Gene Therapy Approach Shows Encouraging Survival Results in Some Patients With Glioblastoma

In a first-in-human, phase 1 trial, Brigham researchers sought to address challenges associated with treating glioblastoma multiforme by using an injected, engineered oncolytic virus that activated immune cells in the tumor. E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD, senior author of the paper, recently presented the study findings.

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Advancing AI to Help Predict, Diagnose, Treat, and Address Equity Issues in Cancer

Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute radiologists and radiation oncologists are at the forefront of harnessing the power of AI to change patients’ lives, as reflected in several recent research projects. Learn about the work of Michael H. Rosenthal, MD, PhD, Benjamin H. Kann, MD, Martin T. King, MD, PhD, and Danielle S. Bitterman, MD.

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New Study Highlights Dangers of Patients Relying on ChatGPT for Treatment Recommendations

Danielle S. Bitterman, MD, is the corresponding author of a study that assessed the ability of ChatGPT to recommend guidelines-based cancer treatments. She and her colleagues found the chatbot provided inappropriate recommendations in about one-third of cases, indicating the need to raise awareness about its limitations.

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Meet Adam Kibel, MD, Newly Appointed Chair of the Department of Urology

Meet Adam Kibel, MD, the newly appointed chair of the new Department of Urology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Disease Center Leader, Urology at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center.

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Biomarker-Based Surveillance Holds Promise for HPV-Positive Oropharynx Cancer, But Caution Is Urged

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is growing in incidence and now seen primarily in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV). Eleni M. Rettig, MD, associate surgeon at the Brigham, recently published a review of a biomarker-based surveillance method that includes a plasma-based assay to detect circulating tumor HPV DNA post-treatment.

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Docetaxel Found to Be Significantly Associated With Reduced Prostate Cancer Mortality in Patients With Otherwise Poor Prognosis

Docetaxel

A meta-analysis of five clinical trials found that adding docetaxel to standard-of-care treatment in men with high-grade, nonmetastatic prostate cancer and low PSA levels was associated with a significant reduction in death from prostate cancer. The Brigham’s Anthony Victor D’Amico, MD, PhD, senior author of the new paper, elaborates.

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Study Shows How MTAP Influences Response to Immunotherapy Drugs

Immunotherapy drugs that harness a patient’s immune system to fight cancer have become an important treatment for a subset of patients with certain cancers. A team co-led by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital has uncovered new findings about why some patients fail to respond to these drugs. The research suggests new approaches for making the medications more effective. Read More

Discussion Over Treatment vs. Surveillance for Screen-Detected Prostate Cancer

In October, The New England Journal of Medicine published a case vignette focusing on a 61-year-old man with prostate cancer. Two physicians—Anthony Victor D’Amico, MD, PhD, chief of Genitourinary Radiation Oncology at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, and Freddie Hamdy, FRCS(Urol.), FMedSci, of the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Oxford—present evidence on the appropriate clinical care approach. NEJM readers can cast their vote on which direction they would take based on the two essays. Read More

Could Shared Decision Making Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Prostate Cancer Screening?

The efficacy of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in reducing prostate cancer (PCa) mortality remains a matter of debate. Nonetheless, some racial and ethnic minority groups—particularly Black and Hispanic men—are less likely to receive prostate cancer screening and treatment. This discrepancy, in turn, may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in PCa outcomes, including higher mortality rates. Read More

Why Do Some Patients Respond Better to Immunotherapy Than Others?

Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has been a life-changing advance for a subset of people with cancer, but additional research is needed to learn how to make these treatments more broadly effective and longer lasting. A team led by scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital has published a paper revealing new details about the tumor characteristics that facilitate a strong clinical response to these drugs. Read More