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Cancer Research News
UF researchers find gene mutation involved in cancer progression
University of Florida researchers have found mutation hot spots in a unique class of proteins that could drive cancer progression.
“There are recurrent mutations that are associated with cancer development,” said Jonathan Licht, M.D., director of the UF Health Cancer Center and study co-author. “Many of these mutations inactivate the functions of important proteins that prevent tumor formation and cause proteins to stimulate cancer growth. We wanted to know if there are mutations in other parts of the histone molecule.” READ MORE
New combination therapy slows deadly brain tumor in mice, UF Health researchers find
As the deadliest primary brain tumor, glioblastoma is a stubborn foe. In addition to being aggressive, glioblastoma hasn’t responded to immunotherapies that have succeeded against some other types of cancers. Now, University of Florida Health and Massachusetts General Hospital researchers have found a combination approach using those therapies that is showing promise.
The results in animal models have advanced the treatment toward early trials in human patients. The findings were published in December in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. READ MORE
UF researchers discover breakthrough anticancer drug
Researchers from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy have discovered a safer and more effective anticancer drug to target leukemia, lymphoma, and breast and lung cancers. The journal Nature Medicine published the findings in December.
“We were fascinated by our findings because this was a first-of-its-kind study presenting a novel strategy to reduce the toxicity of an antitumor drug using PROTAC technology,” said Daohong Zhou, M.D., a professor of pharmacodynamics in the UF College of Pharmacy and the Henry E. Innes Professorship of Cancer Research at the UF Health Cancer Center. Zhou also serves as the Cancer Center’s associate director for translation and drug development. READ MORE
Announcements
UF Health launches MedEdCast
The official podcast of UF Health provides engaging insight on today’s trending health care topics. Earn CME credits while learning about clinical issues and research advances from experts at UF Health Shands Hospital, one of the nation’s top academic health centers. Subscribe to UF Health MedEd Cast and join the conversation!
Listen to Cancer Center member Peter Dzieglielewski, M.D., discuss Robotic Surgery in Head and Neck Cancer Treatment and what they are doing to improve the patient journey for individuals with head and neck cancers. He shares what makes this program unique and why it is important to refer to the specialists at UF Health Shands Hospital.
University Scholars Program now accepting applications
We are excited to announce that the UF Health Cancer Center is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 University Scholars Program cohort. We are seeking highly motivated and talented UF undergraduate students to develop skills as young scientists and to explore their interest in cancer research. The program is designed to provide research experience and training in basic, clinical/translational cancer research, population sciences, cancer prevention, diagnostics, epidemiology and therapeutics. Students with a desire to pursue graduate education and research careers in biomedical sciences are encouraged to apply.
Application Deadline: Feb. 14, 2020
Short Course Radiation Therapy Now Offered, Cutting Treatment Time in Half
Robert Zlotecki, M.D., Ph.D., professor, vice chair of clinical affairs and medical director in the UF College of Medicine’s department of radiation oncology, and Kathryn E. Hitchcock, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the UF College of Medicine’s department of radiation oncology, are now offering a four-week short course radiation therapy regimen at the UF Davis Cancer Pavilion for patients with low to favorable intermediate risk prostate cancer. READ MORE
UFHCC Spring 2020 Cancer Policy Interns
Graduate students Donghee Lee and Zachary Sandoval are serving as UF Health Cancer Center cancer policy interns this spring.
These interns work with the team at the UF Federal Relations office in Washington, D.C., on legislative support related to cancer policy. They will observe Congress firsthand and receive exposure to federal policy on education, research, health care and budget.
Donghee Lee
Degree: Ph.D. in Mass Communication
Concentration: Health and Science Communication
Donghee Lee will intern with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Zachary Sandoval
Degree: Masters in Public Health
Concentration: Health Policy and Management
Zachary Sandoval will intern with Rep. Darren Soto.
Research Day 2020
The UF Health Cancer Center Research Day 2020 takes place on Tuesday, March 17 at 5 p.m. in the UF Harrell Medical Education Building.
This annual event includes a keynote presentation by a nationally renowned cancer researcher, a judged poster session with prizes for the top trainee posters and three-minute thesis presentations by the UFHCC Predoctoral Award recipients.
UFHCC at ASTCT & CIBMTR 2020 Conference
UFHCC will be at the 2020 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASTCT and CIBMTR. The conference will take place Feb. 19-23, 2020, at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, FL. Come find us at booth 817!
Free professional portrait
UF Health Creative Services offers open studio hours at Communicore C2-20 every month. Simply stop by during one of the time slots listed on the bottom of their webpage — there’s no need to sign up beforehand, and it only takes five minutes! Here are some of the upcoming sessions:
- 2/4 | 9-10 a.m.
- 2/6 | 3-4 p.m.
- 2/17 | 9-10 a.m.
- 2/19 | 3-4 p.m.
- 3/3 | 9-10 a.m.
- 3/5 | 3-4 p.m.
- 3/16 | 9-10 a.m.
- 3/18 | 3-4 p.m.
- 3/31 | 9-10 a.m.