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Advances in Radiation-Based Cancer Imaging and Treatment
Frequently, we use the term “cancer” in a very broad manner. While it helps us quickly discuss it, it also hides the reality that “cancer” is not a singular disease. “Cancer” is a bucket term that captures many different issues that lead to diseases that display themselves in a similar fashion. Thus, questions regarding when we will cure “cancer” and why we have not yet, are difficult to answer. But, scientists are working to apply curative or alleviating methods to all cancers in an effort to decrease their impact on humanity. Some of these methods may be broadly applied while others address its many root causes. This series explores two of the most promising routes to therapeutically help us address “cancer” and cancers.
Radiation is the emission of particles or waves from unstable atoms. While radiation can be harmful at high doses, it also has important medical uses for diagnosing and treating diseases like prostate cancer. Scientists can attach radioactive atoms to drugs that target proteins found on cancer cells, allowing them to see the location of tumors in the body or deliver damaging radiation directly to the cancer. Although these targeted radiation therapies are not perfect and can sometimes affect healthy tissues, they are providing new hope to extend survival for patients with aggressive, late-stage prostate cancer.
D4P Fellows
Rachel Payne is a PhD candidate in Pharmacology at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, where she conducts her thesis research in the Lewis and Pillarsetty Labs at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her work focuses on developing and characterizing radiotherapeutic strategies for prostate cancer, with emphasis on PSMA-targeted alpha and beta radiation strategies to address tumor heterogeneity. Rachel began her scientific journey at the University of Utah, earning an Honors B.S. in Chemistry with minors in Physics and Nuclear Engineering. She is an avid science communicator, as a contributing illustrator for Rockefeller’s Natural Selections newsletter and awardee of Weill Cornell’s 2024 3 Minute Thesis competition. Outside of lab, Rachel enjoys being stared at by her pet gecko, reading, and watching Seinfeld.
D4P Producer
Moniquetta Shafer M.Ed., PMP, is a predoctoral researcher focused on understanding how cancer cells modify their metabolism to support acquisition of metastatic features. Her interest in cancer research grew through her exposure to the development of various therapeutics while working in the biotech industry for over 12 years. She has a long-standing interest in biology education and loves to see difficult scientific topics discussed in ways that are easy for non-scientists to understand. Her vision for this season was to help the average person understand how researchers are working to develop more effective treatments against cancer. In her spare time, she cares for her two healthy and active sons and loves to laugh and kick back with her loving and supportive husband.