Cancer Frontiers (Video)

As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. Steven Seyedin discusses radiation therapy. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41558]

Pre-cancer and cancer can begin when stressed blood-forming stem cells lose their normal controls. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how inflammation-linked editing enzymes, repetitive elements in the genome, and stem cell stress shape the progression from myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute myeloid leukemia. Jamieson examines how spaceflight accelerates stem cell aging, how some astronauts mobilize a resilient regenerative stem cell population, and how tumor organoids in space help reveal drug responses by activating the enzyme ADAR1. This work helps explain how cancer starts, why it can return, and how space-based research may speed the development of therapies that stop malignant stem cells before disease advances. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41473]

As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. Spencer Behr discusses PSMA PET and functional imaging. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41557]

As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. Jonathan Chou discusses targeted therapies. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41563]

As part of the 2026 UCSF Patient Conference on Prostate Cancer, Dr. David Oh discusses immunotherapy. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41562]

Join Chancellor May as he meets a couple of UC Davis researchers and the people who have been impacted by their positive work on the UC Davis Health campus. Joseph Tuscano, M.D., oncologist at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, receives federal funding to look for less toxic therapies for treating cancer such as immunotherapy. And Christine Nordahl, director of the Autism Phenome Project at the UC Davis MIND Institute, focuses on understanding how the brain develops during early childhood in children with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism. Both researchers rely on federal funding to continue their life-saving and vital work. Series: "UC Davis News" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41064]

Dr. Thomas Hope presents PSMA PET imaging as a transformative advancement in prostate cancer care. This technology uses a radioactive tracer to precisely detect cancer spread by targeting PSMA, a protein found on prostate cancer cells. It outperforms traditional bone and CT scans in sensitivity and accuracy, allowing for better staging and treatment planning. PSMA PET improves radiation therapy outcomes by revealing cancer in areas previously undetected. While multiple tracers exist, all FDA-approved options show similar performance, and accessibility is the key factor. Hope also discusses current challenges, including false positives and rare cases of PSMA-negative tumors. Ongoing research explores replacing biopsy or MRI with PSMA PET in select patients. Today, PSMA PET is considered the standard imaging method in nearly all stages of prostate cancer. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40806]

UCSF oncologist Dr. Jonathan Chou discusses how genetics and genomics are transforming the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. He explains how inherited and acquired mutations—especially in DNA repair genes like BRCA2—can impact both cancer risk and treatment decisions. Dr. Chou outlines how UCSF researchers use tumor and blood-based biopsies to identify key mutations and genomic features that help tailor care for each patient. Examples include how genomic scores can predict response to radiation and how targeted therapies like PARP inhibitors benefit patients with specific mutations. The talk highlights the growing role of precision medicine in guiding individualized treatment plans based on the unique genetic profile of each patient’s cancer. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40798]

UCSF's Dr. Rahul Aggarwal explains the role of clinical trials in advancing prostate cancer treatment and how trial design is evolving to match today’s more personalized approaches. He highlights how UCSF has contributed to major prostate cancer therapies and emphasizes the importance of genetic and genomic testing in identifying suitable trials for each patient. Dr. Aggarwal explains the different trial phases, clarifies common myths—such as concerns about placebos—and stresses that trials are considered at every stage of disease. He also discusses efforts to improve access, affordability, and diversity in trial participation, including regional partnerships and digital matching tools. The talk encourages patients to be informed and proactive when considering clinical trials as part of their treatment plan. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40800]

As part of the 2024 Prostate Cancer Patient Conference, Dr. Matthew Cooperberg discusses surgery as treatment for localized prostate cancer, including risk stratification, how prostatectomy is performed, surgery outcomes and potential side effects. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39758]

As part of the 2024 Prostate Cancer Patient Conference, Drs. Julian Hong and Eric Small discuss oligometastatic prostate cancer and its management with radiation and systemic therapies. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39766]

As part of the 2024 Prostate Cancer Patient Conference, patient advocate Stan Rosenfeld leads a panel discussion including Dr. Benjamin Breyer, patients, and their partners, on living with prostate cancer. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39773]

As part of the 2024 Prostate Cancer Patient Conference, Dr. Rahul Aggarwal reviews emerging treatment approaches for advanced prostate cancer, including developments for antibody-drug conjugates, immunotherapy (T cell engagers), targeted radiation, and targeting Androgen Receptor Signaling. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39772]

As part of the 2024 Prostate Cancer Patient Conference, Dr. Thomas Hope presents information on PSMA-PET and discusses imaging in the evaluation of biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39762]

As part of the 2024 Prostate Cancer Patient Conference, Dr. Terence Friedlander discusses bone health in advanced prostate cancer. He reviews normal bone health and how it is affected by prostate cancer, defines important terms, and shares recommendations for optimizing bone health in prostate cancer. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39771]

As part of the 2024 Prostate Cancer Patient Conference, Dr. Hao Nguyen discusses focal therapy as a choice of therapy in patients with low and intermediate risk prostate cancer at high risk for progression. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39760]

As part of the 2024 Prostate Cancer Patient Conference, Dr. Eric Small reviews Androgen Deprivation Therapy, including choices of agents, side effects, considerations in timing, duration, intensity of therapy, and discusses interpretation of clinical trial results. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39756]