Rare melanoma type highly responsive to immunotherapy

11-Jan-2018 - Desmoplastic melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma that is commonly found on sun-exposed areas, such as the head and neck, and usually seen in older patients. Treatment is difficult because these tumors are often resistant to chemotherapy and lack actionable mutations commonly found in other ...

New targets for approved cancer drug discovered

11-Oct-2017 - Developing new drugs to treat cancer can be a painstaking process taking over a decade from start to Food and Drug Administration approval. Scientists are trying to develop innovative strategies to identify and test new drugs quicker and more efficiently. A team of researchers at Moffitt Cancer ...

Moffitt develops novel cancer treatment to inhibit chemo-resistance

26-Feb-2016 - Despite numerous advances in oncology since the War on Cancer began, many patients develop resistance to standard therapies and eventually relapse. Moffitt Cancer Center researchers hope to improve treatment outcomes with development of a novel therapeutic strategy, called adaptive therapy, which ...

Gene variations that may help predict cancer treatment response

Four gene variants found in non-small cell lung cancer patients indicate an increased risk of death

13-Aug-2013 - Researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center have identified four inherited genetic variants in non-small cell lung cancer patients that can help predict survival and treatment response. Their findings could help lead to more personalized treatment options and improved outcomes for patients. The ...

How to boost Hispanics' participation in clinical trials?

Researchers create culturally targeted educational materials aimed at empowering Spanish patients to make health care decisions

28-Jun-2013 - Hispanic cancer patients rarely participate in clinical trials, but researchers want to tailor a Spanish DVD to help change this. To create a relevant educational tool, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers investigated why awareness of and participation in trials are so low in this population. Using ...

Researchers analyze how Spanish smoking relapse booklets are distributed

Active, passive methods do not necessarily target the right population

21-May-2013 - Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida have evaluated how Florida health care and social service agencies distribute "Libres para Siempre" ("Forever Free®"), a Spanish smoking relapse prevention booklet series. Their analysis found that 10 agencies distributed ...

Some minorities believe they are less likely to get cancer compared to whites

More culturally relevant cancer prevention education needed for blacks, Hispanics, Asians

18-Apr-2013 - Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues analyzed national data to investigate the differences in cancer prevention beliefs by race and ethnicity. They found that minorities, including blacks, Asians and Hispanics, have differing beliefs about cancer prevention and feel they are less ...

For breast cancer screening, one size doesn’t fit all

10-Apr-2013 - Although mammography, the gold standard of breast cancer screening, reduces breast cancer mortality, it has important limitations. Critics point to reduced sensitivity for women with dense breasts, a high rate of false positives leading to excessive biopsies, and concerns about long-term effects ...

Moffitt researchers analyze HPV vaccination disparities among girls from low-income families

Pediatricians and private practice physicians have higher vaccination rates; Doctors practicing in multi-specialty settings less likely to vaccinate

28-Mar-2013 - Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of Florida studied health care providers to determine the factors associated with disparities in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among girls, ages 9 to 17, from low-income families. They found that physician vaccination ...

Moffitt researchers find potential new therapeutic target for treating non-small cell lung cancer

IKBKE kinase, induced by tobacco carcinogens, may be a target for treating tobacco-associated lung cancer

18-Feb-2013 - Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have found a potential targeted therapy for patients with tobacco-associated non-small cell lung cancer. It is based on the newly identified oncogene IKBKE, which helps regulate immune response. The study appeared in the online issue of Oncogene. The IKBKE ...