Scientists have made numerous gains recently in treating gastrointestinal malignancies, which include cancers of the colon and rectum, stomach, pancreas, liver, esophagus, and related tissues. Some advances are reflected in the approval of new drug therapies or changing practice to use existing drugs more effectively. In other cases, protocols are being revised to reduce toxic … Read more
GERD, which stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease, occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back up the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach. This irritates the lining of the esophagus, causing heartburn and, in some cases, an influx of stomach acid into the throat and mouth. Occasional GERD — also known as acid … Read more
Dana-Farber researchers have found that a transcription factor called SOX17 gives colon cancer a safe space to develop.
Stories of young adults being diagnosed with colorectal cancer are becoming more common as the rates continue to rise among adults between 20 and 49.
An ovarian cyst is not the same as ovarian cancer. Benign ovarian cysts are extremely common, while ovarian cancer is rare. They do share symptoms, such as abdominal bloating, pressure, pain, or swelling. A gynecologist can help you determine if you have a benign ovarian cyst and if you need treatment. Many cysts go away … Read more
Inflammation is normal. It’s an essential process our bodies use to fight infections and heal wounds. But inflammation that persists can be harmful, and in some cases can increase the risk of cancer.
The same way you can predict whether a family is away, getting ready for work, or cooking dinner by observing which lights are on in the house, scientists can gaze into a cell and predict its state based on which genes are on or off. Normal liver cells, for instance, have a predictable and recognizable … Read more
Treatments used for many forms of cancer, as well as certain rare types of cancer that directly affect the ear(s), can affect your hearing. It’s important to understand the possibilities and know what to look for because, in some cases, early action can help. If you are affected by hearing loss, there are also resources … Read more
Colon and rectal cancer combined are the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancers. Eighty percent of patients are diagnosed at a stage of disease when treatment is given with curative-intent. However, treatment can have both short- and long-term side effects that may impact quality of life. To address these concerns, investigators at Dana-Farber have led clinical … Read more
As a cancer imaging fellow at Dana-Farber, Michael Rosenthal, MD, PhD, spent about two years working on a radiologist’s version of paint-by-number. Together with his colleagues, he annotated 687 computed tomography (CT) scans, manually differentiating skeletal muscle from fat tissue by labelling them with different colors. The work was part of a 2018 project to … Read more
Anal cancer is a highly preventable type of cancer given its connection to human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of 150 related viruses that infect the surface of the skin, which can include the genitals, anus, mouth and throat. The majority of squamous cell anal cancers (the most common form of anal cancer which affects the … Read more
For years, patients with advanced forms of gastric and esophageal cancer have had relatively few treatment options. Most patients with inoperable tumors would receive chemotherapy, usually a combination of fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and leucovorin (known as FOLFOX). While this regimen is often effective, patients eventually develop resistance to the treatment and their tumors progress. Now, the … Read more
Researchers in the late 1970s wanted to address challenges with a chemotherapy drug called floxuridine. It’s a form of chemotherapy invented in the 1950s that turns into its active form, 5-fluorouracil, or 5-FU, when metabolized. One challenge is that 5-FU has off-target effects, meaning it can damage healthy organs when given throughout the body. In … Read more
Radiation therapy is used to treat a variety of cancers. High-energy waves or particles directed at tumor cells can damage their DNA, slowing their growth or causing them to die. Because normal cells in the radiation field can also be damaged, radiation therapy may produce side effects for some patients. These vary with the type … Read more
After losing her first husband of 30 years to cancer, Candace “Candy” Langford felt blessed to find love again. And when she learned six weeks after her June 2018 wedding that she had locally advanced pancreatic cancer, shock blended with sorrow — because she knew her new life partner had also been down that road … Read more
The rectum is a six-inch-long portion of the large intestine, which is about five feet in length, but it is the starting point of about one-third of the 145,000 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in the United States each year. About 5% of people will develop rectal cancer at some point, and about 11% will … Read more
Results of several phase 3 trials and dozens of other studies led by Dana-Farber researchers were presented online and in person June 3-7 at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the world’s largest clinical cancer research meeting. Some of the research reports presented by Dana-Farber investigators include: Improved progression-free … Read more
Hemoglobin is an essential protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues and transports carbon dioxide from your organs and tissues back to your lungs. Is hemoglobin affected by cancer? Anemia is essentially a blood condition marked by a low level of hemoglobin and red blood cells, and in some cases can be … Read more
When Michael Voisine went to the doctor in 2017, he had just one symptom: a burning sensation on his skin, right around the corner of his stomach. After a CAT scan, he was rushed into the operating room for an emergency appendectomy. But doctors found more than just an inflamed appendix: They also discovered an … Read more
Scientists are beginning to make inroads into treating cholangiocarcinoma, a rare, lethal cancer of the bile ducts, with precision drugs. Last year, the first targeted drug for some patients with the disease was approved. Now, Dana-Farber scientists say they have identified another genetic alteration in a small percentage of cholangiocarcinoma patients that can be attacked … Read more