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Tag: research

Rebecca S. Williams, MHS, PhD, is a UNC Lineberger member.

February 19, 2016

Online e-cigarette searches number in the millions, but few focus on vaping health risk or quitting smoking

A study published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that Google searches about electronic cigarettes were more commonly related to shopping for e-cigarettes, while quitting smoking represented less than 1 percent of e-cigarette searches in each of 2013 and in 2014. The study’s senior author was Rebecca S. Williams, MHS, PhD, a UNC Lineberger member.

José P. Zevallos is an associate member of UNC Lineberger, an assistant professor and director of oncologic research in the UNC School of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery.

February 18, 2016

Study finds different genetic mutation patterns for HPV-positive throat cancer patients based on smoking history

Researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have presented preliminary findings from a study examining the genetic alterations in HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer of the head and neck. The researchers found differences in the genetic mutations of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer based on whether patients were heavy versus light smokers.

(R) Niklaus Steiner, PhD, UNC-Chapel Hill professor and co-founder of the Chapel Hill-based Be Loud! Sophie Foundation and (R) Stephanie Wheeler, PhD, MPH, NC Lineberger member and assistant professor of health policy and management at the UNC Gillings School

February 12, 2016

UNC experts talk ‘Cancer Moonshot’ with Vice President Biden

As part of the “Cancer Moonshot” federal initiative to spur breakthroughs in cancer research, Biden hosted a roundtable discussion on Wednesday at the Duke University School of Medicine that featured cancer experts and leaders from UNC. Among the experts chosen for the panel were Stephanie Wheeler, PhD, UNC Lineberger member and assistant professor of health policy and management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and Niklaus Steiner, UNC-Chapel Hill professor and co-founder of the Chapel Hill-based Be Loud! Sophie Foundation, which supports adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Stergios Moschos, MD, a UNC Lineberger member, a clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine Division of Hematology/Oncology, presented on research efforts to find new melanoma treatments and advances.

February 12, 2016

Advances in melanoma treatment focus of UNC conference

At the 10th Annual UNC Conference on Melanoma and Complex Skin Cancers: A Multidisciplinary Perspective, experts in melanoma treatment presented advances in treating the disease on Thursday. The conference, held at the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education, drew dermatologists, surgeons, medical oncologists and other health care providers to hear presentations on topics ranging from immunotherapy drugs and targeted treatments for metastatic disease, radiation strategies, and chemotherapy to prevent skin cancer.

We use the device to hit the primary tumor hard,” said Dr. Jen Jen Yeh. “There is so little systemic toxicity that it leaves room to administer additional drugs against cancer cells that may have spread in the rest of the bod|Joseph M. DeSimone, PhD, is the Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of Chemistry in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences and William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at NC State University

February 8, 2016

Device hits pancreatic tumors hard with toxic four-drug cocktail, sparing the body

A new implantable device delivers first-line treatment for pancreatic cancer directly to tumors, bypassing bloodstream and limiting widespread side effects. A team of researchers from the University of North Carolina including Drs. Jen Jen Yeh and Joseph DeSimone, has shown in preclinical research that the device can deliver a particularly toxic dose of drugs directly to pancreatic tumors to stunt their growth or, in some cases, shrink them. This approach would also spare the patient toxic side effects.

February 2, 2016

Zika, emerging viruses focus of UNC virology seminar

Zika, the virus currently causing worldwide concern due to its alarming connection to a neurological birth disorder, was discussed as part of a presentation on emerging infectious diseases for the UNC Lineberger-led seminar series titled "Virology in Progress." Helen Lazear, PhD, a UNC Lineberger member and an assistant professor in the UNC School of Medicine Department of Microbiology and Immunology, spoke about Zika and noted that experts know relatively little about the virus.

Matt Nielsen, MD, MS, is a UNC Lineberger member, co-director of the Multidisciplinary Urologic Oncology Program and associate professor of urology in the UNC School of Medicine.

February 1, 2016

Physicians issue advice, raise questions about evaluating blood in the urine as a cancer sign

A new report from the American College of Physicians’ High Value Care Task Force issues advice for physicians on how to detect and evaluate blood found in the urine, which is known as hematuria. The report, which was first-authored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member Dr. Matthew Nielsen, also raises questions about the potential harms associated with diagnostic tests that are commonly employed to evaluate this condition.