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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379 News Items found
A cell in the process of dividing
In the Lab
New Study Shows How Wayward Chromosomes Get Back on Track

MSK researchers are learning how cells are able to recognize and correct errors that occur during cell division.
An illustration of CRISPR-Cas9
In the Lab
A Cut Above: MSK-Developed Software Makes CRISPR More Precise

A freely accessible software program provides researchers with an easy way to optimize a popular genome-editing tool.
Image of liver with tumors
In the Clinic
Pumped Up: Implanted Chemotherapy Device Improves Survival when Colorectal Cancer Spreads to the Liver

A retrospective study from MSK has found that colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases live an average of two years longer when they receive an additional treatment called hepatic arterial infusion (HAI).
photo of blood vials
Finding
Blood Will Tell: Scientists Find Clues to Immunotherapy Responders and Non-Responders

Why do some patients respond to immunotherapy while others do not? Blood may hold the answer.
immune cells
Finding
#AACR17: Study Explores Best Time to Give CAR T Cell Therapy

Leukemia patients may do better on CAR T cell therapy when they are treated early, before their disease relapses.
David Hyman and Robin Gillespie
Finding
#AACR17: Basket Trial for Experimental Drug Shows Promising Early Results

Neratinib, which targets mutations that drive cancer growth, is showing promise for treating several types of cancer.
Illustration of breast encompassing blue normal cells and red cancer cells.
Finding
A Missing Link Revealed: Researchers Gain Insight into Breast Cancer Drug Resistance

Researchers find an epigenetic role in how breast cancer tumors develop resistance to treatment.
Illustration of intestinal tract with magnifying glass held over it revealing various microbes.
In the Clinic
Intestinal Bacteria May Affect Risk of Cancer Returning after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Learn how a patient’s intestinal bacteria may influence the risk of cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma returning after bone marrow transplantation.
Wearable device on woman’s arm with labels indicating beams going into nanotubes and coming back out for analysis.
In the Lab
Detective Work: How Implantable Nanosensors Could Monitor Cancer Activity

Learn how tiny sensors made of nanotubes could serve as implantable devices that offer a noninvasive way to monitor cancer and its treatments.
Molecular biologist John Petrini of the Sloan Kettering Institute.
Feature
Understanding the DNA-Damage “First Responders”: John Petrini at Work

Scientists know that cancer can result from mistakes in DNA repair. But understanding what controls the repair process itself has been a hard nut to crack.