10.20
Katherine Unger Baillie
Senior Science News Officer
kbaillie@upenn.edu
Cancer Research
Black women face increased risk of triple negative breast cancers
Black women face increased risk of triple negative breast cancers
An analysis of nearly 200,000 patients highlights the heterogeneity of breast cancer risk factors for women of differing races, ages, and disease subtypes.
Penn Medicine and Wistar awarded $11.7 million melanoma research grant
Penn Medicine and Wistar awarded $11.7 million melanoma research grant
The Specialized Programs of Research Excellence, or SPORE, grant from the National Cancer Institute will fund three new melanoma research projects over five years.
Engineering CAR T cells to activate a bodily response to solid tumors
Engineering CAR T cells to activate a bodily response to solid tumors
A new Penn study shows that CAR T cells expressing RN7SL1, a naturally occurring RNA, can activate the body’s natural immune cells against difficult-to-treat cancers.
Breast cancer diagnosis in the ‘between’ year: Body mass index matters
Breast cancer diagnosis in the ‘between’ year: Body mass index matters
While breast density—a characteristic that can help tumors hide from mammography—has attracted a lot of attention from clinicians, a new study finds evidence that body mass index, or BMI, is also important, especially in the year between screenings.
The cancer fighters: John Glick and a legacy of a half century in oncology
The cancer fighters: John Glick and a legacy of a half century in oncology
A major figure in the fight against cancer, John Glick reflects on his career after decades of working with the Perelman School of Medicine and as director of Penn’s National Cancer Institute for more than 20 years, treating thousands of patients during his tenure.
New program inspires underrepresented young women to cancer research
New program inspires underrepresented young women to cancer research
The Abramson Cancer Center’s Summer Health Experience, or SHE, program introduces young women to careers in cancer research. Statistics show that Black and Latinx women are severely underrepresented in the health sciences.
Improving patient experiences in cancer clinical trials
Improving patient experiences in cancer clinical trials
Cancer clinical trials (CCTs) provide patients an opportunity to receive experimental drugs, tests, and/or procedures that can lead to remissions. For some, a CCT may seem like their only option. Yet little is known about the experiences of patient participants who withdraw from CCTs.
Penn-led consortium identifies more genetic markers for inherited testicular cancer
Penn-led consortium identifies more genetic markers for inherited testicular cancer
A new meta-analysis of nearly 200,000 men revealed 22 new genetic locations that could be susceptible to inherited testicular germ cell tumors—an increase of 40%.
Clarifying T cell ‘exhaustion’
Clarifying T cell ‘exhaustion’
T cells, which are among the most powerful weapons in the immune systems of humans and other vertebrates, remain substantially programmed to stay exhausted even many weeks after exposure to a virus ended.
New cell therapy shows potential against solid tumors with KRAS mutations
New cell therapy shows potential against solid tumors with KRAS mutations
The new technology for cellular immunotherapy shows promising anti-tumor activity in the lab against hard-to-treat cancers driven the KRAS mutation.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
More Black patients are participating in clinical trials for cancer treatment at Penn thanks to this effort
Carmen Guerra and Armenta Washington of the Abramson Cancer Center spoke about their efforts to enroll more Black patients with cancer in clinical trials. “When we conduct research, we want to say that what we learn applies to all people,” said Guerra. “But that might not be the case if we are just studying one population.”
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CBS News
Cancer Moonshot project launched by President Biden 5 years ago leading to many breakthroughs
Robert Vonderheide of Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center in the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the Cancer Moonshot project, which has led to major federal funding for cancer research and subsequently, new treatments for patients. “It’s new initiatives, new therapies, and new ways importantly to prevent cancer in the first place,” he said.
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The Washington Post
For those at risk for cancer, weighing the risk of COVID-19 with delays in screening and treatment
Lawrence Shulman of the Perelman School of Medicine says declining numbers of new cancer diagnoses over the past four months don’t mean fewer people actually have cancer. “There are a lot of patients out there who have cancer but are not undergoing diagnosis and entry into the cancer care system,” he said.
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New Scientist
CRISPR cancer trial finds that gene-edited immune cells are safe
Edward Stadtmauer and Carl June of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about a clinical trial that found it safe to inject CRISPR gene-edited immune cells into people with advanced cancer.
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Science
Deciphering a cancer treatment’s dark side
Saar Gill of the Perelman School of Medicine said it would be easier to treat cancer using CAR-T cell therapy without the looming possibility of triggering cytokine release syndrome.
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Scientific American
Could immunotherapy treat diseases besides cancer?
Jonathan Epstein of the Perelman School of Medicine is quoted on how immunotherapy has transformed cancer care.
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