University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Researchers Present Latest Scientific Breakthroughs at the AACR Annual Meeting

4/4/2014

SAN DIEGO, CA - Cancer scientists and doctors affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), a partner with UPMC CancerCenter, will be sharing their latest research breakthroughs at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2014 in San Diego April 5-9, 2014. This year’s research has a strong focus on a personalized medicine approach to cancer testing and treatment. Several of UPCI’s presentations are highlighted in the following press releases, and more can be found by searching the AACR Annual Meeting 2014 abstracts.

Genetic Tes​​ting Beneficial in Melanoma Treatment, UPCI Study Shows​

Genetic screening of cancer can help doctors customize treatments so that patients with melanoma have the best chance of beating it, according to the results of a clinical trial by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), a partner with UPMC CancerCenter.

Recurrent Head and Neck Tumors Have Gene Mutations That Could be Vulnerable to Cancer Drug

An examination of the genetic landscape of head and neck cancers indicates that while metastatic and primary tumor cells share similar mutations, recurrent disease is associated with gene alterations that could be exquisitely sensitive to an existing cancer drug.

Plant-Derived Anti-Cancer Compounds Explained at National Conference

Compounds derived from plant-based sources — including garlic, broccoli and medicine plants — confer protective effects against breast cancer, explain researchers.

Common Breast Cancer Subtype May Benefit From Personalized Treatment Approach, UPCI Finds

The second-most common type of breast cancer is a very different disease than the most common and appears to be a good candidate for a personalized approach to treatment, according to a multidisciplinary team led by Pitt scientists.

Combining Cell Replication Blocker with Common Cancer Drug Kills Resistant Tumor Cells, UPCI Researchers Find

Researchers have found that an agent that inhibits mitochondrial division can overcome tumor cell resistance to a commonly used cancer drug, and that the combination of the two induces rapid and synergistic cell death.

Screening Reveals Additional Link Between Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer

Some women with endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory disease, are predisposed to ovarian cancer, and a genetic screening might someday help reveal which women are most at risk.

Disease-Free Survival Estimates for Ovarian Cancer Improve Over Time

The probability of staying disease-free improves dramatically for ovarian cancer patients who already have been disease-free for a period of time, and time elapsed since remission should be taken into account when making follow-up care decisions, according to a Pitt led study.