Press Releases
August 23, 2010
WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon raises more than $3 million
The 9th annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon attracted supporters from all 50 states and around the world, raising more than $3 million to support adult and pediatric cancer research and care at Dana-Farber.
August 11, 2010
Dana-Farber awarded $6.5 million federal grant to study development of universal vaccine against influenza A
The grant will help research into a vaccine that targets parts of the flu virus that do not change from one strain to the next, removing the need to create updated vaccines for seasonal flus or pandemics.
July 21, 2010
Scientists find unsuspected molecular link between obesity and insulin resistance
A new understanding of insulin resistance and the action of diabetes drugs such as Avandia could pave the way for safer, more selective medications.
July 19, 2010
Test could predict which children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia are best candidates for clinical trials of new therapies, research finds
Genetic discovery could help identify in advance when standard chemotherapy will be ineffective in T-ALL, allowing patients to move more quickly to innovative treatments.
June 20, 2010
Molecular discovery suggests new strategy to fight cancer drug resistance
Dana-Farber researchers have found a way to disable a common protein that often thwarts chemotherapy treatment of several major forms of cancer.
June 17, 2010
Dr. Alexander Gimelbrant named 2010 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Gimelbrant is mapping gene activation to better understand the mechanisms essential for gene silencing. His findings could lead to the design of highly customized cancer treatments.
June 5, 2010
Oral cancers much less deadly when caused by virus
Oropharyngeal cancers caused by HPV are more sensitive to chemotherapy; patients are also often younger and healthier than those with oral cancers caused by alcohol and tobacco use.
June 5, 2010
Antibody therapy lengthens survival of metastatic melanoma patients in large clinical trial
The use of monoclonal antibodies to activate an immune-system response to abnormal cells resulted in a significant increase in survival time in patients with metastatic melanoma, report Dana-Farber researchers.
May 24, 2010
Thriving after cancer: Care plan helps map the road to wellness
Dana-Farber experts explain how treatment summaries and care plans can guide cancer survivors and their physicians through health care decisions in the future.
May 12, 2010
Smokeless tobacco can take you out of the game
A new report finds more teens are taking up chewing tobacco than cigarettes. Dana-Farber's Marshall Posner, MD, explains how smokeless tobacco can lead to oral cancer.
April 29, 2010
Approval of prostate cancer immunotherapy marks milestone in new era of cancer treatments
The FDA's approval of Provenge®, a prostate cancer vaccine, marks a new era of using patients' immune systems to treat cancer. view video
April 6, 2010
Kaelin wins prestigious international research award
Research into tumor suppressor genes may lead to potential treatments for anemia, heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.
April 6, 2010
Garber elected president of the American Association for Cancer Research
Judy Garber, MD, MPH, director of the Cancer Risk and Prevention Program at Dana-Farber, has served in many critical leadership roles with the AACR.
April 5, 2010
Childhood cancer survivors may face shortened lifespan, study reveals
The study highlights the need for comprehensive survivorship care and the need to educate primary care physicians in the long-term issues facing childhood cancer survivors.
March 14, 2010
New cancer drug screening technique more closely mirrors reality
The sampling technique can help cancer researchers more effectively identify which therapies are the most promising prospects for further investigation.
March 3, 2010
Delaying radiation treatment following breast cancer surgery increases recurrence risk in older women
Study finds delay of more than six weeks between surgery and radiation makes local recurrence more likely, and could have implications for younger women's risk of recurrence.
March 1, 2010
Some parents weigh 'hastening death' for children in extreme pain with terminal cancer
Researchers say the findings underscore the importance of managing patients' pain, and of communicating with parents about the tools available for easing progressive pain. view video
February 22, 2010
African-Americans' attitudes about lung cancer may hinder prevention
The study found African Americans are more likely to hold perceptions that could interfere with prevention and treatment and indicate a need for improved public health communication about lung cancer. view video
February 17, 2010
Researchers chart genomic map spanning over two dozen cancers
Study finds similarities in genetic characteristics of different tumor types, which could lead to common strategies for treating them. view video
February 8, 2010
Dana-Farber and Sanford-Burnham Institute license flu-targeting antibodies to Genentech and Roche
The license grants the companies exclusive rights to develop human monoclonal antibodies to treat and protect against group 1 influenza viruses, which include the H1N1 virus.
January 25, 2010
Vaccine approach extends life of metastatic prostate cancer patients
The vaccine, which contained weakened poxviruses genetically programmed to spur an immune system attack on prostate tumor cells, helped patients lived longer than patients who received a placebo vaccine. view video
January 24, 2010
Genes found linked to breast cancer drug resistance could guide future treatment choices
Discovery of gene activity signature suggests patients with breast tumors resistant to commonly used chemotherapy drugs could be treated instead with more effective therapies.
January 19, 2010
Combination therapy may benefit patients with specific genetic subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, study finds
Identifying patients with a specific gene mutation that enables drug resistance, and treating them with a combination of drugs, may produce longer remissions, say researchers.
January 7, 2010
Valerie Bertinelli to run 2010 Boston Marathon® to support research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Bertinelli will join more than 500 runners from across the United States and overseas as part of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge.
