LOS ANGELES, CA, U.S., August 30, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ --
The Pacific Mesothelioma Center (PMC), a division of the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (PHLBI),
is pleased to announce a generous $100,000 gift from Roger G. Worthington,
of the law office Worthington & Caron P.C. This donation, made in
response to the anonymous $1 million challenge grant the PMC recently
received, will be used to further the PMC’s ground-breaking research
on malignant pleural mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer affecting
the lining of the chest.
The gift will be used in support of PHLBI’s two new scientists –
Dr. Masahide Tone and Dr. Yukiko Tone. Both scientists have worked at Cambridge University, Oxford University,
University of Pennsylvania and Cedars Sinai Medical Center. They will
work on novel immunotherapies for mesothelioma. Immunotherapy is an exciting
and promising cancer treatment that uses the body’s immune system
to fight cancer. It is the PMC’s firm belief that the future of
mesothelioma treatment will involve combination therapy, including surgery,
radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Further, rational combinations
of various immunotherapies combined with traditional cancer therapies,
holds the greatest promise for real progress in the treatment of mesothelioma
and other cancers.
Roger Worthington is a long-time advocate for mesothelioma research. In 2005, in honor of
his father Punch Worthington, Ph.D., Roger helped establish the David
“Punch” Worthington Lab at the David Geffen School of Medicine
at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. The Punch Worthington Lab.
is the home of innovative research on novel strategies for the treatment
of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other occupational cancers. Sadly, his
father passed away in 2006 from lung-cancer caused by asbestosis.
"We certainly are pleased to provide PMC with additional funds towards
the anonymous $1 million matching gift that the institute recently received
and I encourage others to donate, no matter how small”, said Roger
Worthington, long-term supporter of the PMC and principal of the Law Office
of Worthington and Caron PC. “These funds will enable the PMC to
continue their great work on mesenchymal stem cells with their groundbreaking
research which holds immense potential to lead to effective treatments
not only for mesothelioma but perhaps for many other cancers as well.”
“We are very fortunate to have the continued support of Mr. Worthington,”
Dr. Cameron said. “We are tremendously indebted to him and to all
those who contribute to PHLBI. This money will allow us to accelerate
our search for novel therapies to improve both the longevity and the quality
of life of those battling mesothelioma, lung cancer and other diseases
of the chest."
Dr. Cameron is a pioneer in the field of mesothelioma, Director of the
Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program at UCLA, Professor of Surgery at UCLA
and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the West LA Veterans Affairs Medical
Center. He is also one of the PMC’s Scientific Advisors.
Matching gifts can be made either by mail or online, at
http://www.phlbi.org/about/get-involved/donate/.