News and Events

Peter Choyke and Louis Staudt elected to the National Academy of Medicine

Peter Choyke, M.D., F.A.C.R., Chief of the Molecular Imaging Branch, and Louis Staudt, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Dr. Choyke is elected for pioneering advances in the imaging of prostate cancer that have enabled accurate localization of clinically significant tumors. Dr. Staudt is elected for demonstrating that genetic profiling can distinguish lymphoma subtypes, predict patient survival, and individualize therapy, thus playing a key role in launching the era of cancer precision medicine.

Lymphoma mass before and after treatment

Phase I CAR T-cell therapy leads to years-long remissions in relapsed B-cell lymphoma patients

In a Journal of Clinical Oncology article, results of a phase I trial by CCR investigators show that CAR T-cell therapy can result in long-lasting remissions in patients with certain relapsed B-cell lymphomas. Many who had life expectancies of only six months or less during the clinical trial of the therapy, which spanned from 2009 to 2015, remain in complete remission.

Clinical trial tests immunotherapy combination for advanced HPV-associated cancers

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. More than 30,000 cases of HPV+ cancers occur every year in the United States. CCR investigators are leading a study using a combination of 3 immunotherapy drugs to treat HPV+ cancers.

Clinical trial tests vaccine for late-stage HPV-linked tumors

The human papillomavirus (HPV) has been linked to many kinds of cancer, including cervical, uterine, vaginal, penile and oropharyngeal. For those who develop advanced HPV-linked cancer, the NIH Clinical Center has a clinical trial open to test a vaccine with and without checkpoint inhibitors to see if this treatment approach can stop tumor growth.

Lymphoma therapy drug tested as early treatment for chronic graft-versus-host disease

cGvHD can occur after a person has had a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. In some cases, the donated bone marrow/stem cells view the host's body as foreign and start to attack it. cGvHD can occur at any time after a transplant, but it's more common after the marrow/stem cells have created a new immune system in the host's body. A clinical trial is studying the lymphoma therapy drug ibrutinib to see if early treatment can prevent the most severe symptoms of cGvHD.

Ira Pastan receives 2020 Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement award

Ira Pastan, M.D., NIH Distinguished Investigator and Co-Chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, has received the 2020 Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Medal from the Partnership for Public Service’ Service to America Medals, also known as the SAMMIES. The Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Medal recognizes federal employees who have led significant and sustained achievements over 20 or more years of service in government. Dr. Pastan was recognized for discovering a new class of drugs that can successfully treat a rare form of leukemia and hold promise to be effective therapies for pancreatic and lung cancer as well as mesothelioma.

Ruth Nussinov and Kandice Tanner named American Physical Society Fellows

Ruth Nussinov, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, and Kandice Tanner, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Cell Biology, were named as American Physical Society Fellows. The fellowship program recognizes members who made advances in physics through original research and publication or made significant innovative contributions in the application of physics to science and technology.

Jordan Meier receives the 2021 Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry

Jordan Meier, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Chemical Biology Laboratory, received the 2021 Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry for outstanding research of unusual merit and independence of thought and originality. Dr. Meier’s efforts in defining how metabolism regulates epigenetic signaling in cancer and how metabolite-protein interactions occur in all living organisms were cited as meritorious examples of advancing two fundamental areas of research.

Sue Wickner receives the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Award for Basic Research

Sue Wickner, Ph.D., Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, received the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Award for Basic Research. The award recognizes outstanding scientists whose discoveries have been fundamental to advancing our understanding of the microbial world. Dr. Wickner’s research into the mechanisms of action of molecular chaperones aims to provide insight for future development of drugs for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by protein aggregation and misfolding, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type II diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and prion diseases.

Combination therapy for solid tumors and small-cell cancers studied in new clinical trial

A clinical trial of a drug combination to treat solid tumors and small-cell cancers is being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center. PARP inhibitors can work better when combined with chemotherapy, such combinations can be too toxic, so this study uses a new kind of chemotherapy called PLX038 and combines it with a PARP inhibitor rucaparib to see if the combination of PLX038 and rucaparib can safely shrink solid tumors and small-cell cancers.

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