Mays Cancer Center Annual Report Magazine
2020 issue
2020 Clinical Investigator of the Year Awarded to Dimpy Shah, MD, PhD
Dimpy Shah, MD, PhD, was named the Mays Cancer Center's 2020 Clinical Investigator of the Year for her work on an international level to study COVID-19 and its effect on patients with cancer. She is an expert in respiratory viruses, cancer epidemiology and survivorship.
Uncovering Repair Mechanisms to Fix DNA Double-Strand Breaks
Researchers at the Mays Cancer Center are studying the most toxic and carcinogenic kind of DNA damage -- DNA double-stand break which can be caused by radiation used to kill cancer cells. Their findings can lead to new more effective treatments.
Groundbreaking Work on Connexins Leads to Potential Breast Cancer Drug
Jean Jiang, PhD, and her team of researchers are building on their innovative discoveries on connexin channels by developing custom antibodies to stimulate the opening of hemichannels in bone cells to protect skeletal tissue from the invasion of breast cancer cells.
Anti-Depressant Drug Offers Hope to Treat, Prevent Breast Cancer
A discovery in the research lab of Manjeet Rao, PhD, has led to a clinical trial -- conducted by physician-scientist Virginia Kaklamani, MD, DSc -- repurposing imipramine, a drug originally designed to treat depression, to determine if the drug not only treats but also prevents breast cancer.
Studying Cork Tree Extract and Exercise as Treatments for Prostate Cancer
Darpan Patel, PhD, and lead investigator A. Pratap Kumar, PhD, studied amurense, an extract from the bark of the Amur cork tree native to China, in mouse models to determine its potential as a therapeutic in treating prostate cancer. Research proved it is just as effective as exercise in preventing the progression.
Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic Provides Hope to Cancer Survivors
The Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic at the Mays Cancer Center provides patients specialized treatment to optimize their function, independence and quality of life.
2020 Discovery of the Year Awarded to Ricardo Aguiar, MD, PhD
The Mays Cancer Center presented the 2020 Discovery of the Year award to Ricardo Aguiar, MD, PhD, for his team's breakthrough discovery in their basic biological research on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). a common and often fatal hematological malignancy.
Wings of Hope ~ Hands of Healing
With a vision of providing a source of inspiration to patients and their families, Valerie and Jack Guenther commissioned world-renowned sculptor, Kent Ullberg, to create a beautiful outdoor art sculpture for the Mays Cancer Center.
Remembering the Beloved Legacy of Peggy Pitman Mays
In addition to successfully battling cancer personally, Peggy Pitman Mays generously supported the Mays Cancer Center and helped many patients and their families. A transformational gift in 2018 is a lasting legacy to the unwavering support of Peggy and her husband, Lowry Mays,
Researchers Battle Therapy-Resistant Cancer Cells by Identifying Aggressive Gene Enhancers
New research at the Mays Cancer Center has revealed one reason breast cancer tumor cells are so notoriously resistant to treatment. The finding has important implications in the prospect of developing first-in-class therapies that target the mechanisms in which DNA is ready by the cancer cell.
San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Goes Virtual
For the first time in its 43-year history, the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium was held virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A record crowd from 92 countries participated in the world's leading scientific conference on breast cancer research and treatment.