Adult & Common Cancers

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, claiming more lives each year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. Because it is often diagnosed at advanced stages, effective detection tools and targeted treatments are critical to improving outcomes. 

Investigators at PICR are delivering real breakthroughs in the fight against lung cancer. Philip Low led the invention of CYTALUX^Ⓡ, an FDA-approved fluorescent imaging agent now used by surgeons to better visualize and remove lung tumors. PICR Deputy Director Andrea Kasinski is advancing RNA-based therapies designed to reinstate natural cancer-fighting signals in lung cells and block the growth of aggressive tumors. Sandro Matosevic is developing immunotherapy strategies that engineer immune cells to function in the suppressive environment of solid tumors, including those in the lungs. 

From molecular targeting to immune engagement and surgical precision, PICR researchers are transforming how lung cancer is understood and treated.

About 107,320 cases of colon cancer and 46,950 of rectal cancer are projected in the United States in 2025. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosis and the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women combined in the U.S. Although incidence rates have declined among older adults, cases are rising in adults under 50, highlighting an urgent need to understand why and how this disease is evolving. While screening tools like colonoscopies have improved early detection, disparities in access and limited options for early-onset patients point to critical research gaps.

At PICR, scientists are exploring the genetic, metabolic, and environmental drivers of colorectal cancers. Majid Kazemian has identified a gene that regulates colon cancer severity, shedding light on how inflammation and tumor progression are genetically controlled. Patricia Wolf is exploring how changes in the gut microbiome affect inflammation and tumor development. Andy Tao’s research applies phosphoproteomic technologies to uncover biomarkers that could lead to earlier detection or personalized treatment.

By identifying new mechanisms and intervention points, PICR scientists are working to reduce recurrence and improve outcomes for colorectal cancer patients.

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among men, with more than 1 in 8 men expected to receive a diagnosis in their lifetime. An estimated 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer were projected in the United States in 2025, with 35,770 men expected to die from the disease. While many cases are slow-growing and highly treatable, others can progress quickly and resist standard treatments, creating a critical need to distinguish between indolent and aggressive forms of the disease.

PICR researchers have contributed directly to changing how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated. Philip Low led the development of two FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals that have transformed the management of metastatic prostate cancer: Locametz®, which helps visualize metastatic tumors through PET imaging, and Pluvicto^®, which delivers targeted radiation to cancer cells. Bennett Elzey studies how immune-suppressive cells within the prostate tumor environment interfere with the body’s ability to fight cancer, informing strategies for more effective immunotherapies. Timothy Ratliff’s work has helped shape prostate cancer immunology by elucidating immune cell interactions and testing immune-based therapies in prostate cancer models.

Together, scientists at the PICR are redefining how prostate cancer is understood, diagnosed and managed.

Bladder cancer is one of the most recurrent and costly cancers to manage, with many patients requiring long-term surveillance and repeated treatments. It disproportionately affects men and is often linked to risk factors such as smoking and industrial exposures. The projection for 2025 anticipates about 84,870 new cases of bladder cancer and 17,420 deaths in the United States. As with lung cancer, smoking is the most well-established risk factor. Despite its frequency, bladder cancer remains underfunded and under-researched compared to other common cancers.

PICR researchers have made meaningful progress in advancing how this disease is studied and treated. Deborah Knapp leads comparative oncology research in dogs with naturally occurring bladder cancer, helping to uncover strategies for early detection, molecular subtyping, and personalized treatment that translate to human patients. In collaboration with Knapp and others, Claudio Aguilar developed a novel therapeutic approach using a modified anthrax toxin paired with a growth factor to selectively kill bladder cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue—an approach that showed rapid, tumor-reducing effects in dogs that had exhausted other treatment options.

These advances reflect the PICR’s strength in bridging basic research and real-world application, with the goal of improving outcomes for a cancer that too often recurs.

Many other cancers affect millions of people worldwide. Cancers such as pancreatic, ovarian, liver, esophageal, kidney, and endometrial cancers each present unique challenges in detection, treatment, and survivorship. In the United States, about 40 out of 100 men and 39 out of 100 women will develop cancer in their lifetime. Scientists at the PICR are dedicated to fighting all cancers. Through collaboration across disciplines, we are working to accelerate progress and bring new hope to those affected by these devastating diseases.