Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog

An illustration of different sized hands in various shades of brown, red, yellow and white on a brown background.

Making Cancer Clinical Trials Available to More Patients

By P. Ivy, A. Denicoff, G. Mishkin & F. Arnaldez
March 7, 2019

NCI is expanding eligibility criteria for its cancer clinical trials in the hope that more patients will join, leading to more rapid advances. The goal is to maximize the number of patients who are eligible to enroll while maintaining their safety.

Female doctor showing tablet to senior African-American patient

Multipronged Approach Eliminates Racial Disparities in Early-Stage Lung Cancer Treatment

By Elia Ben-Ari
March 5, 2019

Use of a multipronged approach within hospitals, including community centers, not only eliminated treatment disparities among black and white patients with early-stage lung cancer, it also improved treatment rates for all patients, results from a new study show.

Becky Owens (left) and Sara Rothschild (right) smiling and wearing bright blue superhero capes pose in a hospital environment. The capes feature the words "Be a Hero for Cancer."

NCI’s Rare Cancer Clinics: Engaging Patients and Fostering Collaboration

By NCI Staff
February 28, 2019

NCI has created special clinics that bring together clinicians, patients, and advocates to promote more rapid progress against rare cancers. The effort includes both rare pediatric cancers and central nervous system tumors in adults.

Wendy Stock, M.D., of the University of Chicago, and her patient Jenn Ferguson.

Treatment for Children with Leukemia Also Effective for Adolescents, Young Adults

By NCI Staff
February 25, 2019

A clinical trial found that an intensive treatment regimen developed specifically for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is also effective for older adolescents and young adults with the disease.

Partnering with Small Business to Advance Innovation in Cancer Research and Care

By Norman E. Sharpless, M.D.
February 21, 2019

NCI Director Dr. Norman Sharpless describes how NCI’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs act as “engines of innovation” and shares recommendations from a federal working group for strengthening the programs.

Microscopic image of liver tissue showing metastatic breast cancer cells highlighted in brown staining, surrounded by normal liver tissue with blue-stained nuclei.

Dormant Tumor Cells Can Be Sensitized to Chemotherapy

By NCI Staff
February 20, 2019

A new study in mice shows that disrupting the relationship between breast cancer cells that spread to bone and normal cells surrounding them makes the cancer cells sensitive to treatment.

A CAR T-Cell Therapy for Multiple Childhood Cancers?

By NCI Staff
February 14, 2019

An experimental CAR T-cell therapy may have potential as a treatment for several types of childhood cancer, results from a new study in mice suggest. The CAR T cells eradicated tumors in mouse models of several different childhood cancers, including two forms of sarcoma and medulloblastoma.

A tumor (yellow) is shown in the background. Components within the microenvironment are overlaid on the tumor, including a dendritic cell (pink), a T-cell (blue), a fibroblast (purple and pink), a natural killer cell (dark blue), a regulatory t cell (aqua), blood vessels (red), a macrophage cell (red with a yellow center), and a myeloid cell (green)

HTAN: Mapping Tumors across Space and Time Using Cutting-Edge Technologies

By NCI Staff
February 12, 2019

The Human Tumor Atlas Network, an NCI-led collaborative research project, is creating detailed maps of cancers that will be used to learn how cancer develops, spreads, and responds to treatment.

Patient lying on CT scan table receiving low-dose screening for lung cancer, with medical technician operating the machine in a hospital setting displaying Veterans Affairs and ICARE logos on equipment monitors.

After Lung Cancer Screening, Follow-Up Procedures May Be Riskier than Thought

By NCI Staff
February 8, 2019

In everyday medical care, there may be more complications from invasive diagnostic procedures performed after lung cancer screening than has been reported in large studies.

Colorful scientific illustration of protein synthesis showing a ribosome translating mRNA into a growing protein chain. The diagram shows mRNA (red ribbon) with codons (GUA, UGG, GUA), the blue ribosome with amino acids (LEU, TRP, VAL) being added to an orange protein chain, and the relationship between nucleotide triplets and their corresponding amino acids. The background indicates a cellular context with 'CYTOPLASM' labeled at the top

Curbing Production of Immune Checkpoint Protein Slows Liver Cancer in Mice

By NCI Staff
February 6, 2019

Researchers have found an unconventional way to unleash the immune system against liver cancer in mice. The researchers used an investigational drug to curb the production of a checkpoint inhibitor protein that shields tumors from the immune system.