Oct 13, 2021

Survivor beats breast cancer, not once but twice

LeeAnn Brill first came to UCI Health in 2015 when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer in her right breast. Determined to find the best care and most advanced treatments possible, the registered pharmacist used her considerable research skills.

Oct 06, 2021

UCI-led study finds psychological therapy reduces biobehavioral impact of testicular cancer

Psychological therapy reduces the adverse biobehavioral effects of testicular cancer in young adult survivors, according to a pilot study led by the University of California, Irvine. Biobehavior is the interaction of biological processes and behavior. Researchers’ findings, published in the American Journal of Men’s Health, show that Goal-focused Emotion-regulation Therapy, developed specifically to enhance the quality of life for these patients, reduced the stress hormone cortisol and the proinflammatory cell protein cytokine IL-1ra that triggers fatigue, pain and other side effects.

Sep 27, 2021

John Wayne Cancer Foundation gift establishes new surgical oncology fellowship training program at UCI

A gift from the John Wayne Cancer Foundation will establish the John Wayne Cancer Foundation Endowed Chair in Surgical Oncology and also fund the UCI John Wayne Cancer Foundation Endowed Fellowship in Surgical Oncology at the UCI School of Medicine.

Sep 01, 2021

A Marine Bacteria Species Shows Promise for Curing an Aggressive Brain Cancer

Glioblastoma cells are especially adept at dividing quickly; an untreated tumor doubles in size in just two weeks. But that speed comes at a cost, and Bota hoped to take advantage of the cells’ vulnerability. The problem was that none of the available proteasome inhibitors could cross the blood-brain barrier to target glioblastomas where they bloom. Bota, who by then had started her own lab at the University of California, Irvine, found herself thinking about the Nereus presentation.
Joel Milam

Aug 23, 2021

Disparities Affect Care of Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors in LA

Young adult childhood cancer survivors (CCS) in Los Angeles face age and ethnic disparities leading to inadequate follow-up care, a survey study suggests. The findings aren't globally generalizable "due to different healthcare access/systems/insurance factors," Dr. Joel Milam of the University of Southern California, Irvine, told Reuters Health by email.

Aug 19, 2021

Dad diagnosed with cancer receives life-saving stem cell transplant at UCI Health

Dr. Stefan O. Ciurea, a UCI Health hematologist and director of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, said stem cell transplants aren’t readily available everywhere because it takes a huge team.
Susan O'Brien

Aug 13, 2021

BTK Inhibitors Represent the Preferred Frontline Regimen in CLL

The majority of patients with newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have better outcomes with BTK inhibitors compared with standard chemoimmunotherapy, making them the logical choice for frontline therapy, explained Susan O’Brien, MD, in a virtual presentation during the 2021 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference.

Jul 30, 2021

NIH Diversity Award Supports Loveless’ DNA Recorder to Study Drug Resistance in Breast Cancer Cells

Liu, associate professor of biomedical engineering and director of the Liu Laboratory for Synthetic Evolution where Loveless currently works, said, “Theresa’s research is motivated by a fundamental question in developmental biology: How does a cell’s past experiences shape its present? The K99 award will support Theresa’s development of a new genetic technology that will let us answer that question in vivo.”

Jun 01, 2021

UCI Health cancer care expansion gets $20 million from long-time benefactor

Behind the name on the building that will open a couple of years from now as UCI Health’s new cancer care center, next to the UC Irvine campus, is a more than 25-year commitment — and a $20 million gift toward expanding access to that care. The gift is the single biggest donation toward what will be known as the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care at the new UCI Medical Center in Irvine. And it brings the Chao family’s financial commitment to fighting cancer at UCI Health to a whopping $50 million since 1995.

May 17, 2021

PD-1 Inhibitor Prevails in Recurrent/Metastatic Cervical Cancer

The chemotherapy-free treatment was associated with significantly better quality of life, reported Krishnansu S. Tewari, MD, of the University of California Irvine, during a European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Plenary.