Together we can end breast cancer.

The Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation believes funding to explore new ideas is essential to finding a cure for breast cancer.  The Foundation awards both, seed funding and larger, multi-year grants, to brilliant researchers studying to improve the detection and treatment of breast cancer.  Notably, 94% of funds raised go to research and education resulting in investments that drive impact globally. 

The Foundation recently approved grants for three doctors who align with their mission to raise funds for research and education to prevent breast cancer and improve outcomes for individuals with breast cancer.  Each doctor and their research focus is highlighted below. 

Peiwen Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery, Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University is a recipient of the Lynn Sage Scholar Award of $200,000 which is paid over two years ($100,000/year).  Dr. Peiwen Chen is focused on targeting macrophage reprogramming in brain metastatic breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women, and the most common cancer metastasizing to the brain. Current therapies have failed to improve survival meaningfully. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs)in breast cancer usually display an alternatively activated (M2-like) phenotype, which suppress antitumor immunity and foster metastasis, including brain metastasis. Therefore, reprogramming TAMs from M2-to M1-like phenotype could be a promising therapeutic approach for metastatic breast cancer. However, the molecular basis governing macrophage reprogramming during breast cancer brain metastasis remains elusive and there is no effective approach to reprogram TAMs in the tumor microenvironment. Dr. Chen will employ integrated strategies to reveal whether and how TAM reprogramming contributes to breast cancer brain metastasis. He also plans to determine how TAM reprogramming can synergize with immune checkpoint inhibitors to suppress brain metastasis of breast cancer.

Hiuping Liu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Pharmacology, Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University is a recipient of the Lynn Sage Annual Award: $150,000. Dr. Hiuping Liu’s research is focused on single-cell proteomic analysis and targeting of breast circulating tumor cells.

Metastasis is an aggressive form of tumor cells, spreading from its original tissue, circulating in the blood vessels (circulating tumor cells), and disseminating to distant organs for secondary tumor regeneration, often incurable and causing 90% of breast cancer deaths. Dr. Liu’s recent research has revealed that circulating tumor cells with stem cell properties interact with each other and form a traveling  group of  orchestrated  clusters  during  their spreading. When more than two tumor cells migrate and circulate together as a clustered band, they have 20-100  times  higher  likelihood  of  regenerating  tumors  in  distant  organs  than  solo  tumor  cells. In order to block devastating metastases, this project will seek to better identify and target circulating tumor cells of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in particular.

Lisa Stempel, MD, Assistant Professor, Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Rush University is a recipient of the Lynn Sage Annual Award: $150,000.  Dr. Lisa Stempel is focused on automated methods for continuously measuring cancer detection rates for breast cancer supplemental screening modalities and risk-based populations.  

In the United States each year, 37 million women are screened for breast cancer, and yet confusion remains as to the optimal use of supplemental screening such as MRI or ultrasound for women at higher risk of breast cancer. A learning healthcare system which learns from the experiences of every patient and not just those who participate in clinical trials, is one potential approach to optimizing personalized breast cancer screening guidelines. At Rush University Medical Center, Dr. Stempel and a team of experts have developed local clinical guidelines, structured clinical documentation, and data analytics to support a learning system. In this important next phase of the work, Dr. Stempel will automatically calculate the cancer detection rate for each type of breast imaging study, an important measure of the quality of a breast cancer screening program. Then compare the cancer detection rate for different risk-based sub-populations and use this data to refine our local screening recommendations. This novel approach could have a significant impact on the future of breast cancer screening research and guideline development.

Links:

• Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation

We are beyond thrilled to announce the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation and the Lynn Sage Foundation have come together to form one new entity, the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation on January 1, 2021.

Our new organization will benefit from the legacies of the former organizations' success, and aims to appeal to the next generation of donors to maximize funding and increase awareness about screening, treatments and eradicating breast cancer.

"These two organizations are a powerhouse of combined strength, rooted in 35 years of success, passion and hard work. My family is humbled that my mother's name will continue well into the future and contribute to this cause.”  - Laura Sage, Co-Chair of the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation

Both organizations funded progress in the field of breast cancer. Beyond raising a combined $40M over 35 years, the Lynn Sage Scholars program resulted in follow-on funding more than six times the initial investment. And, the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, which celebrates its 23rd annual event this year, is a world renowned event for doctors to collaborate on cutting-edge approaches to treatment.

The IL Department of Health estimates Chicago's 2018 breast cancer screening rate was 82.8 percent, surpassing both the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Cancer Institute targets. "We believe that thirty-five years of raising awareness and funding research in Chicago has supported that achievement," Ms. Sage continued.

“My mother's friend, Lynn Sage, left her daughters far too early. Our mission is to raise funds for research and education that will improve outcomes for individuals with breast cancer, so that no mother leaves a child behind too early because of this disease.” - Meredith Soren Freese, Co-chair of the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation

The process of combining the organizations began in the spring of 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the determination to increase effectiveness by operating as one entity. While fundraising in the current pandemic environment is challening, it is estimated that more than 300,000 women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Progress against this disease must continue, and safe screening and treatment cannot stop during this challening time.

Your support for breast cancer research helps improve the lives of all those diagnosed with breast cancer, no matter their age, race or gender - thank you!

About Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation

The Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation raises funds for research and medical education to prevent breast cancer and improve survivorship for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. Investments are directed locally within the Chicago area, but drive impact globally. For more information visit us online at www.lynnsage.org or follow us on our social handles:

Instagram @lynnsagebreastcancer

Facebook @lynnsagebreastcancerfoundation

Twitter @lynnsage

Links:

• Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation
• In Good Health February Newsletter