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What is Epigenetics and Why Should I Care?
Meet Stephen Baylin, MD, Professor of Oncology and
Deputy Director, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Baylin is the featured speaker at our MBCN Conference in October and will discuss cutting edge research including epigenetics and stem cell-like cancer cells.
He is also a member of the Stand Up 2 Cancer (SU2C) Epigenetics Dream Team, a collaborative, cross-institutional research group, funded by SU2C to bring research results more quickly from lab to patient.
Hear Dr. Baylin explain the difference between genetics (the hardwiring of your DNA) and epigenetics (the "software" layer that determines whether genes are activated or silenced). Epigenetics has become a major focus in cancer research.
Video: The Atlas Project- genetics and epigenetics
Can my immune system learn to attack cancer cells?
Yes, says Leisha Emens, MD, PhD and Associate Professor of Oncology at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Emens and her research team are investigating ways of training the immune system through use of a therapeutic vaccine, so that cancer cells, which are normally bypassed by our immune system, will instead be the target. Dr. Emens will speak on Immunotherapy and Breast cancer vaccines at the MBCN conference.
Learn more from Dr. Emens about immunotherapy by watching this video. | 
This month Voices focuses on RESEARCH. Although 95% of breast cancer mortality is from metastatic disease, only a small percentage of research dollars (in the 2-5% range) is devoted specifically to the study of metastases. Our mission is education and awareness, so we hope this newsletter will make you better informed on new research and motivated to join in advocating for more research dollars to find new treatments for mbc.
