Cancer Research | Penn Today

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.

Pancreatic cancer vaccine shows promise in small initial trial

Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine is supportive of findings about a pancreatic cancer vaccine, though he says larger studies are needed to determine effectiveness.

Aerial image of Penn Medicine staff in the atrium celebrating.

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.

Cutting-edge advances in cancer treatment are underway. Here are three that could change lives

Robert Vonderheide and Constantinos Koumenis of the Perelman School of Medicine discuss the major advancements occurring in cancer surgery and cancer radiation, two fundamental tools of cancer treatment.

Three people participate in an organized run and walk, wearing matching t-shirts

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.

Moderna, Merck show progress toward cancer vaccines

Robert Vonderheide of the Perelman School of Medicine says that a combined immunotherapy-vaccine approach could be a game changer for melanoma patients.

In what could be a ‘big shift’ for cancer treatment, mRNA vaccine shows promise against melanoma

According to Robert Vonderheide of the Perelman School of Medicine, the pandemic proved that mRNA vaccines could be used safely and developed quickly.

Novel treatment shows promise against rare cancer in kids

Carl June of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on the success of a new study using CAR-T cell therapy to combat tumors in children with a rare kind of cancer.

More cancers may be treated with drugs than previously believed

Using a Penn-designed neural network called PocketMiner, a Penn Medicine research team has identified hidden protein pockets that can provide new opportunities for cancer drugs to bind to.

T cells therapy in solid tumors shows improvement

A preclinical study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine is using a novel “one-two punch” strategy to assist T cells in attacking solid tumors.

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