Home / Health / Professor Andrews Leads Promising Metastasis Research
Professor Andrews Leads Promising Metastasis Research
19 Sep
Summary
- Terry Fox Foundation funds crucial research into cancer metastasis.
- Research focuses on rare myxoid liposarcoma, a fat cell cancer.
- Volunteers and researchers highlight foundation's significant impact.
Dr. Tallulah Andrews, a professor at Western University, is spearheading a critical cancer research project focused on metastasis, the process by which cancer cells spread. This initiative is significantly supported by funding from the Terry Fox Foundation, an organization that has raised over $1 billion for cancer research since 1980.
Her specific research zeroes in on myxoid liposarcoma, a rare cancer originating in fat cells. This type of cancer, while not initially deadly, possesses a high propensity to spread. Dr. Andrews' project has expanded to include 86 patients, making it one of the largest analyses of this condition in Canada.
The impact of the Terry Fox Foundation extends beyond research labs, as highlighted by volunteer Don Clayton. Clayton, who has fundraised for the Terry Fox Run for 26 years, found that his own radiation oncologist, Dr. Lucas Mendez, was a recipient of the foundation's funding. Dr. Mendez's research also focuses on radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
Early discoveries are emerging from Dr. Andrews' research, with recent support extending to the study of cancer cell metabolism. Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality in Canada, and continued research is vital for developing new therapies and alleviating the burden on the healthcare system.
