For the 2000 Annual Report Our Cure Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin’S Disease and Myeloma, and Improve the Quality of Life of Patientsmissi and Their Families
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Relentless Curesfor the 2000 Annual Report Our Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patientsmissi and their families. Our name We added the word “lymphoma” to our name last year to bring into focus the full scope of our mission–fighting all hematological malignancies. The Society was further motivated by a startling rise in lymphoma incidence rates over the last two decades. For all these blood-related cancers, we have been, and will continue to be, relentless for the cures. www.leukemia-lymphoma.org 3 Survival rates Leukemia 14% 44% Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 31% 52% Hodgkin’s Disease 40% 83% Myeloma <5% Survival rates 28% on 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Status of blood 1960 1995 related cancers: Sources: National Cancer Institute Seer Data; Myeloma: Biology and Management, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, 1998. Leukemia We’re winning the battle…The five- But the war isn’t over… About year survival rate for leukemia 62,300 Americans will be diagnosed patients has tripled from 14% in with lymphoma in 2000, the vast 1960, to 44% in 1995. The five-year majority with non-Hodgkin’s survival rate for children with acute lymphoma. An estimated 27,500 lymphocytic leukemia is 81%. people will die from lymphoma in 2000, the majority from non- But the war isn’t over…This year in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. the U.S., an estimated 30,800 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed, Myeloma and approximately 21,700 people will We’re making progress… The die from the disease. survival rate for myeloma is 28%, a modest improvement from 24% in Lymphoma the 1970s. We’re winning the battle… The five- year survival rate for non-Hodgkin’s But there’s much more we need to lymphoma patients rose from 31% do… An estimated 13,600 new cases in 1960 to 52% in 1995. In children, of myeloma will be diagnosed in the the five-year survival rate is 78%, a U.S. in 2000, and approximately significant improvement in the last 11,200 people will die from it. 30 years. 4 Relentless for the cures Relentless for the cures. It means that nothing will stand in the way of those determined to carry out the Society’s mission. The record this year, as well as future plans, attest to this ongoing commitment. Take a look at the Society’s research In patient services, you’ll find “relentless” programs. The relentless pursuit of in the Information Resource Center cures can be found, for example, in programs—lifelines of emotional support the promising therapy developed by and timely professional guidance for tens Society Officers (l-r) Dr. Brian Druker to treat chronic of thousands of patients. And through its Jay L. Silver, Chairman; Richard A. Fess, Secretary/Treasurer; Dwayne Howell, myelogenous leukemia. All 31 patients web site and the Internet, the Society President and CEO; W. Stratford May, Jr., treated in the initial clinical trials have speeds the delivery of vital information MD, PhD, Vice Chairman, Medical and Scientific Affairs; Peter J. Quesenberry, had their blood counts return to normal, and services, and engages patients and MD, Vice Chairman. so the trials have expanded to more volunteers more efficiently. In a very than 1,500 patients—and we are real sense, the Internet is providing the very optimistic. Society with an increasing presence and greater capacity to expand the reach of Take a look at our new SCOR program its mission. (Specialized Center of Research), with $22.5 million targeted to three groups of The supporters of the Society are also scientists working cooperatively on a relentless about raising the money that range of research to fight blood-related fuels these programs, having increased cancers. We expect to triple this program the Society’s net revenue by 24% this year over the next few years. to a record $133.4 million. In fact, in terms Rele for the cur www.leukemia-lymphoma.org 5 of share of donations raised, the Society Today, more people are surviving blood- continues to be the fastest growing related cancers than ever before, but it’s nationwide voluntary health organization not enough. With powerful new tools and in the U.S. How did we get there? Look a growing array of new programs and at the national Light The Night® Walk services, the volunteers and staff of the campaign, which raised $5 million in fiscal Society are truly relentless for the cures. year 2000 and nearly twice that amount Nothing will stand in their way. this year. Or talk to people like Harry Pearce, Vice Chairman of General Motors, who is launching a personal campaign to raise millions of new dollars for research. Jay L. Silver Chairman Of course, nothing says relentless more than Society volunteers—individuals, families and business owners, trustees The Society continues to at every chapter, and even renowned Dwayne Howell be the fastest growing scientists who spend countless hours of President and CEO “ nationwide voluntary health “free” time assessing research proposals. organization in the U.S. ” ntless es (l-r) Richard A. Fess, Peter J. Quesenberry, MD, Jay Silver, Dwayne Howell, W. Stratford May Jr., MD, PhD 6 How you can help • Support research programs by volunteering with the Society • Raise and contribute funds for research Stren research Strengthening research— the SCOR grants The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s new Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) Program will provide $22.5 million in research grants over five years, to three groups of outstanding scientists working on blood-related cancers. In addition to the three grants designated The SCOR at Weill Medical College of for 2000 - 2001, the Society is committed to Cornell University will focus on myeloma, funding six more SCOR grants over the an incurable cancer of the antibody- next three years, amounting to a total of producing plasma cells. The team will $67.5 million in team-based research. work to understand the genetic basis of this cancer, control the accumulation These grants are designed to bring together of malignant cells and prevent bone Marshall A. Lichtman, MD, Executive Vice President, Research programs that share a common research destruction caused by the myeloma. and Medical Programs focus and attack the same scientific problems. With scientists from different The SCOR at Dana-Farber Cancer disciplines working in concert, the research Institute will concentrate on developing community will have a better chance to curative therapies for acute and chronic develop cures and achieve significantly myelogenous leukemias by providing higher survival rates. ways to translate laboratory research into novel approaches for diagnosis and treatment. www.leukemia-lymphoma.org 7 gthening Marshall Lichtman, MD, congratulates SCOR awardees (l-r): James D. Griffin, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Selina Chen-Kiang, PhD, Weill Medical College, Cornell University; Brian J. Druker, MD, Oregon Health Sciences University The SCOR at Oregon Health Sciences Scientists from different University, in collaboration with scientists at disciplines working together the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the will have a better chance to University of California at Los Angeles, will “ focus on chronic myelogenous leukemia develop cures and achieve (CML) and a compound known as STI-571, higher survival rates. which has had remarkable success in putting CML patients into remission in recent clinical trials. This center will work to determine the causes of CML and how to best use STI-571 as a treatment. ” 8 Thanks to the Society’s research efforts, the survival rate for children with acute lymphocytic leukemia is 81%. www.leukemia-lymphoma.org 9 Strengthening research— $200 million and counting While the SCOR grants are the newest and largest additions to the Society’s research effort, more than $200 million in grants have been awarded since the Society’s founding. In fact, research expenditures have more than doubled over the last three years, to $32 million in 2000, in support of broad-based studies targeted to increase cure rates. The Career Development Program provides new ideas to the laboratory. To further funding for the most promising young translate gains in basic knowledge to an scientists. Currently, the Society supports increase in cure rates, the Society also 129 Fellows and 153 Special (advanced) initiated a variation of its Scholar Program, Fellows who work with outstanding senior known as Scholars in Clinical Research. scientists to uncover the mysteries of the Since it began three years ago, this (l-r) Peter J. Quesenberry, MD; W. Stratford May, Jr., MD, PhD; genes, molecules, and aberrant cell systems program has funded 13 scientists. Marshall A. Lichtman, MD that lead to blood-related cancers. Recognizing that the movement of basic In addition, 88 Scholars are supported by research to clinical application is the the Career Development Program. These final pathway to cures, the Society also scholars are young, independent scientists continues to expand its Translational bringing the most recent technologies and Research Program. The funding of research on STI - 571 in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is an example of the Society’s Research Funding Growth investment in new and promising 1996-2000 translational research. (in millions) In fiscal 2000, 131 Translational grants $32.0 were supported, offering potentially new approaches to chemotherapy, 25 $23.5 immunotherapy, and stem cell $20.0 transplantation. 20 $14.9 15 $11.6 10 5 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Research growthResearch 10 Extending our reach to patients and communities Support, understanding and knowledge–they go a long way to help patients battle blood-related cancers. Nowhere are these qualities more concentrated and effective than in the Society’s expanding array of patient and community service programs.