FDA has initiated the approval of leucovorin calcium tablets, rushing them to market as part of a push from the Trump administration to identify potential treatments for autism spectrum disorder.
Chaired by the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the 24th Cancer Centers Informatics Society (Ci4CC) Symposium will convene the nation’s leading designated and community cancer centers with a central focus on advancing precision oncology.
We are rapidly approaching the Sept. 30 planned expiration of telemedicine coverage under Medicaid. Letting this authorization expire is short-sighted. As an oncologist, I believe there are multiple compelling, non-pandemic reasons for telemedicine to remain a permanent fixture in cancer care.
Working in a comprehensive cancer center requires emotional endurance, strong clinical judgment, and constant interprofessional collaboration, all of which rest on a foundation of personal wellness. For nurses, whose roles are inherently intensive, focusing on wellbeing is integral to their ability to provide safe, compassionate, and effective patient care.
Appearing on the Cancer History Project Podcast, Michael P. Link, the Lydia J. Lee Professor in Pediatric Oncology at Stanford University, discussed his career in pediatric oncology, his 2011-2012 ASCO presidential term, and voiced concerns about what he’s seeing in oncology today.
In a press conference on Sept. 22, President Donald Trump, flanked by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, touted that Tylenol use while pregnant is “probably” the cause of autism.
NIH’s new “unified grant funding policy,” is “not political,” NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said during his remarks at Research!America’s annual National Health Research Forum Sept. 17.
Break Through Cancer has launched the Defying Osteosarcoma TeamLab, an initiative that brings together more than 20 researchers from eight institutions in a coordinated, multi-year effort focused on improving pediatric osteosarcoma care.
Twelve leading research teams from around the world have been shortlisted for Cancer Grand Challenges’ fifth funding round. The teams will present final proposals to a panel of leading international scientists in December, with winners receiving up to £20 million each.
Nicholas Richardson was named vice president of clinical development at Precision for Medicine, a company focused on biomarker-driven clinical research and development.
Scott Eggener was named chair of the Department of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and executive medical director for urology for the UCLA Health system.
UC Davis Health and UCLA are co-leading a newly funded national clinical trial to evaluate whether AI can help radiologists interpret screening mammograms more accurately. The goal is to improve breast cancer detection and reduce unnecessary callbacks and anxiety for patients.
Kimberly Leslie, a professor at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, was awarded a 5-year, $12.9 million grant from NCI. Leslie and her research team, which includes scientists from the Universities of Iowa, Utah, Kansas, Virginia, and California at San Diego, will study all available hormonal regimens to prevent and treat endometrial cancer.
The Wistar Institute is opening the Center for Advanced Therapeutics to speed up the creation of new drugs and therapies for human health. The CAT is led by Paul Lieberman and capitalizes on a history of Wistar research in cancer, immunology, and infectious disease.
Haystack Oncology, a Quest Diagnostics company, and Rutgers Cancer Institute are partnering to evaluate the use of Haystack MRD, a circulating tumor DNA minimal residual disease test, to help optimize postoperative therapy decisions in patients with stage 2/3 non-small cell lung cancer.
Moffitt Cancer Center and Tampa-based Mainsail Lodging & Development announced a partnership to bring a new 200-room, full-service hotel to Moffitt’s McKinley Campus. Expected to open in summer 2028, the hotel aims to enhance the experience of patients, families, visiting physicians and scientists, and the broader community.
Project Purple, a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering the fight against pancreatic cancer, is launching the Pancreatic Cancer Research Recovery Support Grant. The initiative provides up to two years of bridge or rescue funding for promising pancreatic cancer research projects that were disrupted due to administrative funding policy changes at major federal agencies such as the NIH, the Department of Defense, or the National Science Foundation.
Ten percent of pediatric blood and bone marrow cancers may have stemmed from radiation exposure, according to a study led by UC San Francisco and UC Davis.
An investigational immune-based induction regimen with Tecvayli (teclistamab-cqyv) and Darzalex Faspro (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) demonstrated meaningful clinical efficacy in transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
For many older women, the question of whether to continue breast cancer screening has been uncertain. While most guidelines recommend mammograms up to age 74, advice for women 75 and older has been less clear.
Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy significantly improves survival only in stage 3 colorectal cancer patients aged 70 or younger, according to a study conducted by researchers at Korea University Guro Hospital and Korea University College of Medicine. For patients over 70, the drug offered no survival advantage and led to higher rates of treatment discontinuation due to toxicity.
Targeting a cleft in the retinoblastoma protein can kill tumor-protecting macrophages in ovarian cancer, according to research by Wistar Institute scientists.
About 19 million American adults consume dietary fish oil supplements. These supplements, which primarily consist of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, are widely used as a remedy for chronic diseases. However, the effects of EPA and DHA supplementation on cancer risk have been inconsistent.
FDA approved Keytruda Qlex (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph) Sept. 19 for subcutaneous injection for adult and pediatric (12 years and older) solid tumor indications approved for the intravenous formulation of pembrolizumab.
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted two positive opinions for Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy.
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s supplemental Biologics License Application for Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) in combination with pertuzumab has been accepted and granted Priority Review in the U.S. FDA for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.
Anthony G. Letai, a physician-scientist at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute whose research is focused on apoptosis and functional diagnostics, has been tapped by the Trump administration to become the 18th director of the National Cancer Institute.
With the fiscal year drawing to a close, grant funding from NCI is picking up speed, offering a glimmer of hope to cancer researchers who are beginning to feel cautiously optimistic about the road ahead.
Grants are flowing out of NCI again to beat the fiscal-year end deadline and some cancer researchers are starting to feel cautiously optimistic about the future.
NCI has released the names of the members of the newly formed ad hoc Working Group on Extramural Research Concepts and Programs. The group will perform the peer review functions of the now-defunct Board of Scientific Advisors.
As NCI and NIH funding is being deliberated in Congress, this year’s 2025 AACR Cancer Progress Report had an unequivocal message: With 20 new anticancer therapeutics, new uses for eight previously approved anticancer therapeutics, two new early detection tools, and several AI-powered diagnostics approved over the span of just one year, cancer research funding yields a good return on investment.
Jonathan Mahler’s article in the Sept. 14 issue of The New York Times Magazine provided an excellent overview of the Trump administration’s assault on cancer research.
The Cancer Letter has published a number of excellent pieces lately on the importance of supporting and encouraging trainees and junior investigators during these uncertain times.
Ousted from her position as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention less than a month after her confirmation, Susan Monarez has now had the chance to tell her side of the story before Congress.
At a two-day meeting, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 8-3 to change the current recommendations that allow children under age 4 to receive the MMRV vaccine, a combination shot for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (or varicella).
The American Association for Cancer Research released the results of a national survey measuring voters’ attitudes about federal funding for medical research, which found very high levels of support for federal funding for medical and cancer research across the electorate.
A panel of doctors and lawmakers launched the bipartisan Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2025 (HR 5160) and discussed its positive impacts on research, healthcare, and treatment in the United States.
Frank McCormick, of the University of California San Francisco, a pioneering scientist whose discoveries have transformed the understanding of RAS-driven cancers, was selected as recipient of the inaugural Stephenson Global Prize.
The UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center was awarded the Specialized Programs of Research Excellence grant by NCI for a combined program focused on cancer outcomes.
The Liver Tumor Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center has been selected by NCI as a Specialized Program of Research Excellence.
The NCI Community Oncology Research Program selected Kathleen Yost Butler and Kamara Mertz-Rivera as recipients of this year’s outstanding principal investigator and administrator, respectively, at the 2025 NCORP annual meeting in Bethesda.
Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute appointed Chandrajit P. Raut as chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Mass General Brigham Department of Surgery and Surgery Program Leader for the Sarcoma Disease Center.
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute named Kathleen Fedoronko as the new chief nursing officer and vice president of Patient Care Services at Karmanos Cancer Hospital.
ConcertAI named Casey Graves general manager of Clinical Solutions. In this role, Graves will drive growth and innovation in real-world data and AI solutions for oncology research and clinical care, accelerating advances that improve outcomes for patients and healthcare providers.
The Fund for Science and Technology announced an inaugural suite of grants and its plan to fund at least $500 million over the next four years to support transformational science and technology for people and the planet.
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at Zabok General Hospital in Croatia is expanding access to the most advanced radiosurgery services for people across the country with the introduction of the Varian TrueBeam stereotactic body radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery system. The new system delivers radiosurgery treatment with pinpoint accuracy and image-guided precision in a shorter amount of time than current conventional treatments.
Qure.ai has appointed Javier J. Zulueta, previously professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and pulmonary division chief at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, as chief medical officer for pulmonology.
Libtayo (cemiplimab) plus chemotherapy demonstrates a more than double five-year overall survival rate of 19.4%, compared to 8.8% with chemotherapy alone, according to late-breaking data from exploratory analyses at World Conference on Lung Cancer.
Rezatapopt monotherapy generated a 33% overall response rate in 97 patients with solid tumors spanning across eight different cancers (ovarian, lung, breast, endometrial, head and neck, colorectal, gallbladder, and ampullary carcinoma) and a median duration of response of 6.2 months, according to PYNNACLE phase II clinical trial interim data. These were patients whose tumors were TP53 Y220C mutated and KRAS wild-type.
Twenty-seven species of bacteria and fungi, among the hundreds that live in people’s mouths, have been collectively tied to a 3.5 times greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer, according to a study led by NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center.
A team of scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the University of Zurich in Switzerland identified a specific phosphoinositide kinase called PI5P4Kα as critical to supporting the unique demands of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.
Glioblastoma cells that “cluster” together with other cells of the same type are less deadly than those that disperse from these clusters, according to findings from researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
The ZUMA-24 phase II clinical trial demonstrates the safety and feasibility of administering Yescarta (axi-cel) in the outpatient setting when treating relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma.
Researchers from UVA Cancer Center, the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and Inova Peterson Life with Cancer detail the many ways artificial intelligence could help ensure patients receive the support they need.
FDA approved gemcitabine intravesical system (Inlexzo) for adults with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ with or without papillary tumors.
FDA approved Bosaya (denosumab-kyqq) and Aukelso (denosumab-kyqq) injections, biosimilars of Prolia and Xgeva respectively, for the treatment of osteoporosis. In addition, FDA granted provisional interchangeability designation for both Bosaya and Aukelso.
FDA approved selumetinib (Koselugo) granules and capsules for pediatric patients 1 year of age and older with neurofibromatosis type 1 who have symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas. FDA previously approved selumetinib capsules for pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with NF1 who have symptomatic, inoperable PN.
FDA and Telix have reached an agreement regarding resubmission of its New Drug Application for TLX101-CDx (Floretyrosine F18 or 18F-FET, Pixclara), an investigational agent for the imaging of glioma, a rare and life-threatening brain cancer.
The European Commission granted conditional marketing authorization to Zemcelpro for the treatment of adults with haematological malignancies requiring an allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation following myeloablative conditioning for whom no other type of suitable donor cells is available.
Exact Sciences Corp. announced the launch of the Cancerguard test, a multi-cancer early detection blood test that is now available as a laboratory-developed test in the United States.
N-Power Medicine, an oncology drug development company, and VieCure, a company focused on AI-powered oncology intelligence, have announced a partnership to bring N-Power Medicine’s proprietary Kaleido Registry to the VieCure network.
Quest Diagnostics announced a pharmacogenomic laboratory test service designed to help providers understand the patient’s individual genetic response to select drug therapies.
Readers of The Cancer Letter and listeners of The Cancer Letter Podcast are familiar with the impact of President Donald Trump’s first nine months in office on the field of oncology. Now, the threats posed to oncology are being brought to the attention of a general audience—Jonathan Mahler, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, wrote an in-depth article about how the Trump administration’s actions have brought chaos, uncertainty, and damage to the oncology research community.
In the face of the unknown, two cancer center leaders discuss planning for the future, recovering from setbacks, and holding on to what they still have.
Look at where our understanding of cancer was two, five, 10, 15, 20, or more years ago and then consider what has happened over the past two decades. We finally realized how more complex the problem of cancer is—more than any of us imagined.
The fight against lung cancer is evolving, with groundbreaking research shedding light on the intricate interplay between biology, environment, and health disparities.
All photos courtesy of CalTechDavid Baltimore, co-recipient of the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and president emeritus and the Judge Shirley Hufstedler Professor of Biology at Caltech, died on Sept. 6. He was 87.
Bonnie J. Addario, a tireless advocate, died Aug. 25, leaving behind a legacy of love, leadership, and global impact.
Bonnie was first and foremost devoted to her family—her husband of over 40 years, Tony; her children Danielle, Jared, and Andrea; her nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. To all of them, she was the heart of the family, a source of joy, humor, and unconditional love.
A gifted businesswoman, Bonnie rose to prominence as President of Olympian Oil and Commercial Fueling Network (CFN). In an industry dominated by men, she led with vision, courage, and innovation, breaking barriers for women in leadership and earning admiration for her tenacity and grace.
Her life took an extraordinary turn when she became a lung cancer survivor. Rather than retreat, Bonnie chose to channel her experience into helping others. She founded the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (now known as the GO2 for Lung Cancer) and later the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI). These organizations became lifelines for patients and research communities, changing the face of lung cancer globally.
Bonnie’s advocacy reached far and wide. She spoke at international conferences and at the National Cancer Institute, demanding that patients be included in decisions about their care. Her voice was not only heard—it transformed the way doctors, researchers, and institutions approached lung cancer
In an industry dominated by men, she led with vision, courage, and innovation, breaking barriers for women in leadership and earning admiration for her tenacity and grace.
Her tireless work inspired countless people, gave hope to patients worldwide, and built a movement that continues to save lives. Bonnie will be remembered as a loving mother and wife, a pioneer in business, a courageous survivor, and a force of change in the fight against lung cancer.
She leaves behind a legacy that will live on through her family and through the lives of the many she touched and inspired. She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to The Bonnie J. Addario Legacy Fund at GO2 for Lung Cancer.
A fraught Senate Finance Committee hearing, where HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed with Republicans and Democrats alike, has led to some fallout.
FDA introduced the Rare Disease Evidence Principles to provide greater speed and predictability in the review of therapies intended to treat rare diseases with very small patient populations with significant unmet medical need and that are driven by a known genetic defect.
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has voted along party lines passing a bill that maintains current funding levels for NIH and NCI as part of its Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies spending bill.
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research and the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation announced they will combine in a first-of-its-kind transaction in cancer philanthropy to launch the Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer.
Anirban MaitraManuel HidalgoAnirban Maitra and Manuel Hidalgo were named co-directors of a new Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
Top row (left to right): Caius Radu, Amar Kishan and Christine Mona. Bottom row (left to right): Beth Glenn, Mina Sedrak and William Lowry. The UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has appointed new leadership to several of its programs.
Kari WisinskiNataliya UbohaKari Wisinski, a breast cancer medical oncologist and chief of Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care at UW Department of Medicine, will serve as deputy director of UW Carbone.
Montefiore Einstein CCC lung cancer teamMontefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center’s lung cancer team received the The Cancer Care Team Award from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Venkata Lokesh BattulaClinton YamA multidisciplinary team of researchers at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center has been awarded a $7.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to fund a novel clinical trial targeting one of the most aggressive and hard-to-treat forms of breast cancer: metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.
The Wistar Institute has received an NIH granted, five-year $17 million research award to launch iCure Consortium to develop individualized “cure regimens” for HIV.
A $3.5 million gift from Kathy Coleman to Because of You: The Campaign for University Hospitals will fuel the future of clinical trials at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center.
Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah signed a contract with Mevion Medical Systems for a second MEVION S250i Proton Therapy System, doubling treatment capacity and broadening access to patients with a wide range of cancers, including pediatric, head and neck, and breast cancers.
Northwestern Medicine will be the first health system to integrate “David,” Tempus’ generative-AI clinical co-pilot, within its electronic health record platform for its clinical care team.
Top row (left to right): Dirk Görlich, Steven L. McKnight, Michael J. Welsh.Bottom row (left to right): Jesús (Tito) González, Paul A. Negulescu, Lucy ShapiroThe 2025 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award honors went to two scientists for discoveries that exposed the structures and functions of low-complexity domains within protein sequences.
Rybrevant (amivantamab-vmjw) + Lazcluze (lazertinib) demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival improvement for patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletions or L858R substitution mutations, according to data from the phase III Mariposa study.
