Oncologist, researcher, & Associate Professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Working on optimizing lifestyle & metabolic health to improve cancer risk & outcomes.
Obesity-related cancer is an accelerating epidemic that is impacting young adults. Glad to bring more awareness to this critical issue on
@CBSEveningNews
. Thank you to
@BCRFcure
and
@ConquerCancerFd
of
@ASCO
for supporting this important research.
Cancers rates are on the rise in millennials for whom obesity is a risk factor, according to a new study.
One expert tells CBS News that fat cells “produce inflammatory molecules that stimulate the growth of cancer.”
@adrianasdiaz
reports
Thrilled to have gotten a call from
@AmericanCancer
that my proposal will be funded- we will launch a randomized control trial of a plant-based diet + personalized exercise Rx aiming to prime the breast microenvironment against cancer growth. More to come!
@sloan_kettering
I haven’t said much and it seems appropriate to share now on
#WorldCancerDay
-my Mom completed treatment for HER2+
#breastcancer
today. She is the most amazing person I know and inspires me every day. So grateful to my incredible colleagues/friends/work-family
@sloan_kettering
🙏
New study from Jones lab: In >11,000 people with cancer and up to 25 yrs followup, exercise reduced all-cause mortality by 25% and reduced risk of cancer-specific death for kidney and head and neck cancers.
Summary:
Article:
Our paper is out today in
@JAMAOnc
We discuss methods to harness the anti-cancer potential of exercise during and after cancer treatment. Thank you
@EricTopol
for highlighting!
Happy to share that our exercise trial in metastatic breast cancer will soon be available to people throughout the US as a multi-center trial with the
#tbcrc
. It’ll be a slower rollout as we figure out the logistics of tele-exercise (developed in the Jones lab) on a larger scale.
Next trial on deck!
@theNCI
funded my R01. We will open a dose-finding tele-exercise trial with concurrent therapy for people with metastatic breast cancer. Excited our team will be able to bring trials like this to our patient community!
@sloan_kettering
At least 13 cancers are obesity-related. Currently, 1 of 6 female and 1 of 7 male cancer deaths are accelerated by obesity. New report in
@nejm
projects worse: ~50% of US adults in 2030 will be obese. It’s higher for females, low-income, & Hispanic/Black.
My mom and I got to take over the
@BCRFcure
Instagram account! As an oncologist, researcher, and now son-of-a-survivor, I couldn’t be more grateful to BCRF for accelerating new innovations in cancer treatment and for nurturing the research community (even during a pandemic!)
We're thrilled to turn our Instagram account over to BCRF investigator Dr.
@Neil_Iyengar
and his mom, Uma, who finished treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer one year ago. Follow the Iyengars' story throughout the day today on Instagram:
“The main takeaway message should be to encourage the intake of legumes, nuts, vegetable fats, oils, and other foods from plant sources while the intake of animal fats, and particularly red and processed meat, should be discouraged”
@JAMA_current
October has always been the month we celebrate my parents’ wedding anniversary. Now we also celebrate my Mom completing radiation for breast cancer. Albeit celebratory, it also brings anxiety over remaining vigilant. I’m so grateful for her and my friends at
@MSKCancerCenter
.
I am incredibly excited to be the new co-EIC of ONCOLOGY with the esteemed
@DrJulieVose
. The journal and
@CancerNetwrk
team are passionately dedicated, as we are, to providing a premier platform for data dissemination and discussion!!
@MSK_DeptOfMed
@MSKCancerCenter
CancerNetwork and the journal ONCOLOGY are very excited to announce our new co-editor-in-chief of solid tumors,
@Neil_Iyengar
from
@MSKCancerCenter
. Stay tuned to see new initiatives from him and
@DrJulieVose
, as we move into 2024!
Happy to share our latest review underscoring the need to incorporate more precise measures of metabolic health (beyond BMI) for assessing breast cancer risk led by Drs.
@SherryShenMD
and Naaman!
#JCEM
@EndoSocJournals
@MSKCancerCenter
Physical activity is associated with longer progression free survival and less side effects in metastatic colorectal cancer.
- Need exercise trials in metastatic (not just early) stage
- Our metastatic breast cancer trial is open.
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death after breast cancer diagnosis. A 16 week supervised aerobic and resistance training intervention reduced 10 year cardiovascular disease risk scores in women with early stage breast cancer.
@JAMAOnc
Today I give thanks to my amazing clinical team
@sloan_kettering
They are smart, kind, and dedicated to providing the best care to our patients and their families. Despite the difficulties of cancer, they make the office a place of hope and comfort. Happy Thanksgiving!
Dr.
@Neil_Iyengar
, director of MSK’s Healthy Living program, was presented with an Oncology Heroes art piece at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium for his dedication to cancer research and care.
#CFS
Earlier we reported that higher body fat level despite normal weight doubles the risk of breast cancer. This new study reports increased all-cause and cancer-specific deaths due to normal weight obesity. It is critical that we address this issue in cancer prevention/treatment.
Our Tele-Exercise trial in ER+ metastatic breast cancer is now open to enrollment
@sloan_kettering
! Please see link for further details (will make another announcement when accrual starts at other sites)
We’re working hard on a new program that provides personalized
#lifestyle
prescriptions during cancer treatment through survivorship. It will rapidly translate findings from research into practice.
Fortunate to have a team of passionate clinicians- stay tuned!
@MSKCancerCenter
.
@Neil_Iyengar
chats about phase 2 results of the effects of plant-based diet & exercise therapy on weight & body composition in patients with primary hormone receptor positive
#breastcancer
during poster sessions at
@ASCO
.
#ASCO24
Growing evidence indicates that metabolic health impacts the behavior of triple negative breast cancers and not just hormone-sensitive tumors. Here
@eberger32
and I review what we know (and what we don't know) about energy balance and
#TNBC
Many congratulations to Dr.
@SherryShenMD
on receiving a Young Investigator Award for leading our ketogenic diet trial! She’s a total rockstar and I’m thrilled to see
@ConquerCancerFd
continue to support the next generation of leaders in cancer research!
@ASCO
@MSKCancerCenter
I’m excited to moderate this all-star panel including Drs.
@cardiac_fitness
@MPilewskie
and Andrea Smith, RN. You can participate in this fascinating discussion by submitting your questions here:
This is an excellent piece reviewing the influence of dietary modification on cancer therapy efficacy. We will be opening a trial soon in metastatic breast cancer testing this hypothesis. More to come.
A Review in Nature discusses reports that suggest that diet modification can alter the efficacy of cancer therapies. The results discussed indicate dietary habits of a patient must be taken into account during cancer research and therapy.
So grateful to the scientific community, essential workers, research funders, and industry partners. The rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccination inspires us to imagine how far we can go together and what global health burden we will tackle next.
This was a fun chat with a few pointers about nutrition and breast cancer - what we know, and what we hope to learn with ongoing research.
Oh, and an apple a day might keep the doctor (me) away!
Article by
@bpiersol1
@MSKCancerCenter
We are SO grateful to the
@ConquerCancerFd
donors who help us advance cancer research and bring discoveries directly to our patients at an increasingly rapid pace! It is a privilege to do this work
@sloan_kettering
Exercise increases vascularity in pancreas tumors (could improve chemotherapy delivery) and, in mice, reduced tumor growth. Look at the ⬆️ blood vessel formation in a tumor from a person who exercised during preop chemo! Fascinating work from
@SchadlerLab
More on the intersections between metabolism and cancer - this is an excellent review and update on targeting cholesterol metabolism to potentiate cancer therapy published yesterday in
@NatMetabolism
(an interest in our program as well)
Lifestyle matters even in genetic predisposition (BRCA) to cancer.
Metabolic dysfunction ⬆️ DNA damage in breast and fallopian tube and can be reversed w/ ER & metabolic targeting.
A truly enlightening collaboration w/
@BrownLab_WCM
!
@ScienceTM
#bcsm
I am proud to share with you our recently published paper showing that obesity promotes breast epithelium DNA damage in women carrying a germline mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2
In our most recent study of 100 women, physical activity was associated with reduced adipose inflammation and a breast microenvironment less supportive of tumor growth. Many thanks to these fabulous women for donating their tissue!
@CAPR_AACR
👏 👏 👏
@sloan_kettering
COVID-19 Cohort Management Team (CCMT). This is a multi-disciplinary strategy to care for COVID19 mild symptoms via Tele-medicine while keeping folks home. Getting very positive feedback from my patients and my clinic team is grateful for the help.
We really got into it (lifestyle/cancer and our diet + exercise trial for prevention of breast cancer recurrence) on this great Podcast by
@ConquerCancerFd
. Have a listen and join the discussion!
Stay tuned for the Season III premiere of our
#YourStories
podcast this month! Here’s what to expect from the first episode...
@Neil_Iyengar
@Plantable
Subscribe w/ Apple:
Subscribe w/ Google Play:
We’ve shown that chronic inflammation related to obesity increases cancer risk and shortens survival. Acute rises in inflammatory cytokines induced by high intensity interval exercise, however, appear to block colon cancer growth.
@nytimes
Juggling so much these days is overwhelming, but cancer care can’t wait.
I am delighted to participate in this important new campaign. Please help spread this potentially life saving message to everyone you know.
#AlwaysHere
@sloan_kettering
@RoxanneTaylor
Very excited to Co-Chair the
@aicrtweets
2022 Research Conference with
@K_BasenEngquist
.
Our stellar planning committee with
@DrBrockton_AICR
has brought together a ROCKSTAR lineup of speakers on the cutting edge of lifestyle research in oncology.
Congratulations to all walking, volunteering, and participating in today’s
@AmericanCancer
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. You are partnering with us to move breast cancer research ahead! Thank you
@AmyFreeze7
for highlighting today’s efforts.
@NBCNewYork
@ACSNews
Maintaining a healthy weight is an ongoing issue for many. In this pooled analysis including >180k women, >20 lbs weight loss lowered breast cancer risk by 26% and the risk remained lower even if some of the weight was regained.
More than 7500 steps/day not associated with incremental mortality benefit. Important for people who are discouraged or struggling to meet the (arbitrary) 10k steps goal. We need prospective RCTs before making general recommendations. …
@JAMAInternalMed
This weekend, my patient and friend, Melissa, and I had the opportunity to share her incredible journey overcoming cancer (twice)! One of my greatest privileges is to bring the research made possible by
@ConquerCancerFd
directly into the clinic. We are all in this together.
Sat down with my friend and colleague Dr. Elizabeth Comen to answer some of your top questions on
#cancer
. First video coming soon!
#EmpoweredByExperts
What a wonderful evening celebrating the remarkable ongoing legacy of Dr. Larry Norton (
@LarryNortonMD
).
Like so many colleagues, I am incredibly grateful for his mentorship and collaboration.
Congrats
@jhaveri_komal
for leading this beautiful
@MSKCancerCenter
alumni dinner!
Thrilled to record for the
#YourStories
podcast today where the impressive Dr. Pinnavaia and I discuss our exciting collaboration launching a plant-based diet + exercise Rx randomized control trial in breast cancer based on data generated from
@ConquerCancerFd
grants!
#ASCO19
Erica Salehi, our amazing Research Dietician
@MSKCancerCenter
and soon to be
@Yale
PhD candidate, presents precision nutrition interventions in the context of exercise oncology.
Grateful to our team for representing us at
@ACSMNews
while I’m at another exciting
@ASCO
meeting!
Nothing inspires more confidence than a well-prepared leader (I mean, look at this guy). We are very fortunate to have
@MarkRobsonMD
at the helm
@sloan_kettering
#COVID
ー19
From
@nature
“The new president has the opportunity to reverse four years of anti-science policies”
Scientists relieved as Joe Biden wins tight US presidential election
NEW
#ExOnc
Study in
@JACCJournals
ACT trial by
@1969yolo
et al:
Supervised followed by unsupervised exercise during chemotherapy ⬇️ loss of cardiorespiratory fitness and improved fatigue, muscle strength, QoL.
Similar benefit if exercise started after chemo, but more lag time.
“The findings underscore how exquisitely sensitive our bodies are to different types of exercise, Dr. Burr says.”
‘You should exercise’ = ‘You should take medicine.’ Need specifics.
@NYTHealth
Grateful to actress Olivia Munn for using her platform to raise awareness about breast cancer screening, particularly in younger women.
I discuss screening tools, imaging, and risk factors with
@CBSNews
, available to watch here:
@MSKCancerCenter
We are hiring! Looking for enthusiastic
#exercise
physiologists to work on an exciting new clinical initiative (more to come) at MSK. You will work closely with me and our team, and our amazing and inspiring patients.
#ExOnc
#job
@sloan_kettering
Very excited to kick off the New Year of our Obesity, Metabolic Diseases, and Cancer Seminar Series with Dr. Jennifer McQuade
@mcquadeMDLAc
and her pioneering work in dietary modification and response to cancer therapy
New in
@JCO_ASCO
: In a French cohort of ~10k ppl (CANTO), exercise improved distant recurrence free interval (DRFI) for HR-negative, HER2+/- primary breast cancer particularly in premenopausal women.
Great collaboration with
@ines_vazluis
@FAndreMD
New study: Early PIK3CA and Hemoglobin A1c testing is critical to provide time to improve glycemic status before starting alpelisib for metastatic breast cancer.
We found Hb A1c and BMI were early risk factors for treatment discontinuation.
@SherryShenMD
We are excited and grateful to receive an inaugural grant from the Alka Ohri Foundation to extend research in the
@MSKCancerCenter
Healthy Living Program.
With co-recipient Dr. Ligibel
@DanaFarber
we will advance lifestyle interventions in cancer care.
Wonderful to see passionate support by NYers for cancer research at
@MSKCancerCenter
and the Global Disparities program founded by Dr. Kingham.
Photos from the
@SocietyofMSKCC
Ball with the fabulous Dr.
@Elizabeth_Comen
and throwback to visits with our Nigerian collaborators!
This will remain controversial when relying on observational data. We need to do better: randomized control trials- challenging, yes, but we can be innovative.
@AmericanCancer
is helping us address this at
@sloan_kettering
with a
🌱 diet+exercise RCT in breast cancer
@ACSNews
Eat less red meat -- that's been standard diet advice for decades now. But new research suggests that eating less may not make you healthier. And critics are furious.
Happy to announce that we (
@cardiac_fitness
) have opened another Tele-Exercise trial this week at
@sloan_kettering
. This one is for stage 3 breast or colon cancer, stable MBC, or clonal hematopoiesis (a blood condition). Check the link for details
“Low-fat diet helps reduce risk of dying from breast cancer, study finds” -
@NBCNews
Note that this diet also included higher plant and fiber intake (it was designed in the mid 90s during the prime of low-fat approaches)
#AICR19
Such a pleasure to meet
@NicoleKuderer
in person and discuss exciting collaborations to address toxicity management and lifestyle optimization during active cancer therapy. An often overlooked but critically important need!
#SABCS22
@SABCSSanAntonio
Compromised nutritional status and sedentary status are associated with shorter time on study in patients enrolled on phase 1 and 2 trials.
An observation that is consistent with clinical experience
Just out in
@JournalCancer
: Why could endometrial cancer metastasize to the omentum? Metabolic syndrome (& obesity) establishes omental inflammation and a pro-metastatic niche.
Happy to be a part of this with the fantastic
@TeamEndo_MSK
@MSKCancerCenter
Please join us at the
#SABCS20
Spotlight Session 11 to discuss recent advances in energy balance (lifestyle) observations and interventions to reduce risk of incident or recurrent breast cancer. I’m highlighting the work of 5 great study teams.
New implementable data in
@Nature_NPJ
Breast Cancer-
In a pilot study, use of
@noom
after breast cancer dx led to 5.6% weight loss on average and improved body image.
Supports use of this readily available intervention.
@SherryShenMD
@MSKCancerCenter
Very import data that expands the impact of metabolic health in cancer outcomes. Lifestyle interventions are key, and combining oncology and cardiometabolic pharmacologic pipelines is the next frontier for cancer therapy!
In a cohort of >34k people with BMI >35, GLP1 agonists reduced the risk of developing 13 types of obesity-related cancers.
Great study from Case Western group.
@SherryShenMD
and I also comment here on our (much) smaller study in post-diagnosis setting.
High-fructose corn syrup stimulates tumor growth in mice. Factors that lead to obesity appear to increase disease risk along the way. Can’t rely on obesity dx to prompt action – need to intervene earlier. Congrats
@MarcusDGon
on elegant study!
We had an exciting panel discussion on the future of breast cancer research at the
@BCRFcure
symposium this morning. Very thankful to
@PlayforPINK
for supporting our research program and accelerating the pace of scientific discovery.
Riding into 2022 – and straight into filming more
#EmpoweredByExperts
videos with my good friend and colleague, Dr.
@Elizabeth_Comen
! (Pic is a throwback - we go way back!)
The inclusion of patient advocates on panels and more at
#SABCS21
has been so incredibly valuable. Thank you Ashley for your very insightful comments and highlighting the areas where we need more research. It was a great session!
@SABCSSanAntonio
@AACR
Alternating between tele-Health and essential in-person visits today. The new
@doximity
video platform is truly excellent on both sides of the call.
Plus my NP, Odessa, and I get to sneak in a few calls to keep each other sane!
What a great group of clinicians and researchers at the Body Composition and Cancer Outcomes Webinar Series hosted by Dr. Elena at
@theNCI
. Thanks for the invitation and the great discussion. We didn’t get to all the questions, so I will address them in this thread.
NEW
#ExOnc
Study in
@JACCJournals
ACT trial by
@1969yolo
et al:
Supervised followed by unsupervised exercise during chemotherapy ⬇️ loss of cardiorespiratory fitness and improved fatigue, muscle strength, QoL.
Similar benefit if exercise started after chemo, but more lag time.
Thank you
@ConquerCancerFd
for supporting patients with cancer and their healthcare providers through the
COVID Impacts Cancer emergency fund. Love the orange masks!!
*If you can, please consider making a gift here:
Wake up with us this morning at Spotlight Session 12: Obesity & Cancer. Drs.
@TarahBallinger
, Ligibel, and I + advocate
@faceofstage4
will discuss 8 abstracts spanning from preclinical, observational, and clinical lifestyle intervention studies.
#SABCS22
This National Cancer Research Month, hear from BCRF researcher
@Neil_Iyengar
about why improving outcomes for breast cancer patients is his professional passion—and how research saved his mother Uma's life.
#NCRM21
It was wonderful to be back at TREC and reconnect with faculty, alumni, and new fellows who will transform energy balance research in oncology.
Congrats
@mirwin_yale
for another strong year!
A call to harness the potential therapeutic effects of dietary interventions in cancer. This is an outstanding review from
@MarcusDGon
and
@CantleyLab
which masterfully establishes the rationale and need for rigorous trials in humans.
"We are on the precipice of a revolution in the way we treat patients with
#cancer
. Several rigorous preclinical studies have shown that dietary interventions enhance anticancer therapy & improve outcome"
@NatureRevCancer
@OncoAlert
PreHAB study: preoperative physical activity (mostly unsupervised) for ~1 month favorably modified breast tumor gene expression. Bodes well for our upcoming trial of 6 month supervised tele-exercise + plant-based diet to optimize breast microenvironment.
Thank you
@ConquerCancerFd
for the early support of our research program which has now grown and even extended into the
@MSKCancerCenter
Healthy Living Program.
The impact of the
@ASCO
foundation on patient care and science is incredible!
The link between obesity and breast cancer has long been established, but
@Neil_Iyengar
believes more information about diet and health could answer questions about
#breastcancer
prevention and treatment. Learn more:
#BreastCancerAwarenessMonth
Why Are More Young Adults Getting Cancer? Obesity May Be to Blame | In this new
@sloan_kettering
blog post, we discuss the recent
@AmericanCancer
report