News and Events

Microscopic image of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease

Collaborative study leads to FDA approval of belumosudil for chronic graft-versus-host disease

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved belumosudil on July 16, 2021, for people 12 years and older with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after failure of at least two prior lines of systemic therapy. Chronic GVHD is a complex condition that can be life threatening and occurs when donated stem cells attack healthy tissues in a patient’s body. Steven Z. Pavletic, M.D., M.S., Senior Clinician in the Immune Deficiency Cellular Therapy Program, guided CCR’s involvement in the pivotal consortium study that led to FDA approval of belumosudil. Pavletic was part of the trial clinical leadership at CCR, one of the 28 centers that enrolled study patients. The study found belumosudil to be safe and well-tolerated, and it may have the potential to improve overall patient well-being.

Clinical trial studies six-drug combination aimed at relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma

Christopher J. Melani, M.D., Assistant Research Physician in the Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, is leading a study to see whether a combination of six drugs is safe and can help people with both aggressive and indolent B-cell lymphoma.

Sheue-yann Cheng receives 2021 Valerie Anne Galton Lectureship Award

Sheue-yann Cheng, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, is the first recipient of the 2021 Valerie Anne Galton Distinguished Lectureship Award from the American Thyroid Association. This award recognizes an individual who has been instrumental in collaborative research that has significantly contributed to the advancement of clinical knowledge of thyroid conditions.

Protein that drives aggressive liver cancer identified

Cancers with more protein diversity (heterogeneity) tend to be more aggressive and less responsive to treatment. CCR researchers led by Xin Wei Wang, Ph.D., Deputy Chief of the Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis and co-Director of the CCR Liver Cancer Program, have identified a protein that may drive an evolution toward greater heterogeneity in two forms of liver cancer.

Immune cells promote breast cancer’s metastasis to the brain in young mice

Animal studies led by Patricia S. Steeg, Ph.D., Deputy Chief of the Women’s Malignancies Branch, suggest that younger immune systems promote breast cancer’s metastasis to the brain — but that the risk can be reduced by triggering immune changes that usually occur later in life.

International study of rhabdomyosarcoma finds genetic clues, potential for tailored therapy

New findings from the largest-ever international study on rhabdomyosarcoma – the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children – suggest that children with the disease could benefit from tumor genetic testing. Javed Khan, M.D., Deputy Chief of the Genetics Branch, led the study.

New study tests therapy in patients with hemorrhagic cystitis after bone marrow transplant

Jennifer A. Kanakry, M.D., Associate Research Physician in the Experimental Transplantation and Immunotherapy Branch, is leading CCR’s participation in a study of a drug, Viralym-M, that targets six viruses that can cause hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) in people who have had a hematopoietic cell transplant. Researchers are most interested in Viralym-M’s ability to clear the symptoms of HC faster than a placebo and evaluating Viralym-M’s effect on five other viruses.

Howard A. Young receives 2021 ICIS Mentorship Award

Howard A. Young, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, is the first recipient of the newly established International Cytokine & Interferon Society (ICIS) Mentorship Award. This award recognizes ICIS members who have made significant and sustained contributions to the career development of trainees and to the profession through outstanding mentoring.

Clinical trial studies immunotherapy and radiation for pancreatic cancer

Fewer than 10 percent of people with pancreatic cancer can have surgery, which offers the best chance of a cure. Udo Rudloff, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Pediatric Oncology Branch, is leading a study testing a combination of immunotherapy and radiation for people with advanced pancreatic cancer to shrink tumors and make surgery possible.

CCR postbaccalaureate fellow awarded Fulbright to study cancer disparities in Nigeria

Anu Ajao is a CCR postbaccalaureate fellow who recently received a Fulbright Research Award to study personal care products and breast cancer risk in Nigerian women. In our Q&A, Anu discusses her fellowship experience as a mentee of Stefan Ambs, Ph.D., M.P.H., Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, and the cancer health disparities research she will conduct this fall in Nigeria.

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