Press Releases
2002
December 18, 2002
Cancer specialists in disagreement about purpose of clinical trialsThe primary purpose of clinical trials is to advance therapy for future patients. However, a new study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute reveals that many cancer specialists believe that the main purpose of these trials is to provide state-of-the-art treatment to patients considering trial participation. read more
December 10, 2002
Gene signature identifies leukemia patients who should avoid transplantsAn international team of researchers led by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston have used a gene test to identify certain patients with adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who can be successfully treated with chemotherapy alone and should not be subjected to the rigors of bone marrow transplants. read more
December 10, 2002
Combination chemotherapy may produce remission in adults with acute myeloid leukemia, according to interim findingsA novel chemotherapy regimen that combines standard drugs with an antibody-targeted agent has shown early success in treating adults with acute myeloid leukemia, according to preliminary data from a multicenter study led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. read more
December 10, 2002
New drug combination may prevent dangerous complication of bone marrow transplantation in some patients, study showsA three-drug therapy, which includes a novel medication called sirolimus, reduces graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in stem cell transplant patients more effectively and with less toxicity than traditional treatments, an ongoing clinical study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists suggests. read more
December 9, 2002
Preliminary study data show benefit to multiple myeloma patients from thalidomide-like compoundA drug similar to thalidomide has been found to be promising with fewer side effects for treating patients with recurrent multiple myeloma, an incurable form of bone marrow cancer, according to early data from a clinical study led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers. read more
December 9, 2002
"Designer" drug shows activity in leukemiaAn experimental drug aimed precisely at a culprit genetic mutation has shown promising activity in a difficult-to-treat form of leukemia, say researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and their collaborators. read more
December 9, 2002
Novel drug for multiple myeloma continues to show promise in early studyA first-in-class investigational drug for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow, continues to show promising results in a study of myeloma patients who have failed numerous other treatments read more
December 9, 2002
Scientists discover gene "signature" for tumor's tendency to spreadResearchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Whitehead Institute have discovered a pattern of genetic activity in several types of primary tumors that appears to predict the likelihood that they will spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. read more
November 13, 2002
Association of American Medical Colleges honors Dana-Farber researcherStanley J. Korsmeyer, MD, a senior researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has been named the winner of the Association of American Medical Colleges' 2002 Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences. read more
October 29, 2002
2002 holiday cards and postcards support Dana-Farber, help fight cancerThis holiday season send some holiday cheer to friends and family and also support the fight against cancer. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 2002 Holiday Cards offer traditional-style cards featuring original designs produced by patients, staff, and friends of Dana-Farber. Also available are convenient, fun, and inexpensive holiday postcards. All support cancer research and care at the world renowned cancer institute. read more
September 16, 2002
Researchers isolate key part of cells' "death" signalsScientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have located the key part of cellular "death proteins" that can induce cancer cells to commit suicide. The investigators speculate that these peptides potentially could serve as a model for future cancer drugs that could be more potent and less toxic than those used now. read more
September 9, 2002
Experimental drug shows promise in treating severe, often-lethal complication of stem cell transplantsA study led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has shown that a drug extracted from porcine intestinal tissue reduced the risk of death in patients who experienced a severe and often-fatal complication of stem cell transplants. read more
September 4, 2002
Study suggests a possible link between high-starch diet and pancreatic cancer in overweight, sedentary womenA diet high in starchy foods such as potatoes, rice and white bread may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer in women who are overweight and sedentary, according to a new study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard School of Public Health researchers. read more
August 20, 2002
Health care coalition applauds passage of cancer clinical trials legislationA coalition of health care consumers, providers and health plans today applauded Acting Governor Jane Swift for recently signing legislation that requires health plans to cover routine patient care costs of cancer-related clinical studies conducted by Massachusetts providers. read more
August 19, 2002
Gleevec shrinks tumors in over half of patients with incurable stomach cancerThe "designer" drug Gleevec, originally developed to treat leukemia, has shown remarkable potency in a rare, fatal gastrointestinal cancer, according to data that persuaded the Food and Drug Administration to rapidly approve it for use in the disease. read more
August 14, 2002
Scientists discover chemical switch that determines muscle fiber typeA multi-institutional team of scientists led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has found a molecular switch in mice that can convert easily-fatigued "fast-twitch" muscle fibers into the lean, oxygen-fueled "slow-twitch" fibers that enable marathoners to run for hours. read more
August 6, 2002
Study suggests lack of health care access to blame for lower survival rates for African-Americans with colon cancerAfrican-Americans with colon cancer are more likely to die from the disease than are whites, but a new study has found that those survival rate disparities virtually disappear when both groups have equal access to chemotherapy after surgery. read more
July 18, 2002
Worksite program to stop smoking among blue-collar workers yields notable successBlue-collar workers are more likely to quit smoking when workplace smoking cessation programs are combined with other occupational health and safety messages rather than when singled out, according to a study headed by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers. The findings may lead to a new approach to improving working-class people's health. read more
July 16, 2002
Post-surgery chemotherapy questioned for certain breast cancer patientsFindings from an international study suggest that postmenopausal breast cancer patients with estrogen-sensitive tumors who undergo chemotherapy following surgery may not benefit from the regimen. The research did show, however, that patients whose tumors were unresponsive to estrogen gained a decided benefit from chemotherapy. read more
July 12, 2002
Dana-Farber ranked New England's best cancer hospital - fourth in the nation - in U.S. News & World Report's best hospitals guide
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, for the second straight year, has been rated the top cancer hospital in New England and the fourth best overall in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its annual America's Best Hospitals guide. The guide will be published in the magazine's July 22 issue. read more
July 5, 2002
The Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute mourn the loss of longtime supporter, baseball legend Ted Williams.The staff and extended family of the world-renowned cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and its fundraising arm, the Jimmy Fund, mourn the loss of baseball's most famous hitter and its legendary supporter, Ted Williams. read more
June 18, 2002
New "targeted" drug gains success against form of leukemia in laboratory studySpurred by the success of Gleevec - a drug that has rescued many patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia by targeting weak points in their cancer cells - scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report that another such "smart" drug kills certain acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells in test-tube samples and in mice. read more
June 13, 2002
Research into rare disease leads to discovery of six new breast cancer-susceptibility genesA decade of research into one of the world's least-known diseases has resulted in a major advance against one of the best-known: the discovery of six genes linked to inherited breast cancer. read more
June 13, 2002
Natural resistance of pigment cells to sunlight may make deadly skin cancer tough to treatScientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have discovered that a gene that enables the skin's pigmented cells to survive harsh sunlight may have a darker side as well: making the deadly skin cancer, malignant melanoma, highly resistant to treatment. read more
May 17-21, 2002
Reporter's Notebook - Dana-Farber researchers present latest findings at ASCOAs many as 25,000 cancer specialists from around the world have converged on Orlando this weekend for the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to discuss the latest developments in cancer treatment and research. Dana-Farber Senior Science Writer Richard Saltus is in Orlando providing regular reports from the four-day conference. read more
May 21, 2002
Endostatin shows no toxicity and some clinical activity in latest report on phase I trialAn updated report on Phase 1 trials of the angiogenic inhibitor Endostatin says it exhibits virtually no toxicity even at high doses, while shrinking tumors in two of 28 advanced cancer patients and slowing disease progression in four others for more than six months. read more
May 21, 2002
Care for child with terminal cancer strains family financesCaring for a child who is dying of cancer creates significant economic as well as emotional burdens for families, according to a study led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers. The study found that, in some cases, parents lost thousands of dollars of income and relied on charity to help meet expenses. read more
May 20, 2002
Early findings suggest new type of drug shows promise in treating multiple myelomaPreliminary data from a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute study suggests that PS-341, a "first-in-class" proteasome inhibitor, produced a response in some patients with treatment-resistant multiple myeloma. The results from the first 78 patients who received the drug show that in the majority of cases the cancer either stopped advancing or regressed. read more
May 19, 2002
Effect of race in prostate cancer survival is questionedAfrican-American patients with advanced prostate cancer survived slightly longer than white patients, according to a multi-institutional study led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers. The findings, which were reported at the at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando on May 19, run counter to the conventional notion that African-Americans with the disease die sooner. read more
May 18, 2002
American cancer specialists disagree about the purpose of clinical trialsPrevious research has demonstrated that many clinical trial subjects incorrectly believe that the primary purpose of the trial is to benefit participants rather than to advance therapy for future patients. Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando on May 18, that a recent survey suggests that there is also disagreement among oncologists in the United States about the purpose of clinical trials. read more
May 17, 2002
Mammography Van hits the streets this monthDana-Farber may be rolling into a neighborhood near you since launching the Mammography Van this spring. A collaboration between the city of Boston and the Institute, the van is intended to reach underserved women who might not otherwise have access to regular mammography screening. read more
May 14, 2002
Dana-Farber physician participates in Oval Office signing of blood cancer actPresident George W. Bush signed into law today the Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act of 2001. The law provides $250 million in federal funding for blood cancer research, information and education. Among the small group attending the Oval Office signing was Kenneth Anderson, MD, director of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. read more
May 1, 2002
Two Dana-Farber researchers elected to the National Academy of SciencesHarvey Cantor, MD, and Bruce Spiegelman, PhD, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Considered one of the highest honors that can be accorded a U.S. scientist or engineer, election to membership in the Academy recognizes a scientist for distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. read more
April 24, 2002
Study finds that young women treated for hodgkin's disease are often unaware of increased future risk of breast cancerMany young women treated with chest radiation for Hodgkin's disease are not aware that they have an increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life. Moreover, among those who are aware of their increased risk, many fail to have regular mammograms, according to a new study led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. read more
April 22, 2002
Dana-Farber names del Campo as vice president for research and technology venturesAnthony A. del Campo, who has more than 20 years of biomedical research and business development experience, has been named vice president for Research and Technology Ventures at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. read more
April 4, 2002
Scientists trace recently found genes to the evolution of big brains; discovery may aid research on multiple sclerosis, brain cancerResearchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found that a pair of recently discovered genes enables the brain of vertebrate animals, including humans, to grow large and complex. read more
April 2, 2002
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute acquires hospice to enhance continuum of careDana-Farber Cancer Institute announced today that it has acquired HealthCare Dimensions Hospice from Deaconess-Waltham Hospital. An adult and pediatric hospice program, HealthCare Dimensions provides comprehensive end-of-life services to patients with advanced terminal illnesses. read more
March 28, 2002
Study pinpoints mechanism behind tamoxifen side effectResearchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified the underlying mechanism that causes one of the unwanted side effects of tamoxifen. The study, published in the March 29 issue of Science, may help researchers home in on new medications that, like tamoxifen, reduce the risk of certain types of breast cancer, but do not carry tamoxifen's potentially dangerous downside. read more
March 26, 2002
Dana-Farber president supports nomination of Elias Zerhouni as director of the NIHEdward J. Benz, Jr., MD, president of Dana-Farber, comments on the nomination of Dr. Elias Zerhouni to direct the National Institutes of Health. read more
March 14, 2002
Dietary changes can lower colon cancer risk in families with a history of the diseasePeople who have a parent or sibling with colon cancer can markedly reduce their own chances of developing the disease by taking a daily multivitamin that includes folic acid and limiting their intake of alcohol, according to a new study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Harvard School of Public Health. read more
March 5, 2002
Dana-Farber physician named President-Elect of the American Society for Blood and Marrow TransplantationJoseph H. Antin, MD, chief of the Adult Oncology Stem Cell Transplant Service at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has been named president-elect of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT). He will assume the presidency in 2003. read more
March 1, 2002
Researcher receives Inaugural Wiley Prize for Biomedical SciencesStanley J. Korsmeyer, MD, a researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), is a co-winner of the inaugural Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences. Korsmeyer is being honored with H. Robert Horvitz, PhD, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. read more
February 1, 2002
FDA approves gleevec as oral treatment for Gastrointestinal Stromal CancerThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today authorized the use of Gleevec to treat Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST), a rare form of sarcoma that typically originates in the stomach or intestinal tract. Gleevec is one of the new generation of rationally designed cancer drugs that target abnormal enzymes in cancerous cells. read more
January 15, 2002
Minimally invasive surgical procedure offers limited benefits for colon cancer patientsColon cancer patients who undergo a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove their tumors experience only slightly better quality-of-life outcomes than those who have the standard surgery, according to the findings of a national clinical trial that is comparing the two procedures. read more
January 13, 2002
Human genome sequence yields new tool for microbe-huntingScientists say they have developed a powerful method for detecting foreign bacteria and viruses in human tissue samples, even if the organisms haven't previously been encountered. read more
January 4, 2002
Study upends earlier thinking about immune cells' readiness against diseaseMore vigilant than minutemen, the immune system's T cells form one of the body's main lines of defense against infection and disease. A recent study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators is reversing scientists' understanding of how the cells are alerted to enemy invaders. read more
