Left: The Pronsatis are helping to make Denver a hub of research, treatment and community for ALK+ Right: Emily Daniels with her children; Opposite page, top photo: Arrowhead Golf Club, setting of the Links for Lungs golf tournament
Led by Dr. Camidge, one study was conducted by the Academic Thoracic Oncology Medical Investigators Consortium (ATOMIC), a group of 14 major American and Canadian cancer centers. The team sought effective treatments for ALK+ lung cancer patients for whom the standard first-line therapy stopped working. They found great success, with a 40 percent positive response rate seen when these patients were treated with a drug called brigatinib. Even though a different, smaller study suggested brigatinib may be ineffective as a second-line treatment, Dr. Camidge and his team chose to dig a little deeper. Philanthropic support has helped them analyze samples from this study to determine who is responding and who is not. “It is only then that we can continue to drive research and treatment that is personalized to individuals. One size really does not fit all,” Dr. Camidge said. With the right resources, Dr. Camidge and his colleagues have the ability to ask big questions and pursue novel ideas. They have helped to change the standard of care many times over the last few years. “There are so many approaches to explore, and we need to prioritize our time and our resources,” said Dr. Camidge. “Philanthropic support gives us the freedom to move quickly and to respond to the needs of the moment.” It is fitting that when asked to give advice to young physicians at the 2017 World Conference on Lung Cancer, Dr. Camidge said, “Look for the question, make it feasible to answer, make the answer important – then you can change the world.” Thanks to the support of the Daniels and Pronsati families and those who are rallying around their cause, researchers like Dr. Camidge are making a meaningful and lasting impact on cancer patients and their families.
Philanthropic support gives us the freedom to move quickly and respond to the needs of the moment. D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD Director of Thoracic Oncology, CU Cancer Center Joyce Zeff Endowed Chair in Lung Cancer Research ‑7‑
