National Cancer Institute

09/07/2026

Register now for the annual Technology Showcase, hosted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research on September 9: https://heyor.ca/Zt2FUr This event brings together scientists, entrepreneurs, industry stakeholders and partners to explore technologies and capabilities available for licensing and collaboration. Whether you’re looking to commercialize biomedical innovation, discover new partnership opportunities or connect with leaders across the research and entrepreneurship community, the Technology Showcase is a can’t-miss event.

The 2026 Technology Showcase is an event for potential and current industry partners that highlights how they can and do work with the National Cancer Institute and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research.

09/07/2026

“THIS is big news.” Hear NCI Director Dr. Tony Letai’s personal take on the release of the first cancer treatment breakthrough targeting RAS. Daraxonrasib, recently approved by the FDA, was designed to treat metastatic pancreatic cancer and has the potential for an even wider range of uses in the future.

09/04/2026

For Olivia, who was first diagnosed with brain cancer 13 years ago, participating in an NCI-funded clinical trial gave her an opportunity to explore new treatment options while continuing to work, travel, and lead a relatively normal life. Read her story: https://go.nih.gov/Cqe13K5

09/03/2026

Each fiscal year, NCI is required to prepare for the President and Congress its best professional judgment on the optimum funding needed to make the most rapid progress against cancer.

Virtually every major cancer breakthrough since the signing of the National Cancer Act
of 1971 has its origins at the NCI, and steady funding increases are needed to pursue promising research opportunities. Read more in NCI's Professional Judgment Budget Proposal: https://go.nih.gov/X0sylzy

09/02/2026

Today, NCI is sharing its Professional Judgment Budget Proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2028. It outlines the investments needed to pursue the nation’s most promising scientific opportunities in cancer research.

Whether it's harnessing the power of AI to accelerate research, expanding health screenings to communities experiencing the highest rates of cancer, or streamlining clinical trial activation to help patients access new therapies faster, patients are always at the core of NCI's mission. This budget proposal emphasizes the impact of sustained investment in NCI research.

Read the budget proposal here, including an opening message from NCI Director Dr. Anthony Letai: https://go.nih.gov/Wr391s8

09/01/2026

During this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we want to explore how an interoperable data ecosystem and innovative AI can improve outcomes for children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer.

We invite all advocates, clinicians, data scientists, and individuals working to accelerate progress in pediatric cancer to NCI’s 2026 Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) Symposium on Friday, September 18. During the symposium, we will highlight the foundational work CCDI has accomplished and explore opportunities to accelerate discovery and improve outcomes.

Register today: https://events.cancer.gov/nci/ccdisymposium/registration

08/31/2026

NCI joins the cancer community in mourning Dr. Harold P. Freeman (1933-2026), a pioneer who dedicated his career to ensuring that everyone could benefit from advances in cancer care.

In 1990, Dr. Freeman established the nation’s first patient navigation program in Harlem, helping people overcome barriers to timely cancer diagnosis and treatment. He later became the founding director of NCI’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, a critical area of NCI research today.

His work helped change cancer care—and his belief that progress must reach everyone continues to inspire our mission today.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the many people touched by his extraordinary life and work.

08/28/2026

Since 1975, NCI's Cancer Information Service has provided accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information that is easy to understand. The service is free and confidential.

NCI's trained information specialists provide personalized responses to a range of cancer topics, including the treatment of cancer.

Do you have a question about cancer? Call us at 1-800-4-CANCER, live chat with us online, or email us at [email protected]. We're here to help. https://www.cancer.gov/contact

08/27/2026

How could a tumor in the lung influence whether someone wants to eat? Recent research in mice suggests the answer may involve a direct line of communication between the lungs and the brain.

Researchers studying cancer cachexia—a serious condition that can cause loss of appetite, muscle, and fat—found that certain lung tumors produced inflammatory signals that activated sensory fibers of the vagus nerve. Those nerve fibers connect the lungs with the brain and appeared to help suppress eating. When researchers interfered with parts of this pathway, the mice returned to more normal feeding behavior.

Understanding this tumor–nerve connection could eventually help researchers identify new approaches to supporting nutrition and quality of life for people with cancer. Learn more:

Researchers found that a high-fat diet in mice amplifies nerve signals between certain lung cancers and the brain, leading to reduced appetite and weight loss.

08/26/2026

The questions people ask at the end of life reveal where our health care system needs to listen more closely. A new analysis of more than 81,000 inquiries to NCI’s Cancer Information Service found that 2,333 focused on end-of-life concerns—and 90% of those came from caregivers. Questions frequently connected palliative care and hospice with finding health care services, cancer treatment, coping, and clinical trials.

These findings suggest that patients and families often need several kinds of information at once, rather than answers to a single question in isolation. Better support may mean anticipating those overlapping needs and making information and navigation easier to access—particularly for caregivers. Learn more: https://go.nih.gov/xNfBRzN