October 2016 - Cancer Currents Blog
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Scientists Identify Potential Marker of Resistance to PARP InhibitorsFindings from a new study from NCI researchers could help predict whether a tumor will respond to a new class of promising cancer drugs, and identifies a potential way to overcome that resistance.
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‘Unexpected’ Vulnerability Creates Treatment Opportunity in Aggressive Type of Lung CancerA new study has identified a potentially critical vulnerability in lung cancers that have mutations in the KRAS gene, and showed that a drug already under study may be able to exploit it.
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DINO RNA Molecule Triggers Anticancer Response in Damaged CellsStudies in cells and mice found that, in cells with damaged DNA, a noncoding RNA called DINO stabilizes the p53 protein and guides the cells into cell death, preventing tumor development.
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Modified Immunotherapy Approach Shows Promise for LeukemiaResearchers have developed an immunotherapy approach that uses immune cells whose natural cancer killing abilities have been enhanced in the lab. In a small clinical trial, the treatment led to remissions in about half of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
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Metabolomics Study Reveals another Energy Source for Cancer CellsResearchers have found that cancer cells can use the compound lactate to fuel biochemical reactions and to generate other compounds they need for growth and survival.
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New on NCI Websites for October 2016An NCI Cancer Currents blog post that provides updates on new NCI websites and other online content of interest to the cancer community.
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Educating Patients about Genetic Test Results: An Interview with Carol Weil about the COMET StudyThe recently launched COMET study will examine whether educating patients with cancer about genetic testing will increase their knowledge and reduce their stress levels after receiving genomic testing results.
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Avelumab Induces Sustained Tumor Responses in Some Patients with Rare Skin CancerIn a phase II clinical trial, some patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma whose cancer has progressed despite treatment with chemotherapy had durable tumor responses to the immunotherapy drug avelumab.
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Study Confirms Benefits of Early Palliative Care for Advanced CancerA randomized clinical trial has found that patients who received palliative care along with standard treatment for advanced cancer reported having a better quality of life and mood than patients who did not receive early palliative care.