As the year comes to a close, the Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) is reflecting on the significant progress our researchers have made in advancing cancer care – from fostering innovative research ideas to preparing the next generation of cancer scientists.
Below, you’ll find several highlights from the last 12 months, and there’s even more to explore here.
Cellular Protein Boosts Breast Cancer Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy
Researchers have found that a naturally occurring protein boosts the effectiveness of certain breast cancer treatments, helping with the rupture of cancer cells.
Disrupting Communication to Prevent Breast Cancer Metastasis
Illinois researchers have discovered a communication pathway that helps breast cancer spread. The team will now develop treatment strategies to disrupt the pathway, aiming to prevent metastasis.
Safeguarding Cancer Patients’ Fertility
A study led by CCIL researcher Hillary Klonoff-Cohen examined Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels before, during, and after chemotherapy to predict which cancer patients could deliver healthy babies.
ICEC Brings Opportunities to Students
Ten students from Illinois presented at the 2025 International Cancer Education Conference, a national forum that brings together researchers, educators, health professionals, and students.
A new hydrogel recruits immune cells from all over the body to the injection site, instead of relying on the vaccine to reach them. The technique makes it more likely for immune cells to process mRNA and help fight tumors.
ResearcHStart 2025: A Summer of Growth
Students in the 2025 ResearcHStart program completed a summer of cancer research at the CCIL. ResearcHStart is an opportunity for high school students to get hands-on lab experience, build a network of mentors, and explore career opportunities.
Benign vs. Cancerous Breast Calcifications
Illinois researchers are studying how calcifications form in breast tissue. They found differences using a combination of geology, biology, and medicine. The findings could help guide therapeutic development and prevent patients from undergoing unnecessary procedures.
Cancer Engineering Garners National Attention
The CCIL played an integral role at a workshop on the emerging field of cancer engineering at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. CCIL Director Rohit Bhargava served as a co-chair, and presentations featured several CCIL student trainees.
Sharps Lead the Endowment of the CCIL Directorship
The directorship of the Cancer Center at Illinois has been renamed as the Phillip and Ann Sharp Director, in recognition of a transformative gift from the Sharps. This naming reflects the Sharps’ ongoing commitment to Illinois and the extraordinary work happening at the CCIL, where we are revolutionizing cancer research at the intersection of engineering and oncology.
Study Links Urinary Tract Bacteria to Prostate Cancer
New research from CCIL scientists reveals that bacteria in the urinary tract can turn corticosteroids—drugs that mimic cortisol, like Prednisone—into androgens, which are hormones that help prostate cancer grow. The findings could help lead to new treatments, such as drugs that block harmful bacterial hormones.