Sep 20, 2017

A new clinical trial tests an approach that may boost the immune system’s ability to attack tumor cells for colorectal cancer that has not responded to other therapies. Read more...

Sep 12, 2017

Currently, there is no way to accurately evaluate patients' response to treatment or to detect residual esophageal cancer without removing the esophagus. R. Taylor Ripley, M.D., of the Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch is leading a study to determine whether metabolomic signatures or BH3 profiling in biopsy tissues can identify patients who will likely respond well to pre-surgical treatment.  Learn more...

Aug 29, 2017

In an upcoming phase II clinical trial, Center for Cancer Research investigators will explore the ability of a targeted radioactive drug to treat inoperable pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, both rare tumors.  Learn more...

Aug 23, 2017

A new clinical trial aims to determine whether nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, can improve control of cancer for patients with several types of tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord and the cause of most CNS tumors in adults is unknown. Learn more...

Aug 15, 2017

The Krebs cycle is part of the complex process where cells turn food into energy. One of the elements of the Krebs cycle is succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Loss of SDH activity in cells has been linked to tumor formation. This new trial is studying guadecitabine for tumors associated with Krebs cycle dysfunction. Learn more...

Aug 2, 2017

Chemotherapy drugs have long been the mainstay of treatment for advanced solid tumors, but the toxic side effects of these drugs often limit the amount that can safely be given to patients. Doctors hope that PEN-866, an experimental cancer drug, can help to overcome this difficulty. Anish Thomas, M.D., who is leading this new trial, says, “This is a first-of-its-kind approach to facilitate tumor targeted delivery of chemotherapy drugs, which, if successful, would be a big step forward for cancer therapy.” Learn more...

Aug 1, 2017

Vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) is caused by chronic infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16. Patients with vulvar HSIL have an increased risk of developing cancer. Lesions are usually treated surgically. However, the vulvar lesions commonly recur because of persistent systemic infection with HPV. Christian Hinrichs, M.D., a Lasker Clinical Research Scholar in the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch is leading a study of a systemic immunotherapy directed at killing the HPV infection causing vulvar HSIL. Read more...

Jul 26, 2017

Standard imaging techniques cannot accurately locate sites of prostate cancer metastasis. The use of 18F-DCFPyL, a second-generation PET agent, aims to improve doctors’ ability to assess high-risk primary tumors, detect sites of recurrent prostate cancer and target therapies to specific sites of recurrence. Read more...

Jul 5, 2017

RAS is a family of proteins that send signals to genes involved in cell growth and is mutated in approximately a quarter of all human cancers. James Yang, M.D., of the Surgery Branch is leading a team of investigators who have generated a special T-cell receptor from mouse cells that can recognize a mutation of RAS that is found in many human cancer cells. The goal is to determine if a new therapy is safe and can help shrink tumors that have the G12V RAS mutation. Read more...

Jun 30, 2017

Medical imaging (x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT, PET scan) is a noninvasive way to view the internal structures of the body. However, these tools are not ideal for detecting cancer that has spread, or metastasized, because the precise location of these cancer cells is unknown. Researchers are now testing an experimental radiotracer called 18F-DCFPyL to help find sites of cancer in the body.  Learn more...