Uschi Keszler's Pennies-in-Action Cancer Research Fund

= Description =

Uschi Keszler's Pennies-in-Action Cancer Research Fund, [ University of Pennsylvania Developing Breast Cance Vaccine, ‘‘Young Coalition of Greater Philadelphia CVG Friends and Family Newsletter’‘, Volume 1, Issue 2, April 2008, p. 3.] holding a pending 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation status, exists to support research for breast cancer curative programs, including preventative vaccines and other biological therapies [ [http://www.oreilly.com/medical/breastcancer/news/bio_treat.html#vaccine www.patientcenters.com - Breast Cancer Center ] ] that do not damage the immune system.

History

This philanthropic organization was founded in 2008 by the Olympic figure skater, coach, inventor of the ice-skating term "hydroblading", and choreographer Uschi Keszler who is herself a breast cancer survivor. The Pennies-in-Action fund recognizes, along with many experts, that vaccines rather than chemotherapy remain the most advantageous avenue for dealing with cancer. [ [http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/17/4/539 Melanoma vaccines - they should work - Danson and Lorigan 17 (4): 539 - Annals of Oncology ] ] It has consequently targeted as its initial project the breast cancer vaccine research of surgeon and researcher in endocrinology and oncology Brian Czerniecki, M.D., Ph.D. on the staff of the Abramson Cancer Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Czerniecki has had success in clinical trials [ [http://www.oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=3&s=5&ss=36&id=9500 Breast Cancer Information and Resources | Oncolink ] ] and a history of gaining patents on inventions that increase antigens against cancer. [ [http://www.wikipatents.com/6358736.html Method for increasing the antigen presenting ability of leukemia cells - Patent Review 6358736 ] ]

Research

Czerniecki’s extensive research, [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22author%3AB.%20J.+author%3ACzerniecki%22] supported in part by American Cancer Society and National Institute of Health grants, has already shown the safety and efficacy of delivering mature, peptide-pulsed dendritic cell vaccines in a variety of ways. [http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/21/20/3826 ‘’Intranodal Administration of Peptide-Pulsed Mature Dendritic Cell Vaccines Results in Superior CD8+ T-Cell Function in Melanoma Patients,’’ Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 21, Issue 20 (October), 2003: 3826-3835] ] His research also has discovered alternate sentinel lymph node mapping possibilities [http://jnm.snmjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/40/7/1143 “99mTc-Human Serum Albumin: An Effective Radiotracer for Identifying Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Melanoma” The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Vol. 40 No. 7 1143-1148] and opportunities to avoid axillary dissection. [http://www.jcojournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/17/6/1720 “Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy With Metastasis: Can Axillary Dissection Be Avoided in Some Patients With Breast Cancer?” Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 17, Issue 6 (June), 1999: 1720.] He has discovered that immunohistochemical analysis improves the sensitivity of this procedure. [http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/75503653/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 Immunohistochemistry with pancytokeratins improves the sensitivity of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with breast carcinoma, ‘ ‘Cancer’ ‘Volume 85, Issue 5 , Pages 1098 – 110] Currently the Rena Rowan Breast Center of the Abramson Cancer Center is seeking eligible patients [ [http://www.penncancer.org/cancerprograms_detail2.cfm?id=25&w=trials&trialid=27981 Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania ] ] to continue clinical trials of Czerneicki’s alternative approach which focuses on the body's immune system and uses the patient’s own cells to develop a vaccine that will attack the cancer cells to prevent the development of invasive breast cancer. [ http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/67/4/1842 Targeting HER-2/neu in Early Breast Cancer Development Using Dendritic Cells with Staged Interleukin-12 Burst SecretionCancer Research 67, 1842-1852, February 15, 2007.]

References

External Links

* [http://www.penniesinaction.org Pennies-in-Action Website]
* [http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/surgery/faculty/bjc.html Faculty Profile]
* [http://www.penniesinaction.org/czerniecki%20prof%20bio.html Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Brian Czerniecki]
* [http://www.penniesinaction.org/UP%20letter.html Letter from PENN Medicine]
* [http://www.oncolink.org/types/article.cfm?c=3&s=5&ss=36&id=9500 Interview with Dr. Czerniecki]
* [http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/67/4/1842 ‘’Cancer Research’’ article]
* [http://www.wikipatents.com/6358736.html Patent Information]
* [http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/21/20/3826 ‘’Journal of Clinical Oncology’’ article]
* [http://jnm.snmjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/40/7/1143 ‘’Journal of Nuclear Medicine’’ article]
* [http://www.penncancer.com/faculty.cfm?id=77 Abramson Cancer Center webpage]