Cancer Research News

1. Cancer Grand Challenges announces global research funding opportunity with nine new challenges

   As part of the Cancer Grand Challenges program, NCI and Cancer Research UK have announced nine new research challenges to tackle profound problems in cancer research.

2. NCI clinical trial leads to atezolizumab approval for advanced alveolar soft part sarcoma

   A clinical trial led by NCI has resulted in FDA approval of the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab (Tecentriq) to treat advanced alveolar soft part sarcoma.

3. Statement from Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D., Director, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

   A statement from the National Cancer Institute by NCI Director Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D., about her recent diagnosis with early breast cancer.

4. Annual Report to the Nation: Cancer deaths continue downward trend; modest improvements in survival for pancreatic cancer

   Overall cancer death rates continued to fall among men, women, children, and adolescents and young adults in every major racial and ethnic group in the United States from 2015 to 2019, according to the latest Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer.

5. Monica Bertagnolli begins work as 16th director of the National Cancer Institute

   Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D., begins her tenure as the 16th director of the National Cancer Institute on October 3, 2022. She previously served as the Richard E. Wilson Professor of Surgery in the field of surgical oncology at Harvard Medical School, a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a member of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment and Sarcoma Centers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

6. A healthy lifestyle may help former smokers lower their risk of death from all causes

   A new study finds that former smokers who stick to a healthy lifestyle have a lower risk of dying from all causes, including cancer and heart and lung disease, than those who don’t have healthy habits.

7. NCI study of tea drinkers in the UK suggests health benefits from black tea

   A prospective study of half a million tea drinkers in the U.K. suggests potential mortality benefits of drinking black tea may be associated with a lower risk of death.

8. Many types of leisure time activity may lower risk of death for older adults

   A study found equivalent amounts of 7 different activities were associated with a lower risk of death from any cause, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

9. NCI awards $23 million to establish centers of excellence to study telehealth for cancer care

   NCI awards $23 million to academic institutions to establish centers of excellence to conduct research on the role of telehealth in delivering cancer care.

10. Interferon treatment may reduce severity of COVID-19 in people with certain genetic factors

    In patients with certain variations in the OAS1 gene, treatment for severe COVID-19 with interferons, a type of protein that can help the body’s immune system fight infections, decreased the viral load of SARS-CoV-2, a new study found.