The Life Raft Group is committed to enhancing the survival and quality of life for people living with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST), and other rare diseases, through patient-powered research, education and empowerment, and global advocacy efforts.
Other Programs Supported by The Life Raft Group:
Real World Evidence In Action
Traditional models for cancer research have resulted in many breakthrough treatments for patients, but it is not enough. The LRG’s approach to GIST research through real world evidence, relies on timely, accurate data from the patient’s perspective, with patient survival as the primary objective.
RECENT LRG DATA
Update your Patient Registry Info.
Join The Life Raft Group.
Current GIST Clinical Trials.
Search the GIST Specialist Database.
HELP US SAVE LIVES
The Life Raft Group is a community and it is up to all of us to make a difference. There are many ways to help. We always need patient tissue and data in our GIST patient registry. Volunteering your time or making a monetary donation also helps us drive research forward and save lives.
News
Phase 1 evaluation of SF1126, a vascular targeted PI3K inhibitor, administered twice weekly IV
Four GIST patients have entered this Phase 1 trial of PI3K inhibitor SF1126.
LRG announces GIST Collaborative Tissue Bank initiative
Innovative project will allow GIST researchers worldwide to access GIST tissue linked to patient-provided clinical histories. For more information on the GIST [...]
Life Raft members share medical solutions
LRG members share their experiences with elevated liver enzymes which are a rare side effect of Gleevec and can occur in CML and GIST patients.
Community hospitals vs. cancer centers: should the patient be informed of the risks?
In a January New York Times article, “Should Patients Be Told of Better Care Elsewhere,” the author, Denise Grady, discusses a friend who was [...]
LRG Research Team holds second in-person meeting: new tissue banking initiative born
On March 6 and 7, the LRG Research Team met for the second in-person meeting at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, [...]
Cancer in the News: CMS broadens PET scan coverage, President Obama calls out cancer
The following article was reprinted from an email alert sent by LegisLink Action Center, a community education service of US Oncology. On [...]
Pat George: the man, the myth, the legend
Pat George, LRG member and volunteer is well-known in the community. Pat recently took it upon himself to help educate the local students
KIT signaling & new approaches for GIST therapy
KIT functions in several distinct cell types. Keep reading to learn about KIT signaling and new approaches for GIST Therapy.























