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
Illustration of DNA with green wrench making adjustments to a nut on the double helix.
Science Byte
A Clean Break: Scientists Make Surprising Discoveries about DNA Repair

A study reveals unexpected insights into how cells prepare broken DNA strands to be rejoined, preventing mutations that can cause cancer.
Image of As, Ts, Cs, and Gs representing genetic code
Announcement
AACR Project GENIE Seeks to Advance Cancer Treatment

Eight leading cancer centers are coming together to share genomic sequencing data, in the hope of making faster progress in curing cancer.
PET/CT scan of mouse prostate (displayed in green and orange).
In the Lab
More Precise Imaging of Prostate Cancer Could Give Insight into Drug Effectiveness

An antibody that targets a protein specific to prostate cells can be used to image prostate cancer more clearly and indicate how well drugs are working.
Image of fireball-type explosion on black background.
In the Lab
Researchers Gain Insight into How a Drug Fires Up an Immune Response to Cancer

Scientists have learned that a drug activates a form of highly inflammatory programmed cell death called pyroptosis — a discovery that sheds light on immune function.
Surgeon in scrubs operating on patient.
In the Clinic
Study Findings Could Help Women Make Decisions about Breast Cancer Surgery

Women who have reconstructive surgery after mastectomy and radiation for breast cancer are usually more satisfied with the results when their own tissue is used instead of implants.
Acute myeloid leukemia cells
Finding
Targeting Leukemia: Understanding How Cancer Cells Resist the Effects of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a common treatment for acute myeloid leukemia, but patients often stop responding. Until now, not much was known about why.
Pouring white wine into a glass
Feature
White Wine and Melanoma: Does Drinking Alcohol Increase Your Cancer Risk?

Hear from our experts about a new study linking alcohol consumption and melanoma risk.
Bees in a hive
In the Lab
Communal Behavior within Cells Makes Cancers Easier to Target

Findings about proteins called molecular chaperones are shedding new light on possible approaches to cancer treatment.
Chau Dang
Q&A
What You Should Know about Metastatic Breast Cancer

Medical oncologist Chau Dang explains that patients living with metastatic breast cancer have more treatment options than ever before.
Cell Therapy and Cell Engineering Facility
Snapshot
T Cell Attack: Taking Down Cancer with Immunotherapy

MSK physician-scientist Prasad Adusumilli is focused on developing more-effective immunotherapy approaches for treating tumors in the chest.