NEWS
FDA Approves First Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine
The field of cancer immunotherapy received an important boost last week with the FDA’s approval of the first therapeutic cancer vaccine, sipuleucel-T (Provenge). The vaccine was approved for use in some men with metastatic prostate cancer based on the results of a phase III randomized trial called IMPACT that demonstrated a more than 4-month median improvement in overall survival compared with a placebo vaccine. However, because of the way in which the vaccine is produced, its availability will be very limited for at least the next 12 months. Read more > >
Breast Tissues May Express Biomarkers Linked to DCIS Recurrence
The biomarkers may predict recurrence of ductal carcinoma in situ and breast cancer riskCirculating Tumor Cells Detected in Patients with Localized Cancers
The rare cells are found in patients with localized prostate and breast cancersCosts and Use of Diagnostic Imaging Rise among Medicare Patients
Compared with other modalities, PET imaging increased most markedly
COMMENTARY
Guest Director's Update: NCCCP—Building a Community-based Research Platform and Enhancing Cancer Care
In 2007, NCI funded 16 community cancer centers at hospitals around the country in a pilot program called the NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP). This program is a unique public-private partnership designed to support cancer research and to study ways to enhance access and increase the quality of cancer care at community hospitals. The participating sites form a network to serve as a community-based platform to support basic, clinical, and population-based research spanning the cancer care continuum—from screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to survivorship and end-of-life care—with a particular focus on addressing health care disparities across the continuum. Read more > >
A MESSAGE TO READERS
Special Issue on Clinical Trial Recruitment
Don’t miss our May 18 special issue, which will highlight important factors that affect clinical trial recruitment, as well as resources and ongoing programs that address obstacles to recruitment for specific population groups.
NCI Cancer Bulletin special issues are some of the most popular among our readers. Past special issues have focused on cancer research training, personalized drug development, and cancer imaging.
IN DEPTH
Sigmoidoscopy Markedly Reduces Colorectal Cancer Incidence, Mortality
First large, randomized trial to demonstrate a mortality benefit for colorectal cancer screening
When Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Fail
New efforts are under way to understand relapse and improve options afterward
Featured Clinical Trial: Vaccine Therapy for Patients with Recurrent Blood Cancers
Can a vaccine targeting Wilms tumor 1 protein safely treat recurrent blood cancers?
UPDATES
FDA Update
- FDA Reviewing Potential Risks of Commonly Used Prostate Cancer Drugs
Legislative Update
- NIH Director Testifies Before House Appropriations Subcommittee
Cancer.gov Update
- Online Tool Provides NCI Funding Trends
Notes
- NCI-Frederick Hosts Annual Spring Research Festival This Week
- Tribute to Celebrate Dr. Ruth Kirschstein’s Contributions to Science and NIH
- Second Telephone Workshop for Cancer Survivors on May 18
Selected articles from past issues of the NCI Cancer Bulletin are available in Spanish.
The NCI Cancer Bulletin is produced by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which was established in 1937. Through basic, clinical, and population-based biomedical research and training, NCI conducts and supports research that will lead to a future in which we can identify the environmental and genetic causes of cancer, prevent cancer before it starts, identify cancers that do develop at the earliest stage, eliminate cancers through innovative treatment interventions, and biologically control those cancers that we cannot eliminate so they become manageable, chronic diseases.
For more information about cancer, call 1-800-4-CANCER or visit http://www.cancer.gov.
NCI Cancer Bulletin staff can be reached at ncicancerbulletin@mail.nih.gov.
