The Sussman Family Fund

As we are sure you have read, cancer cases are rising in young adults. Currently about one in ten women with breast cancer are under age 45. This statistic is more than a number for us as Ruth was under forty when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. We know we must work even harder to support cancer research to develop new treatments for families facing this diagnosis.  At a moment when women should feel empowered when it comes to their health, Jane, Becky, and I are also committed to saving lives through early detection and cutting edge clinical research. Seeing these cases rise reminds us all of the importance of listening to your body, advocating for yourselves, and making time for important cancer screenings, and, of course, supporting cancer research.

On behalf of the many patients impacted by the research of the Sussman Family Fund, I would like to thank each of you for your continued dedication to breast cancer research.  Hear from the incredible MSK physicians who are taking your donations and turning them into lifesaving research advances. A special thank you to Larry Norton, MD, Senior Vice President of the Office of the President, Medical Director of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center, and Norna S. Sarofim Chair in Clinical Oncology for his partnership in all our fundraising efforts. 

Sarat Chandarlapaty, MD, PhD and Joshua Drago, MD, MS continue work on enhancing the activity of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ACDs). ADCs are rapidly transforming the practice of oncology by allowing the delivery of powerful chemotherapies specifically to the tumor microenvironment compared to normal cellular compartments. This has been realized with greater efficacy but only small advances in toxicity.  To improve upon this, the Chandarlapaty lab has been evaluating methods to increase the delivery of ADCs into cancer cells over normal cells. Their studies on the mechanisms whereby these ADCs get taken up into cells has revealed new ways to increase how much the ADCs get taken up by cancer cells while lowering the amount that gets taken up by normal cells.  These studies are in the later stages of testing and confirmation prior to advancing the work into clinical trial testing.

In addition to this potentially transformative laboratory work, investigators continue to explore how cancers become resistant to the ADCs which are currently used every day in clinical practice. MSK researchers have compiled the experiences of scores of patients who have received these therapies at MSK, and probe for clues in the details of their clinical characteristics, narrative histories, and the wealth of biologic information available in biopsy samples. Currently advanced techniques are used to try and decipher how to better predict who might benefit from ADC treatments, and what to do if that benefit is short-lived. These projects aim to generate rational strategies to improve long-term cancer outcomes, and spare patients from un-necessary side-effects that can come from ineffective treatments.

Jacqueline Bromberg, MD, PhD is examining extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a key player in intercellular communication, facilitating the transfer of crucial cargo between cells. Liquid biopsy, particularly through the isolation of EVs, has unveiled a rich source of potential biomarkers for health and disease, encompassing proteins and nucleic acids. Understanding the complexities surrounding the release of EV-DNA and addressing the challenges inherent in EV-DNA research are pivotal steps toward enhancing liquid biopsy-based strategies. Looking ahead to the next decade, we envision that advancements in EV isolation and detection techniques, coupled with improved standardization and data sharing, will catalyze the development of novel strategies exploiting EV-DNA as both a source of biomarkers and therapeutic targets as related to breast cancer.

Please consider supporting the Sussman Family Fund. Every dollar donated goes directly to the fund and is fully tax-deductible. Stock transfers, wires, or donor advised fund gifts can be made by contacting Colleen Hanley at 646-799-0415. As an extra ask this year, please go for your cancer screenings and encourage your loved ones to do the same.