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Local non-profit funds MSKCC drug trial to cure pediatric cancer

Date: 5/13/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD -- A local non-profit is taking its place beside the country's cutting edge cancer research facility to give patients with pediatric cancer a fighting chance.

The Soupy for Loopy Foundation -- created in honor of 11-year-old Laura Sypek who lost her battle with neuroblastoma in 2006 -- is partially funding Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's (MSKCC) latest drug trial.

"We'll do whatever we can [to help find a cure]," Sandra Kosko, president of the Soupy for Loopy Foundation, also Sypek's aunt, said of the donation.

"Doctors at MSKCC have pledged to radically change the outlook of [neuroblastoma] in the coming decade," she added.

Kosko explained that the foundation chose to provide MSKCC with its annual $25,000 grant because of her niece's superb treatment at the facility. Sypek received antibody therapy at MSKCC -- the pioneers of antibody 8H9 and monoclonal antibody 3F8 -- which helps to increase survival rates, she added.

The new trial combines tumor vaccines with beta-glucan in patients with neuroblastoma in an attempt to train the patient to make antibodies on their own, according to the foundation.

Kathleen Gibson, a spokesperson for MSKCC, said there are 10 clinical trials for neuroblastoma currently being conducted at the facility.

"The success of any clinical trial is based on the criteria set at the beginning of the trial -- some trials look to measure the safety of possible treatment, while others look to measure tumor response, while others may look at lack of disease progression or improved survival," she explained.

"Some patients with neuroblastoma are cured today but how close we or other cancer research center[s] -- [are] to finding a cure for every patient is impossible to predict," Gibson continued. "We are hopeful that with research support we can better understand neuroblastoma and improve outcomes for those affected by it and that more patients will be cured."

Gibson said MSKCC is grateful for all donations big or small that help researchers to find cures for all forms of cancer.

For more information about the Soupy for Loopy Foundation, visit www.soupyforloopy.org.