(NAPSI)—Good news: According to a recent report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), discoveries across basic, translational, and clinical research as well as population sciences are driving advances in cancer medicine and early detection, leading to a steady decline in the overall U.S. cancer death rate, and allowing more people to live longer and fuller lives after a cancer diagnosis.

From the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2025, here’s a look at some recent breakthroughs.

Between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 20 new anticancer therapeutics, including:

• the first T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapy, approved for patients with soft tissue sarcoma;
• a new therapeutic antibody targeting a novel protein on stomach cancer cells, which helps those with gastric or gastroesophageal cancer;
• the first IDH-targeted therapy for treating brain tumors, which is bringing new hope to young adult patients who have a mutation in this gene; and
• two new antibody-drug conjugates, both of which were approved to treat lung cancer and one that was also approved to treat breast cancer.

At the same time, FDA also approved:

• new uses for eight previously approved anticancer therapeutics;
• a wearable device that uses low-intensity electrical fields to slow the growth of lung cancer cells;
• two new minimally invasive early detection screening tests, including the first liquid biopsy test and a next-generation multitarget stool DNA test for colorectal cancer screening;
• a device for at-home sample collection for cervical cancer screening; and
• several AI-powered devices and software tools for aiding in cancer risk prediction, diagnosis, and early detection.

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(NAPSI)­—In most of the United States, respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID-19, RSV, and pneumococcal disease consistently show increased activity between October and March. That’s in part because during the fall and winter, people spend more time indoors and close to one another, making it easier for respiratory illnesses to spread.

These infectious diseases can cause more than just a few days of sickness or missed work. In some cases, they can disrupt your life, cause a financial burden, or even lead to complications such as long-term health issues or hospitalization—and infants, older adults and individuals with chronic health conditions are at higher risk for severe illness.

That’s why vaccination is an important step to help stay protected this fall. Getting vaccinated can mean the difference between a mild infection and a severe illness.

Respiratory Vaccines Help Protect You and Those You Love

Vaccination is the best protection—helping to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses in your community, especially to those most vulnerable.  Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—When it comes to federal spending, the majority of Americans want Congress to make increasing medical research funding a high priority.

A recent national poll conducted by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) found very high levels of support for federal funding for medical and cancer research across the electorate.

Highlights of the survey include:

• 89% of voters favor the federal government using taxpayer dollars to fund medical research to fight diseases and improve public health.
• 71% of voters think increasing federal funding for medical research should be a top congressional priority.
• 72% of voters who believe reducing the national debt and federal spending should be a top congressional priority also think increasing medical research funding should be a “high” or “highest” priority issue for Congress.
• 83% of voters, including 75% each of independents, Republicans, and MAGA supporters and 93% of Democrats, favor increasing federal funding for cancer research.
• Voters have high levels of confidence in cancer researchers and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to act in the best interests of the public. 71% of survey respondents express a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence in cancer researchers, while 65% express a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence in NCI.
• 77% of voters say they would feel more favorable toward their congressional representative if he or she voted to increase federal funding for cancer research over the next decade.

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(Diane Mulligan)  – Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is among the most aggressive, deadliest forms of lung cancer, yet it’s still too often overlooked. For decades, treatment options were limited, offering little hope to those diagnosed with SCLC, until now.

In 2013, Congress passed legislation that mandated the National Cancer Institute create a scientific plan for treating patients with less than a 50% chance of surviving 5 years. This included SCLC. With this focus on research, SCLC, once considered a hopeless diagnosis because of its swift spread and resistance to standard treatment, is now seeing real momentum. Breakthrough research has increased the number of treatment options by 67% giving doctors new tools and patients new reasons to hope.

Because of research, treatments like the recently FDA-approved Tarlatamab belong to a class of drugs called bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), which harness the immune system to combat cancer. Another treatment, Lurbinectedin, slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body.  There are also next-generation approaches, such as CAR T-cell therapy and antibody-drug conjugates, and many others, now in clinical trials. Clinical trials, once a last resort, are rapidly becoming a front door to tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

Early detection is critical. Screening is the best way to find SCLC early. Continue reading →