Cancer Currents: An NCI Cancer Research Blog
A blog featuring news and research updates from the National Cancer Institute. Learn more about Cancer Currents.
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Enhertu Improves Survival for Metastatic “HER2-Low” Breast CancerPeople with metastatic breast cancer whose tumors had low levels of HER2 protein lived longer after treatment with trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) than those treated with standard chemotherapy, results of the DESTINY-Breast04 clinical trial show.
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For Some Kids with Brain Cancer, Targeted Therapy Is Better than ChemoThe combination of dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) shrank more brain tumors, kept the tumors at bay for longer, and caused fewer side effects than chemotherapy, trial results showed. The children all had glioma with a BRAF V600 mutation that could not be surgically removed or came back after surgery.
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FDA Proposes Rule Prohibiting Menthol CigarettesA proposed rule prohibiting menthol flavoring is expected to make cigarettes less appealing, lower smoking rates, and reduce diseases and deaths caused by cigarette smoking. Tobacco control researchers say the proposed ban could have the greatest impact on youth and African American smokers.
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Active Surveillance for Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Continues to RiseMen diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer are increasingly opting against immediate treatment and choosing active surveillance instead, a new study finds. In fact, rates of active surveillance more than doubled between 2014 and 2021.
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New Way to Classify Meningioma Brain Tumors Suggests Potential TreatmentsTwo separate but complementary studies have identified a new way to classify meningioma, the most common type of brain tumor. The grouping system may help predict whether a patient’s tumor will grow back after treatment and identify new treatments.
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New on NCI’s Websites for June 2022NCI periodically provides updates on new websites and other online content of interest to the cancer community. See selected content that has been added as of June 2022.
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Meeting Cancer Survivors' Psychosocial Health Needs: A Conversation with Dr. Patricia GanzAbout 25% of cancer survivors have persistent anxiety, depression, or other psychological and social (psychosocial) distress. In this interview, Dr. Patricia Ganz discusses psychosocial distress and the challenges and opportunities in this area.
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More Evidence that One HPV Vaccine Dose Protects against Cancer-Causing InfectionsOne dose of the HPV vaccine was highly effective in protecting young women against infection from high-risk HPV types, a study in Kenya found. A single dose would make HPV vaccines more accessible worldwide, reducing cervical cancer’s global burden.
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Keto Molecule Offers Clue for Preventing Colorectal CancerIn a study in mice, researchers showed that BHB, a compound produced while eating a ketogenic diet, may slow or stop colorectal cancer from growing. More studies are needed, they warned, to see if BHB has similar effects in humans.
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Cancer in Lymph Nodes May Help Tumors Spread by Enlisting Immune CellsCancer often spreads to the lymph nodes, but it has never been clear why. A new study in mice suggests lymph node invasion helps the primary tumor spread, or metastasize, to other organs.
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New Drugs Raise Old Questions about Treating Cancer during PregnancyA pregnant woman with Hodgkin lymphoma was treated successfully with an immunotherapy drug. The report that the treatment was safe and effective is leading researchers to start taking a closer look at new forms of cancer drugs in pregnant people.
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For Early-Stage Lung Cancer, Nivolumab and Chemo before Surgery Proves EffectiveGiving people with early-stage lung cancer the immunotherapy drug nivolumab (Opdivo) and chemotherapy before surgery can substantially delay the progression or return of their cancer, a large clinical trial found.
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Working to Close the Cancer Screening Gap Caused by COVIDMany hospitals and community health centers are trying to increase cancer screening rates after the COVID pandemic caused them to plummet. The largest effort aims to add a total of 70,000 additional monthly screening tests over a 6-month period.
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Ivosidenib with Chemotherapy New Option for Some People with AMLFor some people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has a mutation in the IDH1 gene, combining ivosidenib (Tibsovo) with the chemotherapy drug azacitidine may be a new treatment option, according to results from a large clinical trial.
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Colonoscopy after Positive FIT Test Cuts Risk of Colorectal Cancer DeathPeople who had a positive FIT result (signs of blood in the stool) but didn’t get a follow-up colonoscopy were twice as likely to die of colorectal cancer as those who did get a colonoscopy, a new study found.
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Study Adds to Debate about Screening for MelanomaRegular skin cancer screening leads to many diagnoses of very early-stage melanomas, results from a new study suggest. The results add to a debate about whether screening is fueling an overdiagnosis of melanoma in the United States.
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Body Location May Influence Fate of Cells with Cancer-Causing MutationsWhether cells with cancer-related genetic changes will develop into tumors may partly depend on their location in the body, a new study finds. The study focused on a rare form of skin cancer, acral melanoma.
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Embryos in the Womb Can Get Gene Mutations That Lead to Cancer in AdulthoodMutations in cancer-related genes that start in embryos may be more common than once thought, a new study has shown. Finding out if a person has a mosaic mutation is important for their cancer care, according to the study leaders.
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Screening for Many Cancers with One Test: Uncertainty AboundsProgress has been made on developing noninvasive tests that may be able to find many cancers early. But, as NCI’s Dr. Phil Castle explains, there’s still much to learn about these multi-cancer early detection tests before they become widely used.
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Identifying Safer Ways to Look for Recurrence after Testicular Cancer SurgeryAfter surgery for early-stage, low-risk testicular cancer, it’s safe to monitor for a recurrence using MRI scans or fewer CT scans than are currently used, according to results from a large clinical trial.