Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discovered that cyclin D1 helps cancer cells repair DNA damage caused by radiation treatments, making tumors resistant to the therapy. Blocking cyclin D1 levels in cancer cells makes them more sensitive to radiation and certain cancer drugs.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute conducted a phase 1 clinical trial using ipilimumab and bevacizumab to treat advanced, inoperable melanomas. The trial showed that the combination of these two drugs was safe and potentially more effective than either drug alone.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified an overactive network of growth-spurring genes that drive stem-like breast cancer cells enriched in triple-negative breast tumors. The Jak2/Stat3 pathway was found to be elevated in these cells, and a drug specifically aimed at blocking this pathway halted tumor growth in mice.
Researchers have developed a new technique that allows cancer-fighting cells to survive in patients' bloodstreams for over a year, without the need for toxic treatments. The study showed promising results, with one patient remaining cancer-free two years after treatment.
Cancer cells survive by ignoring signals to become senescent and continuing to make copies of themselves at will. Researchers discovered a molecular switch required for entry into quiescence and senescence, which may provide new targets for cancer treatment and help develop neurons in infants with Down syndrome.
A new experimental treatment for boosting the effectiveness of stem-cell transplants with umbilical cord blood has shown a favorable safety profile in long-term animal studies. After one year following transplant, treated cord blood units reconstituted all normal types of blood cells and prevented cancer development.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a laboratory model that mimics the process by which fallopian tube cells may morph into cancer cells. The model demonstrates that HGSOC begins in the fallopian tubes, providing powerful evidence for this theory.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified a promising target for an AIDS vaccine: the V3 loop of the virus's protein envelope. Immune system antibodies aimed at this loop may offer protection against multiple genetic subtypes of HIV-1, offering hope for a universally effective vaccine.
The US saw a decline in cancer death rates between 2003 and 2007, with the overall rate of cancer deaths falling by an average of slightly less than 1 percent per year. Despite this encouraging trend, experts caution that more efforts are needed to prevent and treat cancer effectively.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a targeted therapy strategy that slows the progression of NUT midline carcinoma in children. The approach uses an HDAC inhibitor to distract cancer proteins from their usual activity, causing cells to behave like normal cells.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found that a malaria drug, hydroxychloroquine, can slow the growth of pancreatic tumors in mice. The oral drug has been shown to decrease tumor growth by inhibiting autophagy, a survival strategy used by cancer cells.
A four-gene signature has been identified as a reliable predictor of metastatic prostate cancer, outperforming traditional methods in accuracy. The discovery could lead to the development of gene-based tests for determining prostate cancer's potential to spread.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will develop transient immunity against known and unknown disease-causing pathogens with a focus on rapid development within seven days. The project aims to address growing concerns of emerging and re-emerging pathogens through advanced diagnostics and medical therapies.
Researchers found that altering a specific gene in mice mimicked the effects of endurance training on their heart muscle cells. The genetically altered mice showed improved resistance to cardiac stress and had more robust cardiomyocytes, which played a crucial role in their increased exercise capacity.
Scientists have found that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells become resistant to chemotherapy by growing among normal cells in the bone marrow and lymph nodes. This resistance is linked to alterations in Bcl-2 family proteins, which makes CLL cells less susceptible to treatment.
A new oral drug causes dramatic shrinkage of a rare, aggressive form of soft-tissue cancer driven by an abnormally activated protein. The findings highlight the value of personalized medicine gene-testing strategies to predict best drug treatment for individual cancers.
Parents of children with cancer reported feeling hurried and less well-informed about clinical trial protocols compared to adult patients. The study found that parents felt they had insufficient time to learn about the trials and asked fewer questions.
Researchers found that childhood cancer survivors have an elevated risk for upper GI complications, liver conditions, and lower GI problems. The study suggests that physicians should be aware of these increased risks and factor them into plans for monitoring survivors' health.
A study led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers found that children with sarcoma in low-income countries face significant barriers to effective treatment. The study identified gaps in diagnostic capabilities, lack of specialized cancer pathologists, and inadequate radiation therapy services as major concerns.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that 50 percent of young girls with Stage 1 germ cell ovarian tumors can be spared chemotherapy using a 'watch and wait' strategy. The treatment approach was effective in delaying recurrence and maintaining a survival rate of 96%.
A team led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists created a molecule that prevents cancer genes from 'hearing' instructions, stifling the cancer process at its root. The research targets proteins issuing stop and start commands to a cancer gene, known as epigenetic reader proteins, for future cancer therapies.
A study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that cancer patients who die in hospitals or ICUs have worse quality of life, compared to those dying at home with hospice services. Caregivers of patients who died in ICUs are also at higher risk for developing PTSD and prolonged grief disorder.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have identified cells in mice that prevent the immune system from attacking own cells, potentially leading to improved therapies for autoimmune diseases. The discovery highlights the importance of balancing the immune response, with CD8+ Treg cells playing a key role.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that multivitamin use did not impact colon cancer outcomes in patients with stage III colon cancer. Multivitamin use had no beneficial effect on patients' survival rates but may have a small association with survival benefits for younger patients and those who are obese.
Researchers discovered a new mechanism by which PPAR-gamma controls whole-body insulin sensitivity, potentially leading to more selective and safer diabetes medications. This finding may motivate pharmaceutical companies to revisit compounds targeting PPAR-gamma.
A genetic test has been developed to predict which children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) are unlikely to benefit from standard chemotherapy. The test identifies patients whose leukemia cells harbor an intact TCR-gamma gene, who generally have a poor response to induction chemotherapy.
Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found a way to disable MCL-1 protein, a common obstacle to chemotherapy treatment. The discovery suggests a new approach to target MCL-1 and make standard cancer drugs effective again.
A phase III clinical trial found that ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody, significantly extended the lives of patients with metastatic melanoma. The therapy showed a 67% increase in survival time compared to those receiving gp100 alone, demonstrating its promise as an alternative treatment for cancer patients.
A new study reveals that childhood cancer survivors may experience a significant decrease in life expectancy, with some facing a 10-17 year reduction. The research suggests that recent advancements in treatments and closer monitoring may improve long-term outcomes for these patients.
Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a laboratory technique that more closely simulates the real-world conditions in which tumor cells mingle with normal cells, improving the accuracy of anti-cancer drug screenings. This new 'cell-specific in vitro bioluminescence imaging' (CS-BLI) technique can identify compounds ...
A study of over 18,000 women aged 65 and older with breast cancer found that delaying radiation treatment after surgery increased local recurrence risk. The risk rose incrementally by day, with a 19% increase at longer intervals.
A survey of parents who had a child die of cancer found that one in eight considered hastening their child's death due to unbearable pain. The study highlights the importance of managing patients' pain and communicating with parents about available tools for easing progressive pain.
Researchers found that African-Americans are more likely to hold fatalistic beliefs and be reluctant to seek medical attention for lung cancer symptoms. The study suggests that targeted public health messages are needed to address racial disparities in lung cancer treatment outcomes.
A clinical trial shows that patients with metastatic prostate cancer who received a vaccine lived substantially longer than those who received a placebo, with a median survival time of 24.5 months compared to 16 months. The study found encouraging evidence for a clinically meaningful benefit from this vaccine approach.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discovered a gene activity signature predicting high cancer recurrence risk in breast tumors treated with chemotherapy drugs. The study suggests that these tumors may still be vulnerable to other types of chemotherapy agents.
Researchers found that identifying patients with a small number of tumor cells harboring an overabundance of MET even before treatment can produce longer remissions when treated with combination drugs. This suggests that targeting these cells with additional drugs may be beneficial in preventing resistance.
Kai W. Wucherpfennig, a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researcher, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for his contributions to immunology and T-cell activation in human autoimmune disease. The AAAS Fellowship recognizes his distinguished efforts to advance science and its applications.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have discovered a new compound capable of halting drug-resistant non-small cell lung cancers by targeting a specific protein defect. The pyrimidine WZ4002 has shown promise in restricting cell growth and impeding tumor growth in mice with resistant tumors.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that support of patients' spiritual needs by medical teams is associated with greater use of hospice care, less aggressive treatment, and better quality of life near death. Patients whose spiritual needs were largely or completely supported had scores on average 28% higher in well-being.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that men with colorectal cancer who engage in regular exercise have a 53% higher chance of surviving without the disease. The benefit of exercise was seen across various factors such as age, cancer progression and previous physical activity.
A new hybrid agent, T-DM1, has shown promising results in a Phase 2 clinical trial for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. The compound shrunk tumors by 30% or more in 40% of women with confirmed HER2-positive cancers, and had a total clinical benefit rate of approximately 53%.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that midostaurin, a kinase inhibitor targeting FLT3 cell receptor, combined with chemotherapy reduced circulating leukemia cells in AML patients. Complete responses occurred in 80% of patients with mutated FLT3, and high survival rates were observed one and two years after treatment.
A phase III trial showed that defibrotide was markedly more effective than standard treatment in post-stem cell transplant patients with hepatic veno-occlusive disease. The mortality rate 100 days after transplant was reduced to 62 percent for patients receiving defibrotide.
Early clinical trial results show bortezomib-based therapy improves control of graft-versus-host disease and immune system recovery. The treatment was safe with little toxicity, and immune cell reconstitution was significantly improved in the early post-transplant period.
A new three-drug combination has shown a highly effective regimen in treating newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma, with partial responses or better seen in all 66 patients. The treatment also resulted in encouraging complete or near-complete responses at 54 percent.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discovered that T cell receptors are mechanosensors that rely on sheer mechanical force to shift between scanning and fighting modes. This fundamental understanding may lead to the development of precisely targeted therapies for cancers and infections, eliminating harsh side effects.
Adult survivors of childhood cancer have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts even years after treatment, according to a study. Health problems in adulthood are strongly linked to suicidal thoughts in survivors, with poor health and chronic conditions increasing the risk.
Researchers exploit a relationship between the KRAS and TBK1 genes, known as 'synthetic lethality,' to kill cancer cells that are resistant to standard treatments. By targeting TBK1, the strategy bypasses the difficulties in treating KRAS-driven tumors, offering a new approach against aggressive cancers.
A novel method for imperfectly matched stem cell transplants has shown a striking response that can suppress graft-versus-host disease. The technique, known as co-stimulatory blockade, unleashes a surge of regulatory T-cells that dampen the immune reaction.
Researchers discovered that plasmacytoid dendritic cells assist in the growth of multiple myeloma cells by promoting their survival and shielding them from drugs. Compounds targeting pDCs restore immune system function, stopping myeloma cell growth.