Cancer Research | Penn Today

This new ovarian cancer treatment could improve survival rates | 5 Questions

Janos L. Tanyi of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about a large-scale trial of Cytalux, which makes cancer cells glow during surgery, being conducted at the Abramson Cancer Center. “Those patients who have all the visible cancerous lesions removed have the best survival rates,” he said.

How should cancer immunotherapy be used?

Ravi Parikh of the Perelman School of Medicine was interviewed about his research on the use of new and expensive immunotherapy medications to treat cancer patients considered to be ineligible for clinical trials. These older, sicker patients turned out be “about twice as likely to receive these novel immunotherapies compared to healthier patients who would have been included, and this is despite the fact that these drugs have never been studied in this particular group of individuals,” said Parikh. Furthermore, the study found “no survival difference” for trial ineligible patients receiving these treatments.

Gloved hands holding a pipette over a lab petri dish.

New insights into T-cell exhaustion could improve cancer immunotherapies

A new Penn Medicine study finds that suppressing key exhaustion genes may allow CAR T cell treatments to be used much more effectively against pancreatic and other solid cancers.

Medical worker in a face mask holds a clipboard for an African American person to sign.

Improving diversity in cancer clinical trials

The Cancer Clinical Trials Community Ambassador Training Program at the Abramson Cancer Center was established in August 2021 to create spokespersons and resources to increase awareness and access to cancer clinical trials in the diverse Philadelphia communities.

Highlighted internal view of the female reproductive system.

FDA approves Penn’s ‘glowing tumor’ imaging drug to identify ovarian cancer cells

An injectable diagnostic illuminates cancer tissue that allows for greater precision during surgery was pioneered by surgeons at the University of Pennsylvania.

Changing the identity of cancer cells to eliminate them

A team led by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s M. Andrés Blanco has uncovered a new target for treating certain blood cancers that works by removing an obstacle to their maturation.

Entering a new phase in cell therapy for glioblastoma

Donald M. O’Rourke, director of the Glioblastoma Translational Center of Excellence at Penn Medicine, and others are exploring cellular immunotherapies as a potential better option for deadly brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme.

Illustration representing T cells attacking cancer cells

A new class of CAR T cells targets previously untargetable cancer drivers

Focusing on neuroblastoma, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have harnessed the immune system to destroy tumors.

Medical professional looking closely with a smartphone lens at pigment on a person’s arm.

Drugs designed for prostate cancer may treat melanoma in men

A new Penn study finds that testosterone contributes to sex differences in melanoma via the activation of the zinc transporter ZIP9.

BRCA1 vs. BRCA2: What to know about these gene mutations and breast cancer

Payal Shah of the Perelman School of Medicine discussed the gene mutations that can lead to breast, ovarian, and other cancers.

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