Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for Dec. 2024

(Press-News.org) DECEMBER 2024 TIP SHEET: A behavioral expert offers advice for dealing with loss and holiday grief, a physician-scientist explains using “biological age” as a tool to predict early colorectal cancer risk, a cancer leader receives a prestigious award for mentorship, blood cancer experts share research insights that may eventually lead to a cure for multiple myeloma, a recent study shows genetic mutations accumulate in smokers with MDS, two clinical trials show promise for using an antibody to treat high-risk forms of lymphoma and ongoing research seeks answers for higher breast cancer risk among Caribbean women are in this month’s tip sheet from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. For more information on any of these topics or to arrange an interview, please email Sandy Van, sandy.van@miami.edu. Thank you.

CANCER LOSS & GRIEF

Sylvester Expert Offers Advice for Coping with Loss, Holiday Grief Wishing loved ones, friends, colleagues and even strangers “happy holidays” is common during this time of year, but for many, the happiness may be overshadowed by loss and grief. Wendy Lichtenthal, PhD, clinical psychologist and founding director of Sylvester’s Center for Advancement of Bereavement Care, can offer perspective to those dealing with loss and feelings of hopelessness during the holidays, including tips for building coping flexibility.

COLORECTAL CANCER

Using ‘Biological Age’ to Predict Early Colorectal Cancer Risk New Sylvester research indicates that “biological age” can differ from chronological age and those experiencing “accelerated aging” may be at greater risk for colon polyps, a known risk factor for colorectal cancer. The findings, published in Cancer Prevention Research, suggest that accelerated agers may benefit from early colon-cancer screening. “It’s pretty striking that multiple studies, including ours, have found that biological age provides distinct health information, and that could help us prevent cancer,” explained Shria Kumar, MD, colorectal cancer researcher at Sylvester and senior and corresponding study author.

CANCER CENTER MENTOR 

Sylvester Leader Receives Prestigious Award at ASH 2024 Conference Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer, MD, was awarded  the American Society of Hematology’s prestigious Mentor Award at its recent ASH 2024 annual meeting. The society recognized Nimer for his impact on more than 100 hematology trainees who have gone on to have thriving careers in the medical field. Nimer was lauded as a role model who “instills in them the importance of thinking critically and embracing challenges.”



BLOOD CANCER 

Sylvester Research Shared at ASH Advances Multiple Myeloma Treatment Patients with multiple myeloma are living longer, healthier lives due to a host of new immunotherapies and targeted drugs. While a cure for multiple myeloma remains elusive, Sylvester physician-scientists who presented their research at ASH 2024 believe a cure could be on the horizon. “We’d like to develop a curative treatment for multiple myeloma, and we are at the point where that’s possible,” said C. Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, director of Sylvester Myeloma Research Institute at the University of Miami. He and many of his colleagues shared their advances and insights into this second most common blood cancer.

New Study: Genetic Mutations Accumulate in Smokers with MDS Smokers with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or a precursor condition had elevated levels of genetic mutations linked to the disease, according to a Sylvester-led study presented at ASH 2024. The study also found that heavier smokers accumulated more mutations and long-term smokers were more prone to disease progression. “The message from this study should be to initiate tobacco-cessation counseling in newly diagnosed patients,” said Sangeetha Venugopal, MD, Sylvester physician-scientist.

Antibody Studies Show Promising Results for High-Risk Lymphomas Two clinical trials testing the antibody loncastuximab tesirine (Zynlonta) showed encouraging results in patients with high-risk forms of two blood cancers – follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma. The findings were presented at the ASH 2024 meeting.

One study, led by Juan Alderuccio, MD, Sylvester hematologist and lymphoma specialist, tested loncastuximab with the antibody rituximab in 39 patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma and high tumor burden. The study is now being expanded to patients at multiple sites.

The other study, led by Izidore Lossos, MD, chief of Sylvester’s lymphoma section, tested loncastuximab alone in patients with relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma, a rare, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in an ongoing, multi-center trial.

BREAST CANCER  

Seeking Answers for Higher Breast Cancer Risk Among Caribbean Women Breast cancer takes a disproportionate toll on Caribbean women, who are often diagnosed at younger ages than U.S. women and have one of the world’s highest mortality rates from the disease. Sylvester researchers and collaborators investigating drivers of this disparity have found that recently diagnosed patients have had fewer babies than previous generations and experienced their first periods at earlier ages. “These changes are compounding the already known increased risk for developing these aggressive diseases,” said Sophia George, PhD, Sylvester researcher from the Caribbean country Dominica. The latest study appeared in JAMA Network Open.  

on the InventUM blog and follow @SylvesterCancer on X for the latest news on its research and care. 

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sandy Van
sandy.van@miami.edu

END