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Karen Wyckoff Rein In Sarcoma Fund
A Fund for Sarcoma Cancer Research, Education and Survivor Support

Rein in Sarcoma

Cafesjian's Carousel and the New Marjorie McNeely Como Park Conservatory
Monday, July 25, 2005 - 6:00 to 9:00 pm
presented by Friends of Karen Wyckoff

Help Find a Cure, donate Now to the Karen Wyckoff Rein In Sarcoma Fund!

Volunteer for Rein In Sarcoma 2005!

View and print the Karen Wyckoff Rein In Sarcoma Fund Brochure! (Requires Adobe Reader®)

Karen Wyckoff Sarcoma Reseach Fund

Funds Progress Report
July 2003

In 2002, four projects were funded using the proceeds from the 2001 Rein in Sarcoma event. Funds from the 2003 event are being escrowed for usage with monies raised from the 2004 event for funding 2 projects; internet/web based educational content for physicians and patients, novel therapies for giant cell tumor of bone based upon recent advances in osteoclast biology, and additional work on existing projects.

1. Combined Tumor Database
The goal of this project was to assess the different tumor databases within the different specialty departments of orthopaedic surgical oncology, pediatric oncology and radiation oncology for usage in future research endeavors. The databases were analyzed for content, structure and data abstraction methods. Based upon this analysis, both the orthopaedic bone and soft tissue tumor database and the pediatric database were candidates for merger. Drs. Edward Cheng and Joseph Neglia along with database managers Paul Lender and Joe Downes concluded that maintaining separate but linked databases was optimal and therefore succeeded in establishing a standardized, electronic reporting mechanism, based upon patients' diagnoses (ICD-O format) and age, facilitating the importation and merger of patients into each respective database. This will improve the complete capture of appropriate patients into the databases and the reliability of the data abstracted.

2. Assessing the quality of life using outcomes instruments for soft tissue sarcoma patients
Dr. Raj Nagarajan is undertaking 2 projects with the goals of assessing quality of life and function and determining whether there are specific groups of patients and survivors requiring additional supports. One is an analysis of quality of life and function of 366 adult survivors of pediatric lower extremity bone sarcomas. These survivors have all undergone a lower extremity amputation. He is attempting to see what effect amputation level (above the knee, below the knee, hip disarticulation) has upon quality of life (QOL) and function. The second project under development involves the assessment of QOL and function through a patient questionnaire and comparing the results to a physician's clinical assessment of function. This will be performed through the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center clinic.

3. Assessing the eIF4F protein synthesis pathway in soft tissue tumors as a potential for new drug therapies
The aim of this project, under the direction of Dr. Peter Bitterman, is to investigate the protein synthesis cell biology of both fibromatosis and sarcomas in an effort to design new drug treatments. His laboratory has recently shown that hyperproliferative cells have a central component of the protein synthesis machinery (designated ) that is aberrantly activated, imparting cells with a remarkable resistance to chemotherapy. Current efforts are aimed at determining whether or not this is true for both sarcomas and other aggressive tumors such as fibromatosis by using biochemical and microscopic procedures to examine fresh tumor tissue obtained from patients undergoing surgery to remove their tumor.

4. Sarcoma education for primary care physicians
The goal of this project was to provide educational information for physicians to, a) raise awareness of sarcomas and, b) teach the appropriate clues or warning signs to alert a physician about the possibility that a mass may represent a cancerous tumor. Dr. Denis Clohisy has worked with the University of Minnesota Continuing Medical Education (CME) Department in putting together a poster for display at CME courses statewide. To date, 801 physicians, residents, medical students and allied health professionals have had the opportunity to view the poster. Two recent meetings were the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians Spring Refresher Course, April 10 and 11, 2003 and the University of Minnesota Family Practice Review Course on May 8, 2003.