Genentech, 23andMe team up to discover if social media can point breast cancer researchers toward answers on Avastin

Genentech's Philippe Bishop.

Breast cancer survivor Christi Turnage had a “what-if” moment as Genentech Inc. and federal regulators debated the fate of Avastin as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer. What if Avastin worked even better than the South San Francisco-based biotech giant intended — like it had with Turnage? What if she belonged to a subset of metastatic breast cancer patients who are “super-responders” to Avastin? And what if a study could find biomarkers, or signals, woven into those women’s cells that could easily identify super-responders and get them on Avastin faster? Genentech listened, especially after the FDA in November revoked approval for metastatic breast cancer of the world’s best-selling cancer drug. The result is a study with a social media twist, thanks to DNA analysis company 23andMe Inc. But what makes the study unique is that patients aren’t receiving any drugs. They aren’t referred by a doctor, and they aren’t even required to go to a predetermined clinical trial site. The only requirements are Internet access, a wad of spit into a cup and, if participants choose, a blood sample.

Breast Cancer Action donations surge after Komen-Planned Parenthood fiasco

Believe it or not, there is a beneficiary of the controversial decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to not continue funding breast cancer screening at Planned Parenthood centers.
San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Action saw donations from its recent email alerts surge 30-fold from the average volume of click-throughs from the alerts, said spokeswoman Angela Wall. It sent out two alerts Wednesday about the change in Komen’s grant process, which Planned Parenthood has charged was based on pressure from antiabortion activists, and how the change affects Planned Parenthood.
“That’s huge for us,” Wall said about the surge in email alert responses.