News from NYU Langone Health
Extended interview: Jen Taylor, Adrien Finkel
CBS News
In an extended interview, best friends Jen Taylor and Adrien Finkel discuss Jen's triple-positive breast cancer diagnosis and treatment journey. Jen, who receives her care at NYU Langone Health, describes the institution and its staff as 'absolutely incredible.' She specifically praises the nursing team at the infusion floor, calling them 'true guardian angel status' and like family. The friends share how they navigate the experience with humor and support, turning weekly chemotherapy sessions at NYU Langone Health into a meaningful and positive time together, documenting their journey on Instagram. A shorter version of the story was also featured on CBS Evening News.
9/30/2026
A.I. is new tool for breast cancer screening
CBS Mornings
Elizabeth Comen, MD, a breast oncologist and co-director of NYU Langone Health’s Mignone Women’s Health Collaborative, highlights the latest medical advancements in breast cancer detection, focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Comen explains that AI is currently used alongside radiologists as a "second set of eyes" to catch early tumors and to predict future cancer risks, helping tailor personalized screening and prevention strategies. Reaffirming updated guidelines, she advises average-risk women to begin yearly mammograms at age 40. Additionally, she stresses the importance of proactive risk reduction through lifestyle modifications, including regular exercise, avoiding ultra-processed foods, and limiting alcohol consumption.
10/01/2026
Anne Hathaway skipped ‘Hot Ones’ spicy wings to avoid inducing labor. Is that even a thing?
NBC News
Following actress Anne Hathaway's comment about avoiding spicy food to prevent inducing labor, experts clarify there is no evidence supporting this claim. Meleen Chuang, MD, service chief, obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, explains that spicy foods are more likely to cause heartburn, acid reflux, or stomach discomfort in the third trimester rather than start labor. Experts state that there is not even a correlation and note that spicy foods are generally safe during pregnancy.
Also reporting was: TODAY
9/30/2026
Infection and prophylaxis with venetoclax plus obinutuzumab in CLL14
OncLive
Danielle Brander, MD, of Duke University, reviewed the final results of the CLL14 trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which showed durable progression-free survival with a venetoclax plus obinutuzumab regimen. Commenting on infection rates, Marc J. Braunstein, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, noted that many infections were likely driven by obinutuzumab. He outlined his management strategy, which includes reviewing vaccination history, counseling vigilance, maintaining close surveillance, and considering intravenous immunoglobulin for patients with reduced IgG who develop infections.
9/30/2026
Infection risk with continuous acalabrutinib in ELEVATE-TN
OncLive
The ELEVATE-TN trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia found that infection was a common cause of death for patients on continuous acalabrutinib. Commenting on the findings, Marc J. Braunstein, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, stated that efficacy remains the primary driver over infection risk when choosing a treatment, as prophylactic measures can reduce this risk. He noted his first considerations are expected benefit, patient preference for continuous or time-defined therapy, and molecular profile. He also recommends addressing patient vaccination before treatment begins.
9/30/2026
Second-line sotorasib and adagrasib sequencing
OncLive
In a discussion on cancer treatment, Rajwanth Veluswamy, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, addressed second-line sequencing with sotorasib and adagrasib for KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. He noted that while the progression-free survival benefit of these agents over docetaxel is marginal, they represent an important step forward. He considers their primary advantage to be better tolerability and the convenience of oral administration, which is a clinically meaningful distinction for patients despite the modest survival gain.
9/30/2026
EMPOWER-Lung 1 outcomes in KRAS G12C NSCLC
OncLive
Rajwanth Veluswamy, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Chinmay Jani, MD, of the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, reviewed first-line immunotherapy outcomes for KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. Discussing the EMPOWER-Lung 1 trial, Dr. Veluswamy reported that among trial patients with a KRAS mutation, the drug cemiplimab led to a response rate exceeding 67%. The treatment also achieved a median progression-free survival of 18.9 months and a median overall survival of 53 months, with even better outcomes in the KRAS G12C subgroup.
9/30/2026
Frequent cannabis use tied to greater seizure burden in drug-resistant epilepsy
Medscape
A study found that patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who frequently use cannabis experience more severe seizures and require more antiseizure medications than nonusers. Researchers noted that these patients had a higher prevalence of seizures spreading to cause full-body convulsions. Commenting on the findings, Orrin Devinsky, MD, professor of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and director of the NYU Langone's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, noted the difficulty in separating cannabis use from confounding issues like anxiety or insomnia. He suggested the relationship could be bi-directional, with more severe epilepsy potentially leading to increased cannabis use.
9/30/2026
Insurance coverage lags as cancer science, treatment move forward
Boston Herald
Jessica Schulte, MD, PhD, a neuro-oncologist and administrative director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Neuro-Oncology Program at NYU Langone's Brain and Spine Tumor Center, led a clinical trial for Mason Henderson, a young adult with an exceptionally rare brain tumor, after chemotherapy failed. When the trial did not stop the cancer, Schulte and a Baylor physician pursued off-label Lynparza because tumor genetics suggested a potential target. Insurance and a county health plan initially refused coverage because the drug lacked approval for Henderson's diagnosis. The KFF Health News report examines how reimbursement policies lag behind genomic cancer science.
9/30/2026
Vizient names the top-performing hospitals and medical groups
Advisory Board
Vizient named its top-performing hospitals, recognizing several NYU Langone Health system locations. NYU Langone Health was listed as a top comprehensive academic medical center. Additionally, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island and NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn were honored among the best large, specialized complex care medical centers. The Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award is based on the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, which analyzes performance in safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, and patient centeredness using data from its clinical database of over 1,600 hospitals.
9/30/2026
Scientists find unexpected mental health benefit of lifting weights – and you don't have to go heavy
Women's Health (UK)
A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that various forms of resistance training were associated with fewer symptoms of depression in women with anxiety disorders. According to the research, both high-intensity and low-intensity weight lifting led to substantial reductions in depressive symptoms. Commenting on the findings, Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Health, explains that exercise provides structure and serves as a form of behavioral activation. She adds that the routine, social connection, and sense of mastery from scheduled workouts can also be protective against depression.
Also reporting was: Aol, MSN, Yahoo Life UK
9/30/2026
NYU doctor: 'No treatment' for rare eye condition tied to GLP-1 drugs
MSN
Hundreds of consumers are suing Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging that popular GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro caused a rare form of sudden vision loss called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Douglas R. Lazzaro, MD, vice chair of clinical affairs and business development for the Department of Ophthalmology at NYU Langone Health, notes that 'there's no treatment' for the condition, which can cause profound vision loss. While some studies suggest a modest increase in risk, the absolute risk remains very low. The FDA is currently reviewing the evidence, while European regulators have added NAION as a possible side effect.
9/30/2026
Slashing sugar intake before antibiotics may save your microbiome
New Scientist
A new study finds that reducing sugar intake while on antibiotics may protect gut microbiome diversity. Researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering and NYU Langone Health found that high sugar consumption during antibiotic treatment was linked to a less diverse microbiome and an increase in potentially pathogenic bacteria. According to team member Jonas Schluter, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, sugar acts like 'rocket fuel' for the remaining bacteria after antibiotics disrupt the gut’s balance.
Also reporting was: Yahoo Health, MSN Mexico, Inside Precision Medicine
9/30/2026
When is Jayden Daniels coming back - Week 4 Fantasy Football injury return update (2026)
Rotoballer
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is recovering from an elbow dislocation and may return to play as early as Week 4. In the article, Chetan Gohal, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone Orthopedic Associates—Midtown East, discusses the risks of reinjury. Dr. Gohal states that a second dislocation could indicate unstable ligaments, increasing the likelihood of another dislocation. Daniels will wear a protective brace on his arm when he returns and will likely require surgery in the offseason. He previously served as a team physician for the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Cubs.
9/30/2026
NYC prepping sweeping new e-bike rules amid rise in crashes, hospital visits
Crain's New York Business
New York City Council is considering new regulations for e-bikes amid a nearly 32% increase in related crashes. The proposals include phasing out the fastest class of legal e-bikes and increasing city oversight of delivery companies. A recent NYU Langone study highlighted the growing issue, examining nearly 1,000 trauma patients treated at Bellevue Hospital between 2018 and 2023. The research found that bicycle and scooter injuries increased from less than 10% of trauma cases in 2018 to more than half by 2023, with many patients suffering traumatic brain injuries.
9/30/2026
Treatment strategies for Richter's transformation to DLBCL are evolving
MedPage Today
Researchers are exploring new treatment strategies for Richter's transformation, as the standard R-CHOP chemoimmunotherapy offers suboptimal survival rates. In the article, Adam Kittai, MD, director of the CLL Program at NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center, who authored a consensus statement on the disease, highlights that current therapies are not very effective. He encourages combining chemoimmunotherapy with other agents and suggests that CAR T-cell therapy is a promising future approach. The piece also discusses other ongoing trials involving BTK inhibitors, checkpoint inhibitors, and bispecific antibodies to improve patient outcomes.
Also reporting was: MSN
9/30/2026
