The most common kind of ovarian cancer often has its silent beginnings not in the ovary, but in the fallopian tube. Researchers aren’t quite sure why, but suspect it has to do with ovulation, explained Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD, Basser's Director of Gynecological Research. Now, oncologists are trying to dispel the confusion between “tube-tying” and salpingectomy, or surgically removing the fallopian tubes, which can prevent ovarian cancer.

The Basser Center provided funding for a study where researchers from Penn Vet, Penn Medicine, and CHOP, showed that modifying mRNA vaccines with a cytokine could make the benefits of vaccines last longer and offer a potential approach for reducing the risk of cancer. 

Angela R. Bradbury, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, presents findings from the eREACH trial—a randomized study of an eHEALTH delivery alternative for cancer genetic testing for hereditary predisposition in patients with metastatic cancers.

Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD, Basser's Director of Gynecologic Cancer Research, will present on multiomics approaches to finding new biomarkers that can be leveraged for early detection at the 2025 AACR Annual Meeting.

Motivated by generations past, present, and future, two patients participating in the first-of-its-kind clinical trial are testing an experimental approach to stop cancer in its tracks at the earliest stages of development at the Basser Center for BRCA.

A large-scale study has shed light on the genomic differences in metastatic prostate cancer between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic white veterans, revealing that while there are distinct biological variations, survival outcomes are similar when both groups have equal access to care. “This study shows that when we remove barriers to care and apply precision medicine equitably, we can improve outcomes for all patients,” said senior author Kara Maxwell, MD, PhD, director of the Men & BRCA program.

In recognition of her contributions to cancer prevention and control research, Susan Domchek, MD has been selected to receive this year’s ASCO-American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Award, which will be presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Katherine Nathanson, MD, director of Genetics at the Basser Center, discussed next steps for identifying how breast cancers become resistant to treatment. Identifying new resistance pathways could help researchers develop combination treatments or next-generation drugs to overcome or prevent resistance.

Payal Shah, MD explains why genetic testing should be considered for those with a strong family history of breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers, particularly if diagnosed at a young age.

Basser executive director Susan Domchek, MD has been recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology with one of the society’s highest honors, as the 2025 recipient of the ASCO-American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Award.