Massachusetts General Hospital

1/31/12: Mass. General study defines a new genetic subtype of lung cancer MGH Cancer Center investigators have defined the role of a recently identified gene abnormality – rearrangements in the ROS1 gene – in non-small-cell lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. They also show that these tumors can be treated with crizotinib and describe the remarkable response of one patient to crizotinib treatment.

1/19/12: Color-coding, rearranging food products improves healthy choices in hospital cafeteria A simple program involving color-coded food labeling and adjusting the way food items are positioned in display cases was successful in encouraging more healthful food choices in a large hospital cafeteria.

1/18/12: Novel gene mutations associated with bile duct cancer Investigators at the MGH Cancer Center have identified a new genetic signature associated with bile duct cancer, a usually deadly tumor for which effective treatment currently is limited.

1/16/12: Combining two anti-HER2 drugs may provide better preoperative breast cancer treatment Using two drugs that inhibit the growth factor HER2 for preoperative treatment of early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer appears to have better results than treatment with a single agent.

1/15/12: Mass. General researchers find novel way to prevent drug-induced liver injury MGH investigators have developed a new way to protect the liver from drug-induced injury and improve drug safety. The team reports that inhibiting a type of cell-to-cell communication can protect against the damage caused by liver-toxic drugs such as acetaminophen.