Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog

A male researcher, wearing lab goggles, a white coat, and blue gloves, pours pink fluid from a small glass container into another small cylinder that is focused underneath a microscope. The microscope and fluid containers are in focus in the foreground, the man and his environment are blurry, indicating depth of field.

The Cancer Community's Next Steps for the Moonshot Initiative

April 29, 2016, by Dinah Singer, Ph.D.

The National Cancer Moonshot Initiative’s Blue Ribbon Panel is moving quickly to develop recommendations on how to accelerate progress against cancer.

A computer generated image of a cancer cell with antibody–photoabsorber conjugates attached to it. The cancer cell is a bumpy purple sphere. The antibody-photoabsorber is two parts: first, two blue columns with a spherical top emerge from the cell (receptors). On top of the two columns, a three-sided shape sits on top of the columns (a conjugate). The conjugate has three grey spheres attached to it. Multiple photoabsorbers are attached to the cancer cell.

Targeted Photoimmunotherapy Approach for Cancer Moves Forward

April 25, 2016, by NCI Staff

Two new studies from NCI researchers add to growing evidence of the promise of a novel type of cancer immunotherapy that uses infrared light to activate rapid and selective killing of cancer cells.

Testis and adrenal points at a circle with a diagram inside of it. At the top of the diagram, a red oval labeled T/DHEA points at a yellow box labeled DHT, which points at another box labeled DHT sitting on top of an oval labeled AR. There’s another DHT box + AR oval below it. An arrow points to the right; two AR ovals are next to each other with the label ARE below. An up arrow has the words growth, survival, PSA next to it.

New Treatment Target Identified for Key Prostate Cancer Driver

April 22, 2016, by NCI Staff

Researchers have identified a potential alternative approach to blocking a key molecular driver of an advanced form of prostate cancer, called androgen-independent or castration-resistant prostate cancer.

VP Biden speaks at a lectern with the Presidential seal

A Shared Commitment for Accelerating Progress with the Cancer Moonshot

April 20, 2016, by Douglas R. Lowy, M.D.

At the AACR annual meeting, Vice President Biden spoke about the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative and the critical role the entire research community will play in accelerating progress against cancer.

Two-panel illustration showing the interaction between T cells and tumor cells. The left panel is titled "PD-L1 binds to PD-1 and inhibits T cell killing of tumor cell" and shows an antigen and T cell receptor, illustrating the inhibition of T cell activity. The right panel is titled "Blocking PD-L1 or PD-1 allows T cell killing of tumor cell" and shows tumor cell death, indicating successful T cell activity.

Pembrolizumab Shows Promise in Patients with Rare Form of Skin Cancer

April 19, 2016, by NCI Staff

In a small clinical trial, more than half of the patients with an aggressive form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma responded to the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab.

A three-panel image. The top panel is a shining sun in a blue, cloudless sky; the bottom left panel is a piece of salmon with herbs on top; and the bottom right panel is a glass of milk with a straw.

Vitamin D Deficiency May Promote Spread of Some Breast Cancers

April 14, 2016, by NCI Staff

Low vitamin D levels are associated with metastasis in women with breast cancer, suggests a new study.

Two sisters sitting side by side reading in a hospital bed

Toward Precision Therapy for Children with Cancer: An Interview with Dr. Javed Khan

April 13, 2016, by NCI Staff

NCI’s Dr. Javed Khan discusses a new NCI clinical program and the promise and challenges of genome-guided therapy for children with cancer.

A stained slide mostly colored purple with some red and pink highlights. In a large area of white, red blood cells have a blue arrow pointing at them, and an iNPG-pDox nanoparticle has a red arrow pointing at it.

Nanoparticle Generator Slips Chemotherapy Past Tumor Cells’ Protective Barriers

April 11, 2016, by NCI Staff

Researchers have developed a new injectable nanoparticle-generating technology that can deliver a cancer drug to the nucleus of metastatic breast cancer cells.

Sunitinib and Sorafenib Ineffective as Adjuvant Therapies for Kidney Cancer

April 8, 2016, by NCI Staff

Results from a recent clinical trial show that post-surgical therapy with two anti-angiogenesis drugs does not improve progression-free survival for patients with kidney cancer and may cause serious side effects.

An endoscopic view of polyps. The polyps are of various sizes, mostly dome-shaped, around all sides of what appears to be a pink tunnel.

Drug Combination Shrinks Duodenal Polyps in People with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

April 7, 2016, by NCI Staff

In a small clinical trial of people with an inherited condition that greatly increases gastrointestinal cancer risk, a two-drug combination shrank precancerous lesions in the duodenum.

A pink-red rectangle with rounded corner and wavy lines of varying lengths (mitochondria) sits on top of a light teal background with vertical striations and some small irregularities.

Blocking Calcium Transfer May Selectively Kill Cancer Cells

March 31, 2016, by NCI Staff

A new study shows that blocking the transfer of calcium ions (Ca2+) into mitochondria is toxic to cancer cells and impairs growth of tumors in mice, while sparing normal cells.

Blue and green stained human ovarian cells on a black background. The bottom left part of the image is mostly blue and black with some green highlights; moving to the top right, the cells increasingly become brighter and more green.

New Strategy for Treating Advanced Ovarian Cancer Shows Promise in Mice

March 28, 2016, by NCI Staff

The use of a protein fragment to stimulate cells in the tumor microenvironment against cancer shows promise in animal models of metastatic ovarian cancer.

Illustration of Stage IV Lung Cancer. The image shows the human body with highlighted areas where lung cancer has spread, including the brain, lymph nodes, both lungs, adrenal gland, kidney, liver, and bone. An inset illustrates cancer cells spreading via blood and lymph nodes to other body parts. The diagram visually represents the extensive metastasis associated with Stage IV lung cancer.

Crizotinib Approval Expanded for Advanced Lung Cancer

March 22, 2016, by NCI Staff

The FDA has approved uses of the targeted therapy crizotinib (Xalkori®) for patients with advanced lung cancer whose tumors have alterations in the ROS1 gene.

High-Magnification Microscopy Visualizes Tumor Blood Vessels in Real Time

March 17, 2016, by NCI Staff

High-powered intravital microscopy reveals that 50 percent of blood vessels in melanoma tumors do not have any blood flow, according to a new study.

An outstretched hand wearing a blue latex glove holds a handful of oval pills which are light orange in color.

Keeping Pace: How New Data Can Affect Ongoing Clinical Trials

March 16, 2016, by Jo Anne Zujewski, M.D.

Research results sometimes outrace the design of an ongoing clinical trial and the trial has to be recalibrated to include newer treatments, according to NCI’s Dr. Jo Anne Zujewski.

A four-panel infographic. The first panel is titled Melanoma Patient, with blood and tumor biopsy labeled on a man’s silhouette. The blood label points to a panel titled “separation of CD8 + lymphocytes from the blood”. The tumor biopsy label points to a panel titled “sequencing of tumor to identify potential mutated antigens”. These two panels point to a final panel about the measurement of reactivity of peripheral immune cells to mutated antigens.

Novel Strategy Isolates Immune Cells in the Blood that Recognize Melanoma

March 11, 2016, by NCI Staff

NCI scientists have developed a novel strategy for identifying immune cells circulating in the blood that recognize specific proteins on tumor cells, a finding they believe may have potential implications for immune-based therapies.

HPV Infections Targeted by Vaccine Decrease in U.S.

March 9, 2016, by NCI Staff

Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) types targeted by the quadrivalent HPV vaccine has declined by nearly two-thirds among teenage girls since HPV vaccination was recommended in the United States.

A female scientist sits down and looks through a microscope. She wears a lab coat and has shoulder length dirty blonde hair. She has a happy expression on her face. In the background, shelves with various types of equipment and binders can be seen, as well as large windows with the blinds pulled down, indicating a lab environment.

Fueling Basic Discovery: NCI’s Cooperative Human Tissue Network

March 7, 2016, by I. Lubensky, R. Chauqui, and J. Demchok

Quality biospecimens are a foundational resource for cancer research. One of NCI’s longest running biospecimen programs is the Cooperative Human Tissue Network, a resource mainly for basic discovery and early translational research.

BRCA Testing Rates High in Young Women with Breast Cancer

March 1, 2016, by NCI Staff

Testing for genetic mutations strongly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer has risen dramatically among women younger than age 40 who are diagnosed with the disease, according to a new study.

A patient lays on his back under a radiation machine. The patient is dressed in a hospital gown and covered with a blanket. The machine is large and grey with a cylindrical section directly above the patient’s chest. The background is tinted yellow and there are cabinets and a door.

Missed Radiation Therapy Sessions Increase Risk of Cancer Recurrence

February 26, 2016, by NCI Staff

Patients who miss radiation therapy sessions during cancer treatment have an increased risk of their disease returning, even if they eventually complete their course of radiation treatment, according to a new study.

Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog

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