Recent MSK Discoveries & Advances

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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385 News Items found
An illustration of two teapots with liquid flowing into various cups
In the Lab
How Stem Cells Decide Their Fate

Research in blood stem cells has revealed new information about how these cells decide what to become when they divide.
An illustration of proteins serving as bar-code-reading drones
In the Lab
“Molecular Origami” Enables Proteins to Serve as Specialized Delivery Vehicles, Study Finds

Scientists at the Sloan Kettering Institute have identified a fundamentally new type of protein-sorting system in cells.
Cancer biologist and pediatric oncologist Alex Kentsis
In the Lab
Analyzing Urine Can Guide the Treatment of Childhood Kidney Tumors

A protein detected in the urine of children with Wilms’ tumor led to the development of a test to improve diagnosis and treatment.
An illustration of sugar pouring onto NRF2
Finding
Sugar Directly Controls a Cancer-Causing Protein, Scientists Find

The discovery suggests a potential new treatment approach for certain cancers.
Medical oncologist William Tap
In the Clinic
FDA Approves Pexidartinib, a Targeted Therapy for a Tumor of the Joints

Pexidartinib is the first drug approved specifically to treat tenosynovial giant cell tumor.
Doctor and patient
In the Clinic
Study Asks: Are Women Missing Out on BRCA Testing?

Results from a study of women with breast and ovarian cancer show surprisingly low rates of genetic testing.
Thomas Fuchs
In the Lab
Researchers Report Milestone in Use of Artificial Intelligence in Pathology

MSK researchers developed an artificial intelligence system to detect cancer on digitized microscope slides.
Computational biologist Barry Taylor
Finding
Whether a BRCA Mutation Leads to Cancer Depends on Context, Study Finds

Sometimes a BRCA mutation is just along for the ride, rather than driving a tumor’s development.
Old man lying in hospital bed being spoken to by nurse
Q&A
Keeping Patients out of the Hospital: MSK Geriatrics Specialist Explains the Keys to Caring for Older People with Cancer

An MSK geriatrician discusses the importance of helping older people with cancer manage their treatment and symptoms.
Molecular image with target symbol
In the Lab
Scientists Develop a Tool to Watch a Single Gene Being Transcribed in a Living Cell

A new imaging technology developed at MSK allows researchers to focus on genes as they are copied into messenger RNA.