Nanoparticle Vaccine, Supercomputers and More…

The latest in Cancer Research News

  • Researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a nanoparticle vaccine immunotherapy that targets several different cancer types. The nanoparticle vaccine delivers minuscule particulates that stimulate the immune system to mount an immune response.  Read more about the vaccine in Nature Nanotechnology.
  • A study led by researchers at Keele University shows that men and women suffering from heart failure have a higher risk of death than people with most common types of cancer. The data for this study was collected between 2000-2011 and from 393 general practices in Scotland.  The study results were published in the European Journal of Heart Failure.
  • Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin are using supercomputers developed and deployed by Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) to identify new and better chemo drugs. Read more in Scientific Reports.
  • Patients who expressed the tumor antigen NY-ESO-1 had more aggressive cancers and were more likely to die early from their disease, according to a study led by researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  Their findings were published in the journal Gynecologic Oncology.

MSK #Nurses Shine this Spring #NationalNursesWeek

Billy Rosa, an NP in Palliative Care, was a finalist for America’s Most Amazing Nurse! Billy was one of five finalists chosen from thousands of nominees as part of The Doctors and Prevention Magazine showcasing the most extraordinary nurses that go above and beyond the call of duty. Each of the five finalists received $1,000 toward their charity of choice, and the winner will be awarded an all-expense paid trip to Iceland! The winner will be announced in the June issue of Prevention Magazine.


Kathryn Ciccolini, an RN in Dermatology, presented on March 22 at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s 2017 Nursing Program, in conjunction with the NCCN’s Annual Conference. Kathryn’s presentation focused on the dermatological adverse events of cancer therapies. She described the various adverse events and treatment options, and addressed patient education of these events and collaboration of care with the rest of the team.


Joaimee Cutrone, an RN in Breast Imaging, recently discussed raising awareness of male breast cancer on Oncology Nursing News. She stressed provider awareness and patient education resources as keys to improving diagnosis and treatment in males, providing gender-sensitive resources and information to these patients.

MSK Nurses were out in full force at this year’s ONS Congress, presenting 34 unique posters during the various sessions.

Artificial Intelligence, Cost of Cancer and More…

Surfing the web, I uncovered these news items worth sharing

  • In an important step toward endoscopic diagnosis of cancer, researchers in Germany have developed a handheld fiber optic probe that can be used to perform multiple nonlinear imaging techniques without the need for tissue staining. The imaging probe uses an ultrafast laser to create nonlinear optical effects in tissue that can reveal cancer and other diseases. You can read more about this breakthrough in the Journal of Biophotonics.
  • Scientists at Lehigh University have created an artificial intelligence cervical cancer screening technique that may perform as well or even better than human interpretation.  Read more about their findings in the journal Medical Image Analysis.
  • The cost of cancer can often create financial hardships for families.  In a recent study by the University of Georgia, researchers found that caring for a husband or wife with cancer can significantly diminish family income. The findings were published in the Journal of Health Economics.
  • A new study in JAMA Oncology led by researchers at UC Davis found that second primary cancers in pediatric and adolescents and young adult (AYA) patients are deadlier than they are in older patients. They determined their findings by using data from more than a million (15,954 pediatric, 125,750 AYA and 878,370 older adult) patients with cancer of all ages throughout the United States using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program — 13 registries.