Oncology & Cancer

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and four other institutions have devised a novel method to test for prostate cancer using biomarkers present in urine. This approach could significantly reduce the need for invasive, often painful biopsies, they say.

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and four other institutions have devised a novel method to test for prostate cancer using biomarkers present in urine. This approach could significantly reduce the need for invasive, often painful biopsies, they say.

Standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for cervical cancer achieves disease-free survival (DFS) in approximately 70% of patients with locally advanced disease; however, nearly 30% still experience recurrence or metastasis.

A new generation of CAR T cell therapy is bringing hope in the fight against cancer, targeting not only blood cancers but also solid tumors such as ovarian and breast cancer. Fraunhofer researchers teamed up with the University Hospital of Würzburg to streamline the complicated process of manufacturing these therapies as well. This could make them much more available.

In a new study, researchers from the University of Chicago discovered that zeaxanthin, a plant-derived carotenoid best known for protecting vision, may also act as an immune-boosting compound by strengthening the cancer-fighting activity of immune cells. The findings, which are published in Cell Reports Medicine, highlight the potential of zeaxanthin as a widely available supplement to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies.

A Mayo Clinic study finds that a shortened, less intense course of radiation and chemotherapy after minimally invasive surgery for HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+OPSCC) results in less toxicity, substantially lowering the rates of treatment-related side effects while maintaining high cure rates. The findings were published in The Lancet Oncology.

Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) from the lowest socioeconomic status (SES) neighborhoods have an increased risk for mortality, according to a study published online Aug. 22 in Blood Advances.

A world-first clinical trial has found that a simple daily nasal spray can significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 in cancer patients, offering a potential new tool to protect vulnerable people from the virus.

All cells naturally produce formaldehyde as a byproduct of metabolism. To survive this toxic stress, both healthy and cancerous blood-forming cells rely on a built-in defense system. Now, scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University have discovered that leukemia cells generate far greater amounts of formaldehyde than normal blood cells and that to survive this stress, they rely on a unique protective mechanism.

Many modern cancer treatments are highly effective at reducing or eliminating tumors, but they can also cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms that impact patients’ quality of life or lead to discontinuation of treatment. A new analysis from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers reveals the nutrition therapies that are most effective at minimizing GI distress. The research is published in the journal Advances in Nutrition.