Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog

A blog featuring news and research updates from the National Cancer Institute.

An illustrated banner to represent NCI's Cancer Currents research news blog. The design features interconnected scenes: a patient receiving care, a researcher in a lab, a tumor model, a laptop and mobile device displaying research articles, fitness activity, a clinical setting, and a researcher giving a scientific presentation. The background showcases rolling hills and abstract buildings.

Gene Therapy Approach for Ovarian Cancer Shows Encouraging Signs in Animal Model
- By NCI Staff
- August 14, 2015
A single injection of a gene therapy viral vector inhibited tumor growth of some mouse tumors derived from patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.
Too Few Patients with Cancer Communicate Preferences for End-of-Life Care
- By NCI Staff
- August 10, 2015
Many patients with cancer and their physicians are not communicating about the patients’ preferences for end-of-life medical care, a new study suggests.
NCI-Designated Cancer Centers Expand, Four Awarded Comprehensive Designation
- By NCI Staff
- August 6, 2015
In July 2015, the NCI’s cancer centers program expanded by adding a new institution and awarding the comprehensive designation to four existing NCI-designated cancer centers.
What’s New Online from NCI?
- By NCI Staff
- August 6, 2015
NCI periodically provides updates on new websites and other online content of interest to the cancer community.
New Research: Using Lung Cancer Screening As An Opportunity to Help Smokers Quit
- By Stephanie R. Land, Ph.D.
- July 29, 2015
NCI has released a new funding announcement to stimulate research on optimal smoking cessation approaches delivered in conjunction with lung cancer screening.
U.S. Indoor Tanning Rates Are Dropping, But Still High
- By NCI Staff
- July 24, 2015
Study estimates about 1.6 million fewer women and 400,000 fewer men tan indoors, but it’s still a common practice.
Oncolytic Virus Therapy Shows Benefit in Patients with Melanoma
- By NCI Staff
- July 21, 2015
In a large clinical trial, the oncolytic virus therapy T-VEC improved the durable response rate and median survival in patients with advanced melanoma.
Setting the Course: Genomics Workshop on Childhood Cancers Identifies Research Opportunities
- By Malcolm Smith, M.D., Ph.D.
- July 17, 2015
NCI recently convened a workshop to discuss the status of genomic characterization for childhood cancers and to identify opportunities for future research.
Pancreatic Cancer Study Finds Possible Diagnostic Marker in Blood
- By NCI Staff
- July 15, 2015
A protein attached to vesicles circulating in the blood could be a biological marker for detecting early signs of pancreatic cancer.
Test May Identify Poor Prognosis for Some Patients with Lung Cancer
- By NCI Staff
- July 13, 2015
A panel of three genetic markers may help to identify patients with early-stage lung cancer who have a very strong likelihood of their disease returning after surgery.