U.S. House of Representatives passes Recalcitrant Cancer Act (H.R. 733)

The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute Congratulates Congress for Supporting Strategic Translational Research Investments for Lung Cancer

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) joins the pancreatic cancer patient community in congratulating and thanking the U.S. House of Representatives for unanimously passing the Recalcitrant Cancer Act (H.R. 733) yesterday.  This important bill will bring a much-needed strategic scientific and research investment focus on lung cancer and other deadly cancers by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  The bill is now before the U.S. Senate for its consideration and vote this week.

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As a patient-founded translational research consortium, ALCMI was able to additionally contribute the lung cancer researcher and clinician perspectives to the bill's sponsors, in conjunction with cancer patient advocacy organizations.  The resultant revisions additionally encompassed lung cancer, which is by far the U.S. and world's number one cancer killer.  "We applaud the bill's sponsors, Representatives Leonard Lance (NJ-R) and Anna Eshoo (CA-D), and also thank the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for initiating the effort that resulted in the Recalcitrant Cancer Act," said Steven Young, ALCMI's President.  "With the fact that lung cancer patients' 5-year survival rate has remained essentially unchanged at a dismal 15% for the last forty years, lung cancer is by definition recalcitrant."

More than 160,000 Americans are projected to die from lung cancer in 2012, taking more lives than the next top four cancers (colon, breast, pancreatic and prostate) combined.  The lack of progress against lung cancer has resulted from a number of factors, including the genetic complexity of these tumors coupled with disproportionately low federal research investment.  This bill addresses a serious and urgent public health issue.  "By prioritizing lung and pancreatic cancers as the two leading, ineffectively-treated causes of cancer mortality in this country, we are not just supporting the best science for science's sake. We will now focus the nation's best scientists to do the best science possible in order to decrease death and suffering from these two major health problems," said David Carbone, MD, PhD, Ohio State University; Chair of ALCMI's Scientific Leadership Board.

ALCMI and the lung cancer patient community are elated that Congress and the NCI have taken a key step forward to address these challenges. "As a lung cancer survivor, I urge the Senate to unanimously pass this bill this week," said Bonnie J. Addario, Founder of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and ALCMI.  "On behalf of the lung cancer community, we also ask President Obama to sign the bill, once passed, and help us drive research against lung and pancreatic cancers.  We didn't ask to be diagnosed with cancer but we are asking for your help finding a cure."

About the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI)
ALCMI, as a patient-founded translational research consortium, was established in 2008 to directly catalyze and accelerate the discovery of new and more effective treatment options for all lung cancer patients.  ALCMI has established a centralized, standardized biorepository with associated clinical data to serve as a resource to investigators within and without our consortium member institutions.  Presently, 15 leading academic and community centers in the US and Europe have contractually joined together under ALCMI's leadership, collaborating on cutting edge research initiatives.  For more information on ALCMI please contact Mr. Steven Young, President at 203.226.5765 or [email protected].  http://www.alcmi.net/

About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
BJALCF is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating lung cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation works with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change. BJALCF was established in 2006 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has raised over nine million dollars for lung cancer research. For more information on BJALCF, contact Mr. Scott Santarella, President & CEO, at 203.858.7032 or [email protected]. www.lungcancerfoundation.org

SOURCE Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute