Victoria Forster, PhD

Victoria Forster is a postdoctoral research scientist and freelance science writer. Her research interests include; DNA repair deficiencies, pediatric cancers, stem cell and organoid models for cancer development and cancer treatment-related side effects. She is also a 25-year survivor of childhood leukemia and an advocate for childhood cancer awareness. She has bylines in several outlets including The Times, The Guardian, Forbes, and Cancer Therapy Advisor.

All articles by Victoria Forster, PhD

Multiple Myeloma

Tocilizumab Shows Benefit in a Patient With COVID-19 and Multiple Myeloma

Victoria Forster, PhD

May 11, 2020

IL-6 blockade may have helped a patient with multiple myeloma recover from COVID-19, but larger studies are needed to prove efficacy.

Prostate Cancer

Ipilimumab May Help Some Patients With Prostate Cancer—Even Those With Low TMB

Victoria Forster, PhD

May 6, 2020

A trial in phase 2 metastatic prostate cancer shows that some patients likely to benefit from ipilimumab treatment, even with low number of tumor mutations.

Researchers find a type of E.coli often found in the normal gut microbiome secretes a genotoxic substance, which leaves a mutational fingerprint linked to some cases of colorectal cancer.

Gastrointestinal Cancers

Bacteria Found in Normal Gut Microbiome May Contribute to Colorectal Cancer

Victoria Forster, PhD

April 21, 2020

Researchers find a type of E.coli often found in the normal gut microbiome secretes a genotoxic substance, which leaves a mutational fingerprint linked to some cases of colorectal cancer.

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma Scorecard: Efficacy, Cost, and Safety

Victoria Forster, PhD

April 9, 2020

New study compares published data from various treatment regimens for multiple myeloma, scoring them on efficacy, cost, and adverse effects.

The median total cost of hospitalization resulting from CAR-T treatment was found to be $380,052, with a median direct cost of $262,981.

Hematologic Cancers

CAR-T in ALL: Records Reveal Direct Costs for Hospitalization Approach $300K

Victoria Forster, PhD

March 31, 2020

The median total cost of hospitalization resulting from CAR-T treatment was found to be $380,052, with a median direct cost of $262,981.

Long-term data do not support efficacy of primary temozolomide monotherapy versus radiotherapy in an

Brain Cancer

Peptide Derived From Scorpion Venom Helps CAR-T Cells Kill Gliomas in Preclinical Tests

Victoria Forster, PhD

March 9, 2020

Researchers have engineered CAR-T cells to express a peptide from scorpion venom to help them home to glioma cells.

CRISPR-modified T cells were used in 3 patients with advanced cancer for the first time, showing modest results on tumor growth.

General Oncology

First Human Clinical Trial in US to Test the Use of CRISPR-Modified T Cells in Cancer Answers Vital Questions

Victoria Forster, PhD

March 5, 2020

CRISPR-modified T cells were used in 3 patients with advanced cancer for the first time, showing modest results on tumor growth.

Incidence of vascular thromboembolic events in urothelial carcinoma treated with gemcitabine and car

Bladder Cancer

Combination Therapy for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Shows Promise in Early Clinical Trial

Victoria Forster, PhD

February 18, 2020

A combination of pembrolizumab and an antibody-drug conjugate demonstrated a 73% overall response rate in a phase 1/2 clinical trial.

A new study describes how the flu vaccine creates an antitumoral response in mouse models of metastatic melanoma that has spread to the lungs.

Skin Cancer

An Early Study Suggests the Flu Shot Could Someday Be Used as Part of an Immunotherapy Regimen in Cancer

Victoria Forster, PhD

February 12, 2020

A new study describes how the flu vaccine creates an antitumoral response in mouse models of metastatic melanoma that has spread to the lungs.

A microfluidics platform for engineering activated antigen carrier immunotherapies from red blood cells showed promising preliminary results in a mouse model.

General Oncology

Preclinical Work on Red Blood Cell-Based Therapies in HPV-Positive Solid Tumors Provides Rationale for Clinical Trials in Humans

Victoria Forster, PhD

January 30, 2020

A microfluidics platform for engineering activated antigen carrier immunotherapies from red blood cells showed promising preliminary results in a mouse model.

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