Susan G. Komen for the Cure Announces Recipients of 2009 Komen Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction

Two U.S. Scientists Share Distinguished Honors in Basic Science Research;

U.K. Physician Selected for Prestigious Clinical Research Award
DALLAS--(Business Wire)--
Three researchers who have focused much of their careers on developing targeted
therapies that both lower the risk of developing hormone-sensitive breast
cancers and effectively treat the disease are this year`s winners of the Susan
G. Komen for the Cure Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in basic science
and clinical research. This is the highest award of merit given by the nation`s
leading breast cancer advocacy organization.

This year`s team recipients in the category of basic science are Benita S.
Katzenellenbogen, Ph.D. and Geoffrey L. Greene, Ph.D.Ian E. Smith, M.D.is
recognized in the award category of clinical research.

Katzenellenbogen and Greene are being honored for their pivotal laboratory work
that led to a better understanding of how drugs like tamoxifen and raloxifene
work on a molecular level to fight and prevent certain breast cancers.

Smith is being recognized for his work in the early clinical development of
several anti-cancer drugs and for his work in neoadjuvant - or preoperative -
treatments with drugs like tamoxifen and raloxifene.

These drugs fight the hormone sensitive breast cancers that account for 70
percent of all breast cancers. The survival rate for all breast cancers is now
89 percent, largely due to the successful use of these hormone therapies before
and after surgery.

"The two individuals selected for the basic science award have made important
contributions to our understanding of the estrogen receptor and the role the
receptor plays in breast cancer," said Eric Winer, M.D., Komen`s chief
scientific advisor. "The clinical award is made in recognition of the seminal
work on the part of Dr. Smith in the field of endocrine therapy, particularly in
the preoperative setting."

Each honoree will deliver a keynote lecture and be honored at the 32nd annual
San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, a major international gathering of breast
cancer researchers, clinicians and patient advocacy organizations. Each also
will receive a cash award of $25,000.

The Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction was established in 1992 to
recognize the efforts of pioneers in two critically important areas of the fight
to end breast cancer: clinical research and basic science. The roster of Komen
Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction laureates has grown to include names of
researchers who have made the most significant advances in breast cancer
diagnosis and treatment as well as research. This year`s awardees, as well as
past laureates, are invited to a private reception during the San Antonio
conference this year.

About the Brinker Award Winners

Ian E. Smith, M.D. - Clinical Research

Ian Smith is professor of Cancer Medicine at the Institute of Cancer Research
and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where he is also head of the breast
unit. His principal research interests have been in the biology and treatment of
breast cancer and lung cancer, and in new drug development. He was involved in
the early clinical development of several successful anti-cancer drugs including
letrozole and carboplatin. One of his main interests is in preoperative
endocrine treatments and in the molecular changes associated with these
therapies. He is chief investigator of two international neoadjuvant endocrine
therapy trials, IMPACT and IRESSA 223 and UK principal investigator for several
international clinical trials. He is the first chairman of the recently formed
UK Breast Trials Intergroup and recent past chairman of the British Breast
Group. He has also been Chairman of several national professional bodies
including the Association of Cancer Physicians, the Royal College of Physicians
Specialist Advisory Committee for Medical Oncology, and the NCRI Lung Cancer
Clinical Studies Group. He is a member of numerous international cancer
societies and has more than 300 peer-reviewed publications.

Benita S Katzenellenbogen, Ph.D. - Basic Science

Benita S. Katzenellenbogen is the Swanlund Professor of Molecular and
Integrative Physiology, Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As an endocrinologist and cancer researcher, she
has focused on understanding the biology of estrogen receptors and in trying to
clarify how drugs likes tamoxifen and raloxifene are effective in controlling
breast cancer. The work of her research group has most recently involved
developing hormonal agents for breast cancer treatment and prevention. She is a
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and recently served as
president of The Endocrine Society, the world's largest professional society
representing approximately 10,000 endocrinologists. She has published more than
270 research articles and co-edited a book on "Hormone-Dependent Cancer." During
her career she has received 5 different Komen grants.

Geoffrey L. Greene, Ph.D. - Basic Science

Dr. Geoffrey Greene is the Virginia and D. K. Ludwig Professor and Vice Chair of
The Ben May Department for Cancer Research, Chair of the Committee on Cancer
Biology, Associate Director of Basic Sciences for the Cancer Research Center and
Co-Director of the Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research at the University of
Chicago. He is internationally recognized for his work on the function of female
hormones and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) in breast cancer,
and for the development of estrogen and progesterone receptor antibodies, which
have had major diagnostic applications in breast cancer throughout the world.
Projects in Dr. Greene`s laboratory have direct relevance and application to
breast cancer genesis, progression, treatment and prevention, as well as to the
development of compounds that can be used for hormone replacement therapy in
postmenopausal women. He has received several prestigious awards for his
research accomplishments, including the Ernst Oppenheimer Award from the
Endocrine Society, the John Brewer Distinguished Alumni Lectureship at
Northwestern University, the first Tartikoff-Semel Award from the Revlon/UCLA
Women's Cancer Research Program, and the first Olof Pearson Lecturer at Case
Western Reserve University. In addition, he recently received the NAMS/Wyeth
Pharmaceutical SERMs award from the North American Menopausal Society.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do
everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise
became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer
movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of
breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people,
ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to
events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested more than $1.3 billion
to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated
to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org
or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure
John Hammarley, 972-855-1604
jhammarley@komen.org
or
Andrea Rader, 972-855-4320
arader@komen.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009