News from NCI about COVID-19

NCI is adapting to the extraordinary circumstances imposed on the cancer community by COVID-19. The institute has taken measures to help meet patients’ needs and to keep the nation’s cancer research enterprise operating to the fullest extent possible.

COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe for People Receiving Cancer Immunotherapy, Study Confirms

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines did not increase the type, frequency, or severity of immune-related side effects among people taking immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat cancer, a study at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found. CDC and other medical groups generally recommend that people with cancer receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
Interferon treatment may reduce severity of COVID-19 in people with certain genetic factors

In patients with certain variations in the OAS1 gene, treatment for severe COVID-19 with interferons, a type of protein that can help the body’s immune system fight infections, decreased the viral load of SARS-CoV-2, a new study found.
COVID-19 was third leading cause of death in the United States in both 2020 and 2021

COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in the United States between March 2020 and October 2021, according to an analysis of national death certificate data by researchers at the National Cancer Institute.
Working to Close the Cancer Screening Gap Caused by COVID

Many hospitals and community health centers are trying to increase cancer screening rates after the COVID pandemic caused them to plummet. The largest effort aims to add a total of 70,000 additional monthly screening tests over a 6-month period.
COVID-19 Vaccines and People with Cancer

Are there some cancer patients who should not get a COVID-19 vaccine? Do COVID-19 vaccines make cancer treatment less effective? Can COVID-19 vaccines cause cancer? This page answers these and other questions about COVID-19 vaccines.
Public‒private network ensures accuracy of antibody tests available in US market

Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research plays a central role in a public‒private network that has kept scores of substandard COVID-19 blood antibody tests out of circulation and helped ensure that marketed tests give accurate results.
NCI study highlights pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Latino adults

A large surveillance study led by NCI researchers suggests that the global COVID-19 pandemic has caused more deaths in the United States among Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Latino individuals than among white or Asian individuals.
COVID-19, Vaccines, and the Immune System: Emerging Research from NCI’s SeroNet

In this Q&A, leaders of NCI’s SeroNet program discuss new research findings on the immune response to the virus that causes COVID-19, new variants of the virus, and the COVID-19 vaccines. They also discuss the effects of the vaccines on people with cancer.
COVID-19 Vaccines May Be Less Effective in Some People with Cancer

People with blood cancers seem to be less protected by COVID-19 vaccines than those with other cancers and people without cancer, three new studies suggest. Experts believe this limited effectiveness is likely due to patients’ weakened immune systems.
For Cancer Screening, COVID-19 Pandemic Creates Obstacles, Opportunities

After a steep drop in screening for common cancers early in the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers are now exploring ways to improve cancer screening during the current crisis and beyond.
NCI study finds that people with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies may have a low risk of future infection

A prior infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, appears to protect, at least for a few months, against reinfection from the virus, according to an NCI study. The finding may have important public health implications.
Cancer Researchers Bring Tools, Experience to COVID-19 Studies

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, cancer researchers have brought their expertise to coronavirus studies. Their findings have ranged from insights into how the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters cells to the identification of potential COVID-19 therapies.
SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Can Protect from Reinfection, NCI Study Suggests

In a study using data from more than 3 million people, NCI researchers have found that people who have antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, appear to have some degree of protection against being reinfected with the virus.
NCI, NIBIB award contracts to develop innovative digital health technologies for COVID-19

NCI and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering have awarded seven contracts to develop digital health solutions, like smartphone apps, wearable devices, and software, that help address the COVID-19 pandemic.
NCI Initiatives on the Human Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2

In this NCI Bottom Line blog post, NCI Deputy Directors Dr. Dinah Singer and Dr. Doug Lowy provide an update on SeroNet, including the Centers of Excellence and serological sciences projects, the SeroNet Serology Lab, Serological Sciences Capacity Building Centers, and a SeroNet Coordinating Center.
Responding to Coronavirus, Cancer Researchers Reimagine Clinical Trials

In response to COVID-19, cancer researchers are making changes to clinical trials to ensure patient safety and protect the integrity of their work. This Cancer Currents blog post reports that some changes will likely continue into the future.
NCI Seeks Applications for SeroNet COVID-19 Research

NCI Deputy Director Dr. Dinah Singer describes the recently launched Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet) and elaborates on funding opportunities for the initiative in this NCI Bottom Line blog post.
Study identifies potential approach to treat severe respiratory distress in patients with COVID-19

This NCI Media Availability describes early data from a clinical study that suggest that treatment with the cancer drug acalabrutinib provided clinical benefit to a small group of patients with severe COVID-19.
How Does COVID-19 Affect People with Cancer? NCCAPS Will Help Find Out

NCI has launched the COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study (NCCAPS), which will help answer questions about COVID-19’s impact on cancer patients. The study is now open to adults and will later be expanded to include children.
Cancer Research in the Era of COVID-19

In this NCI Bottom Line blog post, NCI Deputy Director Dinah Singer, Ph.D., highlights examples of how NCI continues to make progress in cancer research during the era of COVID-19 and provides details on how NCI, working with NIH, has implemented new flexibilities for the cancer research community during this crisis.
NCI Part of Federal Effort to Evaluate Antibody Tests for Novel Coronavirus

NCI scientists, along with experts from other government agencies and academic medical centers, have launched a joint effort to help FDA evaluate commercially available antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
At NCI, A Robust and Rapid Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

NCI is lending its tremendous expertise and unique research capabilities to the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NCI Director Dr. Norman Sharpless describes some of the COVID-19 specific research activities NCI has initiated.
Cancer Research Training in the Era of COVID-19

The director of NCI’s Center for Cancer Training, Dr. Oliver Bogler, addresses grantees about cancer research training during this unprecedented time. He advises the cancer research community to follow NIH/NCI grants guidance and suggests ideas for how grantees and trainees can use their time.
NCI Funding during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

NCI Director Dr. Norman E. Sharpless addresses the grantee community about NCI funding and operations during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Dr. Sharpless highlights NCI’s peer review schedule, our program staff, as well as general NCI grants administration processes during this time.
NCI statement on clinical trials during COVID-19 pandemic

Statement from the National Cancer Institute providing information regarding treatment of cancer patients and participation in clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Multimedia Presentations

Francis Collins: Home Edition Episode 10: Ned Sharpless on COVID-19 Antibody Testing

NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins and NCI Director Dr. Ned Sharpless discuss the difference between viral and antibody testing, what antibodies tell us about the disease, why antibody tests alone are not suitable for informing back-to-workplace efforts, and NCI’s role working with FDA to test and validate SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests.
Cancer and Other Illnesses during COVID-19: How Young Patients and Families Can Cope

NCI hosted a YouTube Live and Facebook Live event on April 23, with experts from NCI’s Pediatric Oncology Branch and the National Institute of Mental Health to discuss coping strategies for young patients with cancer and other serious illnesses and their families on how to navigate the additional stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virtual Joint NCI Board of Scientific Advisors and National Cancer Advisory Board Meeting

On April 9, the NCI director convened an emergency meeting of two of its key advisory boards to discuss the institute’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The director of the NCI on cancer research and clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic

NCI Director Dr. Norman Sharpless joined the TheoryLab podcast to talk about how we can sustain research momentum during the pandemic, what new research opportunities have arisen, and how clinical trials have been impacted.