chemotherapy Archives - UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

September 27, 2021

New York Times: Cancer Without Chemotherapy: ‘A Totally Different World’

Norman E. Sharpless, MD, and colleagues have published study findings that suggest that eliminating cellular senescence could reduce the risk of cancer relapse and metastasis and mitigate other side effects of chemotherapy.

A team of researchers, including UNC Lineberger's Norman E. Sharpless, MD, has shown that chemotherapy triggers a pro-inflammatory stress response termed cellular senescence, promoting the adverse effects of chemotherapy as well as cancer relapse and metastasis. Eliminating the senescent cells in mice prevented the side effects and relapse.

With new funding, a UNC startup is poised to halt the most devastating effects of chemotherapy.

Compared to a control (left), mice treated with a chemotherapy drug using the device experienced significant growth reduction as confirmed by the lack of brown staining for a marker of tumor growth.

Device that drives drugs into solid tumors that are poorly vascularized opens the possibility of life-saving surgeries in cancer patients.

Neurons expressing the Topoisomerase-1 gene (green). Image by Angela Mabb, PhD

UNC Lineberger members and UNC School of Medicine researchers have found for the first time a biochemical mechanism that could be a cause of “chemo brain” – the neurological side effects such as memory loss, confusion, difficulty thinking, and trouble concentrating that many cancer patients experience while on chemotherapy to treat tumors in other parts of the body.

Tag: chemotherapy

New York Times: Cancer Without Chemotherapy: ‘A Totally Different World’

Study: Pro-inflammatory stress response promotes chemotherapy side effects and cancer relapse

Sleep for Cells

Potential pancreatic cancer treatment could increase life expectancy

UNC researchers pinpoint chemo effect on brain cells