144 results match your criteria: "Mass General Cancer Center[Affiliation]"

Fabrication and functional validation of a hybrid biomimetic nanovaccine (HBNV) against -mutant melanoma.

Bioact Mater

April 2025

Wellman Center for Photomedicine and Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Cancer nanovaccines hold the promise for personalization, precision, and pliability by integrating all the elements essential for effective immune stimulation. An effective immune response requires communication and interplay between antigen-presenting cells (APCs), tumor cells, and immune cells to stimulate, extend, and differentiate antigen-specific and non-specific anti-tumor immune cells. The versatility of nanomedicine can be adapted to deliver both immunoadjuvant payloads and antigens from the key players in immunity (i.

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Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare cutaneous soft tissue sarcoma and affects an estimated 1,500 people annually in the United States. DFSP frequently exhibits extensive local infiltration. Initial treatment is through surgical excision, and care should be taken to ensure that negative margins are achieved to minimize recurrence.

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The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Lung Cancer Screening provide criteria for selecting individuals for screening and offer recommendations for evaluating and managing lung nodules detected during initial and subsequent annual screening. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on recent updates to the NCCN Guidelines for Lung Cancer Screening.

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TBK1 Targeting Is Identified as a Therapeutic Strategy to Enhance CAR T-Cell Efficacy Using Patient-Derived Organotypic Tumor Spheroids.

Cancer Immunol Res

January 2025

Mass General Cancer Center, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to improve the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells as a treatment of solid tumors. Multiple tumor microenvironmental factors are thought to contribute to resistance to CAR T-cell therapy in solid tumors, and appropriate model systems to identify and examine these factors using clinically relevant biospecimens are limited. In this study, we examined the activity of B7-H3-directed CAR T cells (B7-H3.

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Article Synopsis
  • Glioblastoma is described as immunologically "cold," making it resistant to solo immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) like pembrolizumab, although neoadjuvant use may improve survival based on prior studies.
  • A study involving 25 additional patients analyzed tumor tissue for gene signatures and found that neoadjuvant pembrolizumab led to decreased cancer proliferation genes and increased T-cell activity, indicating a specific response to this treatment.
  • Despite observing these molecular changes, the study did not confirm an overall survival benefit from neoadjuvant pembrolizumab, suggesting that some patients may inherently resist ICI and may need additional therapies for effective treatment.
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Background: The impact of steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents (SSIAs) for immune-related adverse events (irAEs) on tumor outcome is not well-known. This systematic review evaluates tumor outcomes for corticosteroid (CS) monotherapy versus CS with SSIA (CS-SSIA) for irAE treatment with a focus on melanoma.

Methods: Search was conducted through 1/5/23 using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science.

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Targeting molecular pathways to control immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicities.

Trends Immunol

January 2025

Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Department of Dermatology and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, a partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Core Center Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer treatment but are frequently associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This article offers a novel synthesis of findings from both preclinical and clinical studies, focusing on the molecular mechanisms driving irAEs across diverse organ systems. It examines key immune cells, such as T cell subsets and myeloid cells, which are instrumental in irAE pathogenesis, alongside an in-depth analysis of cytokine signaling [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, IL-4), interferon γ (IFN-γ), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)], integrin-mediated interactions [integrin subunits αITGA)4 and ITGB7], and microbiome-related factors that contribute to irAE pathology.

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Multigene panel testing has allowed for the detection of a growing number of inherited pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in people at high risk of cancer, including endometrial cancer (EC). Hereditary syndromes associated with EC include Lynch syndrome, PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome, and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. This manuscript provides the latest recommendations from the NCCN Guidelines for Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal, Endometrial, and Gastric on the screening and management of EC in patients at high risk for these syndromes, as well as the advantages and limitations of multigene panel testing.

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NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Survivorship, Version 2.2024.

J Natl Compr Canc Netw

December 2024

National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

The NCCN Guidelines for Survivorship include recommendations for screening, evaluation, and treatment of psychosocial and physical problems resulting from adult-onset cancer and its treatment. They also include recommendations to promote healthy behaviors and immunizations in survivors and provide a framework for care coordination. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the panel's current recommendations regarding sexual health and fertility.

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Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapies have emerged as a valuable treatment modality for patients with plasma cell disorders. As the population of patients receiving CAR T therapies grows, the identification and management of associated rare toxicities become increasingly crucial. This study aims to identify safety signals associated with commercial anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR T therapies using the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

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Development of a fibrin-targeted theranostic for gastric cancer.

Sci Transl Med

December 2024

Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.

Patients with advanced gastric cancer (GCa) have limited treatment options, and alternative treatment approaches are necessary to improve their clinical outcomes. Because fibrin is abundant in gastric tumors but not in healthy tissues, we hypothesized that fibrin could be used as a high-concentration depot for a high-energy beta-emitting cytotoxic radiopharmaceutical delivered to tumor cells. We showed that fibrin is present in 64 to 75% of primary gastric tumors and 50 to 100% of metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma cores.

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Charting the course for CAR T-cell manufacturing.

Blood Adv

December 2024

Department of Medicine, Cellular Immunotherapy Program and Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Mass General Cancer Center, Boston, MA.

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Mapping the Clinical Development Trajectory of Cell and Gene Therapy Products.

Clin Pharmacol Ther

December 2024

Harvard-MIT Center for Regulatory Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) have shown potential for treating hard-to-treat conditions, but their development is risky for pharmaceutical companies due to uncertainties in clinical trials and regulatory approval.
  • An analysis of CGT products from 1993 to 2023 found that only 5.3% received regulatory approval, with higher chances for products with orphan designation and lower chances for oncology-related therapies.
  • Both CAR T cell therapies and AAV gene therapies showed a similar approval likelihood of 13.6%, highlighting that approval rates vary by product type and therapeutic indication.
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Overcoming Resistance Mechanisms to Melanoma Immunotherapy.

Am J Clin Dermatol

January 2025

Mass General Cancer Center, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibition has revolutionized treatment of advanced melanoma. While most patients derive survival benefit from established immunotherapies, notably monoclonal antibodies blocking cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 and programmed cell death protein 1, a subset does not optimally respond due to the manifestation of innate or acquired resistance to these therapies. Combination regimens have proven efficacious relative to single-agent blockade, but also yield high-grade treatment toxicities that are often dose-limiting for patients.

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A peer support intervention in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT): The STEPP randomized pilot trial design and methods.

Contemp Clin Trials

January 2025

Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • A new study is testing a five-session phone-based peer support program called STEPP, aimed at helping patients with blood cancers undergoing stem cell transplantation improve their quality of life and reduce psychological distress.
  • The pilot trial will involve 90 patients, comparing those who receive the STEPP intervention to those who receive standard care, with goals for high enrollment and session completion rates.
  • The study will assess how well the intervention is received and its initial impact on patient-reported outcomes like anxiety and quality of life, paving the way for a larger clinical trial in the future.
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Musculoskeletal ultrasound characteristics of checkpoint inhibitor-associated inflammatory arthritis.

Semin Arthritis Rheum

December 2024

Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Cancer immunotherapy has significantly improved solid cancer treatment but can lead to immune-related side effects, including inflammatory arthritis, prompting the use of point-of-care musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) for diagnosis.* -
  • In a study involving 55 patients with suspected musculoskeletal issues post-checkpoint inhibition therapy, it was found that 62% had definite inflammatory arthritis, with MSKUS revealing key features such as synovial thickening and hyperemia.* -
  • MSKUS was particularly valuable, as it detected inflammatory signs in patients who showed no clinical symptoms, highlighting its effectiveness in diagnosing musculoskeletal immune-related adverse events.*
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The NCCN Guidelines for the Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities are intended to provide oncology practitioners with guidance on how to manage the wide-ranging and potentially fatal toxicities that may occur with cancer immunotherapy. The guidelines address immune-related adverse events related to immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapies, and lymphocyte engagers (which include T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies). These NCCN Guidelines Insights highlight recent guideline updates pertaining to the management of emerging toxicities related to cancer immunotherapy.

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New Emerging Therapeutic Strategies Based on Manipulation of the Redox Regulation Against Therapy Resistance in Cancer.

Antioxid Redox Signal

November 2024

Mass General Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA and Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Resistance to cancer treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy poses major challenges in effective patient care.
  • Redox homeostasis modification has shown promise in addressing this resistance by altering cellular signaling pathways.
  • The study highlights mechanisms such as increased antioxidant activity, drug efflux alterations, and enhanced DNA repair that enable tumor cells to survive treatments, suggesting that better insights into these processes could lead to improved therapy outcomes.
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Immune responses in checkpoint myocarditis across heart, blood and tumour.

Nature

December 2024

Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of cancer treatment, can cause serious side effects, including immune-related myocarditis (irMyocarditis), which can be fatal.
  • Researchers studied immune responses in the heart, tumor, and blood of 28 patients with irMyocarditis using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing and T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing.
  • Their findings showed an increase in certain immune cells in the heart tissue of irMyocarditis patients and identified specific TCR clones associated with severe cases, shedding light on the disease's biology and potential biomarkers.
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Osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain and disability in the United States. Many patients experience pain that is refractory or unable to be treated by traditional treatments such as exercise, physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and/or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. For patients with medically refractory disease, intra-articular corticosteroid therapy, hyaluronic acid, or surgery can be considered.

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Finding the right friends: Stromal composition influences TLS formation in ovarian cancer.

Cancer Cell

November 2024

Mass General Cancer Center, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address:

In this issue of Cancer Cell, MacFawn et al. reveal that tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) vary significantly by anatomical site. They highlight a distinct stromal composition associated with TLS formation, with cancer-educated mesenchymal stem cells (CA-MSCs) inversely linked to TLS activity and patient prognosis.

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Dynamic Evolution of Fibroblasts Revealed by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Human Pancreatic Cancer.

Cancer Res Commun

December 2024

Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Pancreatic cancer remains a high unmet medical need. Understanding the interactions between stroma and cancer cells in this disease may unveil new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

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Inavolisib-Based Therapy in -Mutated Advanced Breast Cancer.

N Engl J Med

October 2024

From the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research (N.C.T.) and the Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London (P. Schmid), London, and Roche, Welwyn Garden City (E.T., G.L.) - all in the United Kingdom; Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea (S.-A.I.); Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona (C. Saura); Mass General Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston (D.J.); Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta (K.K.); Genentech, San Francisco (N.S., T.J.S., K.E.H., J.L.S., C. Song); the Breast and Early Drug Development Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Weill Cornell Medical College - both in New York (K.L.J.); the German Breast Group, Neu-Isenburg, and the Center for Hematology and Oncology Bethanien, Goethe University, Frankfurt - both in Germany (S. Loibl); the Division of Cancer Research and Clinical Medicine, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC - both in Australia (S. Loi); the Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand (P. Sunpaweravong); the Department of Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, and the Medical Oncology and Breast Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori "Dino Amadori," Meldola - both in Italy (A.M.); the Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Department of Breast Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing (H.L.), Harbin Medical University, Harbin (Q.Z.), and the University Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (R.L.) - all in China; and Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland (Z.N.).

Article Synopsis
  • * In a phase 3 trial involving 325 patients, those taking inavolisib had a median progression-free survival of 15.0 months, significantly better than the 7.3 months for the placebo group, indicating better disease management.
  • * The treatment with inavolisib showed promising results with a 58.4% objective response rate; however, there were notable side effects, similar between both groups, including high rates of neutropenia
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Purpose: Preclinical studies have identified molecular correlates of sensitivity to ATR inhibition. This translational study was designed to test the ATR inhibitor berzosertib in patients with advanced solid tumors carrying alterations in ATRX, ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM), genes conferring replication stress (RS), or SDH.

Patients And Methods: Patients were recruited to four cohorts: T1: ATRX-mutant leiomyosarcoma; T2: ATM-mutant solid tumors; T3: solid tumors with mutations in RS-associated genes; and T4: SDH-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

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