First Ever Independent Mesothelioma Research Grants Awarded Today

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
Wednesday, 15 November 2000

A bold and new beginning for individuals and families burdened with the orphan disease mesothelioma was announced today.

Mesothelioma, -- generally associated with asbestos exposure, and which recently claimed the life of the popular Congressman Bruce Vento (MN) -- is a usually fatal cancer of the linings of the chest and abdomen. According to Dr. Harvey Pass, Chairman of the Science Advisory Board of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF), ''Mesothelioma has been regarded with such nihilism that until today, any thoughts of independent, free-standing support to develop new strategies for its treatment would be folly.''

However, for the past two years, MARF has been working to link the private sector, industry, and families of mesothelioma victims with focused experts in order to sponsor research grants specifically geared towards the treatment of mesothelioma. The success of this effort has now been confirmed, as MARF announced today that it has awarded two $100,000 research grants, both of which represent cutting-edge, translational efforts toward eradicating mesothelioma as a life-ending disease.

Joseph R. Testa, Ph.D., Director of the Human Genetics Program for the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, is the Principal Investigator of the first winning grant. His study is entitled ''Identification of a 1p22 Tumor Suppressor Locus Frequently Deleted in Malignant Mesothelioma.'' The study of loss of tumor suppressor gene activity can help explain the uncontrolled growth of neoplasms, and, as with the tumor suppressor gene p53 in lung cancer, could lead to new therapies for the treatment of mesothelioma.

The chromosomal site Dr. Testa will study, 1p22, is deleted in 75% of all mesotheliomas. The Human Genome Project has recently discovered the actual gene candidates that normally reside in this region. Dr. Testa therefore will study each of the candidates to determine which one is altered at the DNA level in mesotheliomas, so as to cause the loss of the tumor suppressor function. Once the altered or missing tumor suppressor gene is identified through the MARF grant, the National Institute of Health will fund a large study to help Dr. Testa identify the gene's specific tumor suppressing function. A way to replace the gene, or duplicate its function, could then be developed.

Hedy Kindler, MD, an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago, is the Principal Investigator of the other winning grant, entitled ''A Study of Biologic Markers of Angiogenesis during a Phase II Trial of the VEGF Receptor Inhibitor SU5416 in Malignant Mesothelioma.'' The grant will help fund the study of biologic correlates of blood vessel formation in mesothelioma patients being treated with SU5416.

SU5416 is a blood vessel inhibitor, or anti-angiogenesis drug. Anti-angiogenesis drugs such as Endostatin have recently received scientific and public attention as a promising new way to fight cancer. Among anti-angiogenesis drugs, SU5416 shows perhaps the most promise for fighting mesothelioma. It specifically targets the growth factor VEGF, and mesothelioma patients have higher circulating levels of VEGF than patients of any other solid tumor. The prestigious National Cancer Institute is already funding a SU5416 clinical trial at the University of Chicago; and by funding Dr. Kindler's work MARF will build upon and extend the information obtained from this trial.

MARF began publicly announcing the availability of these grants in May, 2000, only shortly after it began accepting contributions. ''This was more or less an act of sheer determination, or faith, on the part of MARF's Board,'' said Christopher Hahn, MARF's Executive Director. ''Those who are aware of mesothelioma also know how urgently research funding is needed, and the Board believes that if MARF commits to funding the necessary research, generous donors will make it possible.''

By the September deadline, MARF had the ability to fund the grants, and had received seven applications. The applications were peer-reviewed by MARF's mesothelioma experts, who ranked the applications based on a number of separate factors, including scientific merit, originality, clinical or scientific impact, and potential for collaboration. All of the applications were ranked excellent or better, but these two were outstanding, Hahn said.

MARF will continue to award research grants for the therapy of mesothelioma. According to Dr. Pass, MARF's grant making process is a form of seed money. MARF's grants will directly assist researchers to develop new treatment regimens. New treatment regimens will in turn encourage collaborative clinical trials in large numbers of mesothelioma patients, which would attract additional funding from other sources.

MARF's next deadline for grant applications in June, 2001. In January, MARF will post the grant details and application requirements on its website, www.marf.org.

For more information, or to contact Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, see their website at: www.marf.org