diff --git a/scripts/importer/validateData.py b/scripts/importer/validateData.py
index 3747b0bd..079479ba 100755
--- a/scripts/importer/validateData.py
+++ b/scripts/importer/validateData.py
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@
 DEFINED_SAMPLE_IDS = None
 DEFINED_SAMPLE_ATTRIBUTES = None
 PATIENTS_WITH_SAMPLES = None
-DEFINED_CANCER_TYPES = None
 mutation_sample_ids = None
 mutation_file_sample_ids = set()
 sample_ids_panel_dict = {}
@@ -5388,7 +5387,6 @@ def validate_study(study_dir, portal_instance, logger, relaxed_mode, strict_maf_
             cancer_type_validators[0].validate()
             studydefined_cancer_types = (
                 cancer_type_validators[0].defined_cancer_types)
-    DEFINED_CANCER_TYPES = studydefined_cancer_types
 
     # next check the cancer type of the meta_study file
     if cbioportal_common.MetaFileTypes.STUDY not in validators_by_meta_type:
@@ -5396,7 +5394,7 @@ def validate_study(study_dir, portal_instance, logger, relaxed_mode, strict_maf_
         return
     if portal_instance.cancer_type_dict is not None and not (
                 study_cancer_type in portal_instance.cancer_type_dict or
-                study_cancer_type in DEFINED_CANCER_TYPES):
+                study_cancer_type in studydefined_cancer_types):
         logger.error(
             'Cancer type of study is neither known to the portal nor defined '
             'in a cancer_type file',
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests_validate_data.py b/tests/unit_tests_validate_data.py
index f583f7e6..3089d33b 100755
--- a/tests/unit_tests_validate_data.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests_validate_data.py
@@ -2297,12 +2297,10 @@ class StudyCompositionTestCase(LogBufferTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         """Store validateData globals changed by running validate_study()."""
         super(StudyCompositionTestCase, self).setUp()
-        self.orig_defined_cancer_types = validateData.DEFINED_CANCER_TYPES
         self.orig_defined_sample_ids = validateData.DEFINED_SAMPLE_IDS
 
     def tearDown(self):
         """Restore the environment to before setUp() was called."""
-        validateData.DEFINED_CANCER_TYPES = self.orig_defined_cancer_types
         validateData.DEFINED_SAMPLE_IDS = self.orig_defined_sample_ids
         super(StudyCompositionTestCase, self).tearDown()