The Farrah Fawcett Foundation (FFF), Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) have come together to fund a research team on HPV-related cancers. While there are many research teams that are searching for a cure and new treatments for various types of cancers, few of these teams are focused on HPV-related cancers.

“It’s estimated that more than 30,000 HPV-associated cancers occur each year in the United States alone,” said Sherry Lansing, SU2C co-founder, founder of the Sherry Lansing Foundation, and chairperson of the Entertainment Industry Foundation Board of Directors. “Research into new therapies that will benefit patients is urgently needed.”

Farrah Fawcett died from anal cancer in 2009. She was diagnosed with the cancer is 2006 and received chemotherapy and surgery to help shrink and remove the cancer. Unfortunately, the cancer spread to her liver. Fawcett again had surgery to remove the cancer as well as perfusion and embolization.

These treatments worked, but the tumors on her liver returned just a few months later and Fawcett underwent laser ablation therapy and chemoembolization. The treatments did slow down the cancer growth, but Fawcett died from cancer in 2009.

“Farrah was committed to the struggle against anal cancer and other forms of cancer,” Alana Stewart, chief executive officer and president of the Farrah Fawcett Foundation said at a news conference. “We are very pleased to continue Farrah’s legacy by supporting this important scientific initiative.”

The new research team will focus on developing a vaccine that will attack HPV-driven cancer cells. The Stand Up To Cancer-Farrah Fawcett Foundation Human Papillomavirus Translational Research Team Grant will provide $1.2 million to the cancer research team for the next three years.

Do you think the team will be able to develop the vaccine within the three years and do you think it will be successful in treating HPV-related cancers?

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