Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered a protein that plays a role in the aging process, offering new hope for tackling age-related decline and neurodegenerative conditions. The protein, carbonic anhydrase, was found to be more active in middle-aged brains and reduced the life span of nematode worms.
The phase III KEYNOTE-024 trial found pembrolizumab significantly improved progression-free survival by approximately four months compared to chemotherapy, with 80% of patients alive at six months on pembrolizumab. The treatment was also associated with a higher overall response rate and lower adverse events.
The CheckMate 026 trial found that nivolumab did not improve progression-free survival over chemotherapy in patients with PD-L1 positive tumours. However, combination immunotherapies are being investigated to potentially increase the proportion of patients who benefit from treatment.
Nintedanib significantly improves median progression-free survival compared to placebo, with disease control improved by 26% compared to 11% in the placebo group. However, overall survival did not differ between the two groups.
The OAK study found a 27% improvement in overall survival for patients treated with atezolizumab compared to docetaxel, regardless of PD-L1 expression levels. This benefit was seen across different tumor histologies and even among patients with no PD-L1 expression.
Harvard researchers have developed a new technique to produce tunable nanofibers, which could lead to stronger, more durable bulletproof vests and more robust cellular scaffolding for tissue repair. The method uses immersion Rotary Jet-Spinning (iRJS) to create fibers with controlled diameter and morphology.
In the ASCEND-5 study, ceritinib significantly improved progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harbouring an ALK rearrangement. The primary endpoint was a median progression-free survival of 5.4 months with ceritinib versus 1.6 months with chemotherapy.
The CheckMate 141 trial found that nivolumab maintained or improved function and reduced symptoms in patients with relapsed metastatic head and neck cancer. In contrast, standard chemotherapy resulted in worse scores. Nivolumab's superior clinical activity also suggests fewer side effects, leading to a better quality of life for patients.
In a phase III trial, nivolumab showed improved patient-reported outcomes, including reduced symptoms and maintained functional capacity, compared to standard chemotherapy. The study found that nivolumab not only prolongs life but also improves quality of life.
A phase III clinical trial found that nivolumab significantly extended life among patients with relapsed head and neck cancer without worsening quality of life. The treatment also showed fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy, with only 13% of patients experiencing serious side-effects.
A new review found potential health benefits of phytoestrogens, including reduced menopausal symptoms and lowered risks of cardiovascular disease. However, the potential negative health effects, such as infertility and increased cancer risks, must be considered, and individual factors like age and gut bacteria may influence outcomes.
Researchers observed a significantly greater objective response rate (55% vs. 29%) in patients who received pembrolizumab as well as chemotherapy, compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone. Participants also experienced an improved progression-free survival (median 13.0 months vs. 8.9 months) in the pembrolizumab arm.
The ASCEND-5 study showed ceritinib significantly improved progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy in crizotinib-pre-treated patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harbouring an ALK rearrangement. Ceritinib also increased overall response rate, but did not improve overall survival.