Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog

A diagram of the effects of using cobimetinib in combination with vemurafenib. At the top, an arch of small spheres that are tightly aligned in two rows. Below that, arrows point to labeled circles. The circles read: Ras, Raf, MEK1/2, and ERK1/2. The last three circles have a smaller circle attached, labeled with a P. The ERK1/2 circle points to a box with the words Proliferation, Differentiation, Migration, Survival/Apoptosis.

FDA Approves Cobimetinib as Part of Drug Combination for Advanced Melanoma

By NCI Staff
December 15, 2015

The FDA has approved the targeted drug cobimetinib, in combination with another targeted therapy, to treat patients with advanced melanoma whose tumors have specific genetic mutations.

The structure of the KRAS protein is visible in this artistic rendering.

Two Small RNAs, Often Missing from Cancer Cells, May Suppress Tumors

By NCI Staff
December 14, 2015

Two small RNAs that are frequently deleted from cancer cells may help suppress tumors by interacting with RAS proteins, a new study suggests.

Silhouettes of people in dark blue sit above blocks of the letters ACGT. The letters go from larger to smaller from the top and outside of the image to the bottom center. The letters are gradients of yellow, orange, red, and green. Part of a silhouette of a stethoscope in dark blue is in the top left.

Precision Medicine Trials for Cancer: A New Era

By Jeff Abrams, M.D., and Nita Seibel, M.D.
December 10, 2015

NCI is designing smaller, quicker, and smarter clinical trials that incorporate the principal tenets of precision medicine.

A closeup of a latex gloved hand holding a newborn’s foot over a piece of paper with the newborn’s inked footprint. To the left of the footprint, the letters ACGT repeat in different patterns.

Study Sheds Light on Role of Inherited Mutations in Childhood Cancer

By NCI Staff
December 8, 2015

In the most comprehensive study of its kind conducted to date, more than 8 percent of children with cancer were found to have inherited genetic mutations associated with a predisposition to the disease.

An illustration of the human body titled “Soft Tissue Sarcoma.” The body is in silhouette and has labels for various parts of the human body which are illustrated to mimic the look of each part. The labels read “Nerves”, “Muscle, Tendons, Ligaments and Cartilage”, “Fat”, “Blood Vessels”, and “Lymph Vessels.”

FDA Approves Trabectedin to Treat Two Types of Soft Tissue Sarcoma

By NCI Staff
December 4, 2015

The FDA has approved trabectedin for patients with advanced liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma whose cancer has progressed after prior treatment.

An illustrated cross-section labeled “Brain Anatomy.” An adult’s head from the side labels the pineal gland, choroid plexus, cerebrum, ventricles (fluid-filled spaces), hypothalamus, optic nerve, pituitary gland, brain stem (pons and medulla), spinal cord, and cerebellum. Bold text reads “Supratentorium” (next to the cerebrum) and “Infratentorium” (next to the cerebellum).

Patient with Brain Tumor Responds Dramatically to Targeted Therapy

By NCI Staff
December 3, 2015

A patient with a papillary craniopharyngioma saw his tumor shrink more than 80 percent after treatment with a targeted drug that inhibits a mutant form of the BRAF protein.

A cytotoxic T cell, colored with a neon green outline and red, blue and black on the interior, moves towards a cancer cell. The cancer cell is in the center and has a medium green viscous covering inside of a blue core. Two other cells, with similar coloring to the T cell, float to the top left and right of the cancer cell.

Lung Cancer Precision Medicine Trials: Adapting to Progress

By Shakun Malik, M.D.
November 30, 2015

Patients with lung cancer are benefiting from the boom in targeted and immune-based therapies. With a series of precision medicine trials, NCI is keeping pace with the rapidly changing treatment landscape for lung cancer.

Microscope image showing two dividing melanoma cancer cells in vibrant colors - blue centers surrounded by green and red patterns - being targeted by T-VEC oncolytic virus therapy.

FDA Approves Talimogene Laherparepvec to Treat Metastatic Melanoma

By NCI Staff
November 25, 2015

The FDA has approved the first oncolytic virus therapy, talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC). The drug was approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma that cannot be removed surgically.

An illustrated cross-section of a liposome. The outside is composed of small spheres that are tightly packed; the inside has small strands coming from the outer spheres touching spheres seen at the core of the liposome. The core spheres also have small strands emitting from them.

FDA Approves Irinotecan Liposome to Treat Pancreatic Cancer

By NCI Staff
November 24, 2015

Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer that has progressed after receiving gemcitabine-based chemotherapy now have a new treatment option: irinotecan liposome in combination with fluorouracil and leucovorin.

Medical scan showing lymphoma tumors (indicated by arrows) near the kidneys in a patient before treatment with ibrutinib.

How Genomics Is Shaping Precision Medicine in Oncology

By Lou Staudt, M.D., Ph.D.
November 19, 2015

In laboratories at NCI and around the world, researchers are using advanced genomic technologies to study the differences between cancer cells and normal cells, leading to new and more effective treatments for patients with cancer.