NCI Center for Cancer Research

?? Last week, we celebrated the incredible career of Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Surgery Branch. Hundreds of attendees both in-person and online came together to honor his pioneering in the development of effective immunotherapies for patients with advanced cancer. Former and current colleagues, trainees and patients were able to thank Dr. Rosenberg for his impact on the field and discuss the optimism they have for the future of cancer research because of his work.? ? Thank you to the Center for Excellence in Immunology for sponsoring, the organizers and to everyone who participated in this incredible symposium. ?? Share your favorite photo if you attended or a memory you have with Dr. Rosenberg in the comments! National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH Clinical Center (CC), The National Institutes of Health

In 2018, Estefania E. Marchan and her husband, Peter Richman, decided to start planning for a family. When Estefania’s obstetrician asked if the couple wanted to undergo cancer screening as part of the planning process, Estefania, who had a family history of stomach cancer, agreed. Estefania’s genetic test confirmed that she carried a mutation for the CDH1 gene, a condition that significantly increases a person’s risk for developing hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. She chose to have a total gastrectomy, which is the removal of the entire stomach. ? Read Estefania's full story: https://lnkd.in/eBPd-_wj National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH Clinical Center (CC), National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP)

?? We are very excited about this paper from CCR researchers including Doug Lowy, M.D., Chief of our Laboratory of Cellular Oncology! Read more ?

?? NEW FINDINGS: CCR researchers have reported that excessive MYC-topoisome triggers acute DNA damage, MYC degradation, and replacement by a p53-topoisome. Their findings illuminate the inner workings of some oncogenic processes and how cells may become cancerous. ? Read more: https://lnkd.in/e9ycu3nw Image: graphical abstract detailing the cascading effects of MYC-topoisome overexpression National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP)

?? NEW FINDINGS: RAS genes are the second most mutated genes in human cancer and the subject of decades of intense study. Now, CCR scientists have discovered that RAS proteins have a previously overlooked role: they can help shuttle other proteins out of a cell’s nucleus and into the cytoplasm. The transport they facilitate creates opportunities for some relocated proteins to support cancerous growth. ? Read more: https://go.nih.gov/lIJJFJR Image: CCR researchers showed that RAS can colocalize with RAN-GAP (red dots) at the edge of the cell nucleus (bright blue), where it helps trigger nuclear transport machinery to release cargo proteins such as EZH2 into the cytoplasm. National Cancer Institute (NCI), The National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP)

NOW ENROLLING: Christine M. Heske, M.D., Investigator in the?Pediatric Oncology Branch, is leading a clinical trial researching PEN-866 in combination with vincristine and temozolomide for adolescents and young adults with Ewing sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. ? 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: NCT04890093. ?? NCI Cancer Information Service: 1-800-4-CANCER ? Read more about Dr. Heske's clinical trial: https://go.nih.gov/8Uup9kz National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH Clinical Center (CC)

?? NEW FINDINGS: A recent study by CCR researchers demonstrated that in a head and neck tumor model, the combination of alum-tethered IL-12 (mANK-101) with cisplatin and α-programmed death 1 (PD-1) showed improved therapeutic benefit compared with mANK-101 alone or standard treatment with cisplatin and α-PD-1. ? This is the first report to demonstrate that tethered IL-12 can enhance the efficacy of therapies that combine cytotoxic chemotherapy and checkpoint inhibition. The study also provides additional insight into the mechanisms of action of tethered IL-12 alone and in combination with chemoimmunotherapy. ? Read more: https://lnkd.in/e8PiMyVy ? Image: Combination therapy with mANK-101, cisplatin, and α-PD-1 results in the emergence of immune aggregates in the MOC1 tumor. Image shows tumors on day 28 with immunofluorescent staining.?

Today is Neuroendocrine Cancer (NET) Day. Jaydira Del Rivero, M.D., Associate Research Physician in our Developmental Therapeutics Branch, is the National Cancer Institute (NCI) expert in neuroendocrine tumors (known as NETs), which form within the cells that receive and send messages through hormones to help the body function and can occur in many places throughout the body. These tumors are rare overall but are more common in adults and often grow slowly over time. ? Read more about Dr. Del Rivero’s work with NETs: https://lnkd.in/epCr4Vrb National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP), Jaydira Del Rivero On the left is an endoscopic ultrasound of a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) in the upper gastrointestinal tract (duodenum). Credit: BMC Gastroenterol 2011. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-11-67 CC 2.0.

?? UPCOMING EVENT: Join us for a special nursing Grand Rounds Lecture with an exciting presentation from Timiya Nolan Ph.D., APRN-CNP, ANP-BC, Associate Professor in the Heersink School of Medicine and Associate Director of Community Outreach & Engagement at the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham! Timiya's research is focused on the study of self-management of chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease, with a particular interest in the development and testing of age- and culturally- sensitive interventions that promote health and quality of life. Her long-term goal is to build healthy communities through academic community partnerships and research that center on and support underrepresented minority groups in their pursuits of wellness. ? Join the lecture virtually on November 15: https://go.nih.gov/iu4QoAy Timiya S. Nolan, PhD, APRN-CNP, ANP-BC, FAAN, University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, UAB O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Cancer Institute (NCI)

?? NEW FINDINGS: Unpredictable episodic or continuous catecholamine release, which may lead to serious or fatal cardiovascular events, is the most substantial threat to the lives of patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (rare neuroendocrine tumor types).? ? In a short correspondence to the editor of NEJM, researchers report two patient cases that show that the drug belzutifan rapidly normalizes circulating catecholamine levels, thereby preventing negative cardiovascular events. Their report suggests that belzutifan may provide a therapeutic advantage over existing agents and can be used for mediating catecholamine excess in patients with these rare tumors. ? Read more: https://lnkd.in/eMUKWDvZ ? Image: Model of belzutifan action in catecholamine-induced hypertension National Cancer Institute (NCI), The National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH): Intramural Research Program (IRP)