JKTG FOUNDATION AIMS TO STOP SPREAD OF TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER

Four-year, $1M project to be led by Dr. Charles Perou at UNC

The Jayne Koskinas Ted Giovanis Foundation for Health and Policy (JKTG Foundation) today announced funding to better understand how and why some breast cancer spreads, or metastasizes, to the lungs, resulting in possible new treatments for breast cancer patients. The four-year project, receiving just under $1M, will be led by Charles Perou, Ph.D., professor of Genetics and Pathology at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill.

“The leading cause of death for cancer patients isn’t the initial tumor, it’s when cancer metastasizes and shows up in other places,” said Ted Giovanis, founder and president of the JKTG Foundation. “Dr. Perou takes a multidisciplinary approach to this, working to understand how and why at a molecular level. I strongly believe that’s how we find answers and we’re excited to be part of this work.”

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease that frequently affects young women. Often, those diagnosed with TNBC have primary tumors that spread to the lung. This project aims to find genetic factors of lung metastasis resulting in potential new ways to treat TNBC and stop it from spreading to the lungs.

Dr. Perou’s research discovered five types of breast cancer based on gene expression patterns and machine learning, creating a foundation for using precision medicine in breast cancer. This project builds on that seminal work. Knowing the subtype of primary breast cancer tumor can inform risk to patients and give insight as to where a tumor may spread. By better understanding that connection, researchers can determine how some types of TNBC can be more effectively treated. Data and information from this research will be open source so other researchers can apply relevant lessons learned to similar projects.

About the JKTG Foundation

The Jayne Koskinas Ted Giovanis Foundation for Health and Policy (JKTG Foundation) aims to change health care for the better by funding cancer research, policy projects, and events that foster public discussion to improve the quality and effectiveness of care patients experience. The Foundation serves as an honest, independent broker of ideas and actions designed to advance both health care and health policy that is patient centric. Visit www.jktgfoundation.org to learn more.

Media Contact: Amy Lee | 202.280.8816 | amy@133publicaffairs.com