The University of Kansas Cancer Center

04/27/2026

Tomorrow is ! Starting at noon tomorrow, join in the 24 hours of generosity supporting The University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Don’t want to wait? You can make your gift now → https://bit.ly/4gQCDn4

04/27/2026

Kathy Kirby shares how a routine trip, a delayed surgery and a second opinion led her to beat stage 3 colon cancer—and why listening to your body matters.

04/24/2026

As a postdoctoral fellow at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Leah Lambart, PhD, MPH, brings a unique blend of expertise in health policy, public health and clinical research to the team. With a PhD in Health Policy and Management and Master of Public Health, Dr. Lambart’s academic and professional journey has been fueled by a desire to improve public health and address disparities in cancer care. A KU Cancer Center trainee member, Dr. Lambart is leveraging professional networks and career opportunities to amplify her impact in the field of cancer research.

On the KU Cancer Center blog, learn more about the experiences that inspired Dr. Lambart's career, the challenges and opportunities in her research and her vision for a more equitable future in cancer care ➜ https://bit.ly/3P37gdg.

04/24/2026

Jack Beal, The University of Kansas Cancer Center senior vice president and chief administration officer for The University of Kansas Health System, and Raghu Adiga, MD, Liberty Hospital CEO, were the top two fundraisers for this year’s Shave To Save Kansas City. Combined, they raised more than $135,000 during the event’s 25th anniversary in support of American Cancer Society Hope Lodge - Kansas City.

Presented by The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Shave to Save benefits the American Cancer Society and has generated more than $4.5 million in 25 years to support free lodging for cancer patients and caregivers during treatment.

Beal and Adiga, along with more than 20 other community and corporate leaders, shaved their heads on stage in a show of solidarity with Hope Lodge guests and survivors.

04/24/2026

The more we learn about our genes, the bigger the potential for precision medicine.

Head and neck cancer expert Tomoo Iwakuma, MD, PhD, focuses on tumor suppressor p53, a protein dubbed the “guardian of the genome” that repairs DNA damage and prevents tumors. In about 75% of head and neck cancer cases, p53 has mutated and isn’t working properly.

“My lab is identifying novel compounds and therapeutic strategies that exploit p53 mutations and dysfunction to selectively target cancer cells." - Tomoo Iwakuma, MD, PhD

Dr. Iwakuma also points out that HPV interferes with p53, meaning HPV vaccination is one of the best prevention strategies for head and neck cancers. Read more about HPV and Head and Neck Cancer → https://bit.ly/3i4BxWN

04/23/2026

It’s laboratory professionals week! The health system has more than 625 pathologists and staff working in our labs. You may not meet most of them in person, but their work is crucial to providing the best patient care. Thank you for all you do!

If you are interested in making a difference in patients’ lives, consider joining our team. See openings. ➡️ https://bit.ly/3UqjHAq

04/23/2026

Cigarette smoking rates overall are dropping, and in turn, lung cancer rates are dropping too. But new research from The University of Kansas reveals an interesting link between smoking and chronic pain.

Cancer center member Jessica Powers, PhD, co-authored the study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Read her thoughts here → https://bit.ly/3OTc8Fy

04/23/2026

It's time to register for the Masonic Cancer Alliance's Melanoma Monday! Appointments for a free skin cancer screening are available from 12:30-4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 4. Screenings will be held inside our dermatology clinic located on the 4th floor of 2000 Olathe Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas. Register today! https://bit.ly/4vMdfaz

04/22/2026

Congratulations Joseph Donnelly, EdD, for earning the Chancellor’s Club Research Award. His 40-plus years of research have focused on nutrition, physical activity and weight management. That expertise contributes to the cancer center’s new Obesity, Metabolic Health and Cancer research program.

Read more about the award →

Joseph Donnelly will receive the honor from Chancellor Douglas Girod in a special ceremony at the Jayhawk Welcome Center April 14.

04/21/2026

Consuming less alcohol and to***co lowers your risk for head and neck cancers. HPV vaccination helps too. But head and neck cancer experts like Dr. Sufi Thomas, PhD, remind us the underlying cause of the disease is sometimes unclear.

“Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month renews our commitment to advancing the biological understanding of these cancers, developing more effective therapies and improving the quality of life for people who have head and neck cancers.” - Dr. Sufi Thomas, PhD, associate director for Basic Science.

Read more about HPV and Head and Neck Cancer → https://bit.ly/3i4BxWN

04/21/2026

• Which cancers are more common in people with obesity?
• How much weight loss is required to reduce cancer risk?
• What should future studies focus on?

Today's issue of JAMA answers those questions with a great review of Obesity and Cancer co-authored by Kristy Brown, PhD. Dr. Brown co-leads our new Obesity, Metabolic Health and Cancer research program, dedicated to expanding our understanding of the cancer-obesity relationship.

Read more about the new research program and hear Dr. Brown discuss how fat can fuel metastasis on an episode of Bench to Bedside → https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/research-programs/obesity-metabolic-health-and-cancer

is associated with higher risk for 12 types and accounts for approximately 10% of annual new cancer cases in the US.

Excess adiposity promotes cancer development through inflammation, altered hormone production, disrupted immune function, genomic instability, and gut microbiome changes.

Weight loss interventions, including bariatric surgery and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists ( -1 RAs), have been linked to modest reductions in obesity-associated cancer risk, although >10% weight loss may be necessary for measurable benefit.

📄 This Review summarizes the primary biological pathways connecting obesity and cancer development.

https://ja.ma/4cVUp9w

04/21/2026

is just one week away!

Huge thanks to everyone who has donated to The University of Kansas Cancer Center over the past 8 years. Join us again this year on April 28-29 from noon to noon. Every gift makes a difference and helps fuel the next big idea.

When you use the link below, your donation will support KU Cancer Center’s new Center for Survivorship and Patient-Oriented Research. Learn how the center plans to expand → https://bit.ly/4gQCDn4