Press Releases

New preclinical work by a team of researchers from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program suggests that the risk of developing acute graft vs. host disease (GVHD) during allogeneic blood/marrow transplant (BMT) — a potentially curative treatment for selected patients with hematologic disorders — can be decreased using an existing class of drugs called beta adrenergic agonists.

Whether it is pioneering lab research or developing new procedures and treatments, innovation thrives at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Department of Urology surgeon Eric Kauffman, MD, was recognized for his novel approach for prostate cancer surgery by the American Urological Association (AUA), receiving a Best Video award for 2020.

Infusions of chemotherapy or other medications: They’re facets of oncology that often make up a big portion of a patient’s cancer care. It’s treatment that can take up many hours in a clinic or in an inpatient setting, delivered by dedicated oncology nurses and physicians. At Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, that dedication is seen day in and day out by veteran staff member Eunice Wang, MD, who has been selected to lead this team as the newly appointed Medical Director of Infusion Services.

In a study to be presented at the ASCO 2020 virtual meeting, a Roswell Park team reports that in many cases, targeted and immunotherapeutic approaches may reduce the risk of therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia (tMDS/AML) compared to chemotherapy-based treatment strategies.

Clinical oncology pathways are an important tool, helping cancer care providers and their patients to zero in on the most appropriate care plan. But a treating professional’s decision to depart from the recommendations of these decision-support resources may be well-founded and in the patient’s best interests, research being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2020 virtual meeting shows. 

A team from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center contributed to a group of 10 interrelated studies on tobacco use that shed light on key usage patterns and offered a surprising finding about e-cigarette use.

A possible new strategy for treating pancreatic cancer highlights the promise of collaboration between experts in both precision medicine and immunology. The findings from a team led by Agnieszka Witkiewicz, MD, and Erik Knudsen, PhD, at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and published today in the journal Gut suggest a combination treatment approach that can make some breakthrough immunotherapy drugs effective for more patients with pancreatic cancer.

A unique two-drug immunotherapy combination first evaluated at Roswell Park as an approach for treating some cancers will soon be available to cancer patients with COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a study assessing the safety and effectiveness of giving both rintatolimod and interferon alfa to cancer patients with COVID-19.

Providing the best care and services for cancer patients requires careful integration of key teams across many different disciplines and programs. The appointment of new leaders in three key areas of clinical care at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center highlights the breadth of services and extent of expertise available to patients and their families.