Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, the National Cancer Institute’s Douglas R. Lowy, MD, and the NIH’s Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, summarized the agenda for the US government’s latest cancer research initiative (see IBO 2/15/16). Among the reasons that a new effort is needed at this time is technological progress and scientific insights that have redefined cancer as a genomic disease, such as the role of driver mutations. A new focus on the tumor microenvironment, including stromal and immune cells, is also occurring. Other forces include bioinformatics for modeling cancer as well as development of immunotherapies. A research plan for the initiative will be submitted to the National Cancer Advisory Board by the end of the year. Research opportunities could include cancer vaccines, early cancer detection, single-cell genomic analysis, cancer immunotherapy, pediatric cancer, data sharing and formation of the Exceptional Opportunities in Cancer Research Funds to pursue new approaches. The initiative also aims to increase researcher collaboration and community engagement.

Source: New England Journal of Medicine