The
Science
of Cancer
One year.
Many discoveries.
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Can gut bacteria boost immunotherapy?
A clinical trial led by Saman Maleki, PhD’14, tested whether gut microbes from healthy donors could help patients with advanced kidney cancer respond better to immunotherapy and reduce side effects. Patients received the microbiome treatment before and during their cancer therapy. Nearly half of the patients responded to treatment, and those with fewer side effects had distinct gut microbe patterns – suggesting the microbiome modification treatments may improve treatment success and reduce toxicity.
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New hope for high-risk lung cancer patients
A study led by Dr. David Palma, MD’04, found that stereotactic radiation therapy extended survival for patients with early-stage lung cancer and fibrotic interstitial lung disease – doubling typical outcomes in this high-risk group and offering a lifeline when surgery isn’t an option.
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Testing radiation for widespread cancer
A team led by Dr. Timothy Nguyen explored whether targeted radiation could treat more than 10 cancer sites in the body. In 13 patients, up to 27 tumours were safely treated with few serious side effects. While most cancers progressed, the study shows this ambitious approach is technically possible and warrants further research.
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AI speeds up prostate cancer planning
A new AI tool created by imaging scientists in Aaron Fenster’s lab can quickly and accurately outline the prostate using ultrasound images taken during internal radiation therapy. Precise outlining is essential for targeting cancer while sparing healthy tissue. The tool performs as well as clinicians in a fraction of the time, improving efficiency and consistency in treatment planning.
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A treatment combo that’s saving lives
Clinical researchers in the Department of Oncology followed women with advanced endometrial cancer who received chemotherapy before and after radiation – known as the “sandwich” approach. Survival outcomes were strong: about 65 per cent of patients were alive after five years. Side effects were manageable, and age was the only factor linked to poorer outcomes. These long-term results support the method as a safe and effective strategy for high-risk patients.
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New insights on throat cancer treatment
A clinical trial led by Drs. Anthony Nichols and David Palma, MD’04, compared radiation therapy and robotic surgery as treatments for early-stage, HPV-related throat cancer. After five years, both options showed strong survival outcomes and similar long-term swallowing ability. But the side effects differed: radiation was linked to more dry mouth and hearing loss, while surgery caused more pain and swallowing issues. With many patients expected to live for decades after cancer, these findings underscore the need to tailor treatment to long-term quality of life.
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Supercharging the immune system
In a mouse model of melanoma, Silvia Penuela, PhD, and her team found that removing a gene called pannexin 1 led to more cancer-fighting immune cells entering the tumour. Tumours had slower growth and more T cells – key players in immune defense. While early-stage, the findings suggest that blocking pannexin 1 could make tumours more visible to the immune system and improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies in the future.
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Making gene editing safer and stronger
Scientists are testing small, circular pieces of DNA, called minicircles, to deliver gene-editing tools into cancer cells. These tools can correct tiny genetic mistakes linked to cancer. In the lab, minicircles worked better than traditional methods and caused fewer safety concerns. Led by John Ronald, MSc’03, PhD’09, the team also built a tracking system to monitor the edits in real time, helping better test the technology.
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Radiation, in record time
A clinical trial led by Dr. Lucas Mendez compared two types of whole pelvis radiation therapy for men with high-risk prostate cancer – one given over five weeks, the other condensed into five sessions. Both were combined with internal radiation and hormone therapy. Early results show that the shorter schedule was well tolerated and had fewer side effects. The findings support further study of shorter treatment timelines without sacrificing safety.
Want to hear more about the discoveries reshaping cancer care? Listen to The Catalysts.
The podcast returns with Season 2: The Science of Cancer. Click below to hear conversations that blend advanced medical research with real stories of cancer’s impact in our lives.
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