2016 - Cancer Currents Blog

Child with a bald head, is smiling while playfully holding onto the woman’s shoulders. The woman looks content as she interacts with the child.

TARGET Initiative Fueling Progress against Childhood Leukemia

By NCI Staff
September 30, 2016

Research from TARGET, an NCI-funded program supporting genomic analyses of childhood cancers, has led to the launch of several clinical trials of targeted therapies to treat children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Studies Highlight Potential of Targeting HIF-2 in Kidney Cancer

By NCI Staff
September 29, 2016

Two new studies suggest that a new class of drugs can effectively target a molecular driver of the most common type of kidney cancer.

Elderly woman comforting a man by placing her hand on his shoulder as they sit together on a couch, with the man appearing distressed or contemplative.

Many Cancer Caregivers Report Feeling Unprepared for Caregiving Challenges

By NCI Staff
September 27, 2016

Many family members who care for loved ones with cancer do not feel adequately prepared for the caregiving tasks they assume and need help to make informed decisions about end-of-life care, according to a new study.

Magnified image showing cells during mitosis. Green filaments represent the cytoskeleton and spindle fibers, while clustered dark purple lines illustrate chromosomes lined up during cell division.

Chromosomal Instability Score May Predict Response to Cancer Treatment

By NCI Staff
September 23, 2016

A new study suggests that a chromosomal instability score may help guide treatment choices for patients with cancer.

Political and health leaders sit at table with the flags of USA, Japan, and Korea behind them

Forging Collaborations to Spur Global Progress against Cancer

By Douglas R. Lowy, M.D.
September 22, 2016

NCI and NIH announce efforts to establish international collaborations that can accelerate progress in reducing the global cancer burden.

Image shows the relationship between APIs for collaboration between NCI and PIF program.

Meeting Patients Where They Are: Liberating Clinical Trials Data Under the Cancer Moonshot

By Sheila Prindiville, M.D., M.P.H and Michael Balint
September 16, 2016

NCI’s new application programming interface (API) that allows anyone to build online tools that help people find NCI-supported clinical trials.

A doctor looks at a piece of paper and speaks to his patient. The doctor is a white middle-aged male, wearing a lab coat, button up shirt and tie, He is standing and gesturing as he speaks. The patient, a younger Black woman with glasses, a long sleeve grey sweater and jeans, sits on the exam table and looks slightly distressed. Out of focus doors to the room are in the foreground.

The Impact and Future of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study: An Interview with Greg Armstrong, M.D.

By NCI Staff
September 14, 2016

Dr. Greg Armstrong of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study discusses this long-running study and its future.

An irregular donut-shape (mitochondria) is mostly red with some blue highlights on a black background.

Pancreatic Cancer Cells May Obtain Nutrients from Neighboring Cells

By NCI Staff
September 12, 2016

Pancreatic cancer cells instruct healthy cells around them to provide nutrients they need to survive and grow, a new study suggests.

The co-chairs of the Blue Ribbon Panel stand before a lectern

Blue Ribbon Panel Report: The Power of the Cancer Community Coming Together

By Douglas R. Lowy, M.D.
September 9, 2016

NCI Acting Director Dr. Douglas R. Lowy, M.D., thanks the cancer community for contributing to the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel report, which was presented to the National Cancer Advisory Board on September 7.

Illustration of a medical professional giving a patient chemotherapy. Both are seated, with the medical professional in scrubs and gloves and the patient in a casual long sleeve shirt sitting in a chair. The machine has two IV bags and one is labeled “Chemotherapy.” On the opposite side of that machine text reads “Patient receives treatment to destroy blood-forming cells.”

Approach May Allow for Stem Cell Transplant without Radiation, Chemotherapy

By NCI Staff
September 7, 2016

In a recent study, researchers showed that a new approach may provide a safer way to perform stem cell transplants for treating cancer and other diseases.