One of our primary causes is to fund research of brain cancer treatments.  After investigating several alternatives, we have selected our primary donation recipient for 2017.

Florida Hospital Cancer Institute Glioblastoma (GBM) Study

This study seeks to determine whether the addition of ABT-414 to concomitant radiotherapy and temozolomide (TMZ) prolongs progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in participants with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification.  This study is a joint venture with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the pharmaceutical company (AbbVie).

Our donations providing funding for a Clinical Trial Navigator, to help newly diagnosed patients find trials and trials to identify newly diagnosed patients.  Ultimately the goal is to expand participation by Florida patients and advance this treatment research.

This study was selected because of its focus on GBM and newly diagnosed patients.  Far too many clinical trials of brain cancer are for re-occurrence of cancer, an opportunity Melissa did not have.  We are very hopeful that this research will make a difference to those like Melissa who are newly diagnosed with the most aggressive and common type of brain cancer.