all Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center stories

First molecular steps to childhood leukemia identified

404132862 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:52:21 -0400

A Harvard research based at Massachusetts General Hospital has identified how a chromosomal abnormality known to be associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) – the most common cancer in children – initiates the disease process. In the July issue of Cell Stem Cell, they describe how expression of this mutation in hematopoie

Angiogenesis inhibitor improves brain tumor survival by reducing swelling

50443248 — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:58:17 -0400

The beneficial effects of anti-angiogenesis drugs in the treatment of the deadly brain tumors called glioblastomas appear to result primarily from reduction of edema – the swelling of brain tissue – and not from any direct anti-tumor effect, according to a study from Harvard researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer does not appear to increase cardiac deaths

404132862 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:32:06 -0500

Treating prostate cancer patients with drugs that block hormonal activity does not appear to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a study led by Harvard Medical School researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital. While a 2006 report from members of the same study team found that treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists increased the risk of diabetes and heart disease, the current study is the first to examine whether treatment actually increased heart-disease-related deaths. In their Journal of Clinical Oncology report, which has been released online, the researchers note that

New strategy identified for improving effectiveness of cancer therapies

yvette — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:25:04 -0500

Manipulating levels of nitric oxide, a gas involved in many biological processes, may improve the disorganized network of blood vessels supplying tumors, potentially improving the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy.

Major step forward in understanding cell reprogramming

404132862 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:20:32 -0500

Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have taken a major step toward eventually being able to reprogram adult cells to an embryonic stem cell-like state without the use of viruses or cancer-causing genes.

Drug based on MGH discovery may significantly improve treatment of dangerous blood disorder

yvette — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:51:43 -0500

Two clinical trials of the novel drug romiplostim (Nplate) show that it significantly improved platelet levels in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a hematologic disorder that can cause uncontrolled bleeding. An international research team reports Phase 3 trial results for the drug, which duplicates the action of a natural hormone discovered by a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigator, in the February 2 issue of The Lancet.

Gene variation may elevate risk of liver tumor in patients with cirrhosis

404132862 — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:13:02 -0500

A genetic variation appears to significantly increase the risk that individuals with cirrhosis of the liver will develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a liver tumor that is the third leading cause of cancer death.

Microchip-based device can detect rare tumor cells in bloodstream

404132862 — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:37:41 -0500

A team of investigators from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) BioMicroElectroMechanical Systems (BioMEMS) Resource Center and the MGH Cancer Center has developed a microchip-based device that can isolate, enumerate and analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from a blood sample.