A Year of Advances in Genitourinary Cancer 

Dana-Farber’s genitourinary cancer team is devoted to research that will advance patient care and improve patient’s lives. Recently, that research — all of it years in the making — has paid off with major achievements.  This includes:  “We are constantly striving to improve the treatment and diagnosis of genitourinary cancers,” says Toni Choueiri, MD, director … Read more

Are Seed Oils Healthy? 

The group of oils known as seed oils has recently come under scrutiny in various online communities. Pointing to the processing they undergo and their fatty acid make-up, some people oppose the use of these oils—which include peanut oil, sesame seed oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and others—claiming that they are unhealthy.  The truth, however, … Read more

What is a Menin Inhibitor?

Menin, a protein located in the nucleus of various human cell types, often functions as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting excessive cell growth and division. It facilitates a complex of proteins involved in a cellular process called histone methylation, where chemical units called methyl groups are added to histone proteins that anchor DNA, thereby activating … Read more

Expanding Options for Patients with Ovarian Cancer 

In 2021, a novel drug called belzutifan was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat clear cell renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer. Since then, Dana-Farber clinical investigator Panos Konstantinopoulos, MD, PhD, has wanted to launch a clinical trial of the drug for clear cell ovarian cancer.  That vision … Read more

What’s on My Slide? What Pathologists See and Learn Under the Microscope 

Pathologists at Dana-Farber analyze tumor samples from tissues collected from patients as part of research studies. Their goal is to learn as much as possible about the sample so that they determine the best way to diagnose the disease precisely and guide treatment decisions.  As research advances, more and more factors are influencing diagnoses and … Read more

Understanding the Spread of Science Misinformation  

According to a new report, misinformation about science and health can lead individuals to make ill-informed decisions that aren’t in their best interest. It also has broader effects in society by causing confusion and eroding trust in institutions, including scientific institutions.  Over the past two-plus years, a panel of scientific investigators gathered by the National Academies … Read more

What is a RAS Mutation? 

RAS is an oncogene, which is a gene that when mutated causes cancer. RAS — an abbreviation for rat sarcoma — is the most commonly mutated oncogene in human cancer. RAS mutations are found in 20% of all cancers and account for an estimated 260,000 cases per year in the U.S. and 3.4 million cases … Read more

Turning Up the Heat: Dana-Farber Scientists Describe Key Molecular Shift in Brown Fat Cells

Brown fat is a specialized tissue that has developed a host of important functions over the course of evolution. One of the most critical: the ability to produce heat in response to low temperatures by burning energy. Many animals can maintain their body temperature even in cold environments through the unique capabilities of brown fat. … Read more

Dana-Farber Researchers Share Latest Blood Cancer and Blood Disorder Research

Dana-Farber physician-scientists presented results of more than 100 research studies at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting. Scientists shared findings across a range of hematologic disorders, underscoring the Institute’s dedication to innovation in hematologic oncology research, advances in early disease detection and intervention, and improving patient outcomes.   ASH is the world’s most comprehensive hematology … Read more

Clinical Trials in AML Seek to Eliminate ‘Leftover’ Cells That Persist After Treatment

Over the last decade, significant strides have been made in understanding the molecular underpinnings of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in adults, which has led to better drugs and better treatment outcomes for patients. This shifting landscape now makes it possible for cancer researchers and providers to ask, “How can we do better?” Dana-Farber medical oncologist … Read more

Building In Access from the Start: Five Efforts by the Centers for Early Detection and Interception 

Dana-Farber’s Centers for Early Detection and Interception, founded in 2023, aim to detect cancer early, when there is a greater chance of treating and curing that cancer. The Centers also serve as a hub for research, with investigators seeking to better understand cancer risk and how it can be reduced.  “Dana-Farber has always been the … Read more

Study Highlights Unique Needs of Young Adults with Colorectal Cancer

Clinicians and researchers have recognized a disturbing trend in recent years: colorectal cancer (CRC) in young people is skyrocketing. In individuals under the age of 50, the incidence of CRC has increased about 2% each year since the 1990s, and, according to the American Cancer Society, is now the leading cause of death in males … Read more

Dana-Farber Researchers ‘Hijack’ Gut Bacteria to Design Novel Form of Cancer Immunotherapy

Tumors are experts at dodging the immune system. This evasion not only helps to ensure their survival, but also has important implications for treatment. That’s because cancer therapies that harness the immune system, such as CAR T-cells or other engineered immune cells, are often rendered ineffective by the milieu that surrounds a tumor — known … Read more

Study of Inherited Prostate Cancer Genetics in Africa Highlights Importance of Research

The genetic landscape of prostate cancer susceptibility in Africa is, like the continent itself, a picture of sweeping diversity, the largest study of the phenomenon concludes.  The findings, published in the journal Nature Genetics, are an important step in unravelling why prostate cancer rates are highest in men of African descent, whether they live in … Read more