Meet Sam Constantino of upstate New York. Sam and Dino have a long history together, both are very close with each other’s families. Like Dino, Sam also lost his father to pancreatic cancer. His father was diagnosed right around the time of Sam’s diagnosis. 

Sam lost his father only 18 days after his own diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Doctors said his father’s tumor was too large and at that stage in his life, he was unable even to treat the cancerous tumor. 

During his diagnosis, he was also mourning his father. He explains the emotional toll the family had to take during this time and the values they strive to adhere to to get through this hard time. Sam relies heavily on faith and quality loving time with his family after this life-changing experience with cancer. 

Sam has always been an active and athletic person. From childhood, he was always involved in sports and athletic competitions and maintained a healthy lifestyle. He credits his lifestyle choices and athleticism for keeping him well as long as he has been considering he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer on November 3rd, 2022. He also shares his perspective as a former athlete, connecting his time as an athlete to fighting pancreatic cancer. 

Sam shares a lot about how a positive mindset and staying active helped through his journey and kept him motivated in his post-cancer life. He stresses “moving forward”, and highlights the importance of laughing at yourself and spending quality time with loved ones. Join us for this week’s episode of the Project Purple Podcast Sam’s inspiring story!

If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

If you’d like to connect with Sam, he welcomes emails at samcon87892@gmail.com

You can also become a member of the “SamStong” Facebook Group to keep up with Sam’s journey at this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/723595379129298 

To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple 
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/ 
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ

Podcast Episode 300 - Surviving Pancreatic Cancer with Sam Constantino

Chris was an athlete through high school and college. He was a track and field runner and landed a fellowship and later a job at Sports Illustrated. Chris speaks to the experience he gained working at a media company. After some time at Sports Illustrated, he realized there was little coverage of what he was most passionate about, running and track and field. This is where his interest was and he wanted to start a media company that focused on this niche of the sports industry.

Dino met Chris through their mutual community of running at the Chicago marathon. Chris shares insight on how having both the running background and his time as a sports journalist has allowed him to improve his storytelling and better connect with the athletes he is featuring. He talks about the difference in working for a large media company versus trying to build up his own publication for the niche topic of running. 

Chris shares his experience covering major marathons and the Olympics. He discusses the lack of public interest in track and field media after the buzz of the Olympics dies down. He talks about the challenge of trying to keep that audience engaged with the running content post-Olympics and points out how mainstream media companies do not continue coverage of these incredible record-breaking athletes. Chris reveals that the mission of his magazine is to keep these athletes in the spotlight year-round like any other sports competitors. 

Dino asks Chris about Citius's future and how he will scoop out the next stars in the world of track and field competition. He explains how he covers championships and stays up to date with athletes in high school and college who go on to compete professionally. Chris explains his goal is to target high school and college students who compete or have competed at their respective levels and who have more interest in keeping up with their counterparts who are breaking records or making it to higher-stakes competitions. He explains there is a level of relatability in this demographic and therefore are more engaged with the content he is putting out. Chris believes in targeting an everyday runner such as a marathon runner, as they are doing it for a personal goal and not necessarily competitively. 

Tune into this week’s episode of the Project Purple Podcast to learn more about Chris and his effort to expand his media company and about the world of track and field.

If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

Visit his magazine’s website for more about his media company and to stay up to date with all things running: citiusmag.com/ 

Follow Citius Magazine on social media: @CitiusMag
 
To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple 
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/ 
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ

Episode 301 - Running a Sports Media Magazine with Chris Chavez

Meet Meg Barber. She is the head women’s basketball coach at NYU. Meg played basketball at NYU and has built an impressive coaching resume, having coached at D1 and D2 schools before returning to NYU. Meg has run the NYC marathon several times as a charity partner with Project Purple.

Meg discusses her coaching philosophy and how her approach has fostered a strong team dynamic, which she calls a sisterhood. She explains that her bond with the team goes beyond basketball and shares what she looks for when recruiting team members. Last season, she and her team went undefeated at 31-0 and won the championship for their division. Meg reflects on this achievement and emphasizes her sense of belonging as the head coach at NYU.

Her passion for basketball comes from her father, who was her first coach and introduced her to the sport. She shares memories of his support and recalls the day she told him she got the job at NYU. She always feels his presence on the court, even after his passing. She lost her father to pancreatic cancer.

Meg and Dino discuss the state of women’s basketball and women’s sports, highlighting the increased media attention and public interest. Meg shares the impact on the sports industry and society and discusses the significance of young girls seeing women’s professional sports being televised, something she did not experience growing up as a female athlete.

If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

Follow the NYU Women’s basketball team on Instagram, instagram.com/nyuwomenshoops

To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple 
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/ 
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ

Coach Barber's Journey: Overcoming Challenges on and Off the Court

O câncer de pâncreas é uma doença que ocupa a terceira posição entre os tumores do trato gastrointestinal. Por ser de difícil detecção e ser agressivo, este tipo de câncer apresenta alta taxa de mortalidade, por conta do diagnóstico tardio. No país, é responsável por cerca de 2% de todos os tipos de câncer diagnosticados e por 4% do total de mortes causadas pela doença. Para falar sobre o assunto, Jota Batista conversa no Canal Saúde com o cirurgião do Hospital Jayme da Fonte, Omar Jacobina.

15.10.24 - Canal Saúde - Câncer no pâncreas: sintomas, diagnóstico e tratamentos

Meet Doug “Censor” Martin, from Long Island. Doug is well-known online for his gaming expertise. He has competed in esports championships and shares gaming content on YouTube and social media. Doug also discusses his interest in fitness and how he established himself as a gamer with a fitness lifestyle, which he felt made him stand out in the gaming community.

By sharing his life online, Doug found himself in many people's dream job: getting paid to play video games. During this time, he was also focusing heavily on his fitness goals. However, he felt that the people and habits around him were compromising his mental health.

Doug explains that he went through a transformative period as he dealt with negative feedback and criticism online, especially after being open about the end of his relationship. This experience led him to reassess his online persona and prioritize maintaining his authenticity and high standards for his content.

Doug describes his passion for self-improvement and his desire to always exceed expectations. He set his sights on breaking the world record for the most pull-ups in 24 hours. He underwent a grueling training cycle that tested both his physical and mental strengths, a long 16 months of it. Despite enduring significant pain and mental strain, he remained focused on achieving his goal. Recently, he successfully broke the record. He credits his success in doing so to the support and motivation of his coach, Jackson.

Doug dedicated his record-breaking journey to Project Purple, raising awareness and nearly $10k for pancreatic cancer research and patient aid. He shares that he lost his grandmother to pancreatic cancer when he was young. He aimed to use his platform to raise awareness about the disease and encourage others to be selfless. Doug invites others to pursue their own goals, whether that involves breaking a world record or simply making a positive impact on the world.

If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

If you’d like to follow Doug’s social media, he can be found at @censor on all platforms.


To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple 
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/ 
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ

Episode 303 - Breaking a World Record to Beat Pancreatic Cancer with Doug “Censor” Martin

Meet Tina Lucci from Allentown, Pennsylvania. She is a special education teacher and a mother of two boys. Tina is a survivor of pancreatic cancer, having been diagnosed during the holiday season of 2019.
 
She first felt unwell at work, so she went to the emergency room. Her diagnosis was a shock, as she had no family history of pancreatic cancer and was a mother of two young boys. Tina chose not to share her diagnosis with her loved ones initially, preferring only her immediate family to know, especially since it was the holiday season. She felt ashamed and like she had somehow brought the cancer upon herself.
 
Tina started chemotherapy treatment but had allergic reactions, such as swelling of her tongue, and had to switch to a different regimen. She traveled from Allentown to Philadelphia to Fox Chase Cancer Center for her treatments. However, her local hospital's oncology department also provided treatment closer to her home. To date, she has undergone over 70 chemotherapy treatments and counting, and has also had radiation therapy. Chemo has been effective for her during her nearly 5-year journey.
 
She was scheduled to undergo an Appleby procedure, but the cancer had spread to her liver, leading to the cancellation of the surgery. After spending four days in the hospital, she continued chemotherapy to keep her tumor stable. Tina has become an advocate for herself and feels that chemotherapy is the best way to extend her time with her family rather than putting herself through a risky surgery.
 
Tina describes how cancer has made her softer and more gentle. She finds herself letting minor annoyances go and living life more fully. She takes every opportunity to spend quality time with her sisters and friends. Overall, Tina is making the most of her experience with cancer, referring to it as her "prison time." She feels that she is serving time with this disease but is making the best of it.


If you’d like to donate to Project Purple’s mission of a world without pancreatic cancer, please visit https://www.projectpurple.org/.

Tina welcomes emails at tlucci@gmail.com 


To learn more about Project Purple, visit https://www.projectpurple.org/ or follow us on social media at these links: https://www.facebook.com/Run4ProjectPurple 
https://www.instagram.com/projectpurple/ 
https://twitter.com/Run4Purple 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgA8nVhUY6_MLj5z3rnDQZQ

Episode 304 - Surviving Pancreatic Cancer with Tina Lucci

No episódio Top Insights 2024 do OncoPonto, os oncologistas Dr. David Cunha e Dra. Débora Curi trazem os principais destaques e avanços mais recentes no tratamento do câncer gastrointestinal.

Acompanhe uma discussão profunda sobre:
🍽️ Novas estratégias terapêuticas e avanços em imunoterapia.
🧬 A importância de biomarcadores para personalização do tratamento.
📊 Como os estudos mais impactantes de 2024 estão moldando o futuro da oncologia.

Não perca essa oportunidade de se atualizar com informações valiosas que fazem a diferença na prática clínica! 

Disponível no Spotify e no canal do Youtube pelo Grupo SOnHe.

Top insights sobre Câncer Gastrointestinal de 2024 com os oncologistas: David Cunha  e Debora Curi.

PA LOS JEITER W/ @rozzausa

he who causes heart murmurs and pancreatic failure to those who stare too long... type AMEN ❤️ to undo 25 years of bad luck...

++##PancreaticFailure

Emergency medicine has been the safety net for the medical system for years, but is the only access point for many across this country. We are also seeing rising incidence of diabetes in all ages. As a result, emergency medicine has the opportunity to play a role in screening and detection with the goal of risk and complication prevention. In this episode, we talk with Dr. James Paxton on our opportunities and some tools we can use to support our patients and improve their outcomes. 

Supported by Sanofi US

So Sweet...Type 1 Diabetes Screening in the ED with Dr. James Paxton

🎙️✨ O novo episódio do OncoPonto está imperdível!

Desta vez, discutimos sobre o câncer de pâncreas, um tema desafiador que tem avançado rapidamente graças à ciência e ao trabalho multidisciplinar.

Moderado pela Dra. Débora Curi, oncologista do Grupo SOnHe, o episódio traz uma conversa esclarecedora e cheia de insights com especialistas renomados:

Dr. Hugo Hammoud, cirurgião oncológico
Dr. Lucas Oliveira, cirurgião oncológico
Dr. Rafael Mello, cirurgião do aparelho digestivo

Entenda os desafios e os mais recentes avanços no tratamento e diagnóstico dessa doença.

👉 Já disponível no Spotify e no Youtube do Grupo SOnHe!

Câncer de Pâncreas:Desafios e Avanços Recentes

This song is a heartfelt tribute to early detection and the power of artificial intelligence and modern science. Inspired by the real-life stories of patients who discovered cancer at its earliest—and most treatable—stage, “I Took the Test (And I'm Still Here)” brings a message of hope, not fear.

As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand the difference it makes when cancer is found before symptoms ever appear. The Galleri® test is a multi-cancer early detection tool that can identify signals for dozens of cancers through a simple blood draw—many of which don’t have routine screening options.

This isn’t a song about worry. It’s about being proactive, about giving yourself and your loved ones more time, more options, and more life.

I hope this song opens up a conversation. Because sometimes the best way to treat cancer… is to catch it before it starts to shout.

Took the Test (And I'm Still Here)

BUFFALO, NY — June 17, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 5, on May 1, 2025, titled “Oxytocin modulates insulin and GLP-1 secretion in pancreatic islets.”

In this study, scientists from Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine investigated how the hormone oxytocin (Oxt) influences insulin levels by acting on specific cells in the pancreas. The team led by first author Kasumi Hattori and corresponding authors Kenju Shimomura and Yuko Maejima discovered that oxytocin may indirectly increase insulin secretion by triggering another hormone, GLP-1, from within the pancreas. This finding could lead to new strategies for improving blood sugar control in people with diabetes.

Oxytocin is commonly known for its roles in childbirth and social bonding, but scientists have also been exploring its effects on metabolism. While previous studies offered mixed results about whether oxytocin raises or lowers blood sugar, this research brings new clarity. The study focused on oxytocin’s impact on insulin and a hormone called GLP-1, which helps regulate insulin production. Researchers tested this by using mice with and without oxytocin receptors and found that oxytocin’s ability to raise insulin levels depended on the presence of these receptors and high blood sugar conditions.

Researchers found that oxytocin stimulates the release of “intra-islet GLP-1,” a form of GLP-1 produced inside the pancreas rather than the intestine. In the pancreas, insulin is produced by beta cells, while alpha cells produce glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar. But recent research, including this study, has shown that alpha cells can also release GLP-1, which in turn helps beta cells secrete insulin. Oxytocin appears to increase this internal GLP-1 release, especially when blood sugar levels are high, thereby leading to insulin release in a natural and targeted way.

In this study researchers were also able to detect the difference between oxytocin’s effect on blood sugar and its effect on insulin. They observed that right after oxytocin was given, blood sugar levels rose in all mice—even in those that lacked oxytocin receptors. However, only the mice with working oxytocin receptors showed a later increase in insulin. This suggests that oxytocin may trigger insulin production through a separate, receptor-dependent pathway involving the hormone GLP-1.

"WT mice showed a significant increase in insulin levels at 15-min, while OxtR KO mice did not."

This indirect action—oxytocin triggering alpha cells to release GLP-1, which then acts on beta cells—may represent a novel mechanism for controlling insulin release. It also explains why oxytocin does not increase insulin in low-glucose conditions, making it a potentially safer option for regulating blood sugar.

As treatments for type 2 diabetes increasingly focus on GLP-1–based drugs, this study opens the door to using oxytocin or similar compounds to naturally enhance the body’s own insulin-producing system. With further research, this mechanism could help develop new therapies that better mimic the body’s natural glucose control, particularly beneficial for older adults with diabetes.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206244

Corresponding authors - Kenju Shimomura - shimomur@fmu.ac.jp, and Yuko Maejima - maejimay@fmu.ac.jp

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0K6uDX4z8U

To learn more about the journal, please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us on social media at:

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MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Aging (Aging-US)

New Hormonal Pathway Links Oxytocin to Insulin Secretion in the Pancreas

BUFFALO, NY - June 17, 2025 – A new #research paper was #published in Volume 16 of Oncotarget on June 10, 2025, titled “Exceptional responders to immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: A multi-institutional case series of a rare occurrence.”

The study, led by first author Kavin Sugumar and corresponding author Jordan M. Winter, from University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, reports on a rare group of pancreatic cancer (PC) patients who responded remarkably well to immunotherapy, a treatment typically considered ineffective for this cancer type. The analysis, which includes data from 14 patients across multiple U.S. institutions, identifies outcomes that could help refine treatment strategies for one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of cancer.

“Between 2020–21, 471 oncologists from 91 major cancer centers in the United States were contacted.”

Pancreatic cancer has among the lowest survival rates and few effective therapies. While immunotherapy has transformed the treatment landscape for several other cancers, it generally offers little benefit for pancreatic cancer. However, this study highlights a small but important group of patients who experienced significant and sustained responses to immune-based treatment without chemotherapy. Most had advanced or metastatic disease and had already progressed after standard treatments.

Among the 14 patients, 82% had partial tumor shrinkage, and nearly one-third had a notable decrease in tumor markers. The median progression-free survival was 12 months, and most patients were still alive at follow-up, with survival rates of 80% at one year and 70% at two years. These outcomes contrast sharply with standard therapies, which often provide only a few months of benefit for similar patients.

Interestingly, while some patients had high microsatellite instability (MSI-high)—a known marker for immunotherapy success—more than half did not, suggesting other biological mechanisms may be involved. This result highlights the need for new biomarkers to be discovered to predict treatment response in future studies.

This case series is the largest focused exclusively on exceptional immunotherapy responders in pancreatic cancer. By excluding patients who received chemotherapy, the study isolates the effects of immune-based drugs, including PD-1 inhibitors such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, CTLA-4 inhibitors like ipilimumab, and agents targeting macrophages.

While the sample size is small, the findings challenge the assumption that immunotherapy is ineffective for nearly all pancreatic cancer patients. The study suggests that, under certain biological conditions, this treatment can be remarkably successful. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.

This work supports the need to reconsider how clinical trials are designed for pancreatic cancer and who is eligible for immunotherapy. Broader criteria and more personalized molecular profiling could help uncover hidden opportunities for treatment in this highly lethal cancer.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28739

Correspondence to - Jordan M. Winter - jordan.winter@UHHospitals.org

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeWTcuVmqgM

Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28739

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To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us:

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MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Oncotarget

Rare Pancreatic Cancer Patients Show Strong Response to Immunotherapy

Why does eating more not fix the severe weight loss seen in some cancer patients, and what can be done about it?

In this 'Ask Me Anything' episode, Dr Hui-Ling Ou, Programme Manager for the Pancreatic Cancer and Cancer Immunology Programmes at the CRUK Cambridge Centre, speaks with researchers from the Cancer Cachexia Action Network (CANCAN): Dr Claire Connell (University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), Dr David Lewis (CRUK Scotland Institute), and Dr Tobias Janowitz (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory).

Together, they unpack what cancer-associated cachexia is, why it's so devastating for patients, and how scientists are working to understand and reverse this syndrome. The guests share how their research, spanning metabolism, imaging, immunology, and clinical studies, is bringing fresh insights and hope to a problem that affects quality of life for so many.

This thought-provoking discussion shines a light on the collaborative efforts driving progress against one of cancer's most challenging complications.

Ask me anything about cancer

Ask me anything about... the science of cancer-associated cachexia

What do you most want to know about pancreatic cancer and cancer-associated cachexia?

In this special episode, we bring you a recording of a live 'Ask Me Anything (AMA)' event hosted by the CRUK Cambridge Centre Pancreatic Cancer Programme for World Pancreatic Cancer Day 2024.

A multidisciplinary and international panel of experts, including clinicians, researchers, nurses, dietitians and physiotherapists, answer thoughtful questions from the public about pancreatic cancer, cachexia and the latest research and care approaches. Topics range from understanding the biology of these diseases to managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

The discussion sheds light on the progress being made and the ongoing challenges in improving outcomes for people affected by these conditions.

Ask me anything about... cachexia research and management

ACEP Frontline, hosted by Dr. Ryan Stanton, features in-depth conversations on the hottest topics in emergency medicine and critical care.

Oncotarget is a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal. Papers are published continuously within yearly volumes in their final and complete form and then quickly released to Pubmed.

Oncotarget is now indexed by MEDLINE, PubMed and PMC/PubMed.

Read about the Oncotarget Scientific Integrity Process: https://www.oncotarget.com/scientific_integrity/

Aging-US is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive aging and the development of age-related diseases. Our mission is to serve as a platform for high-quality research that uncovers the cellular, molecular, and systemic processes underlying aging, and translates these insights into strategies to extend healthspan and delay the onset of chronic disease.

Read about the Aging (Aging-US) Scientific Integrity Process: https://aging-us.com/scientific-integrity

Project Purple's vision is a world without pancreatic cancer. We have two initiatives: to help pancreatic cancer patients and fund research. With a variety of partners in the health and fitness world, our podcast will deliver an exciting look into our own background as well as the worlds of medical treatment, marathon running, crossfit, nutrition, stories of survival, inspiration, hope, and much more.

As principais notícias de Pernambuco, do Brasil e do mundo resumidas e comentadas pela Folha PE através de podcasts diários.
Fone: 81 3425-5872

The Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre unites over 1,000 world-leading biologists, chemists, physicists, engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, clinicians, nurses and allied healthcare professionals from across Cambridge, UK to tackle cancer from every angle.

Our mission is to end death and disease caused by cancer through research, treatment and education. We are detecting cancer at its earliest stage and are developing personalised treatments for every patient through facilitating new collaborations and driving the translation of new scientific discoveries into clinical applications to improve patient care. By working together across a range of different disciplines, our members are breaking down the barriers between the laboratory and the clinic, enabling patients to benefit from the latest innovations in cancer science.

New tracks tagged #PANCREAS