JANUARY 2026 TIP SHEET

Cancer and Lifestyle Medicine

Sylvester Expert Can Help Digest New Dietary Guidelines

Forty percent of cancers are preventable, and diet is one of the biggest levers at one’s control, according to a Sylvester expert on lifestyle interventions in cancer treatment. Tracy Crane, Ph.D., RDN, director of Lifestyle Medicine and co-lead of Sylvester’s Cancer Control Research Program, says the updated U.S. dietary guidelines emphasize an overall healthy eating pattern versus individual nutrients. “Cancer prevention doesn’t start in the clinic; it starts on the plate,” says Crane, whose research focuses on lifestyle modification as a way to prevent cancer or help treat it after a diagnosis.

Firefighter Cancer Initiative

Unseen Hazards: Simple Wipe Test Finds PFAS on Firefighter Gear

A simple wipe test detected invisible, cancer-linked polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – “forever chemicals” – on every set of firefighter gear examined, including breathing masks, according to new Sylvester research. The study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, provides fire departments with a practical tool to limit exposure to hazardous chemicals linked to cancer, the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths. “Think of it as turning on a blacklight in a dark room,” said Alberto Caban-Martinez, Ph.D., D.O., MPH, deputy director of Sylvester’s Firefighter Cancer Initiative. “Suddenly, you see what’s been hiding all along.” The study was co-authored by Natalia Soares Quinete, Ph.D., a researcher at Florida International University.

Head & Neck Cancer

Why Many Head and Neck Cancer Trials End Prematurely

Many head and neck cancer trials get shelved before they can deliver answers and a new Sylvester study points to two main reasons: sponsor decisions related to safety or effectiveness and poor patient recruitment. Researchers reviewed almost 700 trials over the past two decades in their analysis, with the results published in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. “Understanding why trials fail is the first step toward designing studies that succeed,” said study co-author Elizabeth Franzmann, M.D.

Lung Cancer

Trial Results Suggest Durvalumab Offers New Path for SCLC Care

New Sylvester research indicates that the immune checkpoint inhibitor, durvalumab, may offer new options for patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. The study’s findings and an accompanying editorial, published in JCO Global Oncology as part of the multicenter Adriatic clinical trial, suggest a promising addition to the treatment landscape for SCLC, but also raise concerns about its high cost affecting sustainability, prevention and access. “Durvalumab represents a turning point in maintenance therapy for SCLC,” explains Chinmay Jani, M.D., the study’s first author. “We’re seeing survival gains that were unimaginable just a few years ago.”  

Blood Cancer

Targeting Genetic Modifiers and Splicing Regulators May Lead to New AML Treatment

Treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) depends on knowing what goes awry inside cells, and a recent Sylvester study found that two genetic mutations – IDH2 and SRSF2 – work together to mis-splice RNA messages and change how blood cells develop. The findings, appearing this month in Science Advances, provide a mechanistic map that could shape future AML therapy. “The mutations don’t act alone – they reshape the cell’s blueprint,” explained Maria Figueroa, M.D., associate director for Translational Research. “Understanding that process gives us a roadmap for better, more precise treatments.”

Cancer Profile

Erin Kobetz, Ph.D: Sylvester’s Community Outreach and Engagement Leader

Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., MPH, associate director for Community Outreach and Engagement at Sylvester, grounds her work in the principles of participatory action research. Her approach brings together researchers and community members to determine the focus and scope of research projects, prioritizing integrity and rigor while responding to community needs. She also chairs the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council.

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