Apr 27, 2022
Current or Former Smoker? Get Screened for Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States and most symptoms don't show up until it has spread. The key is catching it early. Huntsman Cancer Institute pulmonologist Chakravarthy Reddy, MD, describes a standard screening procedure and explains how important they are in spotting and possibly preventing lung cancer.
Mar 01, 2022
Unlocking Mysteries of Lung & Pancreas Cancers
Collaboration is at the heart of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s culture. Fueled by dedication, lab scientists make progress each day toward understanding cancer from its beginnings. Recently, a pair of studies on lung and pancreatic cancer have made significant headway.
Feb 16, 2022
Cancer Prevention Tip 1: Don’t Use Tobacco
For Cancer Prevention Month, we’re highlighting 5 behaviors that prevent approximately 50 percent of cancers.
Jan 28, 2022
Lung Cancer Screenings at Huntsman Cancer Institute
If you smoke and are over 50, you should talk to your doctor about a lung cancer screening. Chakravarthy Reddy, MD, describes how a low-dose chest CT scan could be the right choice for you.
Dec 02, 2021
Scientist in Training Awarded Grant from the Lung Cancer Research Foundation
Aria Vaishnavi, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Huntsman Cancer Institute is an awardee of the Lung Cancer Research Foundation 2021 Scientific Grant Program. Vaishnavi will be using this grant to better understand lung cancer caused by inhaled radon gas.
Nov 17, 2021
A Glass-Half-Full Approach to Lung Cancer in the McMahon Lab
Martin McMahon, PhD, and his research group study the genetic mutations that contribute to lung cancer. About 30% of lung cancers can now be treated based on the disease’s specific genetics. McMahon is hopeful that each subset of lung cancer will soon have its own precision treatment.
Nov 16, 2021
Can You Get Lung Cancer if You Don’t Smoke?
Even though people who smoke tobacco are at highest risk for lung cancer, non-smokers can get the disease. Learn the lung cancer risk factors for non-smokers so you can prevent lung cancer or reduce your risk.
Nov 08, 2021
Talks With Docs: Trudy Oliver, Lung Cancer Researcher
Trudy Oliver, PhD, discusses her decision to become a cancer researcher at Huntsman Cancer Institute, why researching lung cancer in so challenging and what the future holds in terms of treatments in the latest Talks with Docs.
Jun 03, 2021
Talks with Docs: Chakravarthy Reddy, Interventional Pulmonologist
Chakravarthy Reddy, MD, describes his journey to becoming a critical care doctor at Huntsman Cancer Institute, the role his mother played in helping choose this as a career and the changes he has seen in the pulmonology field during his tenure.
Mar 26, 2021
This Lung Cancer Survivor Fundraises to Give Others Hope
“I can’t tell you how intimidating it is to walk into the doctor’s office and they say those three words—‘You have cancer,’” says Pat Wasilewski. Pat found a path forward through stage IV lung cancer with the many treatment options available to him. Now he raises funds for cancer research through events like Pink Park City to give others the same hope.
Dec 07, 2020
Treats First Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient on New Clinical Trial
The first patient in the world to be enrolled on a clinical trial of a new investigational drug, AN0025, was treated at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah earlier this year. The drug is being studied for use in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors who have previously been treated with immunotherapy and whose cancers later developed ways to resist immunotherapy.
Nov 18, 2020
A Clinical Trial Helped This Lung Cancer Patient Breathe Easy
When Scott Vance went in for a COVID-19 test, he never expected it would lead to a diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer. Scott’s doctors learned a specific mutation was causing the cancer, and he began a new mutation-targeting drug approved by the FDA just two years earlier. Scott says his remarkable response to the drug has him feeling grateful clinical trials can bring these cutting-edge treatments to people like him.
Nov 13, 2020
Lung Cancer Screening Q&A
Lung cancer screening helps us find cancer early, before the cancer is able to cause symptoms. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. Treating lung cancer at an earlier stage gives patients more treatment options. They also have a better chance of living longer. Dr. Chakravarthy Reddy answers some frequently asked questions about lung cancer screening.
Oct 30, 2020
Fighting Bench to Bedside for New Lung Cancer Treatments
Sonam Puri gets up every day to care for patients with lung cancer. Then, she carves out time to work with other researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute to tackle why and how cancer develops in small cell and non-small cell lung cancer patients. She was attracted to apply to the 5 For The Fight Fellowship is the concept behind the organization. “People are donating $5 for somebody who has either been touched by or is battling cancer, and knowing that these single $5 donations ultimately add up to a sizeable amount just reflects how many lives are affected by cancer at large.”
Sep 29, 2020
5 For The Fight Announces Inaugural Class of Cancer Research Fellows
5 For The Fight, a global movement inviting everyone to give $5 for the fight against cancer, today announced the inaugural recipients of the 5 For The Fight Cancer Research Fellowship in partnership with Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.
Aug 04, 2020
Scientists Develop Models to Prevent Drug Resistance in Lung and Pancreas Cancers
Scientists at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah report today the development of new models to study molecular characteristics of tumors of the lung and pancreas that are driven by mutations in a gene named NTRK1. The findings were published today in the journal Cell Reports.
Jun 02, 2020
Researchers Identify a Moving Target in Small Cell Lung Tumors
About 15 percent of lung cancers are classified as small cell lung cancer. Recent studies have indicated that four major subtypes of small cell lung cancer exist, yet approaches to tailor treatment of these subtypes have not yet become standard of care. Today in the journal Cancer Cell, scientists outline new findings about the origins of these lung cancer subtypes, paving the way for a new foundation to study this disease.
Mar 09, 2020
Post-Doctoral Fellow Receives Award from National Cancer Institute
Aria Vaishnavi, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow at Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has received the first annual National Cancer Institute Pathway to Independence Award for Outstanding Early Stage Postdoctoral Researchers. The “Early K99” grant supports researchers who need only a short period of training and mentorship after their doctoral degrees and before they’re hired into a faculty position.
Mar 03, 2020
Researcher Finds Possible Reason for Lung Cancer Driver
About one-third of lung cancer patients who have never smoked have a small portion of DNA missing in the gene called EGFR. This missing portion is a mutation that drives cancer and causes tumors. In a recent study, Lyska Emerson, MD, looked at the patterns of four non-mutated EGFR genes. She was in search of a “destabilizing DNA sequence.” This sequence could explain why that portion of the DNA—called the exon 19 deletion—goes missing in some people.
Mar 01, 2020
Entender el Cáncer desde sus Inicios
Mediante una mejor comprensión del cáncer en sus etapas más tempranas—y un conocimiento más profundo del comportamiento de las células saludables—esclarecemos los precursores del cáncer y lo que permite que un cáncer crezca. Lea algunos puntos destacados de estudios notables recientes en HCI que impulsan nuestro empeño por entender el cáncer desde sus inicios y usar dicha información en la creación y las mejoras de nuevos tratamientos contra el cáncer.
Mar 01, 2020
To Understand Cancer from Its Beginnings
By better understanding cancer in its earliest stages—and a deeper knowledge of healthy cell behavior—we shed light on the precursors of cancer and what allows a cancer to grow. Read just a few highlights of noteworthy recent studies at HCI that advance our quest to understand cancer from its beginnings and to use that information in the creation and improvement of new cancer treatments.
Nov 20, 2019
Letter of Hope: Lung Cancer Research in the Oliver Lab
We know how cancer impacts your lives. It has touched our lives too. We want you to know we are working hard every day to uncover clues and new strategies for treating lung cancer. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related death in the United States and in Utah. Unfortunately, funding for lung cancer research is relatively low. Yet we know that people of all ages can develop lung cancer, including non-smokers, and our discoveries in lung cancer can affect the treatment of many types of cancer.
Jul 18, 2019
Huntsman Cancer Institute Researchers Develop Potential New Treatment for MYC-driven Small Cell Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women in Utah and the United States. Often, symptoms do not appear until the disease is advanced. Therefore, research studies toward better practices to prevent, find, and treat lung cancer are paramount. Research from scientists at Huntsman Cancer Institute yielded new insights into understanding potential new treatment options for MYC-driven tumors, a distinct subtype of small cell lung cancer.
Mar 01, 2019
Exercise for Improved Outcomes
The Precision Exercise Prescription study is a unique collaboration between medical doctors, researchers, physical therapists, and patients. The study looks at how an exercise program tailored for each patient can improve long-term outcomes after lung cancer surgery.
Jan 31, 2019
Taking Action Against Radon
January is National Radon Action Month. We spoke with a radon expert and a health educator who installed a radon mitigation system at her house to inspire you to take action and test your house for radon.
Jan 07, 2019
Huntsman Translational Scholars: Thomas Varghese Jr., MD, MS
HCI established The Society of Huntsman Translational Scholars to recognize excellence in the discipline of translational science. Thomas Varghese Jr, MD, MS, was recently honored with a Huntsman Translational Scholar award.
Nov 29, 2018
Protect Your Lungs to Prevent Lung Cancer
Most people know that cigarette smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. There are other risk factors for lung cancer as well. Any time a small particle of dust, pollution, chemicals, or smoke enters the lungs, it has the potential to damage the lungs.
Nov 15, 2018
Robotic Thoracic Surgery Reduces Pain, Recovery Time, and Complications
Minimally invasive robotic surgery for lung, esophageal, and mediastinal resections achieves several benefits for patients, such as shorter hospital stays, less post-operative pain, and a lower chance of complications. Huntsman Cancer Institute is the only hospital in the entire Mountain West region using the robotic Intuitive da Vinci® Surgical System for thoracic surgery.
Nov 01, 2018
Lung Cancer Research Foundation Awards $1.95 Million in Research Grants
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) announced the awardees of its 2018 Scientific Grant Program today during the Thirteenth Annual Lung Cancer Awareness Luncheon, held at The Pierre in New York City. Through this program, LCRF awarded $1.95 million in research grants to 13 investigators for innovative research focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer. LCRF received a record-breaking 201 grant applications, representing 116 institutions and 21 countries in 2018.
Sep 11, 2018
Talks with Docs: Thomas Varghese, MD
Tom Varghese, MD, is a thoracic surgeon who treats patients with lung cancer at Huntsman Cancer Institute. But did you know he's also an amateur cartoonist who's passionate about gender equity in the medical field?
Aug 01, 2018
Study of Utah Lung Cancer Patients Finds Those Who Never Smoked May Have Genetic Predisposition for Cancer
Despite Utah's low smoking rate, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in Utah. In addition, lung cancer in people who have used tobacco and people who have never smoked behaves differently. Researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute wanted to know why.
Feb 15, 2018
Developing Better Targeted Therapies
Targeted therapy in cancer treatment is often called personalized or precision medicine, according to the National Institutes of Health. Targeted therapies are designed to be more effective and less harmful than other approaches because the drugs are specially designed to meet the individual characteristics of each patient.
Jan 05, 2018
What You Need to Know About Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. But how do you protect yourself from a gas you cannot see, taste, or smell?
Dec 20, 2017
New Provider Q and A: John Stringham, MD
John Stringham, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon who specializes in lung transplant surgery and also has a special interest in lung cancer surgery for patients with lung failure. He discusses his interests in minimally invasive surgery and why HCI provides hope for patients with lung cancer.
Nov 10, 2017
Five Resources To Help You Quit Tobacco
You already know smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. But it can be incredibly hard to quit. If you have tried to quit in the past, or if this is your first time, don’t feel discouraged. These resources can help.
Oct 06, 2017
HCI Trainee Wins NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award
Gurkan Mollaoglu, a graduate student in the Oliver Lab, received an F99 NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award. This prestigious grant recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated potential and interest in pursuing careers as independent cancer researchers.
Jan 12, 2017
Huntsman Cancer Institute Research Holds Promise for Personalized Lung Cancer Treatments
New research from scientists at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah uncovered distinct types of tumors within small cell lung cancer that look and act differently from one another. Scientists also identified a targeted drug combination that worked well with one specific tumor type. The study was published today in Cancer Cell. The findings suggest small cell lung cancer should not be treated as a uniform disease