Lymphedema News and Research

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Lymphedema is a condition that can cause significant swelling of the upper and lower extremities due to the build-up of excess lymph fluid. This can occur when the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining excess fluid from the body and is a key component of the immune system, is damaged or altered. In breast cancer patients, this can occur after surgery, such as removal or biopsy of the lymph nodes, and/or radiation therapy. It is estimated that six percent to 40 percent of patients with breast cancer develop lymphedema, and that it often occurs within the first two years after surgery. For some cancer survivors and others at risk, a low level lymphedema can occur 10 years to 15 years following the initial primary treatment and develop into a condition that has a serious impact on overall health and quality of life.

New imager separates UV and infrared light to find cancerous nodes

Researchers have developed a compact camera that captures ultraviolet, near-infrared and visible images using a single chip. Inspired by the multiwavelength vision capability of the mantis shrimp, the camera could help surgeons identify lymph nodes connected to a tumor and assess whether cancer has spread to them, making cancer surgery safer and less invasive.

17 Apr 2026

Microneedle nanoparticle platform improves lymphatic imaging with high resolution

The lymphatic system plays a critical role in pathological conditions such as lymphedema and chronic inflammation to tumor metastasis, venous insufficiency, and impaired wound healing, making accurate evaluation of its structure and function increasingly important.

13 Apr 2026

Lymphovenous anastomosis may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease

A small but growing body of evidence suggests that a minimally invasive surgical procedure called lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) might be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a special article in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

26 Feb 2026

Engineered mesenchymal and endothelial cell layers effectively mimic native lymph nodes

The rising incidence of cancer worldwide has led to an increasing number of surgeries that involve the removal of lymph nodes. Although these procedures play a major role in cancer staging and preventing the spread of malignancies, they sometimes come with severe long-term consequences.

23 Jan 2026

Rice’s SynthX Center leads interdisciplinary effort to tackle rare lymphatic disorders

Rice University's SynthX Center, directed by Han Xiao, has received an up to five-year, $18 million award from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Lymphatic Imaging, Genomics and pHenotyping Technologies (LIGHT) program to develop innovative solutions for lymphatic diseases.

20 Jan 2026

Weill Cornell Medicine receives ARPA-H award to advance lymphatic disease diagnosis

Weill Cornell Medicine has received a $5.2 million, initial two-year award from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Lymphatic Imaging, Genomics, and pHenotyping Technologies (LIGHT) program to develop a comprehensive and innovative approach to diagnosing lymphatic disease.

20 Jan 2026

Study links low physical activity to higher lymphedema risk after cancer treatment

Lymphedema after head and neck cancer is considerably more common than previously assumed and can persist long after cancer treatment has finished.

17 Dec 2025

Skipping sentinel lymph node biopsy may be safe for some early-stage breast cancer patients

Skipping sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with clinically node-negative, hormonal receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer did not compromise regional control or survival after a median five years of follow-up, according to results from the BOOG 2013-08 phase III clinical trial, presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

11 Dec 2025

Chiba University study clarifies molecular mechanism driving keloid's unpredictable growth

Keloids are raised, overgrown scars that can develop after skin injuries or surgery, often extending beyond the original wound boundaries. For many people, keloids are more than just a cosmetic concern; they often cause distressing symptoms such as chronic pain, itching, and restricted movement.

9 Oct 2025

New 3D eye model reveals causes of steroid-related glaucoma

The eye, like most organs, has an intricate plumbing system. Pressure builds when drainage is impaired, and this condition – glaucoma – can cause irreversible vision loss.

4 Sep 2025

Lymph node transfer proven effective for lymphedema after breast cancer surgery

A multicenter study led from Finland has shown that lymph node transfer is a viable treatment for the swelling in the affected limb, a condition known as lymphedema, after breast cancer surgery.

18 Mar 2025

Online resource launched to empower people with vulval lichen sclerosus

A new online guide has launched to support and empower people with vulval lichen sclerosus (LS) to learn about the condition, access the right treatment and live more comfortably.

21 Jan 2025

Cancer patients face increased risk of long-term mental health problems

People diagnosed with cancer are at a greater risk of mental health problems even five years after their diagnosis, according to a large-scale study of data from UK GP patient records.

17 Sep 2024

Ropirio Therapeutics secures exclusive license for novel lymphatic system activators

The Wyss Institute at Harvard University announced today that Ropirio Therapeutics, Inc. (Ropirio) has secured a worldwide, exclusive license from Harvard's Office of Technology Development (OTD) and Boston University (BU)'s Technology Development office for novel molecules that activate the lymphatic system - a first in the pharma industry.

11 Sep 2024

New study advocates for de-escalating breast cancer surgery in women aged 55 and older

Surgery involving sentinel lymph node biopsy for middle-aged women with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer may do more harm than good, according to a new study led by University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center researchers.

22 May 2024

Study shows safety of avoiding extensive lymph node removal in breast cancer patients

It is possible to leave most of the lymph nodes in the armpit, even if one or two of them have metastases larger than two millimeters? This is shown in a trial enrolling women from five countries, led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

4 Apr 2024

Unmasking the culprits behind long-term arm problems in breast cancer patients

A new review paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on December 1, 2023, entitled, "Risk factors for long-term arm morbidities following breast cancer treatments: A systematic review."

11 Dec 2023

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can eliminate need for regional nodal irradiation in breast cancer

For patients whose breast cancer converted from lymph node-positive to lymph node-negative disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, skipping adjuvant regional nodal irradiation (RNI) did not increase the risk of disease recurrence or death five years after surgery, according to results from the NRG Oncology/NSABP B-51/RTOG 1304 clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held December 5-9, 2023.

6 Dec 2023

Organ-on-chip model sheds light on lymphedema

In a new PNAS study co-authored by Boston University biomedical engineer Dr. Chris Chen, researchers say they're getting closer to understanding the mysteries of lymphedema - a condition characterized by the buildup of fluid in the body due to a malfunctioning lymphatic system.

4 Oct 2023

Study identifies potential drug target for lymphedema

The human lymphatic system consists of a vast network of vessels that drain protein-rich fluid in tissues and transport it to lymph nodes.

3 Oct 2023