DNA-damaging drugs show promise in helping treat dogs with lymphoma
DNA-damaging drugs called TOP1 inhibitors are widely used to treat various cancers, but they have limitations. A clinical trial in dogs with lymphoma suggests that three alternative drug candidates with a similar mechanism may be effective. Read more...
Registration is now open for the 2018 CCR RNA Biology Workshop
Aug 3, 2018
RNA biology has emerged as one of the most influential areas in modern biology and biomedicine. The CCR is home to a wide spectrum of work in RNA biology ranging from elucidating RNA biogenesis and structure, identifying functions for various classes of RNAs, establishing the role of RNA in disease and exploring RNA-based and RNA-targeted therapies. The goal of this fourth retreat hosted by the CCR Initiative in RNA Biology is to enhance interactions amongst PIs, fellows and staff working on RNA and to foster new collaborations and synergies amongst CCR laboratories interested in RNA biology. The workshop will feature our keynote speaker, Dr. Karla Neugebauer, Yale University, and several talks selected from submitted abstracts. Fellows, staff scientists and trainees (including Leidos) are encouraged to submit an abstract for consideration. We also hope to catalyze interactions between basic and clinician researchers at this workshop. Learn more...
Study reveals regions where harmful DNA breaks are most likely to occur
Aug 2, 2018
Center for Cancer Research investigators have discovered that double-strand DNA breaks—the most dangerous form of DNA damage, which can lead to cancer—tend to occur during DNA replication at regions known as poly(dA:dT) tracts. Their findings represent a first step toward investigating ways to prevent these harmful DNA breaks. Read more...
Prostate cancer journey leads to immunotherapy
Aug 1, 2018
A 14-year battle with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer led Tom to the doors of the NIH Clinical Center. A combination immunotherapy clinical trial led by James Gulley, M.D., Ph.D., turned the tide in his fight and led to a passion for advising prostate cancer patients. Read more...
John Schiller discusses HPV on iBiology video
Jul 31, 2018
John Schiller, Ph.D., Deputy Chief of the Laboratory of Cellular Oncology and NIH Distinguished Investigator, is featured in a video on the iBiology website. In the video, Dr. Schiller provides an overview of human papillomavirus (HPV) virus and infection, a comparision of the three FDA-approved vaccines against HPV and explains the endpoints used in the clinical trials to prove vaccine efficacy. Dr. Schiller and his co-PI, Douglas Lowy, M.D., led the initial development and characterization of HPV vaccines. Read more...
NIH Pediatric & Wildtype GIST Clinic receives Jeroen Pit Science Award
Jul 26, 2018
The NIH Pediatric & Wildtype GIST Clinic has received the Jeroen Pit Science Award given by The Life Raft Group. The award recognizes individuals or groups dedicated to finding a cure for GIST through innovative and tireless research efforts who also impact patients’ lives by sharing complex scientific information in an understandable manner and advocate for optimal treatment. Fernanda Arnaldez, M.D., accepted the award on July 14th on behalf of the team. Read more...
New study characterizes protein’s role in regulating DNA replication in human cancer cells
Jul 20, 2018
Center for Cancer Research investigators have found that the RepID protein recruits the CRL4 protein complex to chromatin early in the cell cycle, playing a critical role in regulating DNA replication. The findings suggest possible therapeutic targets to tighten the reigns on DNA replication. Read more...
Blocking MEK signaling pathway could inhibit rhabdomyosarcoma growth
Jul 18, 2018
New CCR research shows that a form of a cancer that occurs mainly in children, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, which is driven by mutations to the RAS gene, may be susceptible to inhibition by drugs that target a pathway in which MEK protein signaling, triggered by RAS, plays an important role. This new mechanistic understanding of a complex biological process led investigators to test a drug, trametinib, in mice implanted with the cancer. Their findings show that trametinib might be a good agent to test in clinical trials for this disease. Read more...
Clinical trial studies benefit of targeted drug for malignant mesothelioma
Jul 11, 2018
Malignant mesothelioma is cancer that begins in a layer of specialized cells called the mesothelium that line the outer surface of most internal organs. A team led by Raffit Hassan, M.D., of the Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch aims to see if the drug olaparib causes mesothelial tumors to shrink in patients with mutated BAP-1 or other DNA damage-repair genes and in patients with no mutations in these genes. Read more...
Jing Wu appointed as an NIH Lasker Scholar
Jul 10, 2018
Jing Wu, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed as an NIH Lasker Scholar tenure track investigator in the Neuro-Oncology Branch. Dr. Wu is interested in translational research in neuro-oncology focusing on developing preclinical testing and hypothesis-based clinical trials of glioma treatments.
Kandice Tanner selected as Scialog Fellow
Jul 9, 2018
Kandice Tanner, Ph.D., Investigator in the Laboratory of Cell Biology, has been selected as a Scialog Fellow of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. Scialog Fellows collaborate in high-risk discovery research on untested ideas over multi-year initiatives and communicate progress at annual conferences. The program aims to advance human knowledge by empowering a national community of early career scientists with many promising years of research ahead of them. Dr. Tanner will participate on the Scialog initative, “Chemical Machinery of the Cell.” Read more...