The National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides grants to state cancer centers and universities, enabling these institutions to fund innovative research. Below are some recent success stories of NCI-funded projects at AACI cancer centers.
Texas: Using mRNA Technology to Develop Novel Treatments
A team of researchers affiliated with Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, established a method of instructing cells to release therapeutic proteins into the bloodstream using messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). This study has shown promising results in mice, reducing the growth of tumors and extending the lifespan of the mice for adenocarcinoma and melanoma, the two cancers studied. Translated to humans, this mRNA technology could increase the effectiveness of cancer medications, allowing for less frequent treatment. Read the full report.
Maryland: Revolutionizing Cancer Prevention and Screening
Engineers and cancer researchers at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University are developing machine learning methods to identify cancer protein fragments and spur the immune system to combat them. These findings could revolutionize the development of both personalized vaccines and broad-based immunotherapies for general use. Learn more in Nature Machine Intelligence.
Tennessee: Studying the Impact of Age, Genes on Cancer Disparities
The Comprehensive Cancer Center at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital led a comprehensive study on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) – a cancer with much higher survival rates among children than adults. The study showed the effects of age on the efficacy of different treatments. Researchers noted that gene expressions in some children led to treatment responses similar to those of adults, demonstrating that age alone is not a reliable indicator and must be considered alongside other factors in future research. Read "Impact of Age on Pharmacogenomics and Treatment Outcomes of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia" in the ASCO Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Continued investment in the NCI is essential to building on the success of projects like these and to funding new discoveries in 2025 – and well into the future.