Category: Cancer

Specialty: Oncology

Dana-Farber Brigham Research Suggests Benefit in Flipping Current Guideline for Treating Post-Prostatectomy Patients

MRI image of prostate cancer

Investigators at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center have uncovered a potentially serious flaw in the current standard of care for patients with positive pelvic node prostate cancer (pN1 PC). They found that adjuvant radiation therapy (aRT) is associated with a decreased risk of death compared with early salvage radiation therapy (sRT) in men with four or more positive lymph nodes. Moreover, the reduction increases by 8% for each additional positive pelvic lymph node found at surgery. Read More

Glioblastoma: Creating a Viral Oasis in an Immune Desert

Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center is world-renowned for its commitment to cutting-edge research. Over the years, its researchers have turned scientific discoveries into life-saving treatments, contributing to the development of 35 of 75 cancer drugs recently approved by the FDA for use in cancer patients. Read More

Dana-Farber Brigham Shaping the Future of Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

Over the last few decades, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center has advanced the care and management of head and neck cancer patients through a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach. The team has focused on surgical innovations such as free flap reconstruction and minimally-invasive transoral robotic surgery to help patients recover their speech and swallowing functions while delivering highly effective and state-of-the-art therapeutic interventions. Advances in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation delivery techniques have clearly helped to improve patient outcomes. Read More

Review: Targeting Oncometabolism to Maximize Immunotherapy in Brain Cancer

Cells stained with different colors in a false color image of a tumour sample

Joshua D. Bernstock, MD, PhD, in the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Gregory K. Friedman, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues reviewed novel therapies that target oncometabolism and tumor immunometabolism.

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“Off-the-Shelf” Engineered Stem Cell Therapy for Glioblastoma Prolongs Survival in Animal Model

Glioblastoma brain cancer cells under microscope

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have designed a biologic agent, dubbed EnMSCBif, to bind to death receptor 5 (DR5) on the surface of glioblastoma cells and trigger extrinsic programmed cell death. They report on the high potential of EnMSCBif to be translated into clinical use.

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Making Headway in Targeting Glioblastoma Multiforme

Brain MRI showing a needle inserted into a glioblastoma multiforme tumor highlighted in purple

Break Through Cancer is a foundation that brings together elite cancer research centers to collaborate on and accelerate research, clinical trials and cures for deadly cancers, including glioblastoma multiforme. The Brigham’s Nathalie Y. R. Agar, PhD, and E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD, discuss this ambitious undertaking.

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Researchers Probe Links Between Colorectal Cancer, Bariatric Surgery and the Microbiota

Brigham investigators are examining the link between the microbiota and colorectal cancer, including exploring how bariatric surgery changes the microbiome and the impact this connection may have on the development of colorectal cancer. James Yoo, MD, and Eric G. Sheu, MD, PhD, co-lead this new research initiative.

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Role of DNA Damage Response Genes in Prostate Cancer Similar for African Americans, European Americans

Representation of the <em>BRCA2</em> gene

Adam S. Kibel, MD, and Anna Plym, PhD, of the Division of Urology, and colleagues conducted the most comprehensive study to date on the role of inherited DNA damage response (DDR) genes in aggressive prostate cancer. They report high carrier frequency of DDR gene alterations in lethal cases irrespective of ancestry.

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Endoscopic Ultrasound–guided Gastroenterostomy Is a Viable Option for Palliation of Gastric Outlet Obstruction

Medical professional holding instrument for endoscopy with purple gloves

Ali Abbas, MD, MPH, Christopher C. Thompson, MD, MSc, and colleagues report similar technical success rates for endoscopic ultrasound–guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) and surgical gastrojejunostomy, despite more advanced cancer stage and worse performance status in the EUS-GE cohort.

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