News

Thank You--50th Anniversary of the National Cancer Act
Fifty years ago this week, the National Cancer Act was signed into law, kick-starting research that has changed how cancer is prevented, detected, diagnosed, treated, and survived, and moving us closer to a time when no one… Learn more
POSTED: 12/20/2021
AUTHOR: Philip E. Castle, Ph.D., M.P.H.
An older woman with a handful of oral medications.
For older adults undergoing treatment for advanced cancer, results from a clinical trial show that a health measurement tool called a geriatric assessment can be an important part of treatment planning. In the trial, older patients whose care was guided by a geriatric assessment were much less… Learn more
POSTED: 12/15/2021
Drawings of COVID-19 cells.
This issue we highlight diet quality on COVID risk and severity, along with kava’s role in lung cancer in active smokers, as well as lifelong exposure of bioactives such as ECGC and sulforaphane from green tea and broccoli… Learn more
POSTED: 12/1/2021
An illustration displaying possible inherited risk carriers within a family.
If your family member had cancer, would you want to know if you carried a gene mutation that increased your risk of the same cancer? This question is at the heart of three novel research projects underway to determine how best to connect with the family members of women with ovarian cancer so they… Learn more
POSTED: 11/29/2021
The NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) annual meeting for grantees in August 2021 virtually brought together representatives from every NCORP Research Base and Community and Minority Underserved Site to discuss… Learn more
POSTED: 11/10/2021
Screen capture of the Fall 2021 issue the CP-CTNet Newsletter.
The first day of autumn was September 22nd. Fall reminds us that change can be a beautiful process. It’s the season that conjures up memories of heading back to school, visits to the pumpkin patch, jumping in piles of colorful leaves, picking apples at the orchard, drinking apple cider, and making… Learn more
POSTED: 10/12/2021
Estimated cases of myelodysplastic syndrome cases in the US each year.
In a clinical study underway, scientists hope to unravel the complexities of a group of poorly understood and relatively rare blood disorders that often lead to cancer. In myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), the problem arises when normal blood cells fail to function properly or are ill-formed inside… Learn more
POSTED: 10/5/2021
AUTHOR: Susan Jenks
NCI graphic showing checked off text boxes
A year ago, I said that coming on board as the Division of Cancer Prevention Director in July 2020 was a “challenge,” adding that I had faith in science that the pandemic would be solved soon. Science has brought us a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and medicine to… Learn more
POSTED: 9/20/2021
AUTHOR: Philip E. Castle, Ph.D., M.P.H.
none
In this issue, we feature: ULACNet-101 Getting Ready for Recruitment, ROCCHHA Opens Enrollment in Puerto Rico and Brazil for ULACNet-201, and an interview with Dr. Lenka Kolevic. Translations are available in Spanish and… Learn more
POSTED: 9/20/2021
40% of women who inherit a mutation in their BRCA1 gene will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime.
Researchers in gynecologic oncology have begun testing a promising surgery for premenopausal women at high genetic risk for ovarian cancer that avoids early menopause and may prevent these malignancies from developing. Studies have shown that most ovarian cancers actually begin to grow from cancer… Learn more
POSTED: 9/7/2021
AUTHOR: Susan Jenks
Leaders in NCI's Division of Cancer Prevention: Dr. Philip Castle, Director and Dr. Lori Minasian, Deputy Director.
This Healthcast podcast commemorates the National Cancer Act's 50th anniversary by highlighting the progress the National Cancer Institute has made in cancer prevention. Leaders in NCI's Division of Cancer Prevention talk about avoidance, screening and treatments, and vaccinations, and how… Learn more
POSTED: 8/31/2021
Healthy foods displayed on a table, including salmon, garlic, avocado, and walnuts.
This issue we showcase genetically predicted circulating PUFAs and colorectal cancer risk, miRNAs as early indicators of lifestyle changes in women with breast cancer, and how antibiotics, historically used in preclinical… Learn more
POSTED: 8/19/2021
STAT First Opinion
In 2020, a year of unimaginable tragedy, an estimated 375,000 people died from Covid-19 infections in the United States alone. Much of the suffering and death due to the disease was preventable in three ways: through avoidance by wearing masks and social distancing; by screening and treatment; and… Learn more
POSTED: 8/9/2021
A young adult using a smartphone.
Being a teenager or young adult is hard enough. Add a cancer diagnosis, and the challenges—which can range from severe fatigue to financial stress—are likely to multiply.
POSTED: 8/4/2021
Cancer Prevention word cloud with the science's keywords.
Philip Castle, Ph.D., M.P.H., joined NCI in July 2020 as director of the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP). Dr. Castle previously worked at NCI in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (2002–2010), where he led numerous research projects, including studies of HPV and its connection to… Learn more
POSTED: 7/20/2021
Image of needle injecting vaccine in arm.
One of the first-ever vaccines for the prevention of colorectal and other cancers in patients at high genetic risk for these malignancies is expected to start its early phase safety and immunogenicity trial in the first quarter of 2022, according to investigators… Learn more
POSTED: 7/13/2021
AUTHOR: Susan Jenks
Bob Aronson was only 54 years old and, in the words of his son Tom, “extremely healthy.” “So it was really surprising to everyone when he went in for an annual routine eye exam and his eye doctor suspected diabetes,” Tom recalled. With his diabetes diagnosis confirmed, Bob got back to his normal… Learn more
POSTED: 7/7/2021
2019 Group photo of the CPFP Fellows.
Preventing cancer today and in the future lies at the heart of the National Cancer Institute’s competitive postdoctoral fellowship program, which is accepting candidate applications for the 2022 class until August 16, 2021. Fellowship Program Application The CPFP application period is now CLOSED… Learn more
POSTED: 5/25/2021
AUTHOR: Susan Jenks
A group of high-risk prostate cancer subjects and age-matched healthy subjects (52-84 years old).
The warming weather brings outdoor grilling and a good time to showcase recent publications on heterocyclic aromatic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their role in cancer. We highlight oxidative stress in men… Learn more
POSTED: 5/13/2021
Scientists have identified more than 1,000 potential new biomarkers for cancer that they hope will aid in the early detection of many of these complex diseases, including one of the most challenging, pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancers have long defied early… Learn more
POSTED: 4/27/2021
AUTHOR: Susan Jenks
AACR Annual Meeting 2021
On Demand Session Type: Major Symposium  Session Title: Colorectal Cancer Interception: Immunologic and Pharmacologic Advances Companion session to Live Panel discussion Thursday, April 15 at 1:30 PM Multiantigen vaccines for Colon Cancer Prevention, Shizuko Sei, National Cancer Institute,… Learn more
POSTED: 4/23/2021
An MRI of a pancreas with cysts presenting.
In a new NCI-sponsored study now recruiting participants, investigators will evaluate two different screening strategies for non-cancerous pancreatic cysts to determine which works best at detecting early malignancy. Even though few of these sac-like structures are likely to develop into… Learn more
POSTED: 4/8/2021
AUTHOR: Susan Jenks
After decades of opposition to decriminalizing cannabis products (especially marijuana), a more permissive attitude toward cannabis and its derivative products has taken hold today at the state level. At the same time, inconsistencies in state policies conflict with federal law, which itself,… Learn more
POSTED: 3/8/2021
AUTHOR: NCI Staff
A 3D illustration of human kidneys.
This issue showcases results from the VITAL trial on vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids on kidney function, anti-colonic inflammation properties of black raspberry, and the reversal of the Warburg effect by sulforaphane in… Learn more
POSTED: 3/3/2021
NCI 50 years graphic
For centuries, visionary physicians have stressed preventing disease as the best option. I frequently say that the “best” cancer is the cancer that never happens. Today, we turn our attentions to the scientists who made stride after stride during the last 50 years to shape cancer prevention… Learn more
POSTED: 3/1/2021
AUTHOR: Philip E. Castle, Ph.D., M.P.H.