Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog
A blog featuring news and research updates from the National Cancer Institute. Learn more about Cancer Currents.
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Experimental Treatment Uses Engineered Fat Cells to “Starve” TumorsResearchers have developed a form of cancer treatment that uses fat cells engineered to aggressively consume nutrients like glucose. When implanted in mice, the engineered cells appeared to outcompete tumors for nutrients, shrinking tumors.
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Zenocutuzumab Approved to Treat Lung and Pancreatic Cancers with Rare Genetic ChangeFDA has approved zenocutuzumab (Bizengri) to treat people with pancreatic or non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have a rare genetic alteration called an NRG1 fusion. The approval is based on a clinical trial in which the drug shrank tumors in a third of patients.
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Intensive Program Helps People Being Screened for Lung Cancer Quit SmokingResults from a large NCI-funded clinical trial show that a comprehensive program that integrates intensive counseling and cessation medications may be a particularly effective way to help smokers being screened for lung cancer quit.
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New on NCI’s Websites for March 2025NCI periodically provides updates on new websites and other online content of interest to the cancer community. See selected content that has been added as of March 2025.
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Combination Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer Helps Some Men Live LongerFor men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, initial treatment with enzalutamide (Xtandi) combined with talazoparib (Talzenna) may help them live longer than getting enzalutamide alone, according to updated results from a large clinical trial.
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TACE-Based Treatment Combinations Effective Against Intermediate-Stage Liver CancerResults from two clinical trials show that combining a procedure called TACE with an immunotherapy drug and angiogenesis inhibitor improves how long people with intermediate-stage liver cancer live without their disease returning or getting worse.
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Scientists Find Genetic Changes Linked to Cancer in ChildrenCertain inherited genetic changes are likely involved in the development of some cancers in children, a new study shows. The changes, called structural variants, were linked with a small percentage of children with neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, and osteosarcoma.
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Can AI Help Predict Which Cancer Patients Should Be Treated with Immunotherapy?An AI-based tool called SCORPIO more accurately predicted whether cancer patients’ tumors would respond to checkpoint inhibitors than currently available tests, a new study found. It also predicted how long patients would live after treatment.
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Abnormal Results from Prenatal Blood Test Could Point to Cancer in the MotherUnusual results from prenatal testing can indicate that the mother has cancer, a new study has found. The study also suggests that whole-body imaging as part of the follow-up on abnormal results can accurately identify these cancers.
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FDA Approves Injectable Nivolumab, an Alternative to IV InfusionThe injectable form of nivolumab, called Opdivo Qvantig, is quicker and easier to give, several oncologists said, and is just as effective as the intravenous form. Injectable forms of other immunotherapies are also on the horizon.
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Many Men with Metastatic Prostate Cancer Are Not Getting the Recommended Treatments, Study FindsMany U.S. doctors aren’t using the recommended initial treatments for their patients with hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer, a new study has found. Often, it’s because they aren’t up to date on the latest treatment recommendations or because of side effect concerns.
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Blinatumomab Boosts Chemotherapy as Initial Treatment for Some Kids with ALLFollowing positive results from a clinical trial, the immunotherapy drug blinatumomab (Blincyto) is expected to become part of the standard initial treatment for many kids with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer.
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Study Aims to Reduce Lung Cancer Stigma by Teaching Health Professionals EmpathyResearchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have developed a training program to help health providers reduce lung cancer stigma. In this interview, they discuss an ongoing NCI-funded nationwide clinical trial to test the training.
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Fructose Fuels Cancer Growth Indirectly, Lab Study FindsResearchers have found that feeding fructose, a main component of high-fructose corn syrup, to lab animals with cancer made their tumors grow faster. But the tumors couldn’t directly consume the sugar—it had to take a detour through the liver first.
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FDA Approvals Expand Initial Treatment Options for Multiple MyelomaFDA’s approvals of Darzalex Faspro and Sarclisa, each used in combination with standard three-drug treatment regimens, should change the initial treatment of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, including for patients who can’t get a stem cell transplant.
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Experimental CAR T-Cell Therapy Shrinks Tumors in Children with Deadly Brain CancerIn a small clinical trial, an experimental CAR T-cell therapy that targets the protein GD2 on cancer cells shrank tumors—for 2 years or more in several cases—in children and young adults with diffuse midline glioma, an aggressive brain and spinal cord cancer.
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One Year in Cancer Research and Much to CelebrateNCI Director Dr. Kimryn Rathmell reviews some of the most noteworthy cancer research findings from 2024, including advances in immunotherapy for children with cancer, a potential therapy for cachexia, and studies that provided valuable insights into cancer biology.
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Cetuximab Outperforms Durvalumab for Head and Neck Cancer When Cisplatin Isn’t an OptionThe findings from a recent NCI-supported clinical trial are helpful because previous studies for people with locally advanced head and neck cancer have yielded conflicting data for and against several alternatives to cisplatin combined with radiation.
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Helping Kids with Cancer Speak for the Supportive Care They NeedYounger cancer patients who filled out surveys about their symptoms experienced fewer cancer-related symptoms than those who did not complete the surveys, results from two clinical trials have shown. The findings show patient-reported outcome (PRO) surveys for children can give an accurate picture of how a child is feeling during the stress of treatment.
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A “Living Medicine:” Engineered E. coli Shrink Tumors in MiceIn a pair of studies, researchers engineered a probiotic strain of E. coli called Nissle 1917 so it can help the immune system attack tumors. Although the E. coli were altered in different ways, resulting in two different immune-based treatment strategies, both were effective in mice.