Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog
A blog featuring news and research updates from the National Cancer Institute. Learn more about Cancer Currents.
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New on NCI’s Websites for December 2021NCI periodically provides updates on new websites and other online content of interest to the cancer community. See selected content that has been added as of December 2021.
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Black Patients Are More Likely to Die of Cancer—Here’s How One Group Is Tackling ThatA program called ACCURE is showing promise toward reducing disparities among Black and White patients with breast and lung cancers. ACCURE involves system-wide changes at cancer centers to overcome structural and cultural barriers in patient care.
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Immunotherapy Combination Most Effective as Initial Treatment for BRAF+ MelanomaClinical trial finds that ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo) combo is superior to a combination of the targeted therapies dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) as the first treatment for metastatic BRAF-positive melanoma.
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For Older Adults, Geriatric Assessment Reduces Cancer Treatment Side EffectsFor older adults with advanced cancer, a geriatric assessment can help direct their treatment, a new study shows. In the study, patients whose care was guided by a geriatric assessment experienced fewer serious side effects and falls in their homes.
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Tumors May Shed Protein to Create Barriers that Block Immune CellsCancer cells can shed a protein called DDR1 that helps collagen proteins create dense barriers around tumors. A study in mice showed these barriers can prevent immune cells from entering and killing tumors.
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Test Detects Early Signs of Remaining Cancer in Kids Treated for MedulloblastomaA new test could potentially be used to identify children treated for medulloblastoma who are at high risk of their cancer returning. The test detects evidence of remaining cancer in DNA shed from medulloblastoma tumor cells into cerebrospinal fluid.
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New Risk Model Aims to Reduce Breast Cancer Disparities in Black WomenMost breast cancer risk tools were developed with data mainly from White women and don’t work as well for Black women. A new tool that estimates risk for Black women may help identify those who might benefit from earlier screening, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment.
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Shorter, More Intensive Radiation Safe after Surgery for Prostate CancerMany with prostate cancer can safely receive shorter, higher-dose radiation therapy after surgery, a new study has found. The approach, called HYPORT, didn’t harm patients’ quality of life compared with the standard radiation approach, trial finds.
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Tecartus Becomes First CAR T-Cell Therapy Approved for Adults with ALLThe CAR T-cell therapy Tecartus has become the first such treatment approved by FDA to treat adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The approval is for patients whose cancer has not responded to treatment or returned after treatment.
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New on NCI’s Websites for November 2021NCI periodically provides updates on new websites and other online content of interest to the cancer community. See selected content that has been added as of November 2021.
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Studies Delve Deep into the Protein Machinery of Cancer CellsA research team has identified common interactions between cancer-related proteins in cancer cells. They also created a map of how these protein complexes function in those cells and identified a promising treatment target for head and neck cancer.
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Does Too Much Fructose Help Colorectal Cancers Grow?Excess fructose can promote obesity and colorectal cancer, a new study shows. In mice, the study found that the sweetener, a component of table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, increased how long normal and cancer cells in the intestines live.
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Adjuvant Immunotherapy Approved for Some Patients with Lung CancerAtezolizumab (Tecentriq) is now the first immunotherapy approved by FDA for use as an additional, or adjuvant, treatment for some patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The approval was based on results of a clinical trial called IMpower010.
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Despite Proven Safety of HPV Vaccines, More Parents Have ConcernsDespite consistent evidence that HPV vaccines are safe and effective, a new study shows that more parents are citing concerns about their safety. Researchers cautioned that efforts are needed to counter this trend and improve vaccination rates.
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Enhertu May Be Preferred Therapy for Some Metastatic Breast CancersIn people with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, the targeted drug trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) markedly lengthened progression-free survival compared with trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcycla), new study results show.
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From Scan to Scan: The Challenges of Living with Metastatic CancerNew treatments are helping more people with advanced or metastatic cancer live longer. At a recent NCI conference, survivors and researchers came together to discuss how to better address the needs of those living with metastatic cancer.
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Pembrolizumab May Help Prevent Early-Stage Melanoma from ReturningTrial results show patients who received the immunotherapy pembrolizumab (Keytruda) after surgery to remove high-risk stage II melanomas were less likely to have the cancer come back than those who received no treatment after surgery.
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Combo of Ribociclib, Letrozole Improves Survival in Advanced Breast CancerIn a large clinical trial, women with HR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer treated with ribociclib (Kisqali) and letrozole (Femara) as their initial treatment lived approximately 1 year longer than women treated with letrozole only.
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Breast Cancer Surgery Choice May Affect Young Survivors’ Quality of LifeWomen with early-stage breast cancer who had one or both breasts surgically removed (a unilateral or bilateral mastectomy) had lower scores on a quality-of-life survey than women who had breast-conserving surgery, a new study has found.
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Why Have Thyroid Cancer Diagnoses Spiked for US Women?Women are far more likely than men to be diagnosed with small thyroid cancers that probably would have never caused problems during their lifetime, a new study finds. The results may help explain why thyroid cancer seems to be more common in women.