The Trump administration did exactly what it said it would do to disorient anyone involved in making policy or touched by it. The president and his crew have “flooded the zone”—the term and the image are theirs, as is the strategy of dropping a flurry of executive orders and memoranda that shake the foundations of the American system of government, raising questions of legality and constitutionality, and, above all, making it a challenge for anyone to see the entire picture and think strategically.
In two raucous back-to-back hearings on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30, anti-vaccine crusader Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled by members of the United States Senate Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee as the Trump administration seeks his confirmation as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
This column is a love letter of sorts to our field, a recognition of all that we have accomplished and an acknowledgement that we need to find a path forward that supports and empowers the best of what it is to invest in cancer research.
Over the past century, groundbreaking cancer research in the U.S. has led to life-saving medical advances that benefit patients worldwide. Scientists often devote their lives to making discoveries, putting their scientific endeavors ahead of status, income, or lifestyle. Investigators work tirelessly, often seven days a week, to solve complex medical problems. These efforts often lead to game-changing outcomes that help us understand difficult medical challenges, advance technologies and develop new therapies.
Over the last 45 years, prevention and screening interventions have made a greater contribution to averting cancer deaths than have improvements in treatment, according to a modeling study led by researchers at NCI.
Advances such as new nontoxic, more effective immunotherapy and improvements that significantly reduce recovery times for complicated surgeries are making cancer treatments less taxing. On the horizon are more ways to give patients the greatest chance of survival while also reducing negative consequences of treatment. Some therapies also will improve the experience, such as chemotherapy consisting of quick subcutaneous injections instead of hours in an infusion chair.
“The historic National Cancer Act of 1971 has often been called ‘Nixon’s War on Cancer,’ but it could as easily have been called ‘Kennedy’s War on Cancer,’ and with perhaps greater justification,” writes Richard Rettig, a historian of the National Cancer Act (The Cancer Letter, May 23, 2008).
Kathryn SchmitzJosé ZevallosUPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the University of Pittsburgh announced that Kathryn Schmitz was appointed interim director of UPMC Hillman. José P. Zevallos was appointed as interim deputy director of UPMC Hillman.
Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center earned a three-year accreditation again from the Commission on Cancer of the ACS. MECCC earned “Comprehensive” status from NCI in 2023.
Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer harboring BRAF V600E mutations benefitted from first-line treatment with the targeted therapies Braftovi(encorafenib) and Erbitux(cetuximab) plus a mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy regimen, according to results from the phase III BREAKWATER trial led by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Bristol Myers Squibb announced results of an analysis from the three-arm phase III CheckMate-8HW trial evaluating Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) versus Opdivo monotherapy across all lines of therapy, including first-line, for the treatment of microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer. At a median follow-up of 47 months, Opdivo plus Yervoy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in the dual-primary endpoint of progression-free survival as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review versus Opdivo monotherapy (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.48–0.81; P = 0.0003).
Genentech announced positive topline results from the overall survival analysis of the phase III INAVO120 study investigating Itovebi (inavolisib) in combination with palbociclib (Ibrance) and fulvestrant for people with PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, endocrine-resistant, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
A phase II trial found that for patients with HER2+ metastatic colorectal cancer, dual HER2-inhibitor therapy can be a similarly efficacious but less toxic alternative to EGFR inhibitor therapy. Exploratory analysis suggests greater HER2 amplification in a tumor may be associated with greater clinical benefit of dual HER2 inhibitor vs EGFR inhibitor therapy.
In a phase Ib/II clinical trial known as EPCORE NHL-2, a team of researchers—led by Joshua Brody, director of the Lymphoma Immunotherapy Program at the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai—showed the benefit of combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The results were published earlier this month in the journal Blood.
A data analysis from a randomized phase III clinical trial for stage 3 colon cancer patients by investigators at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center found that patients with evidence of residual cancer in their blood after surgery to remove the cancer may benefit from adding Celebrex (celecoxib) to post-surgery treatment.
FDA approved AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor-positive, HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) or HER2-ultralow (IHC 0 with membrane staining) breast cancer, as determined by the FDA approved test, that has progressed on one or more endocrine therapies in the metastatic setting.
FDA approved Grafapex (treosulfan), an alkylating agent, with fludarabine as a preparative regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adult and pediatric patients one year of age and older with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome on Jan. 22.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has implications that reach far beyond access to reproductive health care services in the 41 states that ban or restrict access to abortion.
Surprised was the last thing anyone should claim to be as the Trump administration, on its first day, smashed the federal government’s diversity equity and inclusion offices, literally sending employees who administer these programs packing and making plans for their prompt firing.
On Jan. 21, President Donald Trump announced the launch of the Stargate Project, a $500 billion artificial intelligence infrastructure project designed to revolutionize healthcare.
The University of California, San Francisco and global oncology communities mourn the death of Felix Y. Feng, MD, a radiation oncologist and a leading figure in genitourinary cancer research. A professor of radiation oncology, urology and medicine, and vice chair of translational research at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feng died from cancer on Dec.10, 2024. He was 48.
The late Felix Feng, MD (center) with researchers Jonathan Chou, MD, PhD (left) and Lisa Chesner, PhD (right), in 2019.Photo by Noah BergerFelix Y. Feng, a genitourinary cancer research leader, died on Dec. 10, 2024. He was 48.This article is republished with permission by NRG Oncology.Dr. Feng was the former NRG Oncology Genitourinary Cancer Committee chair and an RTOG Foundation member. After years of dedicated and enthusiastic commitment to the NRG and previously the RTOG Genitourinary Cancer Committee, chairing or co-chairing 13 research protocols for NRG and RTOG, Dr. Feng was appointed committee chair in March 2018, following in the footsteps of Dr. Howard Sandler, his mentor. Dr. Feng was also a member of the RTOG Foundation Board of Directors.
I am pleased to begin a new series from City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. With our National Medical Center ranking among the top 5 for cancer by U.S. News & World Report, we are making a profound and lifesaving difference.
I was a practicing pediatric hematologist oncologist and researcher for 21 years. As a doctor, it was a tremendous privilege to be invited into the lives of patients and families dealing with blood cancers and be entrusted with their care. As a researcher, it was incredibly rewarding to help bring more effective blood cancer therapies to kids.
Janet WoodcockPaul T. KimJanet Woodcock, former director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at FDA, and Paul T. Kim, principal of Kendall Square Policy Strategies LLC, were appointed to the board of directors at Friends of Cancer Research.
The Collaborative Science Pilot Awards, a program supported by the Case Western Reserve University—University Hospitals Joint Strategic Leadership Committee, awarded five research teams $50,000 with the possibility of receiving additional funding as scientific milestones are met.
A new statistical tool that combines multiple clinical and pathologic factors with a patient’s 21-gene Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score result provides more accurate estimates about that patient’s breast cancer prognosis and their potential benefit from chemotherapy than either the Recurrence Score result or clinical factors alone, a SWOG Cancer Research study found.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute developed a method to detect inflammation in the body using positron emission tomography imaging. This innovative probe targets CD45, a marker abundantly expressed on all immune cells but absent from other cell types.
Researchers at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and the UF Health Cancer Center have identified a crucial link between a gene mutation and immune system signaling in canine hemangiosarcoma, a discovery that could lead to better treatments for both dogs and humans with similar cancers.
FDA has accepted the Biologics License Application from Replimune Group Inc. for RP1 (vusolimogene oderparepvec) in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo) for patients with advanced melanoma.
The EU has approved Sarclisa (isatuximab-irfc) in combination with a standard-of-care regimen, bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone, for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant, based on data from the IMROZ phase III study.
W. Kimryn Rathmell has stepped down as NCI director, opting to hand her resignation to the Biden administration over facing the uncertainties that Trump and his team are expected to usher in starting next week.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Human Research Protections issued Draft Guidance on the inclusion of tissue biopsies in clinical trials.
Despite steady progress in reducing overall cancer mortality rates, cancer incidence in women is rising, according to the American Cancer Society’s “Cancer Statistics, 2025” report. Incidence rates in women 50-64 years of age have surpassed those in men, and rates in women under 50 are now 82% higher than their male counterparts, up from 51% higher in 2002. In 2021, for the first time, lung cancer incidence was higher in women under 65 than in men.
Over the past five years, Cedars-Sinai Cancer has built an integrated, regional system designed to provide cancer care close to where patients live and work. This model of care, directed by an academic medical center to patients at the community level, proved to be the best possible approach to supporting patients in our 11-million-person catchment area during the worst fire disaster in California history.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network published its first patient resource aimed at informing people about the latest recommendations around hereditary and familial cancer risk. The document provides guidance on testing for inherited genetic mutations that can raise the risk of cancer.
Almost all of us who have practiced oncology for years have encountered situations where we have had to counsel caregivers and guide them throughout their loved ones’ journeys. We have faced patients who took complementary therapies to an extreme; some to a point where they wouldn’t share what they were taking for fear that we might demand they stop.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology elected Elizabeth A. Mittendorf to lead as its president beginning in June 2026. Mittendorf, a long-time ASCO member and volunteer, will take office as president-elect immediately following the ASCO Annual Business Meeting in Chicago on June 2.
Last week, The Cancer Letter interviewed City of Hope physician Ravi Salgia, who evacuated from his Eaton Canyon home with his wife on the evening of Jan. 7 due to approaching wildfires driven by the Santa Ana winds.
Northwell Health appointed David J. Chung, a prominent oncologist-investigator, as director of clinical research at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute. In this newly created role, Chung also will serve as system chief of multiple myeloma across Northwell’s cancer centers.
Jennifer A. Woyach, a blood cancer doctor and researcher who has been with Ohio State for more than 12 years, was named director of the Division of Hematology at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
Roland Dunbrack was named co-leader of the Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Research Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center alongside the program’s current leader, Edna Cukierman.
The Translational Genomics Research Institute, part of City of Hope, has announced the appointment of John D. Fryer as a professor in the Division of Bioinnovation and Genome Sciences and director of the newly established Center for Accelerated Nanotherapeutics.
An anonymous donor made a $50 million gift to Duke University Health System toward the development of a proton beam therapy center. The donation is the largest philanthropic gift received by Duke University Health System.
Washington University researchers at Siteman Cancer Center received a $10.8 million grant throughNCI’s Specialized Programs of Research Excellence. Led by principal investigator Daniel C. Link, the five-year grant is a renewal of a previous SPORE grant in leukemia.
CureSearch for Children’s Cancer awarded a $225,000 research grant to John Prensner, a physician-scientist at the University of Michigan, to advance research on atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors. One of the most aggressive and fatal brain cancers affecting infants and toddlers, ATRT has limited treatment options and devastating outcomes, with more than half of cases proving fatal.
The Association of Cancer Care Centers Board of Trustees released the following statement regarding the firefighters currently battling wildfires in Los Angeles County:
A recent report showed that UPMC Hillman Cancer Center generated $3.98 billion in total economic impact in Pennsylvania through its clinical, research, and educational missions in 2023.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network included circulating tumor DNA testing in their Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This marks the first-ever inclusion of ctDNA-MRD testing in these guidelines, representing a significant advancement in lymphoma patient care.
In patients with high-risk HER2-positive breast cancer, post-surgery, or adjuvant, treatment with trastuzumab emtansine, also referred to as T-DM1) reduced the long-term risk of death or invasive disease by 46% and improved survival compared to trastuzumab alone, according to the final results of the phase III KATHERINE clinical trial led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
The Groupe d’Oncologie Radiothérapie Tête Et Cou, also known as the Head and Neck Oncology and Radiotherapy Group or GORTEC, announced that the randomized phase III CheckMate -9KW/NIVOPOSTOP GORTEC 2018-01 trial evaluating nivolumab (Opdivo) as a post-operative treatment component for resected patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck with high risk of relapse met its primary endpoint of disease-free survival across all comers.
OS Therapies Inc. announced positive data from a phase IIb clinical trial (NCT04974008) of OST-HER2 (OST31-164)—the company’s HER2-targeted immunotherapy candidate in the rare pediatric-designated indication of prevention of recurrent, fully resected, lung metastatic osteosarcoma.
Artificial Intelligence can improve breast cancer detection and reduce workload on physicians, according to a new study featuring over 461,000 women. The research published in the journal Nature Medicine looked at integrating an AI tool as part of a national screening program for women without symptoms of breast cancer in Germany.
A recent study led by researchers at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and Northern Arizona University found that Native American women were disproportionately affected by vaginal dysbiosis, a disruption in the balance of bacterial that increases the risk of human papillomavirus infection, which can cause cervical cancer.
Fertility treatment increases the odds of ovarian cancer but not breast, endometrial, or cervical cancer, according to the results of an umbrella review published in Fertility and Sterility.
Personalis, Inc., in collaboration with professor Charles Swanton and his colleagues at London’s Francis Crick Institute and University College London, published new results from their TRACERx lung cancer study in Nature Medicine.
Two new studies led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a possible way to block the progression of several forms of blood cancer using a drug already in clinical trials against breast cancer.
A recent population-based study indicates that among children with cancer, those with obesity at the time of diagnosis may face an elevated risk of dying. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER.
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher Sanchita Bhatnagar and her team have been working to get to the bottom of the genetic determinants of the racial disparity in triple-negative breast cancer.
Scientists at City of Hope identified a protein that could help prevent CAR T-cell therapy antigen escape. The research, published in the journal Cell, could lead to more personalized therapies that improve cancer patients’ survival.
A little-known mouse protein disrupts cancer-causing chemical changes to genes associated with human colorectal cancer cells and potentially could be used to treat solid tumors, according to a new study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
FDA approved sotorasib (Lumakras) with panitumumab (Vectibix) for adult patients with KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have received prior fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy.
FDA approved acalabrutinib (Calquence) with bendamustine and rituximab for adults with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma who are ineligible for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
FDA issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, would make cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products minimally or nonaddictive by limiting the level of nicotine in those products. If finalized, the United States would be the first country globally to take such a bold, life-saving action to prevent and reduce smoking-related disease and death.
FDA is revoking the authorization for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 as a matter of law, based on the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. FDA is amending its color additive regulations to no longer allow for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs in response to a 2022 color additive petition.
N-Power Medicine announced the acquisition of Syapse Holdings Inc. The integration of Syapse into N-Power Medicine incorporates Syapse’s network of community-based health systems, with more than 1,000 oncologists, its data and technology stack, and its team.
MAIA Biotechnology Inc. and BeiGene entered into a clinical supply agreement to assess the efficacy of THIO, MAIA Biotechnology’s small molecule telomere-targeting anticancer agent, in combination with BeiGene’s immune checkpoint inhibitor tislelizumab, in three cancer indications. The single-arm pivotal phase II trials will study the drug combination in hepatocellular carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Caris Life Sciences and Ontada announced a strategic and multi-faceted collaboration to advance molecular research and cancer care, enhance the healthcare delivery system and ultimately drive precision medicine by supporting life sciences companies in the development of next-gen oncology therapies.
In 1999, Richard Pazdur, a GI oncologist at MD Anderson, saw an FDA recruitment ad in The New England Journal of Medicine. The agency was looking for a director of the FDA Division of Oncology Drug Products.
Credit for photos: White HouseIn 1992, 44-year old Philly trial lawyer and breast cancer survivor, Fran Visco, took the stand before the Senate Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee, asserting a tone and stance previously unfamiliar in the world of cancer groups asking for funding before Congress.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Accurate and early detection of CRC and precancerous lesions is critical for reducing incidence and preventing deaths from this disease.
In a new article on the Cancer History Project, the American Cancer Society profiles three ACS-funded Nobel laureates:
David Baker, PhD 2024 Nobel Prize Chemistry
Victor Ambrose, PhD 2024 Nobel Prize Physiology or Medicine
Gary Ruvkun, PhD 2024 Nobel Prize Physiology or Medicine
They join a cohort of 50 other ACS-funded Nobel laureates.
“The American Cancer Society’s legacy, with 53 Nobel Prize-winning researchers, is a testament to the relentless pursuit of breakthroughs that save lives,” said William Dahut, chief scientific officer at ACS.
“Their work has brought us closer to a world where cancer is no longer a threat, but merely a chapter in history.”
In 2024, the American Cancer Society added three more Nobel Prize winners, bringing the total to an impressive 53 and highlighting its lasting impact on cancer research.
This year, Dr. David Baker was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking contributions to computational protein design. Baker, who was funded by ACS, joins fellow ACS-funded scientists Dr. Victor Ambros and Dr. Gary Ruvkun, recipients of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Ambros and Ruvkun were recognized for their pioneering discovery of microRNA, a molecule crucial to regulating cellular functions in the body.
Ambros received funding from ACS for 10 years from 1980 to 1990, while Baker and Ruvkun were supported during the early to mid-1990s.
“Truly transformational ideas often occur early in one’s career and often meet resistance from traditional funding. Providing ACS support for truly innovative discoveries has dramatically improved the lives of patients and their families,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at American Cancer Society.
The Cancer History Project is a free, web-based, collaborative resource intended to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act and designed to continue in perpetuity. The objective is to assemble a robust collection of historical documents and make them freely available.
Is your institution a contributor to the Cancer History Project? Eligible institutions include cancer centers, advocacy groups, professional societies, pharmaceutical companies, and key organizations in oncology.
Lucio Miele will serve as director of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center. This announcement follows the current director Joe Ramos’ acceptance of an executive leadership position at the Lundquist Institute in California.
NRG Oncology recently announced the creation of a new Theranostics Subcommittee, as well as two leadership role updates within the organization’s current committees.
Sulma Mohammed was named co-leader of the University of Florida’s Health Cancer Center’s Cancer Control and Population Sciences research program. She will also serve as co-director of the NCI-funded Florida-California Cancer Research, Education and Engagement CaRE2 Health Equity Center.
José Larios, a transplant hematologist, joined The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute as a member of the bone marrow and stem cell transplant and hematology oncology multidisciplinary teams at Karmanos. He specializes in treating leukemia and lymphoma blood cancers, including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. He began seeing patients at the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit in August 2024.
Vice President Kamala Harris announced a final rule by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. This rule will reduce the burden of medical debt and ensure that patients are not denied access to credit for home mortgages, car loans, or small business loans due to unpaid medical bills.
Becky Kamowitz was named executive director of the Skin Cancer Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that is committed to decreasing the incidence and mortality skin cancer through public education. Kamowitz has worked for the foundation for more than a decade and previously served as interim executive director and senior director of marketing communications.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will launch the Center for RAS Therapeutics, a multidisciplinary initiative to advance scientific investigation, translational research, and clinical care approaches for patients with RAS-driven cancers.
A collaborative effort to eliminate cancer health disparities among African Americans and other underserved populations in the Washington, DC, area is being reignited at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Howard University Cancer Center.
The University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center and the John A. Burns School of Medicine are forming Ka ʻUmeke Lama, an initiative to transform cancer care in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.
In December, Congress failed to advance a bipartisan year-end health care package that would have made a big difference in the fight against cancer, according to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
The FY25 Defense Appropriations Act is anticipated to provide funding for the Ovarian Research Program to support patient-centered research to prevent, detect, treat, and cure ovarian cancer to enhance the health and well-being of service members, veterans, their family members and all women impacted by this disease. The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, or CDMRP, at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command is the program office managing these anticipated FY25 funding opportunities.
The phase III PATINA trial demonstrated that the addition of Ibrance (palbociclib) to current standard-of-care first-line maintenance therapy (following induction chemotherapy) resulted in statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival by investigator assessment in patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
Johnson & Johnson announced positive topline results for overall survival from the phase III MARIPOSA study, evaluating Rybrevant (amivantamab-vmjw) plus Lazcluze (lazertinib) as a first-line therapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletions (ex19del) or L858R substitution mutations.
Elinzanetant successfully met the primary endpoints of the phase III trial OASIS 4 investigating elinzanetant as non-hormonal treatment for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms caused by adjuvant endocrine therapy in women with breast cancer or at high risk of developing breast cancer, demonstrating statistically significant reductions in the frequency of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (also known as hot flashes) from baseline to week four and 12 compared to placebo.
A new phase III trial led by UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center investigators found that a diet low in omega-6 and high in omega-3 fatty acids, combined with fish oil supplements, significantly reduced the growth rate of prostate cancer cells in men with early-stage disease.
A new study led by researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that many cases of high-risk nonmetastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer may be more advanced than previously thought.
Researchers from City of Hope, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, the University of Pennsylvania, and NIH have developed a way to add features to T cells to help them overcome mechanisms of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy resistance. The new system is outlined in a paper published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Several physicians and lymphoma experts who work closely with the Lymphoma Research Foundation presented abstracts at the 66th annual ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, CA on Dec. 7-10, 2024.
One or two doses of psilocybin, a compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, may improve the mental health of cancer patients when accompanied by psychotherapy, a new report suggests. A second new study found that treatment with psilocybin resulted in lasting, positive personality changes in patients with alcohol use disorder.
A retrospective cohort study in women with breast cancer suggests that low oral doses of minoxidil taken during or after cancer treatment appear to regrow hair in most patients without causing any serious heart-related side effects that require additional therapies or hospitalization.
Patients can die if they take certain previously prescribed beta-blockers during a hematopoietic cell transplant due to suppressed signals from nerves that promote bone marrow regeneration, according to scientists at the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, published in Cancer Discovery, builds upon previous CRI research by analyzing retrospective patient data to correlate beta-blocker use with significantly worse patient outcomes.
