News

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.

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.

For Cancer Prevention Month, we’re highlighting 5 behaviors that prevent approximately 50 percent of cancers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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