AACR Report Highlights TNBC

NEWS RELEASE

Washington, DC, September 12, 2012– The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation® is proud to support the American Association for Cancer Research in their effort to raise awareness of the need for greater federal investment in the war against cancer. Representatives from the TNBCF and scores of other patient advocacy groups attended the unveiling of the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2012 here today.  [PAT'S NOTE:  You can download the report here.  Information about triple negative breast cancer from the patient's perspective is on page 40 and 68-69; other TNBC information can be found on page 17.]

“Private foundations like ours do a lot, but a strong federal commitment to breast cancer research is crucial to find breakthrough therapies for patients,” said Lori Redmer, Executive Director, Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. “Besides policy and regulation, an important form of commitment is federal investment in research, and looming reductions are of grave concern to the more than 25,000 women in the US that will be diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer this year.”

Today’s report calls for legislation that provides alternative means for reducing our deficit while still protecting federal cancer research funds. This will require a concerted effort from the cancer research and advocacy community to urge legislators to work together to prevent sequestration of funds, resulting in reductions.

Over the coming months, TNBCF will be alerting its community about the situation, the risks to cancer research presented by budgetary sequestration, while urging its community to contact legislators encouraging them to find alternatives to cutting cancer research budgets.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation will also be attending a number of satellite events after the AACR Progress Report launch press conference, including an awards reception on Capitol Hill and a dinner for the honorees. TNBCF joins with the AACR in saluting those lawmakers who make cancer research funding a priority.

Triple negative breast cancer accounts for about 15% percent of all breast cancers, and is often more aggressive than other forms of the disease, while also disproportionately striking some populations such as women under 40, African Americans and Latinas. Unlike other breast cancers, triple negative breast cancers lack three specific proteins, or receptors, and as a result generally do not respond to existing targeted medicines commonly used to treat the disease. Since no targeted treatment exists yet, women with triple negative breast cancer usually receive surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Treatment options remain limited if these interventions are not effective. Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation is focused solely on this dangerous form of breast cancer and is investing in research to find a targeted therapy.

About Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation
The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 2006 in honor of Nancy Block- Zenna, a young woman who was diagnosed at age 35 with triple-negative breast cancer and died two and a half years later in 2007. In response to Nancy's diagnosis, her close friends launched the Foundation. Our mission is to raise awareness of triple-negative breast cancer and to support scientists and researchers in their effort to determine the definitive causes of triple- negative breast cancer, so that effective detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment can be pursued and achieved. For more information about TNBCF, visit www.tnbcfoundation.org.

About the American Association for Cancer Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR’s membership includes 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 17,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of individual and team science grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.