Liquid Biopsy | Ovarian Cancer | Dense Breasts, Cancer Information Highlights, August 5, 2020

Cancer Information Highlights

From the National Cancer Institute

Updating you about cancer causes, prevention, screening, treatment, coping, and more

New from NCI Liquid Biopsy Detects Brain Cancer and Kidney Cancer   Results from a study show that a liquid biopsy test that looks at DNA in blood was able to find kidney cancer at early and late stages of the disease. In a second study, the test found some types of brain tumors. The test may be used to help detect these cancers without the need for tissue biopsies, which can be risky and costly. How Does Ovarian Cancer Form?   A new study has found clues that might explain how normal fallopian tube cells turn into cancer in the ovary. Learn how microRNA may play a role in causing ovarian cancer and how it might be used to find cancer early. How CRISPR Is Changing Cancer Research and Treatment CRISPR is a tool used to alter the DNA of human cells in a very precise way. Learn how CRISPR works and why cancer researchers are excited about it. Dense Breasts This recently updated page answers many common questions about breast density. Topics covered include features of the four groups of breast density and how breast density affects mammograms and the risk of breast cancer. Abandoned Drugs Find New Life Fighting Leukemia   Two older drugs, bisantrene and brequinar, slowed the growth of acute myeloid leukemia in studies of mice. The drugs blocked the activity of a protein called FTO, killing cancer stem cells and helping the immune system attack the cancer. PDQ Updates Informal Caregivers in Cancer Our PDQ summary on family caregivers has been completely revised and the title has been changed. The summary includes information about the roles, needs, and burdens of being an informal caregiver to a person with cancer and ways to ease that burden and increase personal growth. Plasma Cell Neoplasms (Including Multiple Myeloma) Treatment We’ve revised our treatment summary on plasma cell neoplasms with updated information on the treatments used for different stages of multiple myeloma. FDA Approvals New Drug for Myelodysplastic Syndromes We’ve added a new drug summary for Inqovi (decitabine and cedazuridine). It was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with myelodysplastic syndromes, including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

Also of Interest Acupuncture Acupuncture applies needles, heat, pressure, and other treatments to places on the skin, called acupuncture points, to control symptoms such as pain or nausea and vomiting. Learn more about acupuncture and its use as a complementary therapy in cancer. Infographic—Finding New Ways to Help the Immune System Fight Cancer Immunotherapy helps a person with cancer’s own immune system find and kill cancer cells. This graphic shows the different ways that researchers are tapping into the immune system to target cancer.