Educating patients on sarcoma

Thursday, the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa will hold an educational event for sarcoma patients. A number of doctors do this across the country; let's encourage others to follow suit. It's a great way to recognize Sarcoma Awareness Month.

Some events offer support and a good time for patients who want to meet others with the same rare cancer. Others feature sophisticated, up-to-the-minute information, such as the "Ask the Experts: Advances in Sarcoma Treatment and Research" conference May 1 in New York City, presented by the Sarcoma Foundation of America, our sister organization.

As I did in New York, I'll staff a Sarcoma Alliance table at Moffitt's "What Is a Sarcoma? A Team Approach to Care." Other tables will have information on nutrition, physical therapy and social work. Exhibits will open at 4:30 p.m., with presentations by physicians starting at 5.

-- Suzie Siegel

Sarcoma Alliance and 23 and Me

Recently the Sarcoma Alliance participated in a Sarcoma Community Night organized by 23 and Me. 23 and Me is trying to recruit 1,000 people affected by sarcoma in a genetic research study. Individuals only need to provide a little spit for genetic analysis. The hope that some genetic similarity can be found that will give researchers better insight into the diagnosis and treatment for all sarcomas. So far over 500 people are participating.

Participants on the panel in the community night were Kristen Ganjoo, MD a Stanford oncologist, Eric Nakakura, MD, a UCSF oncology surgeon, Natalie Criou a sarcoma survivor and founder of Beat Sarcoma (http://www.beatsarcoma.org/ ) and Arthur Beckert, Executive Director of the Sarcoma Alliance. As always the best part of the evening was hearing patient stories and the discussions among patients and the panel.

To see 23 and Me’s blog on this evening visit: http://spittoon.23andme.com/2011/07/06/a-recipe-for-disease-research-give-people-tools-add-passion-and-shake/

For More information on 23 and Me and its sarcoma project visit: https://www.23andme.com/sarcoma/

Ziopharm Oncology Awards Grant to the Sarcoma Alliance

ZIOPHARM Oncology awarded a $5,000 grant in support of the Sarcoma Alliance's Assistance Fund program. The grant will help support program costs and the development of a brochure describing the program. Ziopharm is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of a diverse portfolio of cancer therapeutics. The Company is currently focused on several clinical programs. One program for sarcoma is currently in a Phase III trial.

Palifosfamide (Zymafos(tm) or ZIO-201) is a novel DNA cross-linker in class with bendamustine, ifosfamide, and cyclophosphamide. ZIOPHARM is currently enrolling patients in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase III trial with palifosfamide administered intravenously for the treatment of metastatic soft tissue sarcoma in the front-line setting. The company is also currently conducting a Phase I intravenous study of palifosfamide in combination with standard of care addressing small cell lung cancer and an oral form of the drug for treatment of solid tumors is currently in the advanced preclinical stage of development.

ZIOPHARM's operations are located in Boston, MA and Germantown, MD with an executive office in New York City. Further information about ZIOPHARM may be found at www.ziopharm.com.

On behalf of everyone we serve, a big thank you to Ziopharm.