Hollings researchers have identified five critical care steps that can help patients with advanced head and neck cancer begin radiation within the recommended six weeks after surgery. Led by Hollings head and neck surgical oncologist Evan Graboyes, M.D., the study found that patients who completed four or five of these milestones had a 90% rate of starting radiation on time, compared with just 10% among those who completed one or no care steps. The findings provide cancer centers with practical targets for improving coordination across the many specialists involved in head and neck cancer care and helping patients receive lifesaving treatment without unnecessary delays.

Natalie Lui, MD, Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Thoracic Surgery) at the Stanford School of Medicine, has been awarded a multi-year research project grant (R01) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study and develop a molecular imaging agent for localizing (or identifying) lung cancer tumors during surgery. 

Locating small lung tumors located deep within the lungs remains challenging, as they need to be navigated through a complex network of tiny airways. Existing AI systems trained on incomplete human annotations may also fail to identify peripheral airways that were omitted from the training labels. Researchers from Pusan National University developed a novel AI framework, ASTRA-Net, which helps recover previously overlooked peripheral airways—potentially enabling more accurate bronchoscopy maps for better lung cancer diagnosis.

A new review article highlights a rapidly emerging frontier in oncology: the dynamic and influential relationship between nerves and tumors. This evolving field is reshaping how scientists and clinicians understand cancer progression, revealing that tumors are not isolated masses but part of a complex, interactive tumor microenvironment that includes neural networks alongside immune and stromal components.

A new review highlights the growing importance of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in addressing one of the most pressing challenges in modern oncology: treatment-related toxicity. As advances in cancer therapies continue to improve survival rates worldwide, adverse effects linked to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy remain a critical barrier to long-term patient outcomes and quality of life.

New collaborative research from multiple departments at VCU—including VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center—points to a specific multifunctional protein, MDA-9, as a significant driver of head and neck tumors and a mediator of drug resistance. The findings of this study suggest that a new small molecule inhibitor, IVMT-Rx-4, could open the door for enhanced targeted treatment options for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

A comprehensive new review article highlights the growing importance of the MYH9 gene as a central player in both cancer biology and inherited genetic conditions, offering fresh perspectives on its potential as a therapeutic target.