Lynn Sorbara Tells NOIAW of Challenges in Cancer Research

I n fighting cancer, progress lies in early detection more so than treatments, AMHS Vice President Lynn Sorbara explained at a recent event sponsored by the National Organization of Italian American Women. Lynn’s presentation on February 19, 2020, was preceded by a dinner at Lia’s Restaurant in Chevy Chase Her informative talk covered “Advances in Cancer Research: What is Known? What Remains Challenging? What Are the Future Possibilities?” Attendees who had heard Lynn speak previously knew that she has a real knack for explaining complicated subjects in easily understood layman’s terms. She also had an excellent Powerpoint presentation and she recommended a DVD by Ken Burns for PBS, “The Emperor of All Maladies.”

Lynn grew up in Queens, N.Y., the granddaughter of immigrants from Sicily and Calabria. She received her Ph.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York — the only woman in her class. She has been a cancer researcher and program director in the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Institutes of Health, and she is currently in charge of a program on promising technology for early detection of cancer using bodily fluids. In addition to being an expert in her field, Lynn is very generous in sharing her knowledge with others. Lynn explained that since there are a “gazillion” types of cancer (including 72 just for non-hodgkins lymphoma), and since each one would require a different course of action, the progress in fighting cancer is going to come in early detection, when the cancers are more amenable to treatment.

In response to a question from the audience, she said a good example is pancreatic cancer, which is so deadly because by the time symptoms appear, the cancer is already in a late stage, unless it’s detected during an unrelated medical exam or test. She contrasted this with an “indolent” cancer such as slow-growing prostrate cancer, and she noted that men are likely to get prostrate cancer in proportion to their age. For example, a 50-year-old man has a 50% chance of getting it, while an 80-year-old man has an 80% chance. She did note, though, that a lot of amazing progress has been made. For example, DNA sequencing that used to take 13 years at a cost of $1 billion, can now be done through Automated DNA Sequencing in 1-2 days at a cost of $3,000 – $5,000. ❚x