Our Research

The Research for the Cure Foundation is a volunteer based organization whose goal is to raise money for cancer research. Comprised of cancer survivors, clinical oncologists, and scientific researchers, the Research for the Cure Foundation helps to fund innovative research for early detection and better treatments for cancer. While there is an enormous amount of research going on throughout the world, one of the first recipients of the Research for the Cure’s fund raising efforts will be the Tumor Bank at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC).

The current landscape in oncology is marked by two exciting phenomenon: first the number of novel therapies being developed against cancer (several hundreds in the pipeline), and 2nd the recognition of the diversity of cancer (similar tumors under the microscope have very different mechanisms and therefore behavior). Thanks to the progress in technology, we can now screen tumors at the molecular level and create “molecular ID cards”. This is required to work on patients own tumors hence the Tumor Bank at HUMC, which is being developed under the auspices of internationally acclaimed Dr. Andre Goy. The conjunction of the two factors in oncology will help with the early detection of cancer and enable oncologists to “personalize medicine” (conventional, novel therapies, or both) to best fit the patient’s profile.

To better understand personalized medicine, tumors are typically classified based on a microscopic examination (based on size/shape of cells and architecture/disruption of the tissue). Additional tests over the years have helped sub classify different subtypes of tumors especially in lymphoma (usually based on chromosomes or gene defects). Recent technology allows us now to look at thousands of gene differences among tumors. This is also called gene profiling. The differences in gene defects or changes that accumulate in the tumors are very important as they represent the true drive behind cancer cells behavior and reaction to treatment.

The scientific research that is occurring right under our noses is outstanding, but there is still so much more to be done. One key for the success of cancer research is to be able to work on patients own materials (and not just cell lines or animal models), which although useful, do not reflect what is happening in patient’s own tumors. The ability for the Tumor Bank to collect, store and maintain good quality materials for this research is a critical issue in ALL cancer research. The Tumor Bank at HUMC is leading the way and the goal of the Research for the Cure Foundation is to enable the work being done at the Tumor Bank to continue with enormous success.