Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog

Diagram illustrating how T-DM1 antibody-drug conjugate works by binding to HER2 receptors on cancer cells, followed by internalization and release of the emtansine drug payload inside the cell.

T-DM1 Approval Expanded to Include Some Women with Early-Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

By NCI Staff
May 23, 2019

FDA has expanded the approved use of the drug ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla), also called T-DM1, to include adjuvant treatment in some women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer.

X-ray image showing the hip and upper thigh bone area, revealing a metastatic tumor that has spread to the bone tissue.

When Cancer Spreads to Bone, A Single Dose of Radiation Therapy May Control Pain

By NCI Staff
May 21, 2019

New findings from a clinical trial suggest that a single dose of radiation therapy may control painful bone metastases as effectively as multiple lower doses of radiation therapy.

A Schematic Diagram of the Pediatric MATCH Trial

Pediatric MATCH Study Finds More Targetable Genetic Changes than Expected

By NCI Staff
May 16, 2019

An early report from the NCI–COG Pediatric MATCH trial shows that 24% of young patients with advanced cancer who had their tumors tested for genetic changes were eligible to receive one of the targeted therapies being tested.

Random round shapes colored dark pink, representing blood, are scattered randomly across the image. Near a cluster of blood, a blue and purple shape representing BPDCN cells is shown.

Tagraxofusp Proves Effective for BPDCN, A Rare Blood Cancer

By NCI Staff
May 15, 2019

New findings from a clinical trial of the drug tagraxofusp confirm its efficacy against the rare blood cancer blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN).

A close-up of the arms and body of a doctor and patient. The patient is sitting on a couch and wearing casual clothing and his hands are together, indicating he is waiting for a response. The doctor holds a pen in one hand and a checklist in the other. They are wearing a white lab coat.

Prostate Cancer Prevention and Finasteride: A Conversation with NCI’s Dr. Howard Parnes

By NCI Staff
May 13, 2019

The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial showed that finasteride can reduce the risk of prostate cancer, but might increase the risk of aggressive disease. NCI’s Howard Parnes talks about subsequent findings and what they mean for men aged 55 and older.

Illustration of a human figure annotated with various medical conditions, each represented by differently sized circles. Larger circles indicate common conditions, and smaller ones indicate rarer issues. Conditions include central neurologic disorder, hypothyroidism, myocarditis, pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, AKI (acute kidney injury), anemia, lymphopenia, and skin-related issues. Lines connect each condition to specific body areas.

New Drugs, New Side Effects: Complications of Cancer Immunotherapy

By Edward Winstead
May 10, 2019

The expanding use of cancer immunotherapy has revealed a variety of side effects associated with this treatment approach. Researchers are now trying to better understand how and why these side effects occur and develop strategies for better managing them.

Illustration titled “Liver PRETEXT I”. Two depictions of the liver are side by side. The left labels a mass of cancer on the liver and shows veins behind the liver. The right shows the cancer mass in a different position on the liver and doesn’t show any veins. Above both illustrations, text reads “Cancer is found in one section of the liver. Three sections of the liver that are next to each other do not have cancer in them.”

Some Children with Liver Cancer May Need Less Chemotherapy, Study Suggests

By NCI Staff
May 9, 2019

Some children with liver cancer may need less chemotherapy than is typically used, new research suggests. The study included children and infants with hepatoblastoma whose tumors had been surgically removed when the disease was diagnosed.

Illustration depicting the adaptive immunity process. On the left, antigen-specific T cells are shown. The right side features a cross-section of a lymph node, highlighting B cell and T cell activation. Arrows indicate the movement of cells and activation processes. Below, dendritic cells present antigens, initiating the immune response. The diagram uses labeled arrows and sections to visualize the interaction and activation within the immune system.

A Vaccine to Treat Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Advancing in Clinical Trials

By NCI Staff
May 7, 2019

In some people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), treating a single tumor with an in situ vaccine can help to shrink, or eliminate, tumors in other parts of the body, findings from a small clinical trial suggest.

Physical therapist assisting an older male patient with resistance band exercises in a bright therapy clinic, with the patient stretching the red resistance band while the therapist provides guidance and support.

Telephone-Based Rehab Program Helps People with Advanced Cancer Maintain Independence

By NCI Staff
April 29, 2019

A physical rehabilitation program delivered by telephone improved function and reduced pain for people with advanced cancer, a clinical trial shows. The program also reduced the time patients spent in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

3D model of a bifunctional molecule showing anti-PD-L1 moiety and TGF-β trap moiety used in cancer immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy Drug with Two Targets Shows Promise against HPV-Related Cancers

By NCI Staff
April 25, 2019

The investigational immunotherapy drug bintrafusp alfa (also called M7824), a bifunctional fusion protein, shrank the tumors of some patients with advanced HPV-related cancers, according to results from a phase 1 clinical trial.