Most blood cancers are preceded by clonal disease states that then progress into disease. However, the genomic, genetic, and epigenetic factors governing the process of progression and therapeutic resistance have not been systematically characterized. In order to understand why some patients with these precursor conditions go on to develop progressive disease, while others do not show progression — and to develop better targeted therapeutic agents to prevent progression, or even eliminate the disease before it leads to symptoms — the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC) Blood Cancer Prevention of Progression Clinic (BCPC) has been created. It is focused on understanding the progression and clonal evolution of blood cancers, with an ultimate aim to develop targeted therapeutic agents that can eliminate the early clones of disease. This bold initiative by Dana-Farber is the first in the world to change the paradigm of management of patients with hematological malignancies. The first mission of the clinic is to develop a large database of patients with their clinical information along with their tissue samples from all over the US who are diagnosed with MGUS, Smoldering WM and MM, and early MDS so that we can perform next generation sequencing studies. We are naming this tissue bank “Pcrowd”. NOW ENROLLING Patients with precursor conditions such as MGUS and Smoldering Waldenström Macroglobulinemia and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma are eligible to participate. Please note: This is initially limited to those patients residing in the United States. Candidates interested in participating in the Pcrowd study can send their contact information including full name, address, phone, and disease diagnosis to Adriana Perilla Glen at precursor@partners.org. Please call Adriana at 617-582-8664 with any questions. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Upon receiving the candidates contact information, we will send them the information sheet and the consent form (for their signature and registration to the study). Once registered, we can begin to receive patients’ samples. Depending on how often patients see their MD, and if their doctor has ordered a sample be drawn as part of their clinical care, we would like to receive an additional sample of any blood or bone marrow that is drawn. Depending on their diagnosis, patients will typically visit their local oncologist every 3, 6, or every 12 months. Patients should notify us two weeks prior to their appointment in order to allow plenty of time for us to ship the collection kit. Please visit our website at:www.danafarber.org/bcpc to learn more about the Blood Cancer Prevention of Progression Clinic. Thank you for your interest and participation!
Most blood cancers are preceded by clonal disease states that then progress into disease. However, the genomic, genetic, and epigenetic factors governing the process of progression and therapeutic resistance have not been systematically characterized. In order to understand why some patients with these precursor conditions go on to develop progressive disease, while others do not show progression — and to develop better targeted therapeutic agents to prevent progression, or even eliminate the disease before it leads to symptoms — the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC) Blood Cancer Prevention of Progression Clinic (BCPC) has been created. It is focused on understanding the progression and clonal evolution of blood cancers, with an ultimate aim to develop targeted therapeutic agents that can eliminate the early clones of disease. This bold initiative by Dana-Farber is the first in the world to change the paradigm of management of patients with hematological malignancies. The first mission of the clinic is to develop a large database of patients with their clinical information along with their tissue samples from all over the US who are diagnosed with MGUS, Smoldering WM and MM, and early MDS so that we can perform next generation sequencing studies. We are naming this tissue bank “Pcrowd”. NOW ENROLLING Patients with precursor conditions such as MGUS and Smoldering Waldenström Macroglobulinemia and Smoldering Multiple Myeloma are eligible to participate. Please note: This is initially limited to those patients residing in the United States. Candidates interested in participating in the Pcrowd study can send their contact information including full name, address, phone, and disease diagnosis to Adriana Perilla Glen at precursor@partners.org. Please call Adriana at 617-582-8664 with any questions. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Upon receiving the candidates contact information, we will send them the information sheet and the consent form (for their signature and registration to the study). Once registered, we can begin to receive patients’ samples. Depending on how often patients see their MD, and if their doctor has ordered a sample be drawn as part of their clinical care, we would like to receive an additional sample of any blood or bone marrow that is drawn. Depending on their diagnosis, patients will typically visit their local oncologist every 3, 6, or every 12 months. Patients should notify us two weeks prior to their appointment in order to allow plenty of time for us to ship the collection kit. Please visit our website at:www.danafarber.org/bcpc to learn more about the Blood Cancer Prevention of Progression Clinic. Thank you for your interest and participation!
about the author
Lizzy Smith
Lizzy Smith was diagnosed with myeloma in 2012 at age 44. Within days, she left her job, ended her marriage, moved, and entered treatment. "To the extent I'm able, I want to prove that despite life's biggest challenges, it is possible to survive and come out stronger than ever," she says.
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