Recent MSK Discoveries & Advances

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Recent MSK Discoveries & Advances

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Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers are relentlessly exploring every aspect of cancer — from basic investigations of cells and molecules to clinical trials of new treatments and population-wide studies of the disease. While our core mission is to translate this knowledge into new strategies to control cancer, many of our investigators are also making scientific progress against other diseases and conditions.

Below are some examples of discoveries and advances that recently were made in our laboratories and clinics, and featured in our news stories.

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375 News Items found
Andrea Schietinger
Better Together: Spatial Arrangement of Three Immune Cells Is Key to Attacking Tumors

In order for immune cells to effectively kill cancer cells, a triad of three cells are necessary — a dendritic cell, a cytotoxic “killer” T cell, and a helper T cell, researchers at MSK and Baylor College of Medicine have found. The discovery could alter the way doctors administer immunotherapies.
Ellen Horste
From Basic Science to Biotech: One MSK Alum’s Journey

Learn how GSK graduate Dr. Ellen Horste’s time investigating fundamental biological questions prepared her for a career in the emerging field of gene therapy.
Pancreatic cancer cells
MSK Discovery Suggests Opportunity to Improve Effectiveness of KRAS Inhibitors Against Pancreatic Cancer

MSK researchers have discovered a new mechanism of resistance to KRAS inhibitors that suggests an opportunity to make the treatment more effective.
detail shot of specimen slides
MSK Research Highlights, July 8, 2024

New MSK research developed a deep-learning model designed to aid challenging cancer diagnoses; identified key regulators of infection-clearing immune cells; and shed new light on the mechanical forces exerted by immune cells.
Feature
MSK melanoma expert James Smithy, MD
New Treatments Improving Prognosis for Stage 4 Melanoma Patients

Researchers at MSK have been at the forefront of developing new treatments for advanced melanoma for many years. Learn more about the latest therapies.
A researcher pipettes in the lab
MSK Research Highlights, June 25, 2024

New MSK research helped develop a machine-learning tool to help find cancer cells that remain after surgery; led to FDA approval for CAR T cell therapy against mantle cell lymphoma; tested a liquid biopsy approach that shows promise in detecting lung cancer; found checkpoint inhibitors were effective against endometrial and ovarian cancers with DNA-repair deficiency; and shed new light on mTOR's role in metabolic enzyme degradation.
Joseph Sun and Rebecca Delconte
Fasting Primes the Immune System’s Natural Killer Cells to Better Fight Cancer, New Study in Mice Finds

Animal model research from MSK has shown for the first time that fasting can reprogram the metabolism of natural killer cells, helping them to survive in the harsh environment in and around tumors, while also improving their cancer-fighting ability.
In the Clinic
MSK radiation oncologist Nancy Lee
Avoiding Surgery for HPV Throat Cancer May Be Possible for More Patients

Learn how HPV-related head and neck cancer can be treated with a sharply reduced radiation dose to prevent side effects, sometimes without surgery.
MSK physician-scientist Vinod Balachandran.
Investigational mRNA Vaccine Induced Persistent Immune Response in Phase 1 Trial of Patients With Pancreatic Cancer

Learn how MSK researchers are deploying mRNA vaccines against pancreatic cancer.
In the Clinic
MSK radiation oncologist and neuroblastoma expert Suzanne Wolden with a patient
Reduced Radiation for Neuroblastoma Could Lessen Children’s Side Effects Later

Learn how MSK doctors are exploring the use of less radiation in neuroblastoma treatment so children can avoid side effects.