Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Chris McGovern spent 40 years here as a locksmith, but some of his best work took place where there were few doors to open and no need for his tools: The Lavine Family Dining Pavilion. That’s where McGovern, who recently retired, made a habit of treating patients in line behind him to coffee, and time permitting, sitting down to talk. If they were a newcomer and seemed a bit nervous, he might even offer advice on how to get through the challenges ahead. Listening to their stories, and sharing them with colleagues, became part of McGovern’s persona. He excelled not just at his job, but also at making others feel connected to our mission. "He’s always prompted us to take a moment to center ourselves and remember why we’re here. Remember our patients. Remember their families and remember the journey they are on. He is very intentional and purposeful about reminding us of that, and I always take it to heart," shared Ralph Nerette, senior director for Public Safety and Emergency Management, at McGovern’s retirement party. Those attending included current and past locksmiths, carpenters, Security staff, administrators, researchers, nurses, and senior faculty. Looking at this eclectic group, William C. Hahn, MD, PhD, executive vice president and chief operating and transformation officer, called it "a great testament" to McGovern’s broad appeal and impact. "All of you in this room are the people that make the Institute work, and have set the culture in place," Hahn said. "Chris is an amazing example of setting that tone. He does it so easily that for the rest of us, it’s just an inspiration." McGovern’s time here gave him more than just a career. After a few years of temporary work, his first day as a full-time staff member coincided with that of Claudette Thompson in Infectious Diseases. Ten years later, she became his wife. Thompson, who retired last year, was on hand for the party, as was their son, Philip McGovern, a Dana-Farber architect. "We see each other around campus all the time," said Philip of he and his father. "It’s going to take me years before I stop turning around every time I hear people jingling keys in the hallways, expecting to see Dad there." As a 2025 recipient of the Ed Benz People and Culture Award, recognizing those who "through their behavior and exceptional efforts, exemplify our core values of compassion and respect…" McGovern was honored in a very fitting way on the morning of his party: free coffee in the Dining Pavilion from 7:00-9:00 a.m. McGovern closed the event by sharing a few of his favorite stories and thanking those who served as his role models. "You all taught me what Dana-Farber is about: How cancer is the scariest thing that will ever happen to our patients, and how you need to put yourself out there and buy them a cup of coffee when they’re here for their first day," McGovern said. "I’ve tried to do that for 40 years. I’ve had a blessed life, a charmed life. I can’t thank you enough."

Back in 2016, avid runner and Dana-Farber Pediatric Fellowship Program Administrator Jillian Lemieux was forced to slow down. Right around the time of prom and graduation, Lemieux was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and because of her chemotherapy treatments, she was sometimes too exhausted for her cross country practices. Now, almost nine years later, she’s completed her first marathon, which she ran as a participant in the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. Fueling her through the 26.2 miles was her own treatment experiences; the cheers of family, friends, and her high school cross country coach; and the memory of her late mother. Getting diagnosed at such a young age was terrifying for Lemieux and her family, especially because her mother had also been treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Then in 2004, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. "My mom’s fight with cancer was brave and selfless," Lemieux says. "It indirectly contributed to my own experience with cancer years later, and if it wasn’t for medical advancement since her treatment, I would not have had the outcome that I did." All the support she has garnered through fundraising goes to the Institute’s Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research, directly contributing to advancing oncology. Now in remission, Lemieux looks back on her experience in treatment with gratitude. Her care team went to great lengths to make her feel like a normal teenager during an abnormal time. "That’s just Dana-Farber," Lemieux concludes. "Everyone really cares." Watching the nurses, physicians, and clinical assistants inspired her to pursue a career in health care. While treatment threw much of her plans for college into temporary disarray, coming out on the other side clarified her purpose. When she finished college with a degree in public health and psychology, she found a job at the same place that once treated her. "I now see the other side of cancer care as a Dana-Farber employee," she observes. "It’s made me appreciate Dana-Farber and the people even more. Everyone cares so deeply about their patients. It’s an amazing team to be a part of." Even during treatment, Lemieux never completely stopped running. The exercise that once provided a semblance of normalcy, she explains, now gives her a chance to pay it forward. From patient to team member and fundraiser, circumstances for Lemieux have come full circle. "I could not be prouder to run 26.2 miles for such an honorable cause that is so close to my heart," she says.

Our President and CEO Benjamin L. Ebert, MD, PhD, was recently recognized with the Erasmus Hematology Award. The award has been established by the Erasmus MC to honor a distinguished scientist who has made major contributions to our understanding of an area in the research field of Hematology. Ebert's postdoctoral mentor, Todd Golub, is also a previous recipient of the award. Please join us in congratulating him on this achievement!

Good luck to our amazing Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team runners as they take on 26.2 miles for Dana-Farber today in the 129th Boston Marathon®! We can’t wait to watch you defy cancer with every mile. 👏 Runners and supporters: share your favorite graphic that represents you this #MarathonMonday! ➡️ #RunDFMC

Many animals produce their own vitamin C. Early human ancestors did too. But they lost the ability about 60 million years ago, trading the health benefits of vitamin C production for the ability to produce more energy. Yet vitamin C is still an essential nutrient for humans. New work from the lab of Jean Zhao, PhD, a researcher in the Department of Cancer Biology, suggests that vitamin C might act as an anti-cancer immunotherapy. "In the past, we didn’t have the scientific tools to understand how vitamin C might work against cancer," says Zhao. "Now we do and that gives us a chance to learn more about how powerful it could be." The research, which was done in mice and recently published in Cell, details the mechanism behind the potential anti-cancer effects of vitamin C and uncovers a new form of post-translational protein modification, a cellular mechanism that changes the way a protein behaves after it has been assembled. This new mechanism, dubbed "vitcylation" by Zhao, joins a list of familiar protein modification mechanisms like phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, and glycosylation. "These post-translational protein modifications are very important and affect many cellular functions," says Zhao. According to the research, vitcylation activity increases with vitamin C dose under the body’s physiological pH levels. At a normal physiological pH of approximately 7.4, vitamin C predominantly exists in its ascorbate ion form, where vitcylation occurs. During vitcylation, ascorbate ions modify lysine, an essential amino acid used in the body to form proteins. The modification changes the way the affected proteins behave. Zhao’s team specifically investigated how vitamin C affects proteins inside cancer cells. They found that ascorbate ion enters tumor cells and modifies a protein called STAT1. This modification has two effects. It enhances the activation of IFN-gamma, which sends a signal outside of the cell requesting aid from immune cells, and increases the cell’s efforts to present tumor antigens, small fragments of abnormal, tumor-specific proteins, on the surface of the cancer cell. "These tumor cells are now waving a red flag," says Zhao. "They are saying 'we’re cancer cells, we are sick cells. Come kill us!'" After reading this, it might seem tempting to grab an orange and get this vitcylation process going at home. Zhao agrees that good nutrition is essential for wellness and to reduce cancer risks, but it is only a part of a larger, unfolding story. "We are talking about doses of vitamin C that are 100 or 1000 times higher than the recommended daily dose for adults," says Zhao. "We need more research to understand this mechanism and how it might work in humans." Zhao is eager to continue this line of research. "Science is heavily weighted to the study of chemical pharmaceuticals, but there is power in nature and in the integration of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals that may yet be untapped," she says.

Our Older Adult Gastrointestinal Cancer Program was built with direct input from older adults and their caregivers. From physical and occupational therapy to nutrition, clinical trials, and emotional support, the program is designed to support every aspect of older adults’ cancer care. Learn more about this innovative program for patients 65 and older: https://bit.ly/4lpwHoA

Incorporating plant-based foods into a daily diet may help lower the risk of certain cancers. Learn tips for building a balanced and nutritious diet that supports health and wellness.

People with Lynch syndrome face a higher risk of developing colon cancer and other cancers, with chances ranging from 22% to 74%, compared to 5% for those without the condition. Our researchers are running a clinical trial testing a cancer vaccine that trains the immune system to very specifically recognize the kinds of cancer cells that are likely to develop in people with Lynch syndrome — and eradicate them before they develop into cancer. "We’ve been seeing incredible success with immunotherapies that harness the body’s immune system to fight cancers," says gastroenterologist Ramona Lim, MD, who is leading the trial. "We’d like to use these same principles to prevent cancer from occurring in genetically predisposed individuals using a vaccine." The Tri-Ad5 vaccine enhances the immune system's ability to detect cancer early by training T cells to recognize tumor-associated antigens. It combines three vaccines targeting molecules common in various cancers, alongside a medicine that primes the immune system. Previously tested in a phase 1 trial, Tri-Ad5 was safe and effectively tuned the immune system to recognize cancer cells, supporting the current phase 2 trial to assess its effectiveness in Lynch syndrome patients. The Tri-Ad5 vaccine is based on vaccine delivery technology called Ad5. The FDA has approved one Ad5-based cancer vaccine for a form of bladder cancer. Tri-Ad5 and other Ad5-based cancer vaccines are still being investigated in clinical trials. The trial is offered through our Lynch Syndrome Center and open to adults over age 18 with Lynch syndrome. Patients with Lynch syndrome and history of colon polyps or colorectal cancer can join if they meet other entry criteria. "This is the biggest vaccine prevention trial we’ve ever had in Lynch syndrome in North America," says Lim. "We are really eager to learn if we can shift the paradigm in terms of what we can do for cancer prevention." The randomized, double-blinded trial integrates seamlessly into the annual colon cancer screening schedule. Participants undergo regular screenings, and if eligible, receive either the vaccine or placebo. After two years, they are screened again to evaluate the vaccine's impact on cancer development compared to the placebo group. "We don’t know if this will be the vaccine that becomes a new intervention or if it will be a different preventive approach in development," says Lim. "But I’m finding that our patients are very excited to help us learn find the best new options for them and their families."

Matthew Meyerson, MD, PhD, FAACR, Toni Choueiri, MD, and Alice Shaw, MD, PhD, have been selected by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) as recipients of 2025 Scientific Achievement Awards. Please join us in congratulating them on this honorable recognition. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Y0Nl3P

After her breast cancer surgery, Tia struggled with mobility in her left shoulder. It felt as though the joint was frozen, and she could feel some swelling in her chest. After several dead ends, she learned that this feeling may be caused by early-stage lymphedema. This condition is a common side effect of breast cancer operations in which underarm lymph nodes are removed. Taking those nodes out of the equation results in buildup of lymph fluid – the resulting swelling is uncomfortable and may affect the shoulders, arms, and chest. It may even predispose someone to infection and influence their mobility. Jennifer Ligibel, MD, a breast oncologist who specializes in exercise research, notes that there may be psychological effects associated with lymphedema as well. For people who have made it through breast cancer treatment, the swelling, and some of the typical interventions like compression sleeves, are a reminder or a mark of the disease they survived. Tia wanted to explore every option available to prevent lymphedema, so she visited Nancy Campbell, MS, a clinical exercise physiologist at our Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies. Had Tia sought care for this two decades ago, most physicians would have recommended moving as little as possible. Noting an onset of lymphedema after an inciting event like raking leaves or shoveling snow, these physicians believed that strenuous movement led to lymphedema. "We used to tell people to never lift more than five pounds," Ligibel says. "It was probably the worst advice you could give." She explains that this theory did not recognize the importance of regular exercise to keep muscles conditioned. This changed in 2009 when a study led by University of Pittsburgh’s Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH, compared a group of patients that underwent an exercise regimen to another that did not. It was found that a supervised weightlifting program could prevent and even reduce the problems associated with lymphedema, as it improves muscle tone and helps lymph fluid move appropriately. In the years since, several other studies have bolstered this conclusion. Exercise was found to also lower risk factors for lymphedema like obesity and inflammation. We were quick to adjust our programs to reflect the change, introducing strength training and yoga programs specifically for lymphedema prevention in the Zakim Center. "The training needs to be structured," Ligibel warns. "Weight should be increased slowly, and every patient should speak with their physician before starting an exercise regimen." During a consultation, Campbell outlined a regimen for Tia that would avoid injury and bolster strength over time. "I love doing it," Tia says. "I feel stronger. The more I move, the better I feel." All of it allows her to lead the active lifestyle she wants and offers mental and emotional support when she feels stressed. She sums it up quite simply: "It has changed my life."