2022 - Cancer Currents Blog

Illustration of HLA proteins presenting peptides on cell surface.

Cancer Immunotherapies Don’t Work for Everyone: HLA Gene May Explain Why

By Nadia Jaber
January 27, 2022

A specific form of the HLA gene, HLA-A*03, may make immune checkpoint inhibitors less effective for some people with cancer, according to an NCI-led study. If additional studies confirm the finding, it could help guide the use of these commonly used drugs.

Even If Insured, People with Advanced Cancer Often Face Financial Problems

By Edward Winstead
January 26, 2022

Financial hardship caused by cancer care was common and occurred early in treatment, even for patients with insurance, a recent study found. The investigators believe financial hardship should be addressed like any other complication of cancer care.

A technician in full body protective gear adjusting a machine for making mRNA vaccines.

Can mRNA Vaccines Help Treat Cancer?

By Edward Winstead
January 20, 2022

The success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 could help accelerate research on using mRNA vaccine technology to treat cancer, including the development of personalized cancer vaccines.

Illustration showing three cells: a healthy cell, a CAR T-cell, and a cancer cell. The CAR T-cell has three vertical bars (labeled as activation and co-stimulatory domains) that stretch outside of the bounds of the cell; a y-shaped structure, labeled CD19 CAR, holds a rectangle above it, labeled CD19. The box labeled CD19 sits on top of the cancer cell.

Should CAR T Cells Be Used Earlier in People with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?

By NCI Staff
January 13, 2022

Results from three clinical trials have found that CAR T cells may be superior to standard treatments for patients with B-cell NHL that has not responded to treatment (refractory) or has returned after treatment (relapsed).

A woman surgeon performing surgery in an operating room

When Ovarian Cancer Returns, Surgery May Be a Good Choice for Selected Patients

By Elia Ben-Ari
January 12, 2022

For patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who meet strict criteria, additional surgery may improve survival, results from a large clinical trial show.

An image of an e-cigarette machine in the foreground with three small bottles that have eyedropper tops in the background. The small bottles contain liquids colored red, orange and yellow; the e-cigarette machine is grey with metal touches.

FDA Oversight of E-Cigarettes Gathers Speed: A Conversation with Mitch Zeller

By Carmen Phillips
January 5, 2022

Companies that want to market e-cigarettes in the United States must now submit applications to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this interview, Mitch Zeller, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, provides insights into FDA actions on e-cigarettes.