Our “Practical Chef” and fellow ALKie, Julie Posner shares one of her favorite healthy recipes. “I love Salmon, and I love lemon. This quick fancy ,but easy, recipe incorporates both. Crispy pan Sautéed Salmon tossed in a quick lemon butter sauce will give you a restaurant worthy dinner that is on the table in less than 30 minutes! Who wouldn’t love that? ( serves 4)
Read MoreWe interviewed fellow ALKie Andrej Krivda on his very interesting journey with ALK+ lung cancer and all the unexpected twists and turns he’s had to navigate since diagnosis. Andrej is the very first person to enter the Nuvalent NVL-655 clinical trial in Spain and one of the first patients to take part in the trial in all of Europe, and we were very interested in his perspective. He also happens to have a fascinating personal history. Enjoy the read!
Read MoreAt any juncture in treatment, those with ALK Positive cancers are faced with hard choices. Whether you are first starting treatment or you are changing treatment due to progression or side effects, multiple options may be available. At these critical decision points, a clinical trial could be an excellent choice. You may trust your doctor to refer you to a clinical trial, but it is nearly impossible for any doctor to be aware of all the clinical trials that are available for ALK.
Read MoreThe ALK Positive Lung Cancer Registry and Survey is a study that was launched in October 2022, with the purpose of helping provide real-world answers to all those questions. It is an IRB approved study conducted by University of Washington, but funded and driven by the ALK Positive organization. There are already almost 1,000 patients registered, and over 700 have answered multiple survey forms. However, the researchers will need thousands more global participants to answer most of these questions!!
Read MoreTo transform advanced ALK-positive lung cancer into a chronic or curable disease, ALK Positive to award $1.75 million through their research award program
Patient organization ALK Positive, in partnership with LUNGevity Foundation, announced the 2022 recipients of the ALK Positive/LUNGevity ALK-Positive Lung Cancer Research Awards. The grant monies, totaling $1.75 million, were raised by ALK Positive and represent patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer themselves directly influencing the direction and focus of the research that affects their lives.
Read MoreMeet Patty Saccenti – a retired throracic surgeon, mother of three, caregiver to her ALK patient husband, and one of our most active volunteers and advocates both within ALK Positive, Inc. in the US and in her country and region of origin, Italy and Europe. “In September 2017, we were just back in Rome - where we live - having just come back from our summer vacation, and we were watching TV after putting our three children to sleep. Suddenly my husband felt something under his finger near his neck and asked me, "what do I have here?"
Read MoreNVL-655 is a new experimental ALK inhibitor that is designed to treat ALK cancers, especially those that have become resistant to ALK inhibitors like lorlatinib, alectinib, and brigatinib. The study of this new drug is underway! Clinical trial sites in the U.S. include Orange, California; Denver, Colorado; Boston, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; New York, New York; Nashville, Tennessee; and Seattle, Washington. The expansion to Europe includes sites in Toulouse Cedex, France; Villejuif, France; and Barcelona, Spain.
Read MoreThis salad is so colorful and fresh, it looks gorgeous on any buffet table.
It can be a side, yet it doubles as the main event if you add your favorite protein! (Shrimp works beautifully).
With lots of texture from crunchy cucumbers, salty brininess from Kalamata olives, and sweetness from golden raisins, it's a virtual party in your mouth!! It's certainly a favorite of mine as well as many of my clients!
*Serves 4-6 ; Store in the fridge for up to a week.
Read More(December 28, 2022) – ALK Positive Inc. (ALK Positive) and The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) announce funding of two ALK-positive related lung cancer projects. These grants, totaling $500,000, are awarded to researchers whose projects are focused upon transforming care and improving outcomes for patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Read MoreHighly successful Covid vaccines have raised the question of ‘why not cancer vaccines?’, a question of great interest and financial contribution for the ALK Positive NSCLC community in recent years. Somewhat under the radar of our members is Moderna, Inc.’s multi-cancer clinical trial for their personalized mRNA vaccine that started in 2017. The trial is open to ALK NSCLC patients after progressing on TKIs, and it is based on the same platform as their approved Covid mRNA vaccine. It is currently in a multiple-arm Phase 1 trial and a randomized, fully enrolled Phase 2 trial.
Read MoreMember and fellow ALKie Debbi Martinez is the volunteer working behind the scenes with ALK Positive’s Kindful fundraising platform and doing a great job at that. For this year’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to honor a volunteer that is not visible by being at the forefront of operations, but is just as invaluable in helping our fundraising efforts go smoothly and seamlessly.
Read MoreWith the cold weather upon us ( and the holidays right around the corner), I love making a one-pot meal that's great the "day of”, and only gets better day-by-day….. That is, if your family doesn’t devour it in one sitting! Having it be super healthy is an extra added bonus! For this soup, which is more like a stew, a little crusty bread on the side is really all you need.
Read MoreNVL-655 is a new experimental ALK inhibitor that is designed to treat ALK cancers, especially those that have become resistant to ALK inhibitors like Lorlatinib, Alectinib, and Brigatinib. This brain-penetrable drug not only addresses the typical ALK mutation, but it also targets compound mutations that tend to occur when there is tumor progression.
Read MoreMore participants = more data = better research = more life!
We invite you to complete a patient survey/registry specific to ALK-positive lung cancer. This is an IRB approved professionally study conducted by researchers at University of Washington and paid for by ALK Positive Inc. All data is de-identified, and will inform oncologists, researchers, patients and advocates. The study launched October 6, 2022. Our target is at least 1000 participants!
“I am a sister, an aunt, and a professional counselor. Until November 2021, I was taking care of my mother, who had Parkinson’s dementia. My mother was already advanced in her dementia when I was hospitalized at age 44 with a collapsed left lung. It was 3 months before I was diagnosed and began treatment for stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC. . . Each day I practice acceptance of what is and cultivate hope for what can be.”
Read MoreJuli Posner is a personal chef on Long Island, New York, diagnosed with ALK-Positive lung cancer in January of 2020. Formerly the Producer of a PBS network cooking show, she now concentrates on her personal clients’ individual culinary needs and is always looking to make eating healthy and exciting without sacrificing flavor. A born “LIVE TO EAT”er, Juli is thrilled to be part of the newsletter team. Follow Juli’s Instagram @apracticalchef
Read MoreA common problem that we face is that cancer becomes resistant to our TKIs (Crizotinib, Brigatinib, Alectinib, Ceritinib, and Lorlatinib) over time. There are two known mechanisms of resistance so far. One is for the cancer cells to activate an alternative bypass pathway such as EGFR, cMET, KRAS, or AXL to allow cancers to continue to grow.
Read MoreImugene’s CF33, or Vaxinia, is a modified DNA virus of the Poxviridae family developed by Professor Yuman Fong at the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Vaccinia, or pox, viruses have a track record of safe use in millions of humans, as the original variant was the active constituent of the vaccine that eradicated smallpox, and first proved able to kill cancer cells in 1922. CF33 has the potential to act as both a gene therapy delivery vehicle and an oncolytic (cancer-killing) agent.
Read MoreClinical trials are studies that are done in humans to test a new treatment. Long before a clinical trial, a host of “pre-clinical” studies must test the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a new treatment. Preliminary work involves chemistry to develop a compound that can be manufactured and has the potential to inhibit cancer growth. That compound is then tested for safety and effectiveness.
Read MoreWe are excited to welcome Dr. Kenneth Culver as our first Director of Research & Clinical Affairs Dr. Culver worked for 20 years at Novartis Oncology where he contributed to the development of 12 compounds including ceritinib for ALK+ NSCLC. In his last role, he served as Head, US Thoracic Oncology Clinical Strategy and Lead for the Center of Excellence for Immuno-Oncology for US Clinical Development and Medical Affairs. Most recently, he was the Global Medical Affairs Leader for the Cell and Gene Oncology program at GlaxoSmithKline.
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