Treatment Research
Treatment Strategy for ecDNA-Driven Tumors
Shows Potential
Posted: December 5, 2024
Researchers have found that cancer cells containing
extrachromosomal DNAs (ecDNAs) have a weakness that
can be exploited by a drug that targets the CHK1 protein.
In mice, combining the drug with another targeted
therapy kept cancer at bay for long periods.
Will Ponsegromab Be a Game Changer for Cancer
Cachexia?
Posted: October 17, 2024
In a clinical trial, people with advanced cancer and
cachexia treated with the experimental drug
ponsegromab gained an average of 2 to 6 pounds over
12 weeks, depending on the dose they received.
Participants treated with the placebo lost an average of 1
pound over the same time period.
As More People with Cancer Use Medical Cannabis,
Oncologists Face Questions They Struggle to
Answer
Posted: October 16, 2024
Up to 40% of people being treated for cancer use
cannabis to help with side effects like pain and anxiety.
But with evidence from studies on cannabis lacking,
clinicians feel ill-equipped to answer patient questions
about its safety and effectiveness.
To Combat Cancer Treatment Resistance,
Researchers Try Leveraging Evolution
Posted: August 22, 2024
Scientists have developed a strategy for treating cancer
that takes advantage of tumors’ ability to rapidly evolve
and turns it against them. It involves intentionally making
some tumor cells resistant to a specific treatment from
the get-go.
Understanding the Risk of Second Cancers After
CAR T-Cell Therapy
Posted: August 13, 2024
In late 2023, FDA announced it was investigating
instances of second cancers following treatment with
CAR T-cell therapies. In this Q&A, NCI’s Dr. Stephanie
Goff explains what’s known about the issue, stressing
that second cancers “of any kind are rare.”
Drug Combo JAKs Up Immunotherapy in Two
Clinical Trials
Posted: August 8, 2024
Scientists have been searching for ways to make immune
checkpoint inhibitors work for more patients. In two trials,
researchers explored a possible role for JAK inhibitors,
which dampen chronic inflammation.
Immunotherapy approach shows potential in some
people with metastatic solid tumors
Posted: July 11, 2024
A new cellular immunotherapy approach shrank tumors
in 3 of 7 patients with metastatic colon cancer, in a small
NCI clinical trial. Normal white blood cells from each
patient were genetically engineered to produce receptors
that recognize and attack their specific cancer cells.
Spurred by Survivors, Researchers Are Revisiting
Cancer Drug Doses
Posted: June 5, 2024
When it comes to cancer drugs, researchers are moving
away from a paradigm called the maximum tolerated
dose. Instead, they’re focusing more on identifying doses
that produce fewer side effects but are still effective
against a person’s cancer.
Leading Change in Cancer Clinical Research,
Because Our Patients Can’t Wait
Posted: May 31, 2024
Reshaping the cancer clinical trials infrastructure to
overcome key bottlenecks will involve embracing
technology and collaboration, and inviting innovation,
explain NCI Director Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell and NCI
Special Advisor Dr. Shaalan Beg.
Manipulating an Immune Cell May Make Radiation
Therapy More Effective, Study Suggests
Posted: February 12, 2024
In a new study in mice, researchers showed they could
enhance radiation therapy by boosting levels of the
BAMBI protein in MDSC immune cells in the tumor
microenvironment. After radiation, T cells flooded into
the tumor and killed tumors elsewhere in the body.
Virtual Mind–Body Fitness Classes Show
Unexpected Benefit in People with Cancer
Posted: December 15, 2023
In a clinical trial, people being treated for cancer who
participated in virtual mind–body fitness classes were
less likely to be hospitalized, and had shorter stays when
they were hospitalized, than people who did not take the
classes.
What Comes after NCI-MATCH? NCI’s New Precision
Medicine Cancer Trials
Posted: December 6, 2023
NCI’s James H. Doroshow, M.D., reflects on the
accomplishments of NCI-MATCH, a first-of-its-kind
precision medicine cancer trial, and gives an overview of
three new successor trials: ComboMATCH, MyeloMATCH,
and iMATCH.
A Better Biomarker for Cancer Immunotherapy?
Posted: November 3, 2023
A new study, conducted largely in mice, may help explain
why a currently used molecular marker—called mismatch
repair deficiency—doesn’t always work to predict which
patients will respond to immunotherapies called immune
checkpoint inhibitors.
NCI researchers develop approach that could help
supercharge T-cell therapies against solid tumors
Posted: November 1, 2023
New approach may increase the effectiveness of T-cell-
based immunotherapy treatments against solid tumors.
Oncolytic Virus Enables the Immune System to
Attack Tumors
Posted: October 12, 2023
A cancer-infecting virus engineered to tamp down a
tumor’s ability to suppress the immune system shrank
tumors in mice, a new study shows. The modified
oncolytic virus worked even better when used along with
an immune checkpoint inhibitor.
Few People with Cancer Undergo Testing for
Inherited Gene Mutations
Posted: August 1, 2023
Despite recommendations, a new analysis shows few
people with cancer undergo germline testing to learn if
their cancer may have been caused by gene changes
inherited from a parent. Germline testing can help
doctors determine the best treatments for a patient and
help identify people whose family members may be at
higher risk of cancer.
NCI's ComboMATCH Initiative Will Test New Drug
Combinations Guided by Tumor Biology
Posted: June 1, 2023
ComboMATCH will consist of numerous phase 2 cancer
treatment trials that aim to identify promising drug
combinations that can advance to larger, more definitive
clinical trials.
Multiple mRNA Vaccines Show Promise for Treating
HPV-Related Cancers
Posted: April 26, 2023
A new study has compared three formulations of an
mRNA vaccine designed to treat cancers caused by
human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. All three vaccines
showed promise in mice.
Strategy May Prevent Tumor Resistance to
Targeted Cancer Therapies
Posted: March 17, 2023
Researchers have identified a mechanism by which
cancer cells develop specific genetic changes needed to
become resistant to targeted therapies. They also
showed that this process, called non-homologous end-
joining (NHEJ), can potentially be disrupted.
Immunotherapy and… Nothing Else? Studies Test
Potential Paradigm Shift in Cancer Treatment
Posted: February 23, 2023
For some people with cancer, is 6 months of
immunotherapy the only treatment they might ever
need? Or 4 weeks of immunotherapy followed by minor
surgery? Results from several small clinical trials suggest
these scenarios may be bona fide possibilities.
Studies Test CAR T-Cell Therapies Designed to
Overcome Key Limitations
Posted: February 8, 2023
Two research teams have developed ways of overcoming
barriers that have limited the effectiveness of CAR T-cell
therapies, including engineering ways to potentially
make them effective against solid tumors like pancreatic
cancer and melanoma.
Study Identifies a Potential Cause of
Immunotherapy’s Heart-Related Side Effects
Posted: December 22, 2022
In people with cancer treated with immune checkpoint
inhibitors, a rare, but often fatal, side effect is
inflammation in the heart, called myocarditis.
Researchers have now identified a potential chief cause
of this problem: T cells attacking a protein in heart cells
called α-myosin.
Can Chemotherapy Drugs Be Designed to Avoid
Side Effects?
Posted: December 16, 2022
Researchers have modified a chemo drug, once
abandoned because it caused serious gut side effects, so
that it is only triggered in tumors but not normal tissues.
After promising results in mice, the drug, DRP-104, is
now being tested in a clinical trial.
Can Targeted Therapy for KRAS Mutations Double
as Part of Immunotherapy?
Posted: October 31, 2022
Two research teams have developed a treatment
approach that could potentially enable KRAS-targeted
drugs—and perhaps other targeted cancer drugs—flag
cancer cells for the immune system. In lab studies, the
teams paired these targeted drugs with experimental
antibody drugs that helped the immune system mount an
attack.
Targeting Inflammation Emerges as a Strategy for
Treating Cancer
Posted: August 19, 2022
Inflammation is considered a hallmark of cancer.
Researchers hope to learn more about whether people
with cancer might benefit from treatments that target
inflammation around tumors. Some early studies have
yielded promising results and more are on the horizon.
Disguising Cancer as an Infection Helps the
Immune System Eliminate Tumors
Posted: July 22, 2022
NCI researchers are developing an immunotherapy that
involves injecting protein bits from cytomegalovirus
(CMV) into tumors. The proteins coat the tumor, causing
immune cells to attack. In mice, the treatment shrank
tumors and kept them from returning.
Dabrafenib–Trametinib Combination Approved for
Solid Tumors with BRAF Mutations
Posted: July 21, 2022
FDA has approved the combination of the targeted drugs
dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) for nearly
any type of advanced solid tumor with a specific
mutation in the BRAF gene. Data from the NCI-MATCH
trial informed the approval.
Immunotherapy’s Skin Side Effects: Are Microbes
to Blame?
Posted: July 13, 2022
People with cancer who take immunotherapy drugs often
develop skin side effects, including itching and painful
rashes. New research in mice suggests these side effects
may be caused by the immune system attacking new
bacterial colonies on the skin.
Implanted “Drug Factories” Deliver Cancer
Treatment Directly to Tumors
Posted: April 7, 2022
Researchers have developed tiny “drug factories” that
produce an immune-boosting molecule and can be
implanted near tumors. The pinhead-sized beads
eliminated tumors in mice with ovarian and colorectal
cancer and will soon be tested in human studies.
Severe Side Effects of Cancer Treatment Are More
Common in Women than Men
Posted: March 15, 2022
Women are more likely than men to experience severe
side effects from cancer treatments such as
chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, a
new study finds. Researchers hope the findings will
increase awareness of the problem and help guide
patient care.
CAR T Cells: Engineering Patients’ Immune Cells to
Treat Their Cancers
Updated: March 10, 2022
Research to improve CAR T-cell therapy is progressing
rapidly. Researchers are working to expand its use to
treat more types of cancer and better understand and
manage its side effects. Learn how CAR T-cell therapy
works, which cancers it’s used to treat, and current
research efforts.
Telehealth-Based Cancer Care Surged during
COVID. Will It Continue?
Posted: March 9, 2022
Experts say studies are needed on how to best transition
telehealth from a temporary solution during the
pandemic to a permanent part of cancer care that’s
accessible to all who need it.
Can Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Be
Prevented?
Posted: February 17, 2022
Removing immune cells called naive T cells from donated
stem cells before they are transplanted may prevent
chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in people with
leukemia, a new study reports. The procedure did not
appear to increase the likelihood of patients’ cancer
returning.
Cancer Immunotherapies Don’t Work for Everyone:
HLA Gene May Explain Why
Posted: January 27, 2022
A specific form of the HLA gene, HLA-A*03, may make
immune checkpoint inhibitors less effective for some
people with cancer, according to an NCI-led study. If
additional studies confirm the finding, it could help guide
the use of these commonly used drugs.
Can mRNA Vaccines Help Treat Cancer?
Posted: January 20, 2022
The success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 could help
accelerate research on using mRNA vaccine technology
to treat cancer, including the development of
personalized cancer vaccines.
Extra or Missing Chromosomes May Help Cancer
Cells Survive Treatment
Posted: September 24, 2021
Aneuploidy—when cells have too many or too few
chromosomes—is common in cancer cells, but scientists
didn’t know why. Two new studies suggest that
aneuploidy helps the cells survive treatments like
chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
Gut Microbes May Influence How Well Radiation
Therapy Works against Cancer
Posted: September 2, 2021
New research suggests that fungi in the gut may affect
how tumors respond to cancer treatments. In mice, when
bacteria were eliminated with antibiotics, fungi filled the
void and impaired the immune response after radiation
therapy, the study found.
FDA Approves Belumosudil to Treat Chronic Graft-
Versus-Host Disease
Posted: August 18, 2021
FDA has approved belumosudil (Rezurock) for the
treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
The approval covers the use of belumosudil for people 12
years and older who have already tried at least two other
therapies.
Can an Antibiotic Treat Cancers that Become
Resistant to PARP Inhibitors?
Posted: July 27, 2021
In lab studies, the antibiotic novobiocin showed promise
as a treatment for cancers that have become resistant to
PARP inhibitors. The drug, which inhibits a protein called
DNA polymerase theta, will be tested in NCI-supported
clinical trials.
Avasopasem Shields Normal Cells from Radiation,
Helps Kill Cancer Cells
Posted: June 23, 2021
A drug called avasopasem manganese, which has been
found to protect normal tissues from radiation therapy,
can also make cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation
treatment, a new study in mice suggests.
Study Details Long-Term Side Effects of Immune
Checkpoint Inhibitors
Posted: April 30, 2021
While doctors are familiar with the short-term side effects
of immune checkpoint inhibitors, less is known about
potential long-term side effects. A new study details the
chronic side effects of these drugs in people who
received them as part of treatment for melanoma.
Could Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Improve Cancer
Immunotherapy?
Posted: December 10, 2020
Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors
may improve the effectiveness of cancer immune
checkpoint inhibitors, according to studies in mice. The
drugs appear to improve the immunotherapy drugs’
ability to find tumors and slow their growth.
Nanoparticle Trains Immune Cells to Attack Cancer
Posted: December 4, 2020
Researchers have developed a nanoparticle that trains
immune cells to attack cancer. According to the NCI-
funded study, the nanoparticle slowed the growth of
melanoma in mice and was more effective when
combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor.
Study of "Exceptional Responders" Yields Clues to
Cancer and Potential Treatments
Posted: November 19, 2020
A comprehensive analysis of patients with cancer who
had exceptional responses to therapy has revealed
molecular changes in the patients’ tumors that may
explain some of the exceptional responses.
Radiopharmaceuticals: Radiation Therapy Enters
the Molecular Age
Posted: October 26, 2020
Researchers are developing a new class of cancer drugs
called radiopharmaceuticals, which deliver radiation
therapy directly and specifically to cancer cells. This
Cancer Currents story explores the research on these
emerging therapies.
FDA Approves Blood Tests That Can Help Guide
Cancer Treatment
Posted: October 15, 2020
FDA has recently approved two blood tests, known as
liquid biopsies, that gather genetic information to help
inform treatment decisions for people with cancer. This
Cancer Currents story explores how the tests are used
and who can get the tests.
Study Reinforces Treatment Idea for Cancer with
Microsatellite Instability
Posted: October 2, 2020
Cancer cells with a genetic feature called microsatellite
instability-high (MSI-high) depend on the enzyme WRN to
survive. A new NCI study explains why and reinforces the
idea of targeting WRN as a treatment approach for MSI-
high cancer.
Are Cancer Patients Getting the Opioids They Need
to Control Pain?
Posted: September 16, 2020
Efforts to contain the opioid epidemic may be preventing
people with cancer from receiving appropriate
prescriptions for opioids to manage their cancer pain,
according to a new study of oncologists’ opioid
prescribing patterns.
How CRISPR Is Changing Cancer Research and
Treatment
Posted: July 27, 2020
The gene-editing tool CRISPR is changing the way
scientists study cancer, and may change how cancer is
treated. This in-depth blog post describes how this
revolutionary technology is being used to better
understand cancer and create new treatments.
A New FDA Approval Furthers the Role of Genomics
in Cancer Care
Posted: July 8, 2020
FDA’s approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to treat
people whose cancer is tumor mutational burden-high
highlights the importance of genomic testing to guide
treatment, including for children with cancer, according
to NCI Director Dr. Ned Sharpless.
More Evidence that Ruxolitinib Benefits Some
Patients with Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Posted: May 29, 2020
Patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) that
does not respond to steroid therapy are more likely to
respond to the drug ruxolitinib (Jakafi) than other
available treatments, results from a large clinical trial
show.
NCI Initiative Aims to Boost CAR T-Cell Therapy
Clinical Trials
Posted: April 23, 2020
NCI is developing the capability to produce cellular
therapies, like CAR T cells, to be tested in cancer clinical
trials at multiple hospital sites. Few laboratories and
centers have the capability to make CAR T cells, which
has limited the ability to test them more broadly.
Experimental Drug Prevents Doxorubicin from
Harming the Heart
Posted: April 6, 2020
An experimental drug may help prevent the
chemotherapy drug doxorubicin from harming the heart
and does so without interfering with doxorubicin’s ability
to kill cancer cells, according to a study in mice.
Health of Gut Microbes May Affect Survival after
Stem Cell Transplant
Posted: March 25, 2020
In people with blood cancers, the health of their gut
microbiome appears to affect the risk of dying after
receiving an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell
transplant, according to an NCI-funded study conducted
at four hospitals across the globe.
Analyzing Tumor RNA May Help Match Patients
with Most Effective Cancer Treatments
Posted: March 19, 2020
A novel approach to analyzing tumors may bring
precision cancer medicine to more patients. A study
showed the approach, which analyzes gene expression
using tumor RNA, could accurately predict whether
patients had responded to treatment with targeted
therapy or immunotherapy.
Mouse Study Points to Strategy for Preserving
Bone During Chemotherapy
Posted: February 25, 2020
Bone loss associated with chemotherapy appears to be
induced by cells that stop dividing but do not die, a
recent study in mice suggests. The researchers tested
drugs that could block signals from these senescent cells
and reverse bone loss in mice.
Is Proton Therapy Safer than Traditional Radiation?
Posted: February 11, 2020
Some experts believe that proton therapy is safer than
traditional radiation, but research has been limited. A
new observational study compared the safety and
effectiveness of proton therapy and traditional radiation
in adults with advanced cancer.
Off Target: Investigating the Abscopal Effect as a
Treatment for Cancer
Posted: January 28, 2020
In people with cancer, the abscopal effect occurs when
radiation—or another type of localized therapy—shrinks a
targeted tumor but also causes untreated tumors in the
body to shrink. Researchers are trying to better
understand this phenomenon and take advantage of it to
improve cancer therapy.
Unlike old-school user guides, this doc is yours to tailor exactly for your needs.
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