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ALK+ Blog/News

  • PATIENT SPOTLIGHT: Emily Venanzi, Newton, Massachussetts

    Emily Venanzi is an active member of our Medical Commitee (with particular involvement in the Research Review Panel selecting which research projects to fund) as well as our Research Accelaration Committee. As a patient, she is an interesting case, as she “jumped” straight on a clinical trial as her first line of treatment, which she’s…

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  • Chemotherapy 101

    One of the challenges in our community has been the treatment of earlier stages of ALK-positive lung cancer, including stages IA through 3A. Historically, we’ve faced a lack of definitive guidelines for addressing the illness that represents 30-40% of the total ALK lung cancer population. Patients in these stages are traditionally treated with surgical tumor…

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  • 2019 ALK+ Summit group photo

    The latest from ALK Positive Inc.

    May 14, 2022 ALK Positive, Inc. became a registered 501c3 (nonprofit) organization in March 2021. Both the ALK Positive Board of Directors and the ALK Positive Committees are comprised of volunteer members from the ALK Positive Support Group, all ALK-positive patients, and/or caregivers. The Board, Committees, and our CEO, are working together to improve the…

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  • Nancee Pronsati, Patient and Vice President of ALK Positive Inc.

    PATIENT SPOTLIGHT: Nancee Pronsati, Golden, Colorado, USA

    Nancee has been an ALK patient for the last 6 years, and she is an incredible member of the ALK community who is devoting her time and resources to multiple projects and endeavors within ALK Positive, Inc. This year, she is the Chair of ALK Summit 2022 which we are all looking forward to. We…

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  • An Exciting New Clinical Trial for Those who Are Resistant to ALK Inhibitors Is Recruiting Soon

    Those in the ALK community fear the day when progression occurs after Lorlatinib, the “last” ALK inhibitor available. Although there are effective treatments after Lorlatinib, there is no standard treatment. Without a specified FDA-approved treatment, people must face Lorlatinib resistance without knowing the best strategy. In the next few months, the ALKove-1 trial will begin…

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  • What is YAP and its significance for ALK-positive cancer

    In recent years, a signal pathway called HIPPO, which is important in angiogenesis (blood vessel growth), has become important for the ALK cancer realm. There has been accumulating evidence that a protein called YAP (Yes Associated Protein-1) can prevent TKI-resistant cells from developing resistance in vitro and in vivo (in laboratory experiments and in cell…

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  • Cancer Moonshot Logo

    Revival of Cancer Moonshot initiative announced by President Biden

    In February 2022, President Biden announced and laid out an ambitious agenda to boost and speed up the fight against cancer, including a national year of action on cancer screening and a new Cancer Cabinet to drive progress government-wide. President Biden announced a revival of his audacious 2016 initiative – Cancer Moonshot – that is designed…

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  • PATIENT SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Charelle Samuels, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

    EDITORS NOTE: Sadly, Dr. Charelle Samuels  passed away on October 8, 2022.  Charelle was a valued volunteer for the ALK Positive Healing Arts program and hosted roundtable groups.  She brought her insight and wisdom as a Psychotherapist to the attendees and was a patient and kind group leader.   Dr. Charelle Samuels is an ALK patient…

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  • Dr. Alice Shaw
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    An Interview with Dr. Alice Shaw at ALKtALK, Feb. 2022

    Dr. Alice Shaw, MD, PhD, Boston, MA Global Head of Translational Clinical Oncology at Novartis Attending physician, Center for Thoracic Cancers at Massachussets General Hospital Associate Professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School Transcript of ALKtALK, February 6, 2022 Introduction I am from Maryland originally. Then, after high school, I came up here to Boston,…

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    LUNGevity Partners with ALK Positive to Award $1.5 Million in Lung Cancer Research Grants

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMedia ContactColin Bartonmedical@alkpositive.org303-204-3388 WASHINGTON, DC (January 27, 2022) — LUNGevity Foundation is partnering for the third time with the patient-led registered nonprofit organization ALK Positive to support the ALK-Positive Lung Cancer Research Award Program. This year, the patient oncogene group will potentially fund research projects totaling up to $1.5 million over two years—their…

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    ALK-positive Best Care 101

    ALK-positive best care 101

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    $7.6M Gift Launches New Lung Cancer Research Initiative at University of Michigan’s Rogel Cancer Center

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a reprint of a press release from the University of Michigan’s Rogel Cancer Center – this $7.6 million gift from Judith L. Tam and the Richard Tam Foundation may be the largest made to-date specifically for ALK-positive research. The direct link to the release is here: Increased understanding of the genetic…

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