Every cell generates and consumes energy to perform its functions. This is termed metabolism.
One intermediate step in sugar metabolism is a molecule called lactate. Traditionally, lactate was considered only a by-product of metabolism in tissues with low oxygen levels. This view was overturned when scientists learned that some cells with normal oxygen levels intentionally produce lactate and others consume it as a preferred fuel.
Our initial Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) Epidemiology Award explored the prenatal, postnatal, and environmental risk factors that contribute to childhood cancer. We used the unique and powerful resource of the Utah Population Database (UPDB) to identify risk factors for pediatric cancer such as birth weight, birthplace, preeclampsia, Apgar score, and specific viral exposures.
Using a unique and powerful resource that combines genealogy from the 1800s with statewide cancer reporting from 1966 (the Utah Population Database or UPDB), we have identified very large families that have more cases of Ewing's Sarcoma than would be expected given the low rates of this cancer; we call these high-risk Ewing's Sarcoma pedigrees. The Ewing's Sarcoma cases in these families may all share a genetic change that they all inherited from a common ancestor, who is responsible for their cancer.
Symptoms related to cancer and its treatment are a major source of distress for children and adolescents with cancer. Children and adolescents who are hospitalized often report more symptoms than those in the outpatient setting. The hospital environment with its frequent disruptions and associated noise also can contribute to symptoms. Nurses are in an important position to influence the hospital environment in a manner that can worsen or improve symptoms.
"Without ALSF's support we would not even be close to this discovery. Now because of your funds we are publishing the findings in Blood. The technician I was able to hire is absolutely fabulous and continues to make very nice progress on target identification." - Nikolaus Trede, MD/PhD, Huntsman Cancer Institute
When Quincy was diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia called JMML, he was just a baby. Standard treatment didn’t help, but research funded by Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation brought him hope. This lead to a therapy that worked – and gave him his cure!
"Without ALSF's support we would not even be close to this discovery. Now because of your funds we are publishing the findings in Blood. The technician I was able to hire is absolutely fabulous and continues to make very nice progress on target identification." - Nikolaus Trede, MD/PhD, Huntsman Cancer Institute