Cell Therapy Advances with Lift from Cell Manipulation Core Facility 

A recent phase 1 trial of a form of cellular gene therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) conducted at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Hospital showed promise that led to an ongoing nationwide phase 2 initiative. Among the authors of the paper describing the results were six unsung heroes whose behind-the-scenes efforts made such a trial possible. Those unsung heroes … Read more

Common Misconceptions About Waldenström Macroglobulinemia

Waldenström macroglobulinemia, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has its share of eccentricities.  One of the hallmarks of the disease, for example, is an overabundance of a particular protein, yet other conditions may also have that feature. It’s also not unusual for patients to have very high protein levels but have no symptoms or mild … Read more

PSA and PSMA: What is the Difference? 

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in men worldwide as of 2020, and cases of advanced prostate cancer continue to rise.  Early detection of prostate cancer is essential for effective treatment. Dana-Farber physicians recommend having a conversation with a medical professional about screening around the age of 40, or perhaps even … Read more

How Dana-Farber Investigators Seize Opportunities to Advance Medicine

Investigators who run investigator-initiated trials (IITs) have two essential qualities. One is curiosity, which keeps them alert, aware of discoveries, and able to make connections that lead to new treatment ideas.   The second is determination.   “The burden of responsibility for what is typically a many-year-long study falls on that one investigator,” says Ursula Matulonis, MD, … Read more

Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy: Five Things to Consider 

A frequent component of treatment for breast cancer is surgery to remove the cancer.   While mastectomy was more common in decades past, experts at Dana-Farber want you to know that science and treatment have advanced. Improved screening, early diagnosis, and advances in medicine are enabling many more patients to have the option of breast-conserving surgery, … Read more

Things to Know About NUT Carcinoma 

What is NUT carcinoma?  NUT carcinoma, formerly known as NUT-midline carcinoma, is a rare but very aggressive cancer that can develop anywhere in the body but usually starts in the head, neck, and lungs. It’s a squamous cell cancer — meaning it begins in squamous cells, which line hollow organs such as the windpipe and … Read more

After Outpatient Stem Cell Transplant, MDS Survivor Writes New Chapter 

David Trueblood’s long career in journalism was shaped by new technology, including the rise of digital photography and the impact of online media. So, upon learning in early 2023 that he would need a stem cell transplant due to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a rare blood disorder impacting his bone marrow, Trueblood appreciated the role innovation … Read more

Pediatric Leukemia Patient Follows in His Father’s Footsteps 

Jake Maguire was just three days away from his sixth birthday when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Encouraged by his father, a gym teacher, the young Maguire was already in love with sports, especially baseball. Now 23 and over a decade out of treatment, that love is still strong, and Maguire is … Read more

What Are The Types of Lung Cancer? 

There are several types of lung cancer. On a basic level, lung cancers fall into two main subtypes: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).  Just as each person is unique, every lung cancer is unique. At Dana-Farber’s Lowe Center for Thoracic (Lung) Cancer Treatment Center, oncologists work with a team … Read more

What You Should Know About Alcohol Consumption and Cancer Risk 

A growing body of research points to a connection between alcohol consumption and elevated cancer risk. Studies from the American Institute for Cancer Research have found that having even less than one drink a day, of any kind of alcohol, increases the risk of several types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, stomach, mouth, … Read more