Barbara Netter is a visionary philanthropist who has made a profound impact on science and medicine. Together, with her late husband Edward, they founded the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT), whose mission is to fund cell and gene therapy research to empower pioneering and innovative basic and translational scientists.

More than 15 years ago, ACGT supported Drs. Carl June, Bruce Levine, and David Porter at Penn whose breakthrough study of patients receiving engineered “CAR” T cells to attack and eliminate their cancer cells changed the world. This work led to the first-ever FDA-approved gene therapy to treat cancer and sparked the ImmunoRevolution in cancer. With the Netter’s generosity, Dr. Levine became the inaugural Barbara and Edward Netter Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy at the Perelman School of Medicine.

Mrs. Netter’s generosity continues at Penn’s Pancreatic Cancer Research Center where she empowers the center’s mission to translate scientific discovery into clinical trial options for patients with this disease – providing hope at all stages. As Mrs. Netter will note in her comments tonight, there has never been such a time of great hope and promise for patients with pancreatic cancer. Philly Fights Cancer honors her with pride.

Mrs. Netter is a graduate of New York University, worked at Pelham Family Services, Pelham, NY as a counselor and psychotherapist for twenty years before forming a private practice, attended the Family Institute of Westchester and received her M.S. from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY. Mrs. Netter is also well-recognized for her service to the community through civic and cultural institutions along the East Coast, including the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at Penn.

Philly Fights Cancer is proud to honor Mrs. Netter for her incredible philanthropy at Philly Fights Cancer: From Home on Saturday, October 24^th.

Join us for Philly Fights Cancer: From Home, a free event honoring Mrs. Barbara Netter on Saturday, October 24th at 7:00pm. Gather at home with friends and family for a virtual evening of speakers, entertainment, and fundraising – honoring the Pancreatic Cancer researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center. The evening will feature a comedic conversation between stand-up comedy superstar and actor Sebastian Maniscalco and moderated by Pat McGann, followed by a captivating musical performance by famed Jazz and Soul singer Jessy Kyle. This brief program is the perfect complement to a dine-in meal from some of our favorite regional restaurants.

For complete information including our entertainment and restaurant partners, please visit our event page here.

To join us the night of the event, visit www.PhillyFightsCancerFromHome.com
Password: pfc

To pre-register for our live fund appeal, visit: https://givergy.us/abramsoncancercenter

To add this event to your calendar, click here.

Founded in 2015, Philly Fights Cancer has raised over $39 million for research and clinical trials and Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center. Philly Fights Cancer’s largest fundraising event takes place annually, attracts over 2,000 guests, and has featured incredible talent including John Legend, Jerry Seinfeld, Maroon 5, Earth Wind & Fire, Carole King, Lionel Richie, and many more. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Philly Fights Cancer: Round 6 is being postponed until Saturday, October 30, 2021.

Can't attend but still want to support? Click here to donate to Philly Fights Cancer.

Research led by Adam. D. Cohen from Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center produced a new immunotherapy called Belantamab Mafodotin (Blenrep). The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) established approval for this treatment on August 5, 2020 which will give adult patients who have relapsed or have refractory multiple myeloma another remedy. This marks the 11^th FDA-approved therapy from a member of the Abramson Cancer Center.

Due to the lack of treatment options for multiple myeloma patients, this new form has the potential to make a huge impact on patients’ lives. Blenrep works by targeting BCMA which is an original mark on the surface of myeloma cells. This must be a last resort for patients as they are required to have at least completed 4 prior lines of therapy including an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, a proteasome inhibitor, and an immunomodulatory agent.

Philly Fights Cancer is extremely proud to continue to fund vital research and clinical trials that make advances like these from Abramson Cancer Center possible. For more information on this new treatment visit the FDA or watch Penn’s Official Announcement.

Philly Fights Cancer is proud to provide financial assistance, awareness, and support to Penn Medicine. As we are not surprised, the Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania and the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center has once again been ranked as one of the top hospitals in the nation by U.S News & World Report.  This marks the fourteenth consecutive year that the Penn enterprise has been awarded such accolades.

With more than 4,500 hospitals analyzed worldwide, Penn Medicine is one of 20 institutions to be named to this year’s honor roll. In the magazine’s annual survey of 2020-2021, Penn was also ranked as the #1 hospital in Pennsylvania, and the #1 hospital in the Philadelphia-metro area.

Beyond these impressive achievements, Penn was nationally ranked in 12 specialties:

• Cancer
• Cardiology & Heart Surgery
• Diabetes & Endocrinology
• Ear, Nose, & Throat
• Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
• Geriatrics
• Gynecology
• Nephrology
• Neurology & Neurosurgery
• Orthopedics
• Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
• Urology

As the list goes on and on for their high performance, Philly Fights Cancer is overjoyed for this trusted organization.

To read more about Penn’s impressive reputation visit Penn Medicine.

Since 2015, Philly Fights Cancer has been devoted to advancing cancer research with the mission of finding a cure. This year, doctors, nurses, and medical researchers are faced with an unprecedented medical crisis, COVID-19. While Philly Fights Cancer has never stopped fighting for the next breakthrough in cancer research, we have made the decision to postpone Philly Fights Cancer: Round 6. Our dedication to cancer research isn’t cancelled, but our evening together at the Navy Yard originally scheduled for Saturday, October 24th is being postponed until Saturday, October 30, 2021. We have come so far as a city and a community to quell the spread of COVID-19, in accordance with CDC guidelines we will continue in doing our part to keep Philadelphia healthy, distanced and safe. Please continue to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for exciting updates.

As the world is still unsure how COVID-19 directly affects cancer patients, studies are underway and actively collecting data to ensure the safety of all patients and survivors. From what we do know, cancer patients might be at an increased risk of serious illness from an infection, as their immune systems have been compromised due to the cancer itself, and other treatments. According to Penn Medicine’s  Eleanor Miller, MSN, RN, OCN, “Having a weakened immune system makes it harder to fight off diseases”. All cancer patients and survivors should consult with their doctor to discuss this current pandemic and how to properly stay safe.

With states lifting stay-at-home orders and allowing businesses to reopen, health officials continue to emphasize the importance of staying home, social distancing, and wearing a face mask while out in public. Please stay cautious during this time, as numbers of COVID cases across the country are still increasing. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) people who are at a higher risk with underlying medical conditions need to understand, “the more people you interact with, the more closely you interact with them, the higher your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19”. With that being said,

If you decide it is time to go out in the public, make sure to follow these steps:

• Keep tissues, a face mask, and hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol with you
• Avoid anyone who is not wearing a mask
• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after every outing
• Stay healthy with physical activity and coping through stressful situations
• Continue following your treatment plan, whether that means scheduling virtual appointments or taking the time to consult with your doctors to ensure you still have access to the right medications.

This pandemic has caused a lot of panic due to the inconsistencies and lack of information. However, it is crucial for those who do have a higher risk of illness to take these necessary steps to stay happy, healthy, and on the road to recovery.

For more information on how to stay healthy and take the necessary precautions with your treatments, visit: https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/about/focus-on-cancer/2020/june/cancer-and-covid.

The Abramson Cancer Center along with Philly Fights Cancer is pleased to announce that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cerianna (Fluroestradiol F18) for injection purposes. Fluroestradiol F18 is the first FDA-approved PET imaging agent used for patients with metastatic breast cancer. This will help with the detection of estrogen receptors (ER)-positive lesions in the imaging process instead of having to perform biopsies.

We are Penn Proud about this FDA approval which was made possible through many years of effort, and determination in academia and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  This new injection would not be possible without the groundbreaking contributions of Abramson Cancer Center members and Radiology faculty. Thank you, David Mankoff, MD, PhD, Erin Schubert, Angela DeMichele, MD, MSCE, Lewis Chodosh, MD, PhD, Amy Clark, MD, MSCE, Robert Mach, PhD, and Sharon Lee, PhD.

This is the 10th FDA approval for cancer based on studies led or co-led by members of the ACC since 2017.

In April the newest class of U.S. National Academy of Sciences members was announced, and included Carl June, director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapy in the Abramson Cancer Center at the Perelman School of Medicine.  Dr. June joined 120 members and 26 international members elected by his peers to NAS, recognized for “distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.” To date, there are 2,403 U.S. members of NAS and 501 international members. Dr. Carl June was honored at Philly Fights Cancer: Round 4 as one of the year’s honorees alongside Sean Parker for his work with CAR-T therapy and its subsequent historic FDA approval.

In addition to running the Center for Cellular Immunotherapy at the Abramson Cancer Center, Dr. June is the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine and director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Penn. He is a pioneer in developing CAR T therapy, which became the nation’s first FDA-approved personalized cellular therapy for cancer in August 2017, and was approved for additional indications in 2018. Clinical trials of CAR T therapy began at Penn in 2010, and two of the first three patients to receive the therapy, for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, remain in remission. June also led the first U.S. trial involving CRISPR gene-edited immune cells to treat human cancer patients.

Dr. June has published more than 450 manuscripts and has received numerous prizes and honors, including being named to Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world and by election to the Institute of Medicine. He has been honored with the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, William B. Coley Award, Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award, Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, Philadelphia Award, the Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence, Novartis Immunology Award for Cancer Cell Therapy Development, and Albany Prize.

To learn more about Dr. Carl June’s accomplishments, and read the full story from Penn Today, see here: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/kathleen-hall-jamieson-carl-june-elected-national-academy-sciences

This month, Philly Fights Cancer was included as one of 25 companies recognized within the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2020 Faces of Philanthropy award.  This annual award highlights praiseworthy pairings of companies and nonprofit organizations who serve their communities through philanthropic efforts large and small, from multimillion-dollar programs to grassroots initiatives.

Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center with Philly Fights Cancer was recognized for a philanthropic partnership of over five years. The award states:

“Since its founding in 2015, Philly Fights Cancer has raised $39 million for life-saving clinical trials and translational research and has helped achieve more than nine FDA approvals for groundbreaking cancer treatments discovered by researchers at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center. The nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser is Philly Fights Cancer. In October, more than 2,000 guests attended Philly Fights Cancer: Round 5 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard starring John Mulaney, Hugh Jackman, Andy Grammar and Lauren Hart, cancer survivor and voice of the Philadelphia Flyers. Round 5 raised nearly $13 million and was dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness.”

The Philadelphia Business Journal is a weekly paper providing local business news to Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. The Philadelphia Business Journal has been recognized for general excellence by the Society of American Business Editors and Writers in 2009 and 2005, and is one of only 14 publications nationwide to receive the association's inaugural “Best of the Best” award.

To read the full story and learn more about this year’s other honorees please see here: https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2020/04/16/2020faces-of-philanthropy-the-stories-of-our-25.html

Philly Fights Cancer is saddened to announce the passing of our organization’s founder and the namesake of the Abramson Cancer Center, Mrs. Madlyn Abramson. A loving mother and wife, a very proud grandmother and beloved friend, Madlyn passed on Wednesday, April 15th at the age of 84 years old.

Madlyn was dedicated to improving the health of those who were ill. "The reputation we enjoy today as one of the nation’s preeminent cancer centers has been built on the strong foundation that Madlyn laid," said Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, director of the Abramson Cancer Center. "Our pursuit of curing cancer unites us every day to do more for our patients here in the Abramson Cancer Center and across the world, and we have Madlyn, together with her husband Leonard, to thank for the vision that set us on this path." Always leading the way in support of patients, the Abramsons were the first to step up at the onset of the current global health crisis, contributing $1 million in support of COVID-19 related research performed at the Abramson Cancer Center. She was known for her drive, her absolute focus on compassionate patient care, and her dedication to Penn’s physicians and researchers.

A survivor of breast cancer herself, Madlyn put she and Leonard’s gift into a personal context in 1997: “As a cancer survivor for 12 years, I understand the importance of patient-centered approaches in research and clinical activities.” In the years since, the ACC has established national models for cancer care, on-boarding a diverse team of patient-service coordinators, cancer nutritionists, and psychosocial counselors and social workers, and developing robust survivorship programs.

In a statement on Thursday, J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD said of Madlyn “Her public commitment would prove prescient: Among first recruits to the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute made possible by their gift was Carl June, MD, the immunotherapy pioneer responsible for the development of what became the first personalized cellular therapy for cancer. At a celebration event attended by hundreds of faculty and staff to celebrate the FDA’s historic approval of the therapy in August 2017, Madlyn and Leonard stood by proudly with Dr. June, his team of physicians and scientists, and our leadership. It was an honor to have her share that moment with all of us.”

He continued: “Madlyn’s impulse to help, to share, and to inspire is one she learned from her father, Maurice Kornberg, and his devotion to his patients.” As Madlyn recalled, “It was very important to my father to do something that was helping and healing.” She also credited her father’s influence for her decision to attend Penn, where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree, both in education.

Philly Fights Cancer asks that our friends and supporters keep Madlyn’s husband, Leonard, three daughters — Marcy Abramson Shoemaker, Nancy, and Judy Abramson Felgoise — and many grandchildren in your thoughts and prayers.  Madlyn’s passing is a loss to the world, and her impact on cancer research will be felt for generations to come.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania 3535 Market Street – Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA  19104 or Philly Fights Cancer.

Madlyn Abramson’s full obituary can be found here: https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/madlyn-abramson-leonard-philanthropist-abramson-center-for-jewish-life-trustee-penn-died-20200416.html