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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Multipronged Approach Eliminates Racial Disparities in Early-Stage Lung Cancer TreatmentUse of a multipronged approach within hospitals, including community centers, not only eliminated treatment disparities among black and white patients with early-stage lung cancer, it also improved treatment rates for all patients, results from a new study show.
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NCI’s Rare Cancer Clinics: Engaging Patients and Fostering CollaborationNCI has created special clinics that bring together clinicians, patients, and advocates to promote more rapid progress against rare cancers. The effort includes both rare pediatric cancers and central nervous system tumors in adults.
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Treatment for Children with Leukemia Also Effective for Adolescents, Young AdultsA clinical trial found that an intensive treatment regimen developed specifically for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is also effective for older adolescents and young adults with the disease.
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Partnering with Small Business to Advance Innovation in Cancer Research and CareNCI Director Dr. Norman Sharpless describes how NCI’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs act as “engines of innovation” and shares recommendations from a federal working group for strengthening the programs.
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Dormant Tumor Cells Can Be Sensitized to ChemotherapyA new study in mice shows that disrupting the relationship between breast cancer cells that spread to bone and normal cells surrounding them makes the cancer cells sensitive to treatment.
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A CAR T-Cell Therapy for Multiple Childhood Cancers?An experimental CAR T-cell therapy may have potential as a treatment for several types of childhood cancer, results from a new study in mice suggest. The CAR T cells eradicated tumors in mouse models of several different childhood cancers, including two forms of sarcoma and medulloblastoma.
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HTAN: Mapping Tumors across Space and Time Using Cutting-Edge TechnologiesThe Human Tumor Atlas Network, an NCI-led collaborative research project, is creating detailed maps of cancers that will be used to learn how cancer develops, spreads, and responds to treatment.
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After Lung Cancer Screening, Follow-Up Procedures May Be Riskier than ThoughtIn everyday medical care, there may be more complications from invasive diagnostic procedures performed after lung cancer screening than has been reported in large studies.
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Curbing Production of Immune Checkpoint Protein Slows Liver Cancer in MiceResearchers have found an unconventional way to unleash the immune system against liver cancer in mice. The researchers used an investigational drug to curb the production of a checkpoint inhibitor protein that shields tumors from the immune system.
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Pembrolizumab Now Second Immunotherapy Approved to Treat Merkel Cell CarcinomaFDA has approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to treat people with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and deadly form of skin cancer. The approval covers use of the drug to treat locally advanced or metastatic forms of the disease.
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Glioblastoma Study Highlights Sex Differences in Brain CancerMen and women with glioblastoma appear to respond differently to standard treatment. A new study identifies biological factors that might contribute to this sex difference.
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African American Men More Likely to Die from Low-Grade Prostate CancerFor African American men, the risk of dying from low-grade prostate cancer is double that of men of other races, a new study has found. But, despite the increase, the risk is still small.
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Managing Cancer Pain: Are Better Approaches on the Horizon?Pain is a common and much-feared symptom among people with cancer and long-term survivors. As more people survive cancer for longer periods, there is a renewed interest in developing new, nonaddictive approaches for managing their chronic pain.
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Immunotherapy Effective in Alveolar Soft Part SarcomaPeople with advanced alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS), a rare cancer, appear to benefit from a type of immunotherapy called an immune checkpoint inhibitor, according to results from a small clinical trial.
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Atezolizumab Approved for Initial Treatment of Metastatic Lung CancerOn December 6, 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in combination with a standard three-drug regimen as an initial treatment for advanced lung cancer that does not have EGFR or ALK mutations.
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For Early-Stage Lung Cancer, Study Identifies Potential New Biomarker, Treatment TargetA new study has identified a potential biomarker of early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The biomarker, the study’s leaders said, could help diagnose precancerous lung growths and early-stage lung cancers noninvasively and distinguish them from noncancerous growths.
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New on NCI Websites for December 2018NCI 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 2018.
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FDA Approvals Bring New Options for Older Patients with AMLFDA has approved venetoclax (Venclexta) and glasdegib (Daurismo) for use in people with acute myeloid leukemia aged 75 and older and those with health conditions that prevent them from receiving the intensive chemotherapy regimen that is the standard initial treatment.
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The HPV Vaccine: Increasing the Use of an Important Cancer Prevention ToolDr. Barbara Rimer, chair of the President’s Cancer Panel, summarizes the panel’s recent report on the HPV vaccine, which includes priorities and strategies to ensure that more people receive this critical cancer vaccine.
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Whole- and Partial-Breast Radiation Effective at Preventing Breast Cancer from ReturningIn women with early-stage breast cancer, two clinical trials have shown that both whole- and partial-breast radiation therapy are effective at preventing the cancer from returning after breast-conserving surgery.