Mike Hazen, the general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, recently discussed an important initiative: the upcoming “Brain Tumor Awareness Night.” This pregame event, set to take place Tuesday night at Chase Field, aims to support the Ivy Brain Tumor Center, which provided treatment for Hazen’s late wife, Nicole, during her battle with glioblastoma. Proceeds from the night will be donated to the Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope, a fund dedicated to raising awareness and funds for brain cancer research.
The topic of glioblastoma and brain cancer is deeply personal for both Hazen and myself. My brother was diagnosed with this aggressive brain tumor in 2011 and, against the odds, he is one of the few survivors. According to the National Brain Tumor Society, glioblastoma affects over 10,000 people in the United States annually, with a dismal five-year survival rate of just 6.9% and an average survival span of only eight months. Hazen and I shared our experiences, noting how the awareness of glioblastoma surged once it touched our lives. “When you deal with it, you realize how devastating it is,” Hazen reflected. “Now I can’t not hear about it or see it.”
Before Nicole passed away in August 2022, Mike made two heartfelt promises: to ensure her legacy endures and to do everything possible to prevent other families from experiencing the pain the Hazens faced during their two-year cancer journey. Nicole's memory remains alive within Mike and their four sons, and her spirit has been felt profoundly during the D-backs' remarkable journey to the World Series in 2023.
Since its inception in 2021, the Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope has successfully raised over $2 million, largely from the support of the baseball community. This funding supports the essential clinical operations and laboratory infrastructure of the Phoenix-based Ivy Brain Tumor Center, which conducts early-phase clinical trials. One significant focus is the study of niraparib, a promising drug developed by the biopharmaceutical company GSK. In under two years, the Ivy Center has tested niraparib on approximately two dozen patients, yielding compelling evidence for its potential as a new treatment for glioblastoma, accelerating it towards a Phase 3 trial involving 450 participants at over 100 clinical sites across 11 countries.
“That’s a process that often takes a decade in drug development, and it took less than two years in this case,” said Dr. Nader Sanai, director of the Ivy Center. He emphasized the need for innovation in glioblastoma treatments, noting that this rare disease does not receive the same research advancements as more common cancers. A successful Phase 3 trial for niraparib could lead to the first FDA approval of a life-prolonging drug for glioblastoma.
Nicole’s legacy continues to influence patients like Jeremy Gibbons, a fire chief in Peoria, Arizona, who faced a sudden diagnosis of a Grade 3 glioma brain tumor after experiencing seizures. “What’s so terrifying about brain cancer is that it can strike seemingly at random, often affecting healthy individuals,” Dr. Sanai explained. Mike Hazen hopes that sharing their experiences can inspire greater support for the Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope and the Ivy Center, even from those who have not been directly affected by this devastating disease.
Dr. Sanai noted the challenge of raising awareness for glioblastoma due to its rarity and the lack of visible advocacy, such as the pink ribbons associated with breast cancer awareness. Having a spokesperson like Mike Hazen makes a significant difference. “One of the challenges with this disease is that, because there are very few survivors, there's not a huge advocacy around it,” he said. “The global patient community is grateful for his support.”
“If there’s a chance of giving hope for years instead of months,” Dr. Sanai concluded, “you’ll realize how crucial that time window is when it strikes you.” As we look forward to the Brain Tumor Awareness Night, the commitment of Mike Hazen and the support of the baseball community continue to shine a light on the urgent need for glioblastoma research and treatment options.
