What is
sPECial?

Sarcoma and PEComa Investigation and Action Leadership is committed to research, education, advocacy, and support for those diagnosed with sarcoma cancer.

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Research

POTENTIAL RESEARCH SOLUTIONS

  1. Identify the biology of individual sarcomas especially looking at the molecular levels
  2. Aggregate the rare and more common cancers by common molecular pathways which cause tumor growth or inhibit cell death
  3. Target existing and known therapeutic drugs at the specific biology and molecular pathways

RESEARCH GOALS & PROGRESS

  1. Research funded by the sPECial Fund is focused at the biology of several rare sarcomas and their shared molecular pathway links to other cancers (melanoma, lung and breast are promising connects).
  2. To accelerate the development of new sarcoma drugs, the sPECial fund deliberately fosters greater collaboration between researchers at different academic institutions.
  3. The research is being conducted by a unique collaboration of full professors, researchers and clinicians at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Harvard Teaching Consortium. These Sarcoma centers have committed both researchers and lab space.
  4. Article published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, "Clinical Activity of mTOR Inhibition With Sirolimus in Malignant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumors: Targeting the Pathogenic Activation of mTORC1 in Tumors", detailing the work of Dr. Andrew Wagner, et. al at DFCI.

DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE

  1. Boldly recognizing that the opportunity to conquer cancer is within reach, DFCI has launched a one billion dollar comprehensive capital campaign - the largest and most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. The sPECial Fund will add value to the campaign through funding of critical and time-sensitive research.
  2. The sPECIal Fund has made a commitment of $100,000 matched by $100,000 of Dana Farber Cancer Institute funds for research that has already begun. An additional $500,000 commitment as a bequest has been made.
  3. To view information on the DFCI website about the sPECial Fund: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (need to get this link from DFCI)

DONATE

Because of the volunteer effort and administrative support of the three collaborating institutions, 100% of donated funds are directly used for research. Online donations to the sPECial Fund can be submitted through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute site using the link below:

Online Donations to The sPECial Fund