Advancing Cancer Research
Lustgarten Foundation Honors Pancreatic Cancer Pioneers at Gala for Research Advancements
The Lustgarten Foundation honored three pioneers in pancreatic cancer research at its annual Inspiring Hope Gala, recognizing oncologist Elizabeth Jaffee, clinical expert Eileen M. O'Reilly, and biotech firm Erasca for their roles in advancing treatment of one of medicine's deadliest cancers. PR Newswire reported that Erasca CEO Jonathan E. Lim accepted the Hope Through Science Award on the company's behalf.
Over 28 years, the Foundation has invested $333 million across 386 high-risk research projects, according to Yahoo Finance. That funding has helped push the five-year pancreatic cancer survival rate from 4% in 1998 to 13% today — a slow but meaningful climb in one of the hardest cancers to treat.
From 4% to 13%: How $333 Million Moved the Needle
When the Lustgarten Foundation launched in 1998, pancreatic cancer killed roughly 96 out of every 100 patients within five years. The Foundation was built on a simple promise: 100% of every public donation goes directly to research. Administrative costs are covered separately by corporate partners, including MSG and AMC Networks.
That model has funded 386 projects over nearly three decades. PR Newswire noted the Foundation's investments have driven nearly every major advancement in the field. The survival rate has now reached 13% — still low, but more than triple what it was at the Foundation's founding.
Jaffee and O'Reilly Are Rewiring How Doctors Fight Pancreatic Cancer
Elizabeth Jaffee is Deputy Director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. She is a leader in cancer immunotherapy — using the body's own immune system to attack tumors. "We are at a turning point where the immune system is finally being successfully harnessed to recognize pancreatic cancer cells," she said.
Eileen M. O'Reilly holds the Winthrop Rockefeller Endowed Chair in Medical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She focuses on genomic profiling — mapping a tumor's genetic makeup to find the right treatment. "We are no longer treating pancreatic cancer as a monolithic disease," she said, reflecting a shift toward precision medicine.
Erasca's RAS Research Targets a Mutation in 95% of Cases
Erasca, Inc. earned the Hope Through Science Award for its work targeting the RAS pathway. RAS mutations drive roughly 95% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases — the most common and deadly form of the disease. For decades, RAS was considered "undruggable" by scientists.
CEO Jonathan Lim said the company's mission is to "erase cancer," and that its partnership with Lustgarten keeps the hardest mutations at the front of its drug pipeline. Biotech analysts have noted that the Foundation's endorsement signals to investors that RAS-targeted therapies are now a viable commercial bet, according to Yahoo Finance.
Pancreatic Cancer Set to Become the Second-Deadliest Cancer by 2030
The urgency behind the gala goes beyond celebration. Pancreatic cancer cases are rising, and the disease is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. by 2030. Most patients are diagnosed at a late stage, when surgery is no longer possible.
The Foundation is now shifting focus toward early detection tools, such as blood-based tests that can spot cancer before symptoms appear. At any given time, Lustgarten-funded scientists are involved in 30 to 40 active clinical trials. Patient advocates, however, note that access to cutting-edge trials remains concentrated at large urban centers like Johns Hopkins and Memorial Sloan Kettering, leaving rural patients behind, according to Yahoo Finance.
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