Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow. It affects plasma cells, which are mature forms of blood cells called B-lymphocytes. In the case of multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells build up in the bone marrow, and can cause anemia. In addition, multiple myeloma may cause kidney problems, bone injury and fractures. There have … Read more
Physician-scientist Franziska Wachter, MD, came to Dana-Farber 10 years ago as a postdoctoral fellow with a vision. In the clinic, she cares for children with hard-to-treat cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In the laboratory, her eyes are on the molecular drivers of the disease. “I try to connect the two roles as much as … Read more
Physician-scientist Franziska Wachter, MD, came to Dana-Farber 10 years ago as a postdoctoral fellow with a vision. In the clinic, she cares for children with hard-to-treat cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In the laboratory, her eyes are on the molecular drivers of the disease.
Bladder cancer treatment is advancing, with several approved immunotherapy options, an approved gene therapy, and an approach to cell therapy planned for testing in clinical trials at Dana-Farber. What is bladder cancer? The most common form of bladder cancer is urothelial carcinoma, in which the urothelial cells that line the bladder and urinary tract begin … Read more
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men. When found early, before it has spread, patients can do extremely well. However, prostate cancer risks vary due to genetics, health care access, socioeconomics, and environmental exposures. Some groups have higher risks and worse outcomes. For example: The best way to improve your chances of … Read more
Overall survival of breast cancer has improved for everyone in the U.S. in recent years, but the pace isn’t the same for all groups of people. Some groups still experience dramatic disparities. For example, according to the American Cancer Society: Dana-Farber wants to close these gaps so that everyone benefits equally from high-quality care and … Read more
Clinical trials assess new medicines to ensure they are safe and effective and to find out which patients they are most likely to benefit. However, clinical trials often enroll few people of color for a constellation of reasons related to historical marginalization of certain groups. Systemic marginalization can result in lower levels of income, fewer … Read more
Dana-Farber researcher Charles Stiles, PhD, remembers the call. It was 2008 and a colleague phoned from a conference to deliver the news. Two separate research teams had discovered a genetic driver for the most common of childhood brain tumors called pediatric low-grade glioma. The problem of finding a genetic target to improve treatment for this … Read more
When Sandra Noack returned home from a visit to Bogota, Colombia, to visit her family, there was a letter waiting for her. It was a leaflet sent via the Massachusetts Department of Public Health describing a clinical trial at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for Latina and Hispanic breast cancer survivors. The trial didn’t involve any medicine. … Read more
Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called HPV (human papilloma virus) that is spread through sexual contact. For many people, the virus is cleared by the immune system. But if it isn’t, it can develop into cancer. The virus can be detected through HPV screening that inspects a sample of cervical tissue for the … Read more
To help reduce the risk of cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends at least 150 minutes a week of exercise or activity — a 30 minute walk each weekday, for instance — plus some strength training twice a week for good physical health. But researchers at Dana-Farber and other cancer centers are exploring the possibility … Read more
Bispecific antibody therapies are a type of immunotherapy for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These therapies provide a valuable new option for patients. There are many standard therapies that are monoclonal antibodies. These therapies treat cancer by binding to a marker on cancer cells and rallying the immune system to destroy them. Bispecific antibodies are … Read more
Dana-Farber researchers have found that a transcription factor called SOX17 gives colon cancer a safe space to develop.
Lung cancer is on the rise in young people, particularly those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB).
If you have received a positive result from a GRAIL Galleri test, which is a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood test, you need further testing to determine if you have cancer. If you have a positive GRAIL test, that means the test has found a signal that is associated with cancer and requires investigation. Other … Read more
You might have heard the buzz about ultraprocessed foods being unhealthy. But what are they, exactly? And are they really all that bad? A lot of familiar and, frankly, favorite foods fall into the ultraprocessed food category, so it’s good to get the facts about the risks and expert tips for making your shopping cart … Read more
A melanoma therapeutic vaccine is a type of personalized cancer vaccine that is intended to train the immune system to fight cancer cells in a way that lasts many years. These novel vaccines are personally tailored to recognize the mutations present in an individual’s tumor cells. They are different from vaccines for infectious diseases, which … Read more
Over the past 30 years, outcomes have improved dramatically for women with breast cancer. There are many new treatments, including hormone therapies and CDK4/6 inhibitors. In contrast, there has been no improvement in the outcomes for men with breast cancer. And current guidelines don’t support the use of newer therapies in men. “If we do … Read more
If you’ve seen the original Star Wars movie, you might wonder if the iconic Tie fighter was modeled after the strikingly similar looking Gabija protein complex, a bacterial defense system. From the right angle, they appear to share the same distinctive shape: a deadly center protected by two wings. They also share a purpose: defend … Read more
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