About Us
OUR STORY
Founded on Purpose, Driven by Impact
The Robert L. Fine Cancer Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) private foundation, was established in 1999 to advance pancreatic cancer research pioneered in Dr. Fine’s laboratory. The Foundation played a key role in supporting many of his breakthroughs, including the development of GTX chemotherapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
​
Today, the Foundation continues its mission by funding basic and translational research in pancreatic cancer—carrying forward Dr. Fine’s vision and honoring the patients who inspired his work.
PANCREATIC CANCER BY THE NUMBERS
Why We Fund Pancreatic Cancer Research: The Urgency Behind Our Mission
Pancreatic Cancer is a devastating disease. In the vast majority of cases, the diagnosis leaves few options for the patient and their family. This year it is estimated that 55,440 people in the US will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year and 44,330 will succumb to that disease. In 2016, it surpassed breast cancer as the fourth leading cause of cancer related death and it is projected to surpass colorectal cancer in 2020 as the third leading cause.
Of all the major cancers, it has the lowest 5-year survival rate of just 9%. There are no effective early detection methods and most pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed at a late stage. Only 20% of patients are diagnosed early enough to undergo tumor resection. However, of those patients who undergo surgery, the tumor will recur in 80%. The median survival for metastatic pancreatic cancer is 3-6 months with the standard of care. An estimated $168 million was spent on pancreatic cancer research in 2016 by the NIH which accounts for 0.5% of its research budget. ​
​Behind every statistic is a patient, a family, and a story. The need for more research has never been greater.
50K+
Estimated New Cases, 2018
40K+
Estimated Deaths, 2018
8%
5-Year Survival Rate
10.9
Death Rate, 2011-2015
ABOUT DR. ROBERT L. FINE
A visionary in pancreatic cancer research whose legacy continues to inspire breakthrough science.
Dr. Robert L. Fine dedicated his life to the fight against cancer. After losing his mother to Hodgkins Lymphoma, he vowed to continue her fight by becoming a physician scientist.
He went on to medical school at the University of Chicago followed by residency training at Stanford University Hospitals and oncology fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Fine was the Director of Experimental Therapeutics Program and the Herbert Irving Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Oncology at Columbia University Medical Center from 1995 to 2015. During that time, his laboratory was at the national forefront of translational breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Fine has published 127 peer reviewed papers in pancreatic cancer, 175 abstracts and 21 book chapters. He was voted in 2006 as one of the top three thought leaders in pancreatic cancer and was voted one of America’s Top Doctors for 10 years in a row.
From his laboratory research, Dr. Fine was able to develop novel chemotherapy regimens that had a major impact on pancreatic cancer, the most prominent of which is the combination of gemcitabine, taxotere and xeloda (GTX) for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
​
Dr. Fine on Advancing Treatment for Inoperable Pancreatic Cancer
In this video, Dr. Robert L. Fine, Associate Professor of Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, discusses a phase II study evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant gemcitabine, docetaxel, and capecitabine (GTX) in patients with inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This work laid the foundation for one of the most impactful treatment regimens in pancreatic cancer care.
