Susan G. Komen Announces Research Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE = &nb= sp;

Brittany Fowler/Lenore Koors &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; John Hammarley

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

410-938-8990 ext. 108/109 &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 972-855-1604

bfowler@= komenmd.org &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; JHammarley@komen.org

lkoors@komenmd,org<= /o:p>

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MARYLAND RESEARCHERS TESTING METHODS TO INTERCEPT AND KILL CIRCULATING CANCER CELLS, WI= TH FUNDS FROM SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE®

World’s Largest Breast Cancer Organization Investing Nearly $5 M= illion into Maryland’s Economy for Research and Community Programs

BALTIMORE= – July 15, 20= 10 – <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">University of Maryland<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Gotham Light";mso-bidi-font-weight:b= old'> School of Medicine researchers will investigate whether they can successful= ly kill “sleeping” cancer cells that have escaped the breast but h= ave not yet started to grow in other parts of the body, with funding announced today by Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader in the breast cancer movement.

The $600,000 grant is part of the more than $2.6 million in research investments that Komen for the Cur= e is making in Maryland this year and is also part of a $59 million portfolio of 2010 research grants that Komen is inv= esting worldwide to find the cures for breast cancer and to end the disease.<= /o:p>

“We’ve made huge progress= in 30 years against early stage breast cancer. Our research investments this year reflect our urgency to address metastatic breast cancer, and to stop or at = the least more effectively treat these cancers,” said Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. = ;

Komen’s Maryland grants are split between the University of Maryla= nd and Johns= Hopkins University. <= /o:p>

“Komen’s infusion of millions of dollars into research projects means that promising research that is designed to treat and ultimately eradicate breast cancer w= ill continue,” said Eric Winer, M.D., Komen’s chief scientific advi= sor.

Komen by the Numbers in Maryland:

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· = Since 1986, Komen has awarded more than $18 million in research in Maryland.

· = Komen also has funded $450 m= illion in research globally, starting with Komen’s first grant in 1982 = for $28,000. In the past four years alone,= Komen has provided $300 million to research programs.

· = Additionally, Komen’s Maryland Affiliate = recently announced local grant funding in excess of $2.2 m= illion for the 2011 fiscal year with 27 grantees representing m= ost communities across the state.

· = During the past 28 years, Komen has invested more than $900 m= illion to community education and support programs worldwide.

Below are the local institutions, researchers and projects Komen is funding this year, pending agreements:

University of Maryland a= t Baltimore<= /o:p>

*Gauri Sabnis, $499,999.= 90, Combination of histone deacetylase inhibitor entinostat and aromatase inhibitor letrozole in ER-negative breast cancer metastasis model

*Stuart Martin, $600,000 - Targeting microtentacles on circulating breast tumor c= ells to reduce metastasis.

*Amy Fulton, $180,000 - Prostaglandin E EP1 Receptor in Breast Cancer Metastasis and Disparities

Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicin= e

*Dmitri Artemov, $599,492 - Novel Two-component Deliv= ery System based on Her-2/neu Receptor Internalization Strategy

*Vered Stearns, $120,000 - Phase II Study of 5-Azacytidine and Entinostat (MS-27= 5) in Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer

*Zaver Bhujwalla, $180,000 - The role of HOXB13 in the development of tamoxifen resistance

*Xinyan Wu, $450,000, Dissecting the Estrogen Recept= or Signaling Cascades and Mechanisms of Anti-Hormone Therapy Resistance with Quantitative Proteomic Approaches

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever, and in 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. The Maryland Affiliate is part of the world’s largest= and most progressive grassroots network fighting breast cancer. Through events = like the Komen Maryland Race for the Cure®, Komen Maryland has invested $25 million in community breast cancer programs since 1993. Up to 75 percent of net procee= ds generated by the Affiliate stays in Maryland. The rema= ining 25 percent funds national breast cancer research, often taking place at Maryland institu= tions. For more information, call 410-938-8990 or visit www.komenmd.org.

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