Spectrum Helps The LAM Foundation Announce Groundbreaking Research
Spectrum Science Communications has partnered pro bono with The LAM Foundation to promote two new studies published in the Jan. 10 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that may provide clues into the treatment and diagnosis of LAM, or lymphangioleiomyomatosis, a progressive and deadly lung disease that affects women in their childbearing years. There currently are no treatments for LAM and scientists estimate as many as 250,000 women may be misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.
One study found using the drug sirolimus for the treatment of LAM and tuberous sclerosis (TS) complex with angiomyolipomas (benign kidney tumors common to both diseases) resulted in a 50 percent reduction in tumor growth and significantly improved lung function in LAM patients. The sirolimus study is serving as the basis for other studies in TS and LAM, including the first-ever LAM treatment trial, now enrolling patients.
A letter accompanying the study in NEJM reports on preliminary data that supports the use of a serum marker test to confirm LAM diagnosis. Diagnosis has traditionally required a lung biopsy or CT scan, contributing to diagnosis complications. Beyond its use as a potential diagnostic test, investigators believe this data may also point to a potential biomarker for the development of LAM treatments, allowing researchers to conduct trials more quickly. Identification of a biomarker for LAM may also have treatment implications for other diseases with similar pathways that affect millions of Americans, including breast cancer, diabetes, obesity and even autism.
About LAM
LAM, is a progressive, frequently fatal lung disease that affects women, usually during their childbearing years. More than 1,500 women with LAM have been identified.,. The diagnosis of LAM can be difficult because many of the early symptoms are similar to those of other lung diseases, such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis. This disease is characterized by an unusual type of smooth muscle cell that invades tissues of the lungs. Over time, the LAM cells create holes in the lungs, preventing the lungs from providing oxygen to the rest of the body and making breathing a daily battle. In early stages of the disease, most patients can go about their daily activities, but as the disease progresses, the patient may have very limited mobility, require oxygen and as a last resort, need a lung transplant.
The LAM Foundation
The LAM Foundation, a research and patient support organization, has led and supported major scientific breakthroughs in LAM in the 12 years since itsfounding. These include the first evidence of a genetic link to LAM, the identification of a LAM gene and a molecular explanation for abnormal smooth muscle cell growth in LAM. The most promising treatment identified through this work is currently being studied in the first-ever LAM treatment clinical trial – the Multicenter International LAM Efficacy of Sirolimus (MILES) Trial.
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