So good to speak with you again… although our legs are a little sore from running this weekend!

Here’s this week’s links…

Non-Profits / Events / News

Vaccine Induces Complete Remission of Relapsed Neuroblastoma

A 6 year old boy with recurrent NB is now in full remission one year after his last experimental treatment. The boy underwent a study of Dendritic cells, which are immune cells collected and then grown in cultures after they are exposed to specific antigens. They are then returned to the patient’s body through a series of injections, where they teach the patient’s T-cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells. Pretty cool, huh? This study includes children with sarcomas as well as neuroblastoma and will be completed in 2013. oncologynurseadvisor.com.

Sorority Raises Money for Neuroblastoma

The ladies of Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) dished out spaghetti this past Tuesday to raise money for neuroblastoma. Over 200 people attended the dinner at United Methodist Church in Illinois. Manmouth sophomore Kelly Hall thought up the idea, and with the help of her sorority, her father and local businesses, brought her plan to fruition after a semester of planning. The KKG chose the CNCF (Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation) as their donation recipient of over $500, since one of the KKG’s members has close family ties to the organization. Their donation will help pay for a free night’s dinner for the familie’s of those diagnosed with NB at an upcoming conference held by the CNCF. Way to go, ladies! mccourier.com.

Experimental Drug Could Target NB

BET (bromodomain inhibitors), are a group of drugs that have currently been linked to successfully combating infant leukemia. Researchers are now finding that the drugs may also be helpful in treating neuroblastoma patients with a particular genetic defect. The study still has several kinks to work out, like identifying which patients are most likely to respond to the drugs, but study author Professor Kimberly Stegmaier hopes that the BET drugs will lead to new ways to treat certain cancers. .cancerresearchuk.org.

Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic

For the third year in a row BoE supporters showed up in bright red to run, walk and stroll their way through the Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic. HUGE thanks to all of our Because of Ezra fundraisers. You raised nearly $9000.00 towards research into a cure for neuroblastoma!! A special thanks to our top fundraisers, Dave and Deb Matthews and Abigail Bonham – both with $1,000 or more raised! .cancerresearchuk.org.

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