A stem cell transplant is one of the most powerful tools doctors have for treating certain kinds of cancers and blood-related diseases. The “grafted” cells involved in a transplant are known as hematopoietic stem cells, meaning they’re able to develop into all types of blood cells — red blood cells, which deliver oxygen throughout the … Read more
When scientists named microglial cells after the Greek word for “glue,” they thought it conveyed all one needed to know about the cells. The cells’ role, it was believed, began and ended with providing connective tissue for neurons, the information carriers of the nervous system. Research over many years has shown that moniker to … Read more
On a wave of promising research and positive media stories, psychedelic drugs are edging closer to mainstream use for treating a variety of mental disorders. A clinical trial recently launched by Dana-Farber investigators is the first to evaluate such an agent in patients receiving hospice care. The trial, which plans to enroll 15 patients served … Read more
When researchers report the survival effect of a cancer drug in a clinical trial, they almost always use a measure called hazard ratio. For all its ubiquity, however, hazard ratio has a hazard of its own: it’s a bit tricky to understand. A 2019 study found that 47% of researchers misinterpreted hazard ratio (HR) when … 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
To a dark chocolate lover, the possibility that their favorite treat could protect against cancer might sound too good to be true. And, largely, it is. As a general rule, no specific food, no matter how healthy, can single-handedly lower cancer risk. What matters, says Hillary Wright, MEd, RD, LDN, a senior clinical nutritionist at … Read more
Both allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplants involve treating a patient with chemotherapy followed by an infusion of blood-forming stem cells, with a goal of curing the cancer or extending the time before the disease relapses. In adults, transplants are used to treat a range of blood-related cancers, myelodysplastic syndromes, and non-malignant blood disorders. Autologous … Read more
Even as an infant is learning to distinguish herself from the rest of the world, a key part of her immune system is working toward the same goal, albeit in a very different manner. From before birth through the early years of life, young immune system cells in the thymus gland are receiving an education … Read more
Pancreatic cancer cells operate a recycling program that would be the envy of any municipality — but the only beneficiaries are the cells themselves. All cells in the body recycle minerals and nutrients, removing them from storage and breaking them down them for re-use. But in cancer cells, this process, known as autophagy — literally, … Read more
Most commonly occurring cancers are diagnosed in people over age 50. Over the past several decades, however, rates of many types of cancer have been rising in adults under 50. Reports suggest that these include breast, colorectal, endometrial, esophageal, bile duct, gallbladder, head and neck, kidney, liver, pancreatic, prostate, stomach, and thyroid cancers as well … Read more
A recent study found that women who frequently use chemical hair straighteners and relaxers could have a higher risk of developing uterine cancer than those who have not used the products. The study, which tracked 34,000 women nationwide for more than a decade, comes at a time when uterine cancer rates in women are increasing, … 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
This year’s holiday season coincides with high rates of several virus-borne respiratory diseases, including flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. For people planning on gathering with family and friends, there are a variety of steps that can protect against the transmission of these diseases and reduce their severity if they are transmitted. Should I get … Read more
Finding a lump under your skin can be a worrying discovery — but lumps under the skin are more often relatively harmless than cancerous. To help you better understand when to be concerned about a lump under the skin, we talked to Vinod Nambudiri, MD, of Dana-Farber’s Center for Cutaneous Oncology. What are some of … Read more
Immunotherapy for cancer is a form of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to combat the disease. Today, immunotherapy is being applied to a wide range of cancers, often in combination with other agents, and clinical trials are exploring ways of improving and expanding its effectiveness. A particularly promising form of immunotherapy, known as … Read more
With COVID-19 continuing to be prevalent in fall 2023, it’s a good idea for patients with cancer and their caregivers to know the steps they can take to reduce their risk of contracting the disease. As was true during the original outbreak of the disease in 2020, patients with cancer may be especially susceptible to … Read more
In a small percentage of women, a painful breast lump turns out to be cancer.
One of the most exciting new cancer treatments, CAR T-cell therapy takes its complicated name, in part, from a fire-breathing monster in an ancient Greek myth. CAR is an acronym for “chimeric antigen receptor,” referring to genetically engineered molecules manufactured in a laboratory, inserted into the genetic material of immune T cells that have been removed from … Read more
While there are genetic and lifestyle risks for breast cancer, some may not realize that breast density also plays a significant role in risk for the disease. Breasts are considered dense if they are mostly made up of glandular and fibrous tissue and not much fat. Breast density can be seen only on a mammogram; the firmness of breasts is … Read more
Today, it is estimated that viruses are responsible for almost 20 percent of cancer cases worldwide. Seven viruses have been connected to specific types of malignancies. They include: Human papillomaviruses (HPVs), a group of more than 150 related viruses that are spread by contact. At least a dozen of them are known to cause cancer, … Read more