Cancer Research | Penn Today

Four headshots of Penn Faculty. Top left tile clockwise: Mark Devlin, Katalin Karikó, E. John Wherry III, and Virginia M.Y. Lee

National Academy of Sciences elects four from Penn

The newly elected members, recognized for their innovative contributions to original research, are Mark Devlin of the School of Arts & Sciences and Katalin Karikó, Virginia Lee, and E. John Wherry III of the Perelman School of Medicine.

3 min. read

3D visualization showing a reddish-blue tumor mass with internal vasculature, surrounded by blue CAR T cells and small extracellular vesicles against a dark background.

Armoring CAR T cells to take on cancer

Wei Guo of the School of Arts & Sciences and colleagues from the Perelman School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, and School of Engineering and Applied Science have uncovered how solid tumors manipulate cancer-fighting CAR T cells through extracellular vesicles, causing the engineered CAR T cells to commit fratricide—essentially turning against each other instead of attacking the cancer.

3 min. read

Shelley Berger honored by AACR for cancer research

Berger, the Daniel S. Och University Professor with appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine department of Cell & Developmental Biology and a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor in the School of Arts & Sciences, is recognized for her outstanding contributions to cancer research by the American Association for Cancer Research with the 2025 AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Lectureship.

New technology is poised to bring gene therapy to common chronic diseases

New research from Penn Medicine reveals a safe delivery system of DNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles directly to cells, which could transform treatment for common chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

2 min. read

Immunotherapy may boost KRAS-targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer

A preclinical study from the Perelman School of Medicine and Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center that combines RAS inhibition and immunotherapy shows promise for future clinical trials in pancreatic cancer treatment strategies.

1 min. read

“Good Morning America,” ABC News

A common blood test for ovarian cancer is more likely to fall short for Black and Native American women

A study from the Perelman School of Medicine indicates that a common test for ovarian cancer is less effective for Black and Native American women than for others.

HealthDay

CA-125 levels vary by patient race at ovarian cancer diagnosis

A study by Anna Jo Bodurtha Smith of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues found that Black and American Indian patients are less likely to have elevated cancer antigen levels at ovarian cancer diagnosis.

The Washington Post

Ovarian cancer test may not work on some Black, Native American patients

Research from the Perelman School of Medicine indicates that a common test for ovarian cancer may be less effective on Black and Native American patients.

Oblong-shaped terminals and wall art portraying the workings of the brain.

Brain power on display at the Franklin Institute

Several researchers from Penn Medicine’s Department of Neurology are featured throughout the Franklin Institute’s Body Odyssey exhibit.