The global pandemic of 2020 has been a pivotal year for the health care industry. This year lead some CU Cancer Center members to shift their focus to learning more about COVID-19 while others continued their research on cancer. Whether the focus was on COVID-19 or Cancer this year showed how coming together as a community can make a difference.
Here’s a look back at the most-read stories posted in the CU Cancer Center Newsroom in 2020.
1. COVID-19 recommendations for patients receiving anti-cancer immunotherapy
Ryan Weight, DO, MS, investigator at CU Cancer Center discusses if medicines that activate the immune system, like immunotherapy, could protect against COVID-19 infection.
2. Leading chloroquine scientists weigh in on drug as possible COVID-19 treatment
Jean Mulcahy-Levy, MD, and Andrew Thorburn, DPhil, both CU Cancer Center members commented on the French and Australian studies suggest the anti-malarial drug chloroquine could be effective against COVID-19. They have been studying chloroquine as a possible component of cancer treatment.
3. COVID-19 Recommendations for Cancer Patients
Thomas Campbell, MD, CU Cancer Center member, shared what cancer patients should do to keep themselves safe from COVID-19.
4. University of Colorado Cancer Center named National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence
Due to excellence in prevention, education, care and outcomes, CU Cancer Center was named a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence for pancreatic cancer, one of only two such centers in the Rocky Mountain Region including Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona Wyoming, and the Dakotas.
5. Christopher Lieu, MD, named Associate Director of Clinical Research at the CU Cancer Center
CU Cancer Center is excited to announce that Christopher Lieu, MD, has been named the Associate Director of Clinical Research. Lieu joined the CU School of Medicine faculty in 2011. For the past nine years he has been an investigator on numerous CU Cancer Center studies, including taking the lead on early-onset colorectal cancer research.
6. Do chemicals in sunscreen cause cancer?
Neil Box, PhD, shares that the chemicals in sunscreens have been in widespread use for more than 40 years and studied in detail, yet little evidence of any harm has emerged.
7. Less chemotherapy may have more benefit in rectal cancer
A CU Cancer Center study shows with locally advanced rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, found that patients receiving lower-than-recommended doses in fact saw their tumors shrink more than patients receiving the full dose.
8. Colorado study overturns ‘snapshot’ model of cell cycle in use since 1974
A study by lead by Sabrina Spencer, PhD, CU Cancer Center investigator, overturns the conventional wisdom of how these cell cycles work – a model accepted since 1974 and included in current textbooks.
9. Q&A: A Conversation With Breelyn Wilky, MD
Breelyn Wilky, MD, joined the CU Cancer Center as Deputy Associate Director for Clinical Research. She shares what drew her to Colorado and what’s next for the treatment of sarcoma.
10. CU Cancer Center is Taking a Leap for a Cure
12 members of CU Cancer Center came together to help raise money for cancer research while going Over the Edge with Cancer League of Colorado. The team rappelled down 36 stories and was able to raised over $18,000 for Colorado-based cancer research.
