September 2018 - Cancer Currents Blog
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The R50 Research Specialist Award: Ensuring a Stable Cancer Research WorkforceWith the increasing reliance on advanced technologies and the rise of big data in cancer research, NCI launched the R50 Research Specialist Award to help sustain a stable workforce of experienced scientists who can take fullest advantage of these tools and resources.
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Stimulating the Immune System Shrinks Some Slow-Growing LymphomasIn a small trial involving patients with slow-growing B-cell lymphoma, injecting the compound SD-101 directly into tumors (in situ vaccination) and giving low-dose radiation shrank the injected tumors and, frequently, tumors elsewhere in the body.
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Hope and Challenge: The NCI Annual Plan and Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2020NCI has released its Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Plan and Budget Proposal. The plan represents NCI’s best professional judgement on the optimum funding needed to make the most rapid progress against cancer.
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Heart Problems: Investigating the Cardiac Side Effects of Cancer TreatmentsCertain cancer treatments can damage the heart and the cardiovascular system, a problem known as cardiotoxicity. Cardiologists and oncologists met recently to discuss strategies and future research directions for addressing these side effects.
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Nivolumab and Ipilimumab Effective against Melanoma That Has Spread to the BrainResults from a clinical trial show that the combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) halted the growth of or shrank metastatic brain tumors in more than half of participants with melanoma that had spread to the brain.
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NCI and FDA Address Common Concerns: A Win–Win for Making Progress against CancerNCI Director Dr. Norman Sharpless discusses efforts between NCI and FDA to advance progress against cancer, including initiatives to improve labeling of patient tumor and tissue samples and to address challenges presented by new tobacco products.
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Moxetumomab Approved by FDA for Hairy Cell LeukemiaThe FDA has approved moxetumomab pasudotox (Lumoxiti), a bacterial toxin–based drug, for the treatment of some patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Moxetumomab is approved to treat patients with HCL who have already undergone at least two lines of standard treatments.
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Appendix Cancers Are Genetically Distinct from Other Gastrointestinal Cancers, Study ShowsThe largest-ever study of DNA changes in appendix cancer shows that it is distinct from colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers and suggests that specific mutations in appendix tumors may help predict whether they may be aggressive.
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Integrating Geriatric Assessment into Cancer Care: A Conversation with Dr. Supriya MohileDr. Supriya Mohile discusses the unique issues experienced by older adults with cancer and efforts to incorporate geriatric assessment into patient care, including the publication of recent ASCO clinical guidelines on geriatric cancer care.
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Exosomes May Help Tumors Evade Immune SystemA new study has identified what may be an important and previously unknown route by which tumors evade the immune system: They secrete small membrane-encased sacs, called exosomes, studded with a protein that dials down the immune response.
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Two Drugs Work Together to Block ‘Master Regulator’ of Breast, Other CancersArsenic trioxide and retinoic acid work together to target the master regulator protein Pin1, a new study shows. In cancer cell lines and mice, the drug combination slowed the growth of triple-negative breast cancer tumors.