NCI Center for Cancer Research

In a new discovery, researchers in CCR’s Developmental Therapeutics Branch show how DNA synthesis recovers after cells encounter double-strand breaks, when both strands of the DNA double helix are broken. This answers the central question of how cancer cells continue to replicate even after sustaining damage from anti-cancer treatments that can cause these breaks. If researchers can find a way to block this repair process, it could be a new way to treat cancer.  Read more: https://go.nih.gov/LErkzJh  Learn more about CCR’s Developmental Therapeutics Branch: https://go.nih.gov/H0Em4Vh  Image: Detection of DNA breakage (green) and DNA synthesis (magenta) in the cell nucleus reveals a novel cellular mechanism that prevents the initiation of DNA replication at chromatin loops adjacent to double-stranded DNA breaks, without affecting global DNA synthesis. National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP)

Abnormalities in a gene called BRCA2 are linked to increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as several other types of cancer. Despite its significance, little is known about many of the thousands of variants in BRCA2 that occur in humans that lead to increased risk. Now, a new study led by CCR investigators has used CRISPR technology to classify over 6,500 known and potential variants as benign or likely to cause cancer.    “If someone inherits a mutation and our work shows that it is benign, you can imagine the relief it will give them,” said Shyam K. Sharan, Ph.D., the lead author on the study.    Read more: https://go.nih.gov/VAFeXPn     Image: BRCA2 protein with a sliding scale of color indicating the regions containing certain variants. Blue regions contain benign variants, while red regions contain pathogenic regions. National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP)

In recognition of World Kidney Day, meet Katie Coleman, a CCR patient who has shared her story of treatment at the NIH Clinical Center (CC). When Katie was diagnosed with a very rare form of advanced kidney cancer in 2020, she enrolled in an NCI clinical trial to have surgery in hopes of removing her tumors. Today, she’s an author and advocate, sharing her journey through social media and her recently published book.  “NIH’s approach to everything is extremely thorough,” Katie said. “It helped reassure me that each doctor I met with told me they have never prepared for a case quite as much as they prepared for mine.” Read Katie’s story: https://go.nih.gov/XFGR0q9 Learn more about kidney (renal cell) cancer: https://go.nih.gov/7gtXCoI  National Cancer Institute (NCI)

A clinical trial led by researchers in CCR’s Center for Immuno-Oncology and Surgical Oncology Program demonstrated the effectiveness of the novel treatment PRGN-2012 against recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) in adults. The results serve as the foundation for an application for accelerated approval to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).   “We feel this really changes the way that adults with RRP in the United States will be treated, and we think this treatment has the possibility of eliminating many procedures that patients would have to receive otherwise,” said Scott Norberg, D.O., the Principal Investigator of the clinical trial. Read more: https://go.nih.gov/PEGSdKV Image: An illustration of papillomas in the throat, caused by recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP), NIH Clinical Center (CC)

This clinical trial was conducted in CCR’s Pediatric Oncology Branch to expand treatment options for people with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). People with NF1 can develop a kind of nerve tumor, called plexiform neurofibroma, that cannot easily be treated by surgery. This clinical trial of selumetinib in 33 adults showed that the drug can shrink the size of tumors in the majority of patients and relieve their symptoms, such as pain. Read the full article: https://go.nih.gov/kzCivf4  Learn more about CCR’s Pediatric Oncology Branch: https://go.nih.gov/7RVzO8W  

NOW ENROLLING: Danielle Pastor, D.O., Ph.D., Assistant Research Physician in the CCR Center for Immuno-Oncology, is leading a clinical trial researching safety and efficacy of the immunotherapy ANK-101.   Are you a physician with a patient you want to refer? Contact the NCI Cancer Information Service for more information and provide the trial ID: NCT06171750. ➡️ Learn more: https://go.nih.gov/EdBFyWC National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH Clinical Center (CC)

🌟 Congratulations to Dr. Nirali Shah from our Pediatric Oncology Branch for her election to the American Society of Clinical Investigation! Dr. Shah's research focuses on the development of targeted immunotherapy approaches to treat high-risk blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, in children, adolescents, and young adults. She is also interested in the prevention and treatment of relapsed disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. ➡️ Learn more about Dr. Shah and her open clinical trials: https://go.nih.gov/TQ1ayju National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP), NIH Clinical Center (CC)

🗞️ IN THE NEWS: Javed Khan, M.D., from our Genetics Branch, and Rosa Nguyen, MD, PhD, from our Pediatric Oncology Branch, were featured in an article in the NIH Catalyst about advances using CRISPR at the NIH. Read more about their incredible work in gene editing! ⤵️ https://go.nih.gov/joguopr National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP)

Dr. W. Kimryn Rathmell will step down as NCI Director, effective Monday, January 20. Read Dr. Rathmell’s thoughts in her announcement below.

🗓 UPCOMING EVENT: Join us for the next seminar in our 2024 Grand Rounds Lecture Series with Brad St. Croix, Ph.D., Senior Scientist in our Mouse Cancer Genetics Program. Dr. St. Croix pioneered the development of methods to uncover molecules expressed on the tumor vasculature. His research focuses on the identification of molecules involved in human tumor angiogenesis and utilizes mouse models to translate new molecular information on angiogenesis into the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer. ➡ If you cannot attend in person, this lecture will also be available for viewing the day of on the NIH VideoCast: https://videocast.nih.gov/ National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP)