Cancer Biology

Christine Lovly, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology, has been selected to testify before members of Congress about the importance of cancer research, including early training programs for individuals interested in science. Read More

New findings identify isoketal-modified proteins as a previously unrecognized feature of pulmonary fibrosis and as a potential therapeutic target for this disease. Read More

Craig Thompson, M.D., president and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, spoke about his lab’s research linking metabolism to stem cell maintenance during his recent Flexner Discovery Lecture. Read More

The primary method used to test compounds for anti-cancer activity in cells is flawed, Vanderbilt University researchers reported May 2 in Nature Methods. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that activation of a certain signaling pathway protects brain cancers from targeted therapies, suggesting that using therapeutics that block both pathways may be a promising treatment. Read More

A genetic mutation that promotes cancer development blocks the normal sorting of a protein called “Argonaute 2.” Read More

Craig Thompson, M.D., president and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, will deliver the next Flexner Discovery Lecture on May 5. Read More

The p73 gene is required for the generation of cilia – hair-like projections on cells – findings that could have implications for the study of lung diseases and sterility. Read More

Melanoma-specific expression of a certain protein identifies tumors that are more responsive to an immune therapy. Read More

Combining therapies for melanoma that induce cell senescence and that activate the immune response may improve outcomes for patients. Read More

A protein that suppresses a key cancer pathway in the colon may be a potential biomarker for colitis-associated tumors, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center reported last month in the journal Gut. Read More

Vanderbilt investigators have discovered a way to overcome the resistance of some lung cancers to certain targeted therapies, which could lead to more effective treatments for lung cancer patients. Read More

Combining inhibitors of the BMP signaling pathway with standard chemotherapy drugs may overcome drug resistance in ovarian cancer. Read More

Justin Balko, Pharm.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology, has been named a member of the 2016 class of Pink Tie Guys by the Greater Nashville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breast cancer research and patient support. Read More

Vanderbilt scientists have discovered a new molecular mechanism that promotes stomach cancer development, findings that could provide new opportunities for treatment. Read More

The rigidity of the bone extracellular matrix increases the ability of tumor cells to destroy bone, suggesting new targets for anticancer drug development. Read More

An antioxidant protein may protect against colon cancer that develops in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, suggesting new strategies for reducing colon cancer risk in these patients. Read More

Marco Davila, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Medicine and of Cancer Biology, has received a grant from the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation that will provide $450,000 over three years to help fund his research on therapies for several types of blood disorders, including various forms of leukemia and non-Hodgkin (also known as non-Hodgkin’s) lymphoma. Read More

A new mouse model demonstrates that the Hhex gene – which is linked to blood cancers – is critical for normal blood cell production. Read More

Two physicians from Vanderbilt University have been elected to membership in two of the nation’s oldest and most respected medical honor societies — the Association of American Physicians (AAP) and the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI). Read More