- Smoking while receiving radiotherapy for prostate cancer increases the risk of dying from the disease as compared with patients who never smoked. An MSK study demonstrated that compared with those who never smoked, the smokers had a 40% increased risk of PSA relapse, which is a reflection of disease recurrence.
- The results of a study conducted at MSK under the leadership of Dr. Lee W. Jones, demonstrated that exercise can substantially reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in childhood lymphoma survivors. Patients who consistently exercised vigorously within the limits of national guidelines, decreased their risk of cardiovascular mortality or morbidity by 51%.
- MSK carried out a trial that proved the safety of nanoparticles in humans. The particles, which attach to and light up cancer cells, were labeled with radioactive iodine and injected into metastatic melanoma patients. They can be monitored using positron emission tomography (PET) and their intended use is as a cancer diagnostic tool.