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Cancer Research
QR code for cancer cells
Researchers from Penn Engineering have created a new synthetic biology approach to uncover why some cells become resistant to anti-cancer therapies.
Antibody treatment prevents graft versus host disease in advanced preclinical tests
Antibody treatment prevents graft versus host disease in advanced preclinical tests
Penn Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Boston Children’s Hospital research finds single antibody treatment blocked donor T-cell attack and increased survival rates in preclinical models.
RNA nanoparticle therapy stops the spread of incurable bone marrow cancer
RNA nanoparticle therapy stops the spread of incurable bone marrow cancer
By creating a roadblock in cancer’s commute through the body, researchers removed a longstanding barrier in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Data suggests stopping immunotherapy after two years is reasonable in patients with advanced lung cancer
Data suggests stopping immunotherapy after two years is reasonable in patients with advanced lung cancer
A new Penn Medicine study finds indefinite immunotherapy is not associated with improved survival in large, retrospective cohort.
Why new cancer treatment discoveries are proliferating
Why new cancer treatment discoveries are proliferating
The approval of CAR T cell therapy ushered in a new era for cancer treatment.
The path from innovation to implementation
The path from innovation to implementation
Penn’s infrastructure in both supporting clinical research and forging commercial partnerships smooths the way from idea to approval.
Three things to know about BRCA mutations in men
Three things to know about BRCA mutations in men
Kara Maxwell, director of the Men & BRCA Program at the Basser Center, is bridging the knowledge gap about how BRCA mutations affect men.
Improved gene editing method could power future cell and gene therapies
Improved gene editing method could power future cell and gene therapies
A new technique based on special cell-penetrating peptides promises advantages over current methods for editing the genomes of primary cells, such as patients’ T cells.
Why Penn research powers many FDA-approved treatments
Why Penn research powers many FDA-approved treatments
Since 2017, the FDA approved more than two dozen new therapies with roots at Penn Medicine—almost half of which are first-in-class for their indications.
Running and walking for oral cancer awareness
Running and walking for oral cancer awareness
In a student-led effort, the School of Dental Medicine hosted the Oral Cancer Walk & 5K. The event has been an annual tradition since 2009, offering both a community celebration and a venue for discussing oral cancer prevention and detection.
In the News
CNN
There’s still no standard test to detect pancreatic cancer early. Scientists are working to change that
A 2020 study from the Perelman School of Medicine found that a blood test to screen for certain biomarkers associated with pancreatic cancer was 92% accurate in its ability to detect disease.
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Associated Press
A new strategy to attack aggressive brain cancer shrank tumors in two early tests
A clinical trial led by Stephen Bagley of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests that targeting two associated proteins with CAR T cell therapy could be a viable strategy for shrinking brain tumors.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
UPenn scientists among those developing vaccines that arm the immune system to fight cancer
Penn Medicine researchers like Nobel laureate Drew Weissman are leading efforts to develop a vaccine that prevents cancer, with remarks from Susan Domchek of the Basser Center for BRCA and Robert H. Vonderheide of the Abramson Cancer Center.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn’s BRCA cancer vaccine trial aims to prevent the disease in healthy people
A trial led by Susan Domchek of the Perelman School of Medicine could use a preventive vaccine to protect people with a BRCA gene mutation from cancer.
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Psychology Today
AI detects cancers and immunotherapy biomarker
Daiwei Zhang and Mingyao Li of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues have developed an AI tool called iStar that can automatically spot tumors and types of cancer that are difficult for clinicians to see or identify and can predict candidates for immunotherapy.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn started giving cancer patients free rides to appointments. It helped reduce no-shows and increase clinical trial enrollment
The Abramson Cancer Center is attempting to address one of the most common challenges cancer patients face: lack of transportation to critically important appointments. Robert Vonderheide and Carmen Guerra of the Perelman School of Medicine are quoted on the Ride Health initiative.
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