World Cancer Research Day highlights oncology innovation at Ohio State

A cancer-free world will be built on research, with decades of innovation forming the foundation of a healthier future for all.

Through tireless efforts in labs across the country, cancer researchers are translating discoveries into groundbreaking drugs, tech, surgical techniques and more — all while working with patients to secure widespread approval through clinical trials, including many underway at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).

Mark World Cancer Research Day 2024, learn about some of the late latest advancements from Ohio State’s team of oncology experts.

At-home colorectal cancer screening

A noninvasive colorectal cancer screening test that can be done at home could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer death by 33 percent, according to Ohio State research.

The screening kit — called a FIT (fecal immunochemical testing) — is completed at home by patients and then sent to experts for testing and possible diagnosis. The convenience and privacy offered by the FIT kits could significantly increase early diagnoses of colorectal cancer.

“The evidence shows that FIT done every year is as good as getting a colonoscopy every 10 years for screening people of average risk,” says senior study author Chyke Doubeni, MD, MPH. “The right screening test is the one that gets done – and is done well.”

Click here to learn more about FIT at-home colorectal cancer testing.

Artificial intelligence for blood cancer diagnosis

An Ohio State hematologist is part of a team bringing the AI revolution to blood cancer diagnostics with new algorithms designed to identify rare conditions.

Andrew Srisuwananukorn, MD, led the project, which used a model previously trained to recognize the general features of more than 32,000 cell samples to distinguish between prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis (prePMF) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). Accurate identifications of these conditions can be difficult but critical in order to create appropriate treatment plans.

“We hope that future versions of our algorithm can help accurately diagnose and guide treatment for patients with these rare blood cancers,” Srisuwananukorn says. “It may improve enrollment in clinical trials, leading to study results that better reflect the expected outcomes.”

Click here to learn more about AI advancement in blood cancer diagnosis.

Immunotherapy showing promise as lung cancer treatment

A groundbreaking immunotherapy that changed melanoma treatment could soon do the same for some lung cancers.

Researchers at the OSUCCC – James Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO) found that tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cellular therapy may improve outcomes for patients with an expansive list of solid tumors, including those of the lungs, cervix and more. In TIL therapy — already approved to treat melanoma — doctors extract a few dozen T cells, grow billions more, and then influse those back into patients.

“T cells are major cancer-attacking immune cells, but we think they might not be robust enough to completely block and destroy the cancer,” the PIIO’s Kai He, MD, PhD, says. “TIL therapy shifts the power back to the immune system to overcome the abnormal microenvironment inside a tumor that allows the cancer to grow unchecked by the immune system.”

Click here for more information about TIL therapy.

New understanding of Radon-related lung cancer risk

Radon gas has long been known to contribute to health issues, but Ohio State researchers have found that it could be largely behind a spike in non-smoking lung cancer cases.

OSUCCC – James researchers oversaw a survey showing that an alarming 75 percent of Americans have not had their homes tested for radon, while 55 percent aren’t concerned about the colorless, odorless gas, which is likely linked to the 15-20 percent of recent lung cancers diagnosed in patients who have never smoked.

“Anyone with lungs can develop lung cancer, and as a community we should be aware and concerned about radon exposure because it's thought to be one of the leading causes of lung ancer in never-smokers,” says David Carbone, MD, PhD, director of the OSUCCC – James Thoracic Oncology Center. “There are relatively simple tests to measure radon in the home and actions to reduce radon exposure.”

Click here to learn more about radon’s impact on lung cancer risk.

New hope for patients with relapsed blood cancers

Ohio State researchers are the first to conduct a clinical trial of a new targeted treatment that could give new hope to patients whose blood cancers have resisted previous therapies.

OSUCCC – James hematologists are studying nemtabrutinib, a new drug designed to attach to block signals from an enzyme that signals blood cells to divide uncontrollably. While other drugs have behaved similarly, for many patients, the results are temporary.

“Blood cancers that have relapsed after initial treatments can be difficult to treat, and even with our effective medications, some patients run out of standard treatment options,” says lead investigator Jennifer Woyach, MD. “In this trial, nemtabrutinib looks very promising for patients whose cancer has progressive after other treatments.”

Click here to learn more about nemtabrutinib’s potential benefits for lung cancer patients.

Cancer research shows danger of social media misinformation

Ohio State gynecologic cancer researchers have shined new light on the potential reach of dangerous health misinformation on social media platforms.

An OSUCCC – James team studied 500 top TikTok posts and focused on hashtags related to gynecologic cancers, which accounted for more than 450 million views. The researchers found that at least 73 percent of the health information in those posts was inaccurate.

“This data inspired a lot of questions about where to go next in addressing these inaccuracies and communicating with patients directly, especially focusing on opportunities to create more diverse content to overcome racial and cultural disparities related to treatment of these cancers,” says senior study author Laura Chambers, DO.

Click here to learn more about gynecologic misinformation on social media.