Fox Chase Cancer Center News

CHICAGO, IL (April 2, 2012) – Scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center are developing a new way to treat pancreatic cancer by boosting the effects of gemcitabine (Gemzar)—the chemotherapy drug that is considered standard therapy for the disease. 

CHICAGO, IL (April 1, 2012) —  New research from scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center shows that a protein called survivin could be a useful tool in understanding pancreatic cancer—particularly for identifying which subsets of patients will most likely respond to treatment. The scientists found that patients who underwent different treatment regimens, following surgery, had different levels of survivin and experienced different lengths of disease-free survival.

CHICAGO, IL (April 1, 2012)—At the time of diagnosis, the majority of breast cancers are categorized as estrogen-receptor positive, or hormone sensitive, which means their cancerous cells may need estrogen to grow. Patients with this type of cancer often respond favorably to treatments called aromatase inhibitors, like tamoxifen, which cause cell death by preventing estrogen from reaching the cancerous cells. Over time, however, the disease often becomes resistant to estrogen deprivation from the drugs—making treatment options more limited. New findings by researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center identify a pair of proteins that could play a crucial role in restoring treatment sensitivity to these resistant cancerous cells—possibly leading to more treatment options in the future.

CHICAGO, IL (April 1, 2012)—Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia have found that a protein associated with other cancers appears to also be important in head and neck cancer, and may consequently serve as a good target for new treatments.

PHILADELPHIA (March 29, 2012) – According to an annual survey done by The Scientist, a prominent life sciences magazine, Fox Chase Cancer Center is among the top three best places in the country for postdoctoral researchers to work and was the only top-ranked academic institution in the region.

CHICAGO (March 27, 2012) – Beatrice Mintz, PhD, professor and Jack Schultz chair in basic science at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, will receive the Ninth Annual AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research during the opening ceremony of the AACR Annual Meeting 2012.

​HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (March 18, 2012) — People are living longer with and after a cancer diagnosis, making survivorship clinics and programs—as well as official guidelines and practices governing the care of survivors—an important emerging component of modern cancer care. Many institutions are looking to gather these resources into an easily understandable plan for their survivors. Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, Assistant Professor, Gastrointestinal Oncology, a medical oncologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center who will present on best practices in cancer survivorship at the NCCN 17th Annual Conference: Clinical Practice Guidelines & Quality Cancer Care™ on March 18, 2012.

PHILADELPHIA (March 7, 2012) – Fox Chase Cancer Center has been selected as a candidate for two LIVESTRONG Community Impact Projects—a program created to bring proven cancer support projects to communities across the United States.  Hundreds of qualified hospitals, cancer centers, universities, and non-profits from across the United States applied to be part of four different projects—  Creative Center: Hospital Artist in Residence, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, Advancing Joint Commission Palliative Care Certification in Cancer Centers, and Pillars4Life.