FAQ | FAQ |
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What is PLGA? PLGA stands for Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma and is the most common form of childhood brain tumor (ages 0-19). It can be life threatening depending on its location in the brain, and whether or not the tumor can be removed surgically. Its presence and potential growth carries substantial risks and without question the current treatments available all carry with them significant side effects. Brain tumors are the #1 cause of cancer death in children, and the #2 overall cause of childhood death behind accidents What are the current treatment options for PLGA? Current treatments are limited to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. All three also often result in added critical complications and permanent adverse side effects due to the punishing nature of the therapies. Typically, surgery is the first option. Often times, the tumors are located in areas of the brain that make surgery impossible or are close to critical brain structures that make it too dangerous to fully remove the tumor. Chemotherapy for PLGA usually consists of a very long (15 months) regimen. Since these tumors tend to be slow growing, the idea is to continually attack the tumor over a long time period. Unfortunately, this is also attacking any fast dividing cell in the body whether tumor or not. Lastly, radiation is an option that many doctors try to wait as long as possible to use due to the significant impairment that it may cause the developing brain. Why aren't there kinder, gentler, more effective treatments available? There are a number of reasons for the lack of progress in PLGA. One of the principal reasons is a lack of funding for dedicated PLGA research. There are 280 different histological types of brain tumors. The little funding that is available for pediatric brain tumor research is spread far too thin over all the various types. As a result, we are raising dedicated funds for PLGA research. What are some of the research obstacles that need to be overcome? There are many obstacles that need to be overcome including a lack of frozen tissue samples available to study the molecular biology of these tumors. We are attempting to overcome this by fostering collaboration among various research institutions. Another significant obstacle is the lack of an animal model (mouse model that develops a PLGA). Researchers need animal models which replicate the human disease to conduct basic research and ultimately test new therapies before using in children. We have provided grants to several institutions who are attempting to develop various animal models and cell lines. What about the drug companies and the biotech industry? PLGA is an orphan disease. Although they are the most common childhood brain tumors they are relatively infrequent. Of the approximately 3,400 brain tumors diagnosed in this country each year, a little over a thousand will be PLGAs. This number pales in comparison to the 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer or the 180,000 new cases of breast cancer each year. From the drug and biotech company perspective, pediatric brain tumors are not a large enough market to justify the development cost of new therapies. Equally important, many companies are reluctant to even try their existing drugs in children because of the risk of an adverse event in a child which might bring negative publicity and impact their drug label as they go after the larger market opportunities. In a sense the risk/reward tradeoff is unfavorable for them. Is Team Devon raising funds for a particular organization? Team Devon is a supporter of a non-profit 501c3 foundation called the Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma Foundation (www.fightplga.org). The PLGA Foundation was started by four families (including our own) who have children affected by a PLGA. Realizing that there was no research and progress being made to help save our children, we decided to join foundation dedicated to advancing PLGA research. All donations received through Team Devon will be funneled directly to the PLGA Foundation and go solely to PLGA specific research and search for a cure. What is the mailing address for the PLGA Foundation?
PGLA Foundation What is the Tax ID number for the PLGA Foundation? Tax ID# 26-0295572 Who is behind the www.EndlessHope.org website? WWW.EndlessHope.ORG Parent of child with an inoperable brain tumor. With the support our family and friends our goal is to raise awareness and SIGNIFICANT funds to speed up results towards finding kinder, gentler treatments for children with PLGAs. Working with a group of dedicated families we are seeking to expand our efforts with the Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma Foundation (www.fightplga.org) and work toward our goal of a cure for all children fighting PLGAs. How can I help support this cause? There are a number of ways to support this cause. Please consider making a donation to the PLGA Foundation on behalf of Team Devon and also by supporting Team Devon in an upcoming fundraising event. Who Can I contact for more information? For more information, please feel free to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |