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Cancer Research
One simple change can reduce frequent cancer imaging by half
One simple change can reduce frequent cancer imaging by half
A “nudge” is helping shorten treatment time for patients with advanced cancer, with less frequent palliative radiation therapy sessions.
Elderly patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma benefit from targeted therapies
Elderly patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma benefit from targeted therapies
A Penn study of Medicare patients who are often underrepresented in medical trials finds overall survival benefits from treatment with targeted therapies.
Chemo is a go for treating equine lymphoma
Chemo is a go for treating equine lymphoma
New Bolton Center’s Daniela Luethy’s research on 15 horses with lymphoma concluded that chemotherapy had encouraging results. Her study poses opportunities for further research with more case control.
How to reinvigorate exhausted immune cells to stop cancer
How to reinvigorate exhausted immune cells to stop cancer
A Penn study has identified a protein called TOX that regulates exhausted T-cells, and could be a key to new immunotherapies.
OncoLink: 25 years—and millions of hits—later
OncoLink: 25 years—and millions of hits—later
The online source for cancer information turns 25. Last year alone, the website had 4.5 million visits, with half from other countries, and nurses looking for reliable material to educate patients.
Better prognosticating for dogs with mammary tumors
Better prognosticating for dogs with mammary tumors
For dogs with mammary tumors, a course of treatment can depend on a variety of factors, some of which may seem to contradict one another. A new system developed by Penn Vet’s Karin Sorenmo and colleagues can make determining a prognosis and making treatment decisions an easier task.
Finding clues to a genetic link to treatment for BRCA1/2 breast cancer patients
Finding clues to a genetic link to treatment for BRCA1/2 breast cancer patients
New research could shape treatment strategies and clinical trial design for patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2-related breast cancers.
Proton therapy side-effects found fewer than conventional radiation
Proton therapy side-effects found fewer than conventional radiation
In the largest study of its kind, Penn researchers compare overall adverse events of proton and photon therapies.
Compound’s benefits aren’t tied to the body clock
Compound’s benefits aren’t tied to the body clock
New research from Penn Medicine overturns what was previously known about a compound associated with reductions in obesity and diabetes risk.
Cancer screening rates decline when patients see doctors later in day
Cancer screening rates decline when patients see doctors later in day
Compared to patients who see their primary care doctor earlier in the day, cancer screening rates decline significantly as the day goes on, according to a new study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine and Wharton School.
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
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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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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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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