New CASARIA Award Focuses on Colorectal and Prostate Cancer Research

MONTREAL, Dec. 7 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation and sanofi-aventis are pleased to announce the recipients of the first Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation/sanofi-aventis Research Innovation Award (CASARIA).   This award promotes innovative Canadian research into new anticancer medicines and targeted radiation therapy by making $140,000 in grants available for research focusing on colorectal or prostate cancer.

"We are very proud to support the CASARIA award and the innovative research that it promotes in the areas of colorectal and prostate cancer," said Hugh O'Neill, President and CEO of sanofi-aventis. "At sanofi-aventis we are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families and it is this type of research that will help us to continue to make this commitment for years to come."

Thirty research proposals focusing on colorectal or prostate cancer were received from applicants and were reviewed to ensure they met the eligibility criteria. In the end, six research proposals were recommended for funding on the basis of scientific merit, feasibility and relevance to Canadian radiation oncology.

"We look forward to witnessing the considerable long-term benefits to patients with colorectal and prostate cancers that this type of research grant will afford," said Ida Ackerman, President of the Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation.  "Our foundation is proud of the creation of the CASARIA award and is delighted with the opportunity to partner with sanofi-aventis in this important endeavor."

An estimated 24,600 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, which is the most common cancer among Canadian men (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer).¹ Overall, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada.  This year, an estimated 22,500 Canadians will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 9,100 will die from it.²

The 2010 CASARIA award recipients are:

Dr. Alexander Louie
London Regional Cancer Centre
London, Ontario

Subject of research: Construction and validation of patient specific RTOG genitourinary and gastrointestinal CT atlases for radiotherapy treatment planning

Dr. Michael McKenzie
Dr. Caroline Chung
BC Cancer Agency
Vancouver, British Columbia

Subject of research: Imaging Tumour Hypoxia: Feasibility of EF5-PET in Prostate Cancer

Dr. Rebecca Wong
Princess Margaret Hospital
Toronto, Ontario

Subject of research: A Phase I/II study of high dose rate brachytherapy for the palliation of rectal cancer

Dr. Ronny Leone Rotondo
Jewish Hospital, McGill
Montréal, Québec

Subject of research: Phase II study evaluating the prognostic significance of intra-treatment prostate specific-antigen changes and the level of circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer patients undergoing salvage radiotherapy for post-prostatectomy biochemical failure

Tim Craig, PhD
Princess Margaret Hospital
Toronto, Ontario

Subject of research: Post-Operative Adaptive Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer

Dr. Wilson Roa
Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, Alberta

Subject of research: Translational Application of Nanoparticale Radiosensitizer

About The Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation (CROF)
The Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization, working with the public and the oncology community through a broad educational program to enhance public awareness of the crucial role of radiation oncology in national cancer care. Through its support for professional education and scientific research in radiation medicine, CROF aims to provide Canadians with the highest standard of radiation treatment, with the ultimate goal of reducing the burden and suffering of all Canadians diagnosed with cancer.

http://www.caro-acro.ca/Links/CROF.htm

About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone.

Sanofi-aventis is represented in Canada by the pharmaceutical company sanofi-aventis Canada Inc., based in Laval, Quebec, and by the vaccines company Sanofi Pasteur Limited, based in Toronto, Ontario. Together they employ more than 2,000 people across the country. With combined R&D investments of $211.5 million in 2008, they are leaders in Canada's biopharmaceutical sector, a critical knowledge-based industry that generates jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.

¹ Canadian Cancer Society http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Cancer%20statistics/Stats%20at%20a%20glance/Prostate%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en

² Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada
http://www.colorectal-cancer.ca/en/just-the-facts/colorectal/