News and Updates:

June 2011

The LifeRaft Group has announced that it will continue funding for the Heinrich and Corless Laboratories to support the advancement of GIST research. The funding is divided into two components: general support for the laboratories, and funding dedicated specifically to the identification of new treatment targets in GISTs, particularly in the setting of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These grants from the LifeRaft Group are part of a program to promote collaborative research on GISTs by members of a research consortium. The renewed support will allow us to continue whole exome sequence analysis of GIST samples so that genes that play a role in the clinical progression of these tumors can be identified and validated as potential new targets for tumor control.

May 2011

On May 11th, the GIST Cancer Research Fund presented a generous donation in the amount of $135,000 to the Heinrich-Corless Research Lab at the GCRF Grant Presentation Breakfast at OHSU. This incredible gift is the result of the amazing fundraising efforts of the GCRF and countless donations to their organization. Without this support, we would not be able to continue to help find a cure for this terrible disease.

Dr. Heinrich and Dr. Corless accepting the generous gift from The GIST Cancer Research Fund.

September 2010

On Saturday, September 25th, the GIST Cancer Research Fund hosted its 3rd Annual Walk For A Cure in La Pine, Oregon. Diana Griffith and Janice Patterson of the Heinrich Lab joined GIST patients, family, and friends, to support fundraising for continued research.

Also this month, Dr. Heinrich was interviewed by Medscape Today (from WebMD) about his commentary on the recently published study in Lancet Oncology from the French Sarcoma group. Dr. Le Cesne and colleagues identified 50 patients with nonprogressive GIST who had been taking imatinib 400 mg/day for 3 years, and randomized them to either continue or stop taking the drug.

After a median follow-up of 35 months, patients who had stopped therapy had a significantly higher risk for rapid progression than those who continued taking the drug. The 2-year progression-free survival was 80% in those who continued taking imatinib, compared with 16% in those who stopped (P < .0001).

"Our results show that treatment interruption after 3 years results in tumor progression in most patients," Dr. Le Cense and colleagues concluded.

All but 3 patients in the discontinuation group relapsed, and most of the relapses (17 of 25 patients; 68%) occurred within a year of stopping therapy. Of the 3 patients who did not relapse, 1 had refused to stop imatinib and the other 2 had their tumors resected.

The same group of researchers conducted several other analyses from the BFR14 trial. They also investigated stopping imatinib after 1 year and after 5 years of therapy. In both cases, stopping treatment led to rapid progression of disease, similar to the findings after 3 years.

May 2010

On May 19th, the GIST Cancer Research Fund generously donated $165,000 to the Heinrich-Corless Research Lab at the GCRF Grant Presentation Breakfast at OHSU. Without this support, we would not be able to continue to help find a cure for this terrible disease. On a special note, this year, the GCRF was able to reach their $1 million goal, an impressive milestone in their continued efforts to eradicate this devastating cancer. This year's GCRF group is shown in the photo below, during their tour of OHSU.

October 2009

In the early October of 2009, Dr. Carol Beadling represented the Heinrich-Corless laboratory group at the GIST Cancer Research Fund Walk for a Cure held in New York. Later that month, Dr. Michael Heinrich participated in the San Jose Walk for a Cure. Dr. Heinrich is shown in the photo below, along with the San Jose Walk for a Cure Co-Organizer, Irene Wing (center), and the Chairperson of the GIST Cancer Research Fund, Tania Stutman (right).

April 2009

On April 28th, Dr. Heinrich spoke to the Life Raft Group about "Optimizing Gleevec Therapy with Plasma Testing." This presentation included the role of plasma testing, its logistics, who might benefit from this testing, and how to interpret the results. Visit the link above to view the presentation.

On April 15th, the Gist Cancer Research Fund presented a generous donation in the amount of $150,000 to the Heinrich-Corless Research Lab at the GCRF Grant Presentation Breakfast at OHSU. This incredible gift is greatly appreciated, especially during these difficult economic times. Without this support, we would not be able to continue to help find a cure for this terrible disease.

Dr. Heinrich and Dr. Corless accepting the generous gift from The GIST Cancer Research Fund.

October 2008

On October 26th, 2008, Dr. Mike Heinrich traveled to Santa Clara, California, to participate in the West Coast GIST Cancer Research Fund Walk for a Cure. Dr. Heinrich is shown here with GIST patients and fellow GIST researcher Dr. Matt Van de Rijn of Stanford University School of Medicine.

(L-R) Barbara Livermore, Dr. Mike Heinrich, Jen Bayles, Dr. Matt Van de Rijn, and Vadim Schukin.

July 2008

The Life Raft Group has renewed research support grants to Drs. Michael Heinrich and Christopher Corless. The new grants, totaling $360,000 over two years, will be used to explore the activity of next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), study mechanisms of TKI resistance, and search for alternative oncogenic mechanisms in so-called wild-type GISTs. The work will be conducted collaboratively with other members of the Life Raft GIST research consortium.

Dr. Heinrich and Dr. Corless accepting the generous gift from Norman Scherzer of the Life Raft Group.

May 2008

The Gist Cancer Research Fund presented a generous donation in the amount of $150,000 to the Heinrich-Corless Research Lab on May 15th at the GCRF Grant Presentation Breakfast at OHSU. This support is greatly appreciated because, without these gifts, we would not be able to continue to help find a cure for this terrible disease.

Dr. Heinrich and Dr. Corless accepting the generous gift from The GIST Cancer Research Fund.