Articles about Cancer

Papers reveal how chemical lobby influenced policy, reversing Biden-era limits on a common carcinogenSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA new trove of chemical producer and US Environmental Protection Agency documents reveal an elaborate industry operation that killed strong regulations around formaldehyde, a highly toxic carcinogen widely used in everyday goods from cosmetics to furniture to craft supplies.The Biden EPA in late 2024 determined any exposure to formaldehyde increased the risk of cancer and other health problems. The Trump EPA in late 2025 moved to undo those findings and replace them with less protective figures. Continue reading...

• HHS through the National Cancer Institute announced a $200 million public-private partnership to fund clinical trials for cancer vaccines targeting high-risk recurrence patients. • The initiative supports mRNA and other vaccine types, aiming to accelerate development with private sector involvement including venture capital. • 'Nothing of this scale has been attempted in cancer vaccines before,' said Stacey Adam, VP of science partnerships for the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health.

• An NIH-funded mouse study shows chronic colitis induces long-lasting epigenetic changes in gut stem cells, boosting AP-1 transcription factor activity and tumor growth potential. • Researchers analyzed over 52,000 cells, finding damage memories persist more than 100 days after inflammation ends, heritable across new cells. • The findings from Broad Institute scientists explain how sustained inflammation elevates colorectal cancer risk through dynamic epigenome alterations.

• Researchers led by Professor Silvia von Karstedt discovered that loss of Caspase 8 protein in small cell lung cancer triggers inflammation promoting tumor growth and spread. • The study, published in Nature Communications on March 25, 2026, shows this loss reprograms cancer cells into an aggressive neuron-like state associated with relapse. • Findings from the CECAD Cluster of Excellence explain the cancer's notorious aggressiveness and poor prognosis.

ACA requires firms to cover colonoscopies for over-45s but young people face hurdles to receive appropriate testsAs colon cancer rates are rising among people in their 20s and 30s, some adults in the US who are under 45 and experiencing worrying symptoms are struggling to get insurance coverage for colonoscopies, which can detect colon cancer.The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurance companies to cover colonoscopies for people over 45 “because it’s been recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force”, says Caitlin Murphy, a cancer epidemiologist and professor at the University of Chicago. The ACA requires preventive screenings, including pap smears, for example, to be completely covered. Continue reading...

• The FDA granted accelerated approval to a novel immunotherapy combination for metastatic pancreatic cancer on March 21, 2026, based on Phase 2 trial data showing a 35% response rate. • The drug combination demonstrated a median overall survival of 14.2 months compared to 11.8 months with standard chemotherapy in the clinical trial of 280 patients. • Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers with a five-year survival rate below 12%, making this approval potentially significant for the estimated 64,000 Americans diagnosed annually.

• Recent research links extreme heat exposure, gaps in obesity coaching, cancer treatment delays, ACA premium cost spikes, and income inequality to widening health disparities across the US. • These factors exacerbate vulnerabilities in underserved populations, with global implications but focused US data. • Findings underscore needs for targeted interventions in public health equity amid rising climate and economic pressures.

• Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff for President Donald Trump, announced on Monday her diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer, caught early with no plans for leave. • She will undergo several weeks of treatment in Washington, D.C., while remaining full-time at the White House. • President Trump stated, 'She will soon be better than ever!' highlighting her continued role amid health challenges.

Music’s most famous number is being repurposed to offer resources for patients and caregiversSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe telephone number immortalized in the enduring Tommy Tutone hit song 867-5309/Jenny has started connecting callers to a cancer support line – as one ad touting the news says it was time that music’s most famous digits “did some good”.Cancer Support Community (CSC)’s Instagram page announced the campaign with a series of posts on Monday alluding to the song about a guy who nervously ponders calling the phone number of a woman named Jenny, which is scrawled on a bathroom wall. Continue reading...

Wiles, 68, praised by president as ‘one of the strongest people I know’, to continue working while having treatmentSusie Wiles, the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer but plans to continue working while undergoing treatment.The 68-year-old revealed on Monday that the illness had been detected in the past week. Both she and Donald Trump struck an optimistic tone, saying doctors expect a strong recovery. Continue reading...

• Engineers at Washington University in St. Louis discovered that cells can sense far beyond the surfaces they touch through a process called "depth mechano-sensing," with clusters of normal epithelial cells detecting layers as far as 100 microns away by tugging on surrounding collagen fibers. • Individual cancer cells can probe about 10 microns ahead, while normal cell clusters working together can sense 10 times farther, helping cells decide where to migrate and providing new insights into cancer cell behavior. • The findings, published in PNAS, could reveal new targets to prevent cancer from spreading and advance understanding of how cancer cells move through the body.

• Telix Pharmaceuticals resubmitted its New Drug Application to the U.S. FDA on March 16, 2026, for TLX101-Px (Pixclara®), a PET imaging agent targeting gliomas in adults and pediatrics. • The agent received Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations from the FDA due to its potential to address unmet needs in post-treatment glioma management, with 18F-FET PET already in international guidelines but no U.S.-approved equivalent. • Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common aggressive primary brain cancer, affects about 22,000 new U.S. cases yearly, with recurrence nearly universal and median survival of 12-15 months post-diagnosis.

• Houston Methodist scientists identified TDP43 protein as a critical regulator of DNA mismatch repair, connecting it to ALS, frontotemporal dementia, and cancer risks. • Lead investigator Muralidhar L. Hegde, Ph.D., stated 'DNA repair is one of the most fundamental processes in biology' and TDP43's role has major implications for these diseases. • The peer-reviewed study, published in Nucleic Acids Research on March 15, 2026, was funded by NIH's NINDS and National Institute on Aging.

• U.S. Senate passed its 2026 spending bill including the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act to advance pediatric cancer combination therapies. • Bill features Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act streamlining out-of-state Medicaid/CHIP provider approvals for children and five-year reauthorization of FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program. • Allocates $7.35 billion to National Cancer Institute, up $128 million from 2025, with $30 million for Childhood Cancer STAR Act and $50 million for Childhood Cancer Data Initiative.

• The U.S. Senate passed its 2026 spending bill containing multiple landmark pediatric cancer provisions, including the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act to advance combination therapy research and the Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act to streamline Medicaid provider approvals. • The bill allocates $7.35 billion for the National Cancer Institute (a $128 million increase from 2025), with $30 million designated for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and $50 million for the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, plus $12.6 million for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Program. • These provisions represent a significant recovery for the pediatric cancer community after 2025's devastating federal funding cuts, including removal of key provisions from the previous year's spending bill and a 15% cap on NIH grant indirect cost reimbursements.

Former Oldham East and Saddleworth MP remained in Westminster for New Labour’s entire 13 years in powerFormer Labour MP and minister Phil Woolas has died of brain cancer, his family and close friends announced on Saturday morning.Woolas, 66, was elected to parliament to represent Oldham East and Saddleworth as part of Labour’s landslide victory in the 1997 general election, and remained in Westminster for New Labour’s entire 13-year stretch in power. Continue reading...

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, with the CDC identifying colorectal cancer as the third most common cancer for both men and women in the United States. Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian Julia Zumpano emphasized that a healthy, diverse microbiome reduces inflammation, which is linked to increased colorectal cancer risk, and recommended dietary changes including high-fiber foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes alongside fermented and probiotic foods such as yogurt and kimchi. In addition to dietary modifications, regular physical activity has been shown to reduce colorectal cancer risk, though individuals experiencing persistent gastrointestinal symptoms should seek medical attention. The preventive approach focuses on gradual lifestyle transitions rather than overwhelming dietary overhauls.

Colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death for adults under 50 in the United States, yet a national survey by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance reveals only half of Americans know about convenient at-home screening options available to them. The survey found that nearly one-third of all Americans and almost half of adults under 45 reported doctors dismissing their stomach or bowel symptoms, indicating potential gaps in clinical recognition of warning signs in younger populations. More than one-quarter of adults don't follow through with recommended screening, with cost, fear, and lack of knowledge cited as primary barriers, though over 60 percent of respondents indicated they would pursue screening with better understanding of personal risk factors. March has been designated National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to address these critical knowledge gaps and encourage adoption of accessible screening methods.

A Colorectal Cancer Alliance survey finds only 50% of US adults know about at-home colorectal cancer screenings, contributing to it becoming the leading cancer killer for those under 50 with rising death rates. One-third of Americans, and nearly half under 45, report doctors dismissing stomach or bowel symptoms, while over 25% skip recommended screenings due to cost, fear, or lack of knowledge. More than 60% would screen if better informed of personal risk, prompting calls for awareness during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The nonprofit urges action to reverse trends where colorectal cancer deaths climb unlike most others.