Fox Chase Cancer Center

01/15/2026

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, Siddharth Balachandran, PhD, Director of the Center for Immunology at Fox Chase, and his team of international collaborators have shown that infected cells generate their own signals to trigger cell death and contain infection. Read more:

The immune system's ability to distinguish self from non-self is central to defending against infection. For years, the prevailing scientific belief was that the immune system responds to something viruses produce.

01/14/2026

Neuroendocrine tumors, or NETs, have become more common over the last 50 years, with the incidence rising from 1 in 100,000 to 8 in 100,000 people.

At Fox Chase Cancer Center, Namrata "Neena" Vijayvergia, MD, brings more than a decade of experience in treating gastrointestinal cancers, with a specialization in NETs. Read more on OncLive: https://bit.ly/3Yjm5ND

Fox Chase Cancer Center’s Namrata ‘Neena’ Vijayvergia, MD, an expert in gastrointestinal cancers and rare NETs, was recently recognized by two NET advocacy groups for her contributions to the field.

01/14/2026

If you have been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor and are receiving treatment, we invite you to join our open Neuroendocrine Tumor support group, led by Fox Chase Cancer Center social workers. Interested patients should email Anjali Albanese, MSW, LSW at Anjali.Albanese@fccc.edu or Mark Itzen, MSW, LCSW at
Mark.Itzen@fccc.edu for a link to participate. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3Lio4Pf

01/14/2026

The signs of colorectal cancer can be hard to pin down, largely because they can overlap with those of more run-of-the-mill conditions like IBS or even a case of food poisoning. In a recent article with SELF, Fox Chase Cancer Center's Dr. Chris Cann shares the signs and symptoms to look out for:

Diet is just one piece of the puzzle.

01/12/2026

A new online education and support group for people affected by sarcoma is launching this month. STORIES (Sarcoma Together Offering Restorative Interaction Through Education and Support) is a free, virtual support group focused on connection, shared experience, and education.

Join us for our first virtual meeting, Wednesday, January 28, from 5:00–6:00 p.m.

This group is open to all sarcoma patients, regardless of where you receive care. You do not need to be a Fox Chase patient to attend.

Register today:

Meeting Dates:Last Wednesday of every third month (Jan 28, April 29, July 29, and October 28, 2026)Time:5:00 pm - 6:00 pmLocation:

01/12/2026

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder that prevention and screening save lives. Learn more about how we can support you: https://bit.ly/4boqvug

01/09/2026

Facing cancer as a young adult can feel isolating, but no one has to go through it alone. Disha Sawhney of Fox Chase Cancer Center highlights the power of speaking with your physician, using trusted resources, and finding connection through support groups, even virtually. Read more on CURE Today: https://bit.ly/4awMEGt

Young adults with newly diagnosed cancer may feel overwhelmed, but open communication with doctors and support groups can help them feel less alone.

01/07/2026

If you have been diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor and are receiving treatment, we invite you to join our open support group, led by Fox Chase Cancer Center social workers. Interested patients should email Anjali Albanese, MSW, LSW
at Anjali.Albanese@fccc.edu or Mark Itzen, MSW, LCSW at
Mark.Itzen@fccc.edu for a link to participate.

01/06/2026

Using the first-ever prostate cancer cell line from an Afro-Caribbean patient, investigators at Fox Chase Cancer Center and other members of the African Caribbean Cancer Consortium uncovered significant differences in how cancer drugs work across ancestries. Read more: https://bit.ly/459PUEn

Effectiveness of prostate cancer drugs potentially tied to ancestry according to new research data.

01/05/2026

With deep sadness, we share the passing of Paul F. Engstrom, MD, FACP, a pioneering physician and visionary leader who helped shape Fox Chase Cancer Center and modern cancer care. Over nearly five decades, Dr. Engstrom built one of the nation’s first cancer prevention and control programs, advanced screening and smoking cessation efforts, and championed equitable access to care. A founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and a trusted mentor to generations of physicians and scientists, his influence reached far beyond our walls and around the world. His legacy lives on through the programs he built, the people he guided, and the Paul F. Engstrom Professorship in Oncology. He will be deeply missed.

A Celebration of Life for Dr. Engstrom will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Service at 11:00 a.m.

Christ’s Lutheran Church
700 East Pennsylvania Avenue
Oreland, PA 19075

Memorial gifts can be made to Fox Chase Cancer Center and mailed to 333 Cottman Avenue, Phila., PA 19111 or made online:

Fox Chase Cancer Center is one of 50 institutions designated by the National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Our mission is to prevail over cancer, marshaling heart and mind in bold scientific discovery, pioneering prevention, and compassionate care.

12/23/2025

Temple Health and Temple University recently gathered to celebrate the legacy of Michael A. Young, MHA, FACHE, who will retire as President and CEO of Temple Health on January 2, 2026.

Since joining Temple in 2018, Mike Young led a transformative era of growth, expanded access to care, strengthened quality and safety, and helped shape the future of healthcare in our region.

Thank you, Mike, for your extraordinary leadership, mentorship, and lasting impact on Temple Health, our patients, and our community.

12/23/2025

Robotic-assisted surgery is an essential tool in modern lung cancer care, enabling greater precision, improved visualization, and minimally invasive procedures with smaller incisions and faster recovery.

On the latest Moves in Medicine, Fox Chase Cancer Center thoracic surgeons Louis Chai, MD, and Lisa Bevilacqua, MD, share on how they incorporate robotic technology across lung cancer surgeries while keeping expert clinical judgment at the center of care:

Robotic-assisted surgery is becoming increasingly common in operating rooms across the United States.