Los Angeles, May 02: Cedars-Sinai has unveiled a series of impactful research findings spanning oncology, transplant medicine, geriatrics, and drug discovery, reinforcing its leadership in advancing patient care and medical innovation.
Higher Heart Risk Among Certain Breast Cancer Survivors
A study published in npj Breast Cancer found that racial and socioeconomic factors play a significant role in long-term heart health among breast cancer survivors. Led by Karissa Britten, the research revealed that Black patients and individuals from lower-income areas face a higher risk of heart failure, regardless of treatment type or pre-existing conditions.
The study, based on data from over 200,000 patients in a National Cancer Institute database, also found that Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaskan Native patients are more likely to present with aggressive tumors. The findings highlight the need for targeted heart monitoring and early intervention strategies.
Hepatitis C-Positive Donors Improve Transplant Access
In a separate study published in the American Journal of Transplantation, researchers found that using organs from hepatitis C-positive donors can significantly reduce pancreas transplant wait times by an average of 117 days.
Led by Todd Brennan, the study demonstrated that with modern antiviral therapies, these transplants maintain comparable safety and effectiveness while increasing organ availability and reducing wastage.
New Screening Method Detects Undiagnosed Cognitive Issues
Research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society introduced a novel in-hospital screening method to detect undiagnosed cognitive impairment and dementia. Led by Zaldy S. Tan, the approach combines brief nurse-led assessments with algorithm-based alerts in electronic health records.
The method screened over 80% of eligible patients and identified previously undiagnosed cognitive impairment in 9% and dementia in 4.3% of cases, improving early detection and patient care outcomes.
Extracellular Vesicle Proteins Offer New Cancer Drug Targets
Another study, published in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, identified 26 proteins linked to poor outcomes across multiple cancer types. Led by Sungyong You, the research highlighted PTK7 as a promising therapeutic target, with findings showing that blocking this protein can inhibit cancer cell growth.
Advancing Patient-Centric Innovation
“These studies reflect our commitment to understanding complex health risks and developing innovative solutions to improve outcomes,” said Robert Figlin, Interim Director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer.
Together, these findings demonstrate Cedars-Sinai’s integrated approach to advancing healthcare—from improving survivorship care and expanding transplant access to enhancing early diagnosis and accelerating drug development.
