Mar 19, 2018

A recent study identifies a possible strategy for improving the efficacy of moxetumomab pasudotox (Moxe), a toxin-based immunotherapy, for leukemia. For patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, clinical trials have demonstrated Moxe as a promising treatment, but patients quickly develop resistance to the drug, so benefits are limited. This new study, led by Ira Pastan, M.D., Co-Chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, suggests combining Moxe with a drug used to treat some types of blood cancer may help overcome resistance to the immunotoxin treatment. Read the full story on the NCI Cancer Currents Blog…

Feb 23, 2018

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer has recognized three CCR accomplishments with Excellence in Technology Transfer Awards. This award category honors employees of FLC member laboratories and non-laboratory staff who have accomplished outstanding work in the process of transferring federally developed technology. Read more…

Feb 7, 2018

Anish Thomas, M.B.B.S., M.D., Investigator in the Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Markku Martti Miettinen, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Clinician in the Laboratory of Pathology, and Raffit Hassan, M.D., Co-Chief of the Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, are among the contributing authors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s first guidelines for evidence-based recommendations on the management of mesothelioma. The guidelines were informed by 222 relevant studies. The recommendations were developed for diagnosis, staging, chemotherapy, surgical cytoreduction, radiation therapy and multimodality therapy in patients with mesothelioma. Learn more…

Jan 23, 2018

A recent Newsweek article profiles the capabilities of CancerSEEK, a blood-based cancer detection test that may improve detection of early-stage cancers, including those that are hard to detect. Mark Roschewski, M.D., Staff Clinician in the Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, offered insight on the value of early detection for patients with solid tumors, such as those of the pancreas. According to Dr. Roschewski, “In solid tumors, earlier detection is actually the key. The earlier that one could detect a patient with a tumor, the more likely that the intervention would succeed because the intervention is surgery.” Read the full article…

Jan 11, 2018

Sue Scott was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2011. When standard treatment failed to eliminate her cancer cells, Scott’s doctor referred her to an immunotherapy clinical trial at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with Christian Hinrichs, M.D., Investigator and Lasker Scholar in CCR’s Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch. Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment where the patient’s own immune system is used to fight the cancer. In this video, Sue details her story of survival and experience of taking part in a clinical trial with CCR. Watch the video here.

Jan 4, 2018

The CDH1 gene mutation elevates an individual’s lifetime risk of developing stomach cancer to 60-70 percent. Total gastrectomy, or complete removal of the stomach, is a preventive option for persons with this anomaly. After receiving a positive result for the gene mutation at age 40, David Fogel began researching his options and decided to enroll in a clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health led by Jeremy Davis, M.D., Staff Clinician in the Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch. As part of the trial, which aims to study the effects of stomach removal for patients with the CDH1 gene mutation, Fogel had his stomach removed in October 2017. In a recent interview with Washington’s NBC4, Fogel discussed life without a stomach with a fellow Maryland resident who also underwent a total gastrectomy after testing positive for the CDH1 mutation. Watch the video here. 

Jan 4, 2018

Individuals with the CDH1 gene mutation have an increased risk of developing stomach cancer. Over the last two decades, total gastrectomy, or removal of the stomach, has become an extreme preventive option for those with the CDH1 mutation. After testing positive for the mutation at age 40, David Fogel began researching his options and decided to enroll in a clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health led by Jeremy Davis, M.D., Staff Clinician in the Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch. As part of the trial, which aims to study the effects of stomach removal for patients with the CDH1 gene mutation, Fogel had his stomach completely removed in October 2017. Now months later, Fogel is in high spirits and has no regrets. Read the full story here.

Dec 7, 2017

In a recent article from Everyday Health, Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn, Senior Editor of Oncology, details cancer trends in diagnosis, stages, treatment and survival rates. DeVita was one of 12 journalists selected by the Association of Health Care Journalists to attend a week-long reporting fellowship at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in November 2017 to learn about the latest cancer research and participate in guided tours of NCI wards and labs. Her “Cancer Special Report 2017” discusses the latest immunology work of Steven Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Surgery Branch, and Stephanie Goff, M.D., Staff Clinician in the Surgery Branch, gene-expression profiling technique of Louis Staudt, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Chief of the Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, and new Cancer Moonshot efforts to address rare cancers, spearheaded by Mark Gilbert, M.D., Chief of the Neuro-Oncology Branch. Read the full story…

Dec 4, 2017

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, NIH Foregut Team members presented information and answered questions during a webinar on stomach cancer treatment options. Jeremy Davis, M.D., Staff Clinician in the CCR Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, and Theo Heller, M.D., Senior Investigator in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, joined David Fogel, a recent total gastrectomy patient, to discuss the latest advancements in treatment. The webinar, “Navigating New Treatment Options for Gastric Cancer: Reaching above and beyond the standard of care,” was facilitated by the NIH Clinical Center and Inspire, a social network for health that connects patients and caregivers in a safe, permission-based manner. Access the recorded webinar.

Nov 17, 2017

"Where else can you make such a profound difference not only for the individual now, but for those who come in the future? It is hard work, good work and worth doing well.” Physician Assistant Julia Friend answers our questions about why she loves working for CCR. Read more...