Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

@uhnresearch.ca @uhn.ca

🔬 New study found, in some head and neck cancers, losing one copy of the KEAP1 gene boosts NRF2 activity, which helps tumours become resistant to radiotherapy.

Led by our Senior Scientist Dr. David Kirsch.
Published in Cancer Clinical Research, @aacrjournals.bsky.social:
doi.org/10.1158/1078...

Benchmarking peak calling methods for CUT&RUN AbstractMotivation. Cleavage Under Targets and Release Using Nuclease (CUT&RUN) has rapidly gained prominence as an effective approach for mapping prot

New publication alert! 🚨 A team at @uhn.ca's @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social explored #computationalmethods for analyzing CUT&RUN #genomic data, offering insights to improve this new, powerful technique for studying protein-DNA interactions.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/bioi...

Thankyou for hosting us! We are so impressed by the quality of the science, collaboration and facilities at @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social. Looking forward to developing exciting new projects together

@uhnresearch.ca @uhn.ca @fgaiti.bsky.social @matlupien.bsky.social @michaelhoffman.bsky.social @alexswarbrick.bsky.social @skummerf.bsky.social @ankuroncofetal.bsky.social

🇨🇦🇦🇺 Thank you to @garvaninstitute.bsky.social for joining us at the Allan Slaight Breakthrough Forum! Scientists were brought together to tackle tumour complexity for translational impact. Together, we’re accelerating the path toward more precise and effective cancer care.💙

The team's innovative work with Porphysomes has also recently received Health Canada’s approval and institutional approval to begin 1st-in-human clinical study led by Dr. Stephanie Lheureux. Check out the story here: www.uhnresearch.ca/news/canadia...

Their newest study found that, porphysomes and their radiolabelled version with Copper-64 (64Cu-PS) show promising potential for safe and effective use in humans with accurate imaging capabilities to assess their distribution and uptake in cancer patients.
rdcu.be/ewIuK

YouTube video by UHN Research Revolutionizing Drug Delivery at UHN: Porphyrin lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)

Dr. Gang Zheng’s team developed a powerful non-viral drug delivery system—Porphyrin Lipid Nanoparticles, or Porphysomes—for treating cancer, respiratory illness, and other conditions.

Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaTS...

Rare immune cells to fight cancer 🧪 | Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Rare immune cells to fight cancer 🧪 A team led by Dr. Pamela Ohashi at University Health Network found that a rare type of immune cell called γδ T cells is responsible for eradicating tumour in a pat...

Read more about the discovery here:
www.linkedin.com/posts/prince...

YouTube video by UHN Research Revolutionizing Cancer Care at UHN: A unique gamma delta TCR as a novel cancer therapeutic approach

1️⃣ Dr. Pamela Ohashi’s group at UHN’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre discovered that a rare type of immune cells—gamma delta T cells—can be engineered for stronger immunotherapy, providing the potential to treat a wider subset of cancer patients.

Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEB7...

✨Explore the licensing and co-development opportunities based on our discoveries!

Scientists at @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social have developed CellNEST, a powerful AI tool that maps how cells talk to each other. By detecting complex signals between cells, it could lead to new ways to target tumours and stop disease progression.

🔗 www.uhnresearch.ca/news/pinpoin...

🌞RMP’s exciting Summer Series is underway! This year’s theme is Advances in Radiotherapy. Join us through August 21st to hear from global leaders in the field. 🌍💡

Catch up on past sessions here under “RMP Summer Series”: pmcancercampus.ca

#RadOnc #Radiotherapy @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social

1/4 Last week was an exciting one for @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social's CDI program at the AACR conference!

This year’s focus: The transformative role of AI in oncology—from imaging innovations to foundation models shaping the future of #precisiononcology

@theaacr.bsky.social
#AACRai25

Congratulations to the 18 research teams at UHN's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre who secured Project Grant funding from Canadian Institutes of Health Research!

We are grateful for this support—together, we’re advancing discoveries that bring us closer to a world without the fear of cancer.

A real-world study validates the LSC17 score's ability to predict AML patient outcomes and identify high-risk patients who may benefit from more aggressive treatments, led by Drs. Jean Wang @uhn.ca, Tracy Murphy & Stanley Ng.

doi.org/10.3324/haem...
@uhnresearch.ca

Most #cancer cells aren’t able to propagate tumours—but a rare few can.

Using genetic barcodes, a team @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social tracked these rare clones—revealing how they evolve, adapt, and resist treatment. A step toward more targeted cancer therapies.

🔗: www.uhnresearch.ca/news/rare-ca...

Congratulations to all those honored at the 14th Annual PM Research Retreat! The theme for 2025 was "It takes two to think", aiming to build collaborations among scientists and clinicians.

Check out our 2025 research awardees and Papers of the Year here: www.uhn.ca/corporate/Ne...

A switch between blood cancers🩸

Study found “multipotent” cancer cells can switch cell lineages, leading to a higher risk of drug resistance and worse outcomes. A discovery led by our Senior Scientist Dr. John Dick & Dr. Charles Mullighan at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

🧬 The team also found that PRMT inhibitor could improve SCLC treatment outcomes from an epigenetic point of view: A PRMT inhibitor (MS023) disrupts splicing, increases DNA damage & shows strong synergy with chemo & radiation.

Published in Neoplasia: doi.org/10.1016/j.ne...

🔬 New strategy to boost immunotherapy for small cell lung cancer (SCLC): Combining PARP inhibitors + radiotherapy activates immune pathways & boosts T cell-attracting chemokines, discovered by Dr. Ben Lok’s team at @uhn.ca.

Read in Nature Communications: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A new study by Network researchers in Toronto reveals how a key molecule transforms some prostate and lung cancers into more aggressive, treatment-resistant forms of the disease.

(Original story by @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social)

Read now ▶️ bit.ly/4emaWmA

Congratulations to our scientist Dr. Bowen Li on receiving an Early Career Researcher Jump Start Award to support his project entitled: “Nonviral delivery of prime editors for gene therapy of cystic fibrosis”🎉

🧬Also check out his latest review: Advances in lung cancer basic and translational research in 2025 – Overview and perspectives focusing on non-small cell lung cancer. A deep dive into where the science is headed.
www.jto.org/article/S155...

📊A study led by our Senior Scientist Dr. Ming Sound Tsao confirms the 9th edition TNM staging system is valid for high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas, including new N2 & M1c subcategories.
A step forward in accurate prognosis & care.
doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
@uhnresearch.ca @uhn.ca

First joint collaboration-building workshop between @bme-uoft.bsky.social at the @uoftengineering.bsky.social and the @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social at
@uhnresearch.ca

At the Princess Margaret, we work seamlessly to deliver world-class health care, conduct groundbreaking research, and educate tomorrow’s health leaders. We’re excited to continue our work, united under a bold, new brand.
We’re a proud part of UHN – Canada's Hospital 🇨🇦

🔍 Cancer Cells Relay Messages to Coordinate the Spread

CellNEST, an AI-powered tool developed by Dr. Gregory Schwartz's team @uhn.ca, found that cancer cells relay messages in a "two-hop" fashion, fuelling the progression of #PancreaticCancer.

In Nature Methods:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

How do some cancers shift to become more deadly?

Researchers at @pmresearch-uhn.bsky.social have identified an RNA molecule that helps prostate & lung cancers transform into aggressive, hard-to-treat types—a new target in the fight against tumour evolution.

🔗: www.uhnresearch.ca/news/investi...