Dr. Anthony Lucci, right, Director for Breast Cancer Metastasis Research and Associate Professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is pictured with, Brittnee E. Henry, Associate Director of Development at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, left, and Sylvia Woelfel. (Photo by Erika Hernandez) Designs for a Cure The upcoming 2010 Designs for a Cure will benefit breast cancer metastasis research, and the project director, Dr. Anthony Lucci, an associate professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, spoke to the Kingsville Rotary Club about his research at a lunch meeting recently.

The Designs for a Cure benefit will be held Sept. 25 at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Ballroom.

“Breast cancer is a systemic disease found throughout the body, not just in breast tissue,” Lucci said.

“Cells from the primary tumors may circulate in the blood and also travel to the bone marrow early in the disease process and there is significant data from multiple studies that show that micrometastases in bone marrow are a strong predictor of disease recurrence and overall survival in breast cancer patients.”

Lucci said that none of the current treatments, including surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, could eliminate micrometastases because cancer cells can survive those treatments by going dormant in bone marrow, often for years.

“If we (oncologists) had a way to identify micrometastases circulating in the blood at the time the patient is diagnosed and were able to use effective agents against these cells in early treatment, the 192,370 new patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2009 would have greatly increased chances to not only survive, but avoid recurrence,” he said.

New detection technologies and new molecular biology and genetic techniques have given Lucci the unique opportunity to find the cells, profile them accurately and identify new targets for preventing and treating metastases.

The philanthropic goal for the Breast Cancer Metastasis Program is $1 million, which will be used to seed innovative projects, support clinical trials, and provide shared equipment.

Sylvia Woelfel, who heads the Designs for a Cure benefit and is a breast cancer survivor, invited Lucci to Kingsville to speak; she mentioned that Lucci would be attending the event as well.

“I think what Dr. Lucci is doing for breast cancer research is amazing, and I am looking forward to contributing to his program through Designs for a Cure,” she said.

“Designs for a Cure” is a tabletop design dinner and auction and 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to Dr. Lucci’s research program at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Tabletop Designers so far are, Coldwell-Banker Homestead Properties, Cadillac Cowgirls, Sherwin Williams, Santa’s Workshop, Jean Claire Turcotte, Kleberg Bank, South Texas District/Venado District Boy Scouts, Bluebonnet Drama Club, King Ranch Saddle Shop, Kay Zimmer, Mary Cusack/Belinda Hughes, TAMUK, Christus Spohn Kleberg Hospital, Stewart Sisters, D’Vine Designs, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Family of June Cannon, The Cherry Tree Tea Room, Spaces Interiors/Becky Pollard, Rock N’ Reign Clothing Co., and the Kingsville Train Depot Museum.

Several of the donated items for the auctions include, three days/two nights at Beach Resort Hotel in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for four; dinner for eight in the Bynum Trophy Room; Peggy Westbrook’s Fanciful Santa; beach condominium use in Port Aransas; barnwood hall tree and hat racks; hand crocheted afghan; Lehman large deer feeder; watercolor painting by Dolores Price; drop front secretary desk; and surprise items decorated by local dignitaries, including County Judge Pete De La Garza, Kleberg County District Attorney John Hubert, Mayor Sam Fugate, and A&M-Kingsville President Steve Tallant.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with viewing of the decorated tables and a cocktail hour followed by dinner at 7 p.m., catered by Javelina Catering of TAMUK.

The live auction will be held at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $50 per person and are available from Pam Domino at (361) 522-0447.

Anyone wishing to decorate a table can notify Sylvia Woelfel at swoelfel2@gmail.com or (361) 592-0297 or (361) 228-3411.

For more information or to donate to the event, contact any member of the AWARE Department of the Woman’s Club of Kingsville or Jean Stewart at 592-4334.