MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando has received a generous donation to help in the fight against pancreatic cancer. A $75,000 grant, funded by the Shirley E. Noland Foundation, will support the Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research Project at MD Anderson - Orlando. The project will take the latest research findings to develop new treatment programs for patients with pancreatic cancer. The project will focus on testing tolfenamic acid (a drug commonly used in Europe to treat migraine headaches), to inhibit the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells and improve the chance of surviving this type of cancer. Last year the Shirley E. Noland Foundation funded preclinical research at MD Anderson - Orlando for a Phase 1 Clinical Trial for pancreatic cancer using tolfenamic acid.

“We are truly grateful to move our pancreatic cancer program forward with the continued support of the Shirley E. Noland Foundation,” said Clarence Brown, MD, President and CEO of MD Anderson - Orlando. “Treating pancreatic cancer poses unique challenges because so often by the time this type of cancer is detected, it has already spread. These dollars will help us fight this type of cancer by opening new doors for our researchers and oncologists as they work to beat this disease. Ultimately, this donation will save lives. “

The Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research Project at MD Anderson – Orlando is a collaboration between physicians at MD Anderson - Orlando and scientists at the Cancer Research Institute, the research arm of MD Anderson – Orlando. The project is led by Riyaz Basha, PhD, Debashish Bose, MD, PhD and Omar Kayaleh, MD. Dr. Basha will be presenting his research related to pancreatic cancer at the 4th International Conference on Drug Discovery & Therapy in Dubai, UAE in February. Dr. Bose started the Pancreas Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando in 2010.

It is estimated that 44,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year and more than 37,000 will die of the disease. Because of its location in the body, pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and has often spread by the time a person has symptoms. At present there are no robust screening tests available for pancreatic cancer. Approximately 2 out of 10 people with pancreatic cancer will live at least one year after their cancer is found. Fewer than 4% will be alive after five years.

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MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, part of Orlando Health, is affiliated with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. U.S. News & World Report recently ranked MD Anderson Cancer Center as the top cancer treatment center in the U.S. and has ranked it as one of the top two cancer centers for the past 13 years. Orlando Health, a 1,882-bed community-owned, Florida not-for-profit organization established in 1918, annually serves nearly 2 million Central Florida residents and more than 4,500 international patients.

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Source: Orlando Health