Isle of Wight Challenge for the TRACERx lung cancer study
The Cancer Fund are proud to be supporting the world leading TRACERx study, thanks to fundraising by the ‘Young Lungs’ team, led by Sarah Li. Sarah, who is being treated at UCLH for EGFR+ lung cancer, received a Stage IV diagnosis earlier this year. She is raising money for ongoing studies that are turning a Stage IV lung cancer diagnosis into a chronic disease.
“The TRACERx (TRAcking Cancer Evolution through Therapy) study is an observational study aimed at understanding the evolution of lung cancer. Researchers track how tumours develop and evolve over time by analysing the genetic mutations in both primary and metastatic tumours (those that have spread). The study also examines the interaction of the immune system with cancer cells, and how this relationship may influence treatment outcomes. TRACERx involves the comprehensive collection of clinical data, tumour/normal tissue, and blood samples from patients, helping researchers uncover new insights into the biology of lung cancer and improve early detection, treatment, and prevention strategies.”
Dr Maise Al Bakir, Cellular therapy consultant & Oncologist.
The study, which has been going since 2014, is a flagship study for Cancer Research UK, headed by Professor Charles Swanton at University College London and The Francis Crick Institute. Sarah’s partner Robin raised an amazing £4,232.80 for the TRACERx study by running the Valencia marathon in December – and now the team have taken on the Isle of Wight 50km Challenge, raising a further £14,000.
“I am a runner. I have run half marathons, full marathons, Tough Guy, Zombie Runs, 10k’s. Lung cancer, however, took this ability away from my body. But it hasn’t taken away my desire to be outdoors, covering ground on foot! My life has been lived by setting myself a new challenge and training towards it. So why stop now?”
Sarah Li, Young Lungs Captain