One Genetic Switch Undermines Immune System’s Efforts to Thwart Colon Cancer
Dana-Farber researchers have found that a transcription factor called SOX17 gives colon cancer a safe space to develop.
Recent Articles
Guiding Lung Cancer Treatment During Pregnancy
Lung cancer is on the rise in young people, particularly those who are assigned female at birth (AFAB).
My GRAIL Test was Positive. Now What?
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
Discovery Shows New Way to Spare Cells’ Lives
Its nickname “the executioner protein” might give one the idea that BAX has a sinister role in cell life. But its killing has more to do with sacrifice than malice. When a human cell is suffering from a lack of oxygen, a toxin, a genetic mutation, or other source of stress, it may kill itself … Read more
Young Ovarian Cancer Survivor Now Volunteering While Pursuing Medical Career
As Chen Wen Ye nears five years of being cancer-free, Chen has committed herself to helping others facing such issues.
Clinical Trial of New Targeted Agent a Boon for Patient With AML
When Youling Sun was diagnosed in Shanghai, China, with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2018, he called his son, Conghao, in Boston, for advice. His son’s message was unequivocal: Come to Boston for your treatment. Today, Sun, a retired office worker from Shanghai, has multiple reasons to be thankful he took that advice — both … Read more
The Crucial Role of Geriatrics in Oncology
Ruth Nelson struggled with her new breast cancer diagnosis mentally and physically. On treatment, her cardiac health faltered, her blood pressure spiked, and she experienced an unexplained episode in which she briefly lost her speech. And on top of that, she felt as if she were “a problem to be managed” by her friends and … Read more
Coping with the Emotional Burden of Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Stories of young adults being diagnosed with colorectal cancer are becoming more common as the rates continue to rise among adults between 20 and 49.
Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer: What’s the Connection?
Physicians have long known that there is a link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
Young Metastatic Breast Cancer Survivor Faces Challenges Head-On
After treatment at Dana-Farber, Dena Ofengeim was able to get on her bike, train with her friends, and complete the Pan-Mass Challenge.
Ultraprocessed Foods: Science Facts and Shopping Tips
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
Study Uncovers New Way of Exposing Cancers to Immune System Attack
Research by Dana-Farber scientists shows cancer cells can use the TREX1 protein to silence genes that might summon an immune system attack on the cells.
Melanoma Vaccine: Progress and Possibility
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
Breast Cancer Trial Aims to Improve Treatment for Men
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
Still Swimming with Sharks After Inflammatory Breast Cancer
As a veteran scuba diver who has donned her wetsuit around the globe, Stephanie Lafontaine is never more at peace than when deep below the water’s surface. Even if she’s sharing the depths with sharks, she considers it her happy place. So when Lafontaine, 42, learned in April 2019 that she had inflammatory breast cancer … Read more
Bacterial Defense System Defeated by Web of Proteins
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
Study Uncovers Patterns of Mutations in Drug-Resistant CLL
A pair of subversives, the genes BTK and PLCG2 are often mutated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that is resistant to the drug ibrutinib. But how common are these genetic alterations and to what extent do they contribute to ibrutinib resistance? The answers will help doctors determine which targeted therapies are most likely to help … Read more
Multiple Myeloma Patient Shines Bright as CAR T-Cell Therapy Outpatient
As a systems operator who works to help maintain the electrical grid for New York state, Brian Houlihan, 46, is used to getting power to the people. But when the multiple myeloma he has lived with since 2011 stopped responding to chemotherapy, it was Houlihan who needed a recharge. He got it, through an innovative … Read more
Thrill Seeking Cancer Survivor on Track to Visit Seven Continents
Sally Johnston cannot be slowed down. She just recently returned from a month-long trip to South Africa for a safari, and Namibia to visit a longtime friend, and is already planning her next excursion. The 74-year-old survivor has always been active, and she says it’s time to achieve her goal of visiting all seven continents. … Read more
What is Protein Degradation?
Protein degradation is a natural process by which cells break down proteins that are damaged or no longer needed so they can be recycled or disposed of. Scientists at Dana-Farber and elsewhere are harnessing this process to destroy specific proteins involved in cancer, an approach known as targeted protein degradation. In contrast to traditional targeted … Read more