The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation ("TNBC Foundation") is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. The Foundation supports scientists and researchers in their efforts to determine the definitive causes of triple negative breast cancer so that effective detection, diagnosis, prevention and treatment can be pursued and achieved.

Since its inception in 2005, TNBC has raised over $240,000 to further this mission. ^[1]

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TNBC Foundation: History

The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 2005 in honor of Nancy Block-Zenna, a young mother who was diagnosed at age 35 with triple negative breast cancer and died 2 1/2 years later in 2007.^[1] In response to Block-Zenna's diagnosis, her close friends launched the TNBC Foundation to raise awareness and support research in the area of triple negative breast cancer.^[1]

About Triple Negative Breast Cancer

It is now commonly understood that breast cancer is not one form of cancer, but many different "subtypes" of cancer.^[2][3] These subtypes of breast cancer are generally diagnosed based upon the presence, or lack of, three "receptors" known to fuel most breast cancers: estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).^[4] The most successful treatments for breast cancer target these receptors.^[5]

Unfortunately, none of these receptors are found in women with triple negative breast cancer. A triple negative breast cancer diagnosis means that the offending tumor is estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative and HER2-negative, thus giving rise to the name "triple negative breast cancer."^[6][4] On a positive note, this type of breast cancer is typically responsive to chemotherapy.^[7] Because of its triple negative status, however, triple negative tumors generally do not respond to receptor targeted treatments.^[4][8] Depending on the stage of its diagnosis, triple negative breast cancer can be particularly aggressive, and more likely to recur than other subtypes of breast cancer.^[9][4][5]

Triple negative breast cancer accounts for approximately 15% of all breast cancer cases.^[10] It occurs most often in African American and younger women.^{[11][4][12][13]} Because it is a recently recognized form of breast cancer, there is very little known about its pathology.^[6] Thus, there is an urgent need for targeted research and better treatment options for this disease.^[4]

TNBC Foundation: Organization

Officers

• Andrea Schackner Maline, Board Chair
• Allison Axenrod, Executive Director
• Hayley Dinerman, Director of Operations and Board Secretary
• Sharon Fredman, Director of Media and Technology
• Jennifer K. Sweetwood, Treasurer

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

• Allison Axenrod
• Jonathan Block
• Hayley Dinerman
• Sharon Fredman
• Andrea Schackner Maline
• Claudia Woda

ADVISORY BOARD

Lisa A. Carey, MD Associate Professor, Medical Oncology and Medical Director, UNC Breast Center of the University of North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

George W. Sledge, Jr., MD Professor of Medicine and Pathology, Ballve Lantero Professor of Oncology, Co-Chair Breast Cancer Program, Indiana University School of Medicine

Eric P. Winer, MD Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of Breast Oncology Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

TNBC Foundation: Events

The TNBC Foundation's inaugural fundraiser - "Peace, Love and a Cure" - was held on June 6, 2007 at the Alpine, NJ home of Malaak Compton-Rock and her husband, comedian Chris Rock. The fundraiser drew about 240 people and raised $230,000.^[14]

On December 11, 2007, the Foundation will co-sponsor the first Triple Negative Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio, Texas. The Symposium will bring together leading doctors, researchers and scientists from around the world for a "meeting of the minds." It will include presentations on the current state of basic, translational, and clinical research in the area of triple negative breast cancer. Participants will then explore the most promising research leads in the area with a view towards developing a roadmap for future research.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Jay Levin (August 7, 2007). Her fight against breast cancer inspired charity. North Jersey Media Group.
2. ^ http://www.nature.com/nrc/journal/v7/n9/abs/nrc2193.html
3. ^ http://mednews.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/6358.html
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/554234
5. ^ ^{a b} http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66261.php
6. ^ ^{a b} http://cancer.emory.edu/news/story.php?id=841
7. ^ http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/extract/18/1/202
8. ^ http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66261.php
9. ^ http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/15/442
10. ^ http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=26093
11. ^ http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/NCI_Cancer_Bulletin_072407/page7
12. ^ http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF685257145006C69FC?OpenDocument&id=48DDE4A73E09A969852568880078C249&c=Breast%20Cancer&count=10
13. ^ http://www.forbes.com/health/feeds/hscout/2007/03/26/hscout603073.html
14. ^ http://www.bergentowns.com/topic_special.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMiZ5cmlyeTdmNzI3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTc1JnlyaXJ5N2Y3MzdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mzc2