News and Events

MEK inhibitor selumetinib granted breakthrough designation by FDA to treat neurofibromatosis type 1 in pediatric patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week granted breakthrough therapy designation for the MEK 1/2 inhibitor selumetinib. The designation is for the treatment of pediatric patients aged three years and older with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) symptomatic and/or progressive, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas (PN), a rare, incurable genetic condition.

Elaine Jaffe receives the 2019 USCAP Board’s Distinguished Pathologist award

Elaine Jaffe, M.D., Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Pathology, has received the 2019 United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) Board’s Distinguished Pathologist award. The award recognizes an individual for making major contributions to pathology over the years.

New study delivers chemotherapy to the liver for metastatic colorectal cancer patients

In some patients, colorectal cancer spreads only to the liver. Patients with previously treated colorectal cancer that has spread only to the liver may be eligible to participate in a new clinical trial at the NIH Clinical Center.

CCR staff receive funding from the Department of Defense

Congratulations to the CCR staff who have received funding from the Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). The CDMRP office manages medical research programs in breast, prostate and ovarian cancers, neurofibromatosis, military health and other specified areas.

Stephanie Goff featured in an episode of The Doctors

Stephanie Goff, M.D., Associate Research Physician in CCR’s Surgery Branch, was recently featured on The Doctors. In the clip, she discusses how harnessing the body’s own immune system and adoptive cell transfer (ACT) can treat certain types of cancer.

New clinical trial will determine if gliomas respond to immunotherapy

Gliomas make up about 80 percent of all malignant brain tumors. A new clinical trial at the Center for Cancer Research is investigating if the immunotherapy drug nivolumab is beneficial to patients with gliomas.

Artistic rendering of a T cell immersed in the tumor microenvironment exposed to high levels of potassium

Harnessing T-cell “stemness” could enhance cancer immunotherapy

A new study led by Nicholas Restifo, M.D., Senior Investigator in CCR’s Surgery Branch, sheds light on one way tumors may continue to grow despite the presence of cancer-killing immune cells. The findings, published March 29, 2019, in Science, suggest a way to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies for cancer treatment.

Micrograph of a diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Trial results show that younger lymphoma patients respond well to ibrutinib

A recent clinical trial using the drug ibrutinib reveals that patients under age 60 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are much more likely to tolerate the drug – and respond to it – compared to those age 60 and older.

Louis Staudt elected as a fellow of the AACR Academy

Louis Staudt, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Chief of the Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, was elected to the 2019 class of fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy. The mission of the AACR Academy is to recognize and honor distinguished scientists whose major scientific contributions have propelled significant innovation and progress against cancer, and to leverage the expertise of the global brain trust of fellows of the AACR Academy to advance the mission of the AACR to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, communication and collaboration.

New clinical trial recruits the immune system to attack chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is cancer that develops in blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. A new clinical trial is testing a way to boost the body’s natural immune cells and recruit them to attack and kill marked leukemia cells.

Breadcrumb