and kinder treatment strategies for people with ALK+ cancers, and beyond, who currently have a poor prognosis.”
ALK+ International is a charity dedicated to increasing the life expectancy of ALK+ cancer patients. Their donation of just under £50,000 to The Institute of Cancer Research, London, will fund the building of a tissue bank of ALK-positive and other oncogene-driven lung cancers, with the aim of researching treatment resistance in ALK- and EGFR-positive oncogene-addicted lung cancers.
