Cancer research often focuses on gene mutations in the parts of the human genome that produce cellular machinery called proteins. But the rest of the genome — sometimes called the “dark genome” — can also play a role. Dana-Farber researcher William Freed-Pastor, MD, PhD, a physician-scientist in the Dana-Farber Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology and Hale … Read more
A burgeoning type of “omics” called immunopeptidomics is providing researchers with a powerful approach to discovering new ways to train a person’s immune system to fight cancer. In cancer research, the approach is being used to take an inventory of every flag on the surface of a cancer cell and determine what it is, if … Read more
Medical advances tend to unfold slowly over many years, fueled by successive clinical studies that build upon each other and together provide the evidence needed to change patient care. A key illustration of this point comes from a recent phase 3 clinical trial, published last October in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), which … Read more
A blood test can now detect the presence of 50 different cancers — most of which do not have any other means of screening. The test, the GRAIL Galleri multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test, reports results that include a yes or no readout regarding the presence of a potential cancer, plus the most likely location … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
RAS is an oncogene, which is a gene that when mutated causes cancer. RAS (which is a family of genes including KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS) is commonly mutated in cancer. RAS mutations, usually in the KRAS protein, occur in about one in four cases of lung cancer. These gene mutations are found only in the cancer … Read more
RAS is an oncogene, which is a gene that when mutated causes cancer. RAS (consisting of a family of genes including KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS) is commonly mutated in cancer. Approximately 92 percent of pancreatic cancers have a KRAS mutation. These gene mutations are found only in the cancer cells and cause the RAS protein, … Read more
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
On the surface of every cell are receptors that interact with the cellular world around them. These receptors play a variety of roles. The transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), for instance, pulls iron into the cell for fuel. It does so rapidly and continuously, as if it were a child spinning in a revolving door. Approximately … Read more