Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog

A fuzzy blue area with red dots is in between two green half-spheres. The half spheres are made of thin green lines (microtubules). The outside of each sphere has additional green lines emitting in the opposite direction.

FDA Approves Eribulin Mesylate for Advanced Liposarcoma

By NCI Staff
February 11, 2016

The FDA has approved eribulin mesylate for patients with liposarcoma whose cancers are advanced or cannot be removed by surgery and are no longer responding to anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Then-Vice President Biden is sitting at a long rectangluar table in an ornate room addressing a large group of people for the first meeting of the Cancer Moonshot Task Force.

President Obama’s Budget Request Affirms Commitment to Progress against Cancer

By Douglas R. Lowy, M.D.
February 10, 2016

President Obama’s FY 2017 Budget Request includes $680 million to support Vice President Biden’s cancer research initiative.

Two white lab mice next to each other on a blue surface. The mouse on the left is about two to three times the width of the one on the right.

Mouse Study Points to Mechanism Linking Obesity and Colorectal Cancer Risk

By NCI Staff
February 8, 2016

A missing hormone in obese mice may help explain a longstanding association between obesity and an increased risk of colorectal cancer in humans.

Woman wearing headscarf and reclining in chair receives cancer treatment at medical facility.

Persistent Peripheral Neuropathy Increases Fall Risk among Cancer Survivors

By NCI Staff
February 5, 2016

Many female cancer survivors have problems with mobility and other physical functioning as a result of persistent peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy treatment, according to a new study.

A composite image showing a hand holding the bell of a stethoscope to a satellite image of the planet earth. The side of the planet is focused on the contents of Africa, Europe and Asia.

Tackling the Global Cancer Burden: A Conversation with NCI’s Dr. Ted Trimble

By NCI Staff
February 4, 2016

In honor of World Cancer Day, the director of NCI’s Center for Global Health discusses key opportunities in global cancer research.

A purple circle with the words HPV vaccination inside of it. To the left, three main text sections: Announce child is due for 3 vaccines; Ease Main Concern about HPV vaccine; and Recommend HPV vaccine strongly. Arrows from the Announce and Recommend sections point at the circle. Below the Recommend section, text reads “Ask them to return in two months”.

The ‘Crisis’ of Low HPV Vaccination Rates: A Conversation with Dr. Noel Brewer

By NCI Staff
February 2, 2016

Following the release of a consensus statement from the NCI-Designated Cancer Centers urging HPV vaccination in the United States, Dr. Noel Brewer discusses the country’s low vaccination rates and how clinicians can help to improve them.

A snippet of an infographic related to tumor biopsies. It starts with talking about 6,00 cancer patients will be screen with a tumor biopsy, then the biopsied tumor undergoing gene sequencing, the gene sequencing looking for changes in 143 genes, and the patient being matched to a NCI-MATCH treatment if their genetic abnormality is target by a drug in that trial.

NCI-MATCH: A Status Report and Future Directions

By Barbara Conley, M.D.
February 1, 2016

Leaders of the NCI-MATCH trial provide an update to the cancer community on the trial’s status and plans for it moving forward.

Two types of gold nanoparticles spiked with spherical nucleic acids. The left is labeled core-filled SNAs, the right core-less SNAs. They look the same except the core-filled SNA has a golden-brown center whereas the core-less has a white center with a golden-brown outside.

Opportunities in Cancer Nanotechnology: A Conversation with NCI’s Dr. Piotr Grodzinski

By NCI Staff
January 29, 2016

The director of NCI's Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research discusses the Cancer Nanotechnology Plan 2015, as well as new developments and clinical opportunities in the field.

A Black female adult doctor, wearing a white lab coat, red shirt, and stethoscope around her neck, looks at the camera with a serious expression. She is seated next to an examination table. In the background, medical tools hang on the wall.

Video Intervention Helps Prepare Patients to Participate in Cancer Clinical Trials

By NCI Staff
January 28, 2016

Patients who took part in a tailored, video-based educational program had a better understanding of and fewer concerns about participating in clinical trials than patients who received text-based educational.

A two-panel illustration. The left has the header “- ReACp53” and the right “+ ReACp53”. On the left side, it shows one comma shape, labeled p53, become larger and then more copies appear. On the right side, multiple comma shapes also become a larger shape, and then only two shapes are below that. It shows the + ReACp53 side stopping aggregation.

Novel Treatment Approach Shrinks Ovarian Tumors in Mice

By NCI Staff
January 25, 2016

Researchers have developed a new approach for treating tumors that express mutant versions of the p53 protein, which are present in more than half of all cancers, including an aggressive and common subtype of ovarian cancer.