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Katherine Unger Baillie
Science News Officer
kbaillie@upenn.edu
Cancer Research
Glowing dye may aid in eliminating cancer
Glowing dye may aid in eliminating cancer
In dogs with mammary tumors, researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine used a substance that glows under near-infrared light to illuminate cancer.
New cancer immunotherapy targeting myeloid cells slows tumor growth
New cancer immunotherapy targeting myeloid cells slows tumor growth
Researchers found that inhibiting a molecule hijacked by tumor cells to suppress the immune system shrank tumors.
Blocking tumor signals can hinder cancer’s spread
Blocking tumor signals can hinder cancer’s spread
A cross-campus team led by Serge Fuchs of the School of Veterinary Medicine used an inhibitor of an enzyme called p38α kinase to suppress the spread of melanoma to the lungs in a mouse model.
New liver cancer research targets non-cancer cells to blunt tumor growth
New liver cancer research targets non-cancer cells to blunt tumor growth
By targeting senescent cells using “senotherapy,” researchers can greatly reduce tumors in models.
Activating an estrogen receptor can stop pancreatic cancer cells from growing
Activating an estrogen receptor can stop pancreatic cancer cells from growing
Activating the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor has been shown to stop pancreatic cancer from growing, but may also make tumors more visible to the immune system and thus more susceptible to modern immunotherapy.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Carl June elected to National Academy of Sciences
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Carl June elected to National Academy of Sciences
The researchers, from the Annenberg Public Policy Center and the Perelman School of Medicine, join a class of honored scholars recognized for their unique and ongoing contributions to original research.
Blood test may help doctors catch pancreatic cancer early
Blood test may help doctors catch pancreatic cancer early
A blood test may be able to detect the most common form of pancreatic cancer while it is still in its early stages while also helping doctors accurately stage a patient’s disease and guide them to the appropriate treatment.
Tailoring treatment for triple-negative breast cancer
Tailoring treatment for triple-negative breast cancer
Research led by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Rumela Chakrabarti identified a molecular pathway responsible for the disease’s progression and spread.
PARP inhibitor drugs can be ‘tuned’ for better killing of tumor cells
PARP inhibitor drugs can be ‘tuned’ for better killing of tumor cells
Using innovative techniques, a new Penn Medicine study helps clear up mystery about why PARP-inhibiting compounds vary so much in their clinical effectiveness
Alternative immune cells may surpass T cells to fight solid tumors
Alternative immune cells may surpass T cells to fight solid tumors
Penn researchers have shown success using genetically engineered macrophages, an immune cell that eats invaders in the body, to target solid tumors.
Media Contact
Experts
In the News
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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Philadelphia Inquirer
The world’s first T-cell therapy for a solid tumor cancer is made in Philly
Carl June of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on news of Iovance Biotherapeutics’ new facilities in South Philadelphia. “Recent advances in the understanding of cancer and the immune system have made a compelling case that [tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte] therapy could be effective in diverse cancers beyond melanoma, such as lung cancer and cervical cancer,” he said. “The decision of Iovance to conduct commercial scale manufacturing in the Philadelphia Navy Yard is wonderful news.”
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U.S. News & World Report
Fertility after cancer
Christos Coutifaris and Clarisa Gracia of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about patients’ fertility options after cancer treatment.
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ABC News
Experts offer new recommendations for screening more women for breast cancer
Susan Domcheck of the Basser Center for BRCA at the Abramson Cancer Center said that while new recommendations for the screening for BRCA1 and 2 gene mutations are “very valuable,” they don’t address many persistent problems. She stressed the need for additional research regarding BRCA mutations and risk factors, including the effect of race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
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