Uschi Keszler's Pennies-in-Action Cancer Research Fund
Encyclopedia
Uschi Keszler's Pennies in Action Cancer Research Fund, holding a full 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation status, exists to support research for breast cancer
curative programs, including preventative vaccines and other biological therapies that do not damage the immune system
.
figure skater
, coach, inventor of the ice-skating term hydroblading
, and choreographer Uschi Keszler
who is herself a breast cancer survivor. The Pennies in Action fund recognizes, along with many experts, that vaccines, rather than chemotherapy remain the most advantageous avenue for dealing with cancer. It has consequently targeted as its initial project the breast cancer vaccine
research of surgeon and researcher in endocrinology
and oncology
Brian Czerniecki, M.D., Ph.D. on the staff of the Abramson Cancer Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
. Czerniecki has had success in clinical trials and a history of gaining patents on inventions that increase antigens against cancer.
and National Institute of Health grants, has already shown the safety and efficacy of delivering mature, peptide-pulsed dendritic cell
vaccines in a variety of ways. His research also has discovered alternate sentinel lymph node
mapping possibilities and opportunities to avoid axillary
dissection
. He has discovered that immunohistochemical analysis improves the sensitivity of this procedure. Currently the Rena Rowan Breast Center of the Abramson Cancer Center is seeking eligible patients to continue clinical trials of Czerneicki’s alternative approach which focuses on the body's immune system and uses the patient’s own cells to develop a vaccine that will attack the cancer cells to prevent the development of invasive breast cancer.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
curative programs, including preventative vaccines and other biological therapies that do not damage the immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
.
History
This philanthropic organization was founded in 2008 by OlympicOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
figure skater
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
, coach, inventor of the ice-skating term hydroblading
Hydroblading
Hydroblading is a figure skating move in the field in which a skater glides on a deep edge with the body stretched in a very low position, almost horizontal to the ice...
, and choreographer Uschi Keszler
Uschi Keszler
Uschi Keszler is a former West German figure skater and current international figure-skating coach and choreographer....
who is herself a breast cancer survivor. The Pennies in Action fund recognizes, along with many experts, that vaccines, rather than chemotherapy remain the most advantageous avenue for dealing with cancer. It has consequently targeted as its initial project the breast cancer vaccine
Cancer vaccine
The term cancer vaccine refers to a vaccine that either prevents infections with cancer-causing viruses, treats existing cancer or prevents the development of cancer in certain high risk individuals...
research of surgeon and researcher in endocrinology
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
and oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
Brian Czerniecki, M.D., Ph.D. on the staff of the Abramson Cancer Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. Czerniecki has had success in clinical trials and a history of gaining patents on inventions that increase antigens against cancer.
Research
Czerniecki’s extensive research, supported in part by American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
and National Institute of Health grants, has already shown the safety and efficacy of delivering mature, peptide-pulsed dendritic cell
Dendritic cell
Dendritic cells are immune cells forming part of the mammalian immune system. Their main function is to process antigen material and present it on the surface to other cells of the immune system. That is, dendritic cells function as antigen-presenting cells...
vaccines in a variety of ways. His research also has discovered alternate sentinel lymph node
Sentinel lymph node
The sentinel lymph node is the hypothetical first lymph node or group of nodes reached by metastasizing cancer cells from a primary tumor.-Physiology:...
mapping possibilities and opportunities to avoid axillary
Axillary
Axillary means "related to the axilla "."Axillary" may refer to:* Axillary artery* Axillary vein* Axillary nerve* Axillary bud...
dissection
Dissection
Dissection is usually the process of disassembling and observing something to determine its internal structure and as an aid to discerning the functions and relationships of its components....
. He has discovered that immunohistochemical analysis improves the sensitivity of this procedure. Currently the Rena Rowan Breast Center of the Abramson Cancer Center is seeking eligible patients to continue clinical trials of Czerneicki’s alternative approach which focuses on the body's immune system and uses the patient’s own cells to develop a vaccine that will attack the cancer cells to prevent the development of invasive breast cancer.