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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378 News Items found
Bacteroides bacteria under the microscope
In the Lab
Research Uncovers Details about How Gut Microbes Influence the Immune System

Investigators have shown how gut microbes promote the formation of a type of immune cell called regulatory T cells.
Cancer biologist Scott Lowe
In the Lab
Drug Combination Could Boost the Effectiveness of Immunotherapy against Pancreatic Cancer

Studies conducted in mice reveal a potential way to breach the defenses of pancreatic cancer tumors.
The latest results come from a team of MSK physicians and scientists (from left to right): Bob Li, Hai-Yan Tu, Mackenzie Myers, Flavia Michelini, Emiliano Cocco, Sandra Misale, and Maurizio Scaltriti
In the Clinic
Back-to-Back Studies Support the Use of HER2-Targeted Therapies in Multiple Cancers

Results from a clinical trial and animal studies provide support for targeting the HER2 protein in multiple cancer types.
blood tube laying atop DNA sequence
In the Clinic
Liquid Biopsy Can Guide Treatment for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer

By identifying mutations found in a person’s cancer, this blood test can help doctors tailor treatments to those most likely to benefit.
black and white image of cells under a microscope
In the Lab
Researchers Discover Stem Cells That May Drive Aggressive Behavior in Glioblastoma

Researchers have discovered uncanny similarities between cells found in brain tumors and a type of stem cell that’s important for building the brain during fetal development.
Surgeon-scientist Vinod Balachandran
In the Lab
What’s Next in Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer? New Immune Cell Type May Be Key

Researchers find a potential new route to making immunotherapy work better in pancreatic cancers and possibly others.
An illustration of lung develop alongside tumor evolution
In the Lab
Shape-Shifting Stem Cells Are Key to Cancer Metastasis and Immune Evasion

By assuming primitive regenerative identities, cancer cells gain the adaptability they need to establish tumors in new parts of the body.
A female nurse talks with a female patient, who is sitting in an exam chair
Feature
A Decade of Progress in Cancer Care, and What’s Next

Advances in diagnosis and treatment, especially those made over the past ten years, have played a significant role in the decline in cancer deaths. Learn about those advances — and what to expect in the next ten years.
The human papillomavirus (HPV)
Finding
Cancers Caused by HPV Respond Better to Treatment — a New Study Helps Explain Why

According to Memorial Sloan Kettering scientists, it has to do with what the virus does to a cell’s DNA repair machinery.
Albert Kuchler discussing his treatment results with MSK oncologist Bob Li at a recent clinic visit.
Feature
For People with a Rare Mouth Cancer, a Targeted Drug Can Be Lifesaving

The drug targets a protein called HER2 found on some salivary gland tumors.