APRIL 2026 TIP SHEET
Cancer Risk
Sylvester Study Finds Adults Who Never Married Face Significantly Higher Cancer Risk
Adults who have never been married face a significantly higher risk of developing cancer than those who are or have been married, according to a U.S. study of more than 4 million cases led by Sylvester researchers. The study, published April 8 in Cancer Research Communications, found the increased risk spans nearly all cancer types and is especially pronounced for preventable cancers – those linked to infections, smoking and reproductive factors. “These findings suggest that social factors such as marital status may serve as important markers of cancer risk at the population level,” explained study co-author Paulo Pinheiro, M.D., Ph.D.
Kidney Cancer
Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis With Tissue Sequencing Uncovers Hidden Kidney Cancer Mutations
Combining blood-based circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis with next-generation tissue sequencing can reveal key kidney cancer mutations often missed by standard testing alone, a Sylvester-led study has found. The analysis of 392 patients found this complementary approach identified 6% more genetic mutations, with the biggest gains occurring with metastatic kidney cancer. The findings, which appeared April 2 in The Oncologist, suggest longer-term studies might identify biomarkers of treatment response and lead to better outcomes in patients with advanced disease.
Prostate Cancer
Diabetes Drug May Echo Exercise Benefits in Prostate Cancer Care
New Sylvester-led research has found that the widely used diabetes drug, Metformin, may mimic one of exercise’s core biological effects in men with prostate cancer. The study found it does so by raising levels of a molecule tied to balance and weight control, even when these men were inactive. The findings indicate Metformin could help counter the metabolic strain of hormone therapy, when fatigue and other side effects often limit physical activity. “This study reflects what’s possible when laboratory science, metabolic biology and translational investigation are intentionally brought together for transdisciplinary studies,” said Sylvester first author Marijo Bulusic, M.D., Ph.D. The study appeared in EMBO Molecular Medicine.
Cancer Survivorship
Grant Funds Innovative Survivorship Study for HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancers
Many patients with HPV-related head and neck cancers find the transition from active treatment to survivorship extremely difficult. That prompted Sylvester researchers to seek funding from the Community Foundation for Brevard to launch a pilot study to develop and test a fully self-guided, web-based stress management and health promotion program tailored to survivors of these cancers. Led by co-principal investigators Frank Penedo, Ph.D., and Akina Natori, M.D., the study addresses a critical need as more people, particularly younger, working-age adults, survive HPV-related cancers but face long-term physical and emotional effects.
Cancer Technology
New Sequencing Method Reveals Hidden Gaps in Immune Signaling
A new single-cell technology developed in part by Sylvester researchers gives scientists their clearest view yet of immune cell behavior by capturing not only genetic intent but also real-time activity. This process, called CIPHER-seq and detailed recently in Scientific Reports, measures RNA and proteins simultaneously to reveal cytokine activity with greater accuracy, bolstering the ability to understand cancer activity, inflammation and treatment resistance. Justin Taylor, M.D., Sylvester physician-scientist and the study’s co-senior author, and collaborators noted the findings could help scientists design better immunotherapies and help clinicians predict which patients will benefit from them.
Precision Radiation Oncology
Adaptive Radiation Turns Daily Imaging Into Precision Treatment
Sylvester is forging new frontiers in precision medicine through the use of adaptive radiation therapy (ART) to respond to patient changes as they occur. Using daily imaging, clinicians recalibrate plans so each dose reflects changes in patient anatomy caused by treatment. The result is a highly individualized approach to radiation therapy that turns imaging from a verification step into an active treatment tool. “Adaptive radiation is about responding to what we see today, not what we assumed weeks ago, explained Markus Bredel, M.D., Ph.D., chairman and Sylvester professor of Radiation Oncology. “The goal is always the same: deliver the best dose to the target while respecting what’s around it.”
Big Cancer Data
New Data Portal Combines Multi-Sourced Cancer Data into Unified Platform
Sylvester has developed a novel, cloud-based informatics platform that combines clinical and genomic data from multiple sources into one unified platform. The Sylvester Data Portal (SDP) enables researchers to study cancer at both the population and individual patient levels by providing access to data across aggregated, de-identified and even identified clinical datasets – under appropriate IRB and data broker approval. Sylvester researchers presented the advantages of their data platform at the recent American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in San Diego.
