A large multicenter study examined circulating tumor cells in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, showing their predictive value for survival and cancer progression. Patients with fewer than 3 CTCs had superior median survival times compared to those with detectable CTCs.
A phase III clinical study shows temsirolimus improves overall survival in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma compared to standard treatment interferon. The treatment was also better tolerated, with fewer severe side effects.
Breast cancer researchers identified the CEACAM6 gene as a unique mediator of aggressiveness and spread in AI-resistant breast cancer cells. The study suggests CEACAM6 may be an important biomarker for metastasis, making it a potential target for novel treatments.
A new protein-targeted drug, MCP110, has been found to have a synergistic effect when combined with current chemotherapy drugs like taxanes and vinca-alkaloid compounds. This combination improves the efficacy of systemic treatment for human lung and colon cancer cells.
A study of SEER-Medicare records found that surgery or radiation therapy for early-stage prostate cancer increased lifespan in men between 65 and 80 years old. Treatment was associated with a 30% lower risk of death compared to observation, even for elderly men with low-risk disease.
A new study found that a shortened radiation course for early-stage breast cancer is safe and effective, reducing treatment time by up to two weeks while maintaining similar side effects. Women reported mild pain and high satisfaction with cosmetic results.
A study found that women with more than four positive lymph nodes are four times more likely to develop lymphedema when treated with a boost, despite similar risks of nodal recurrences. The increased risk may outweigh the benefits of receiving an extra dose of radiation.
A new study suggests that a rapidly rising PSA level before treatment is a key indicator of cancer spread in men with clinically localized prostate cancer. The study found that men with a high PSA velocity (PSAV) are at greater risk of metastatic disease and should receive hormone therapy in addition to radiation.
Researchers found a correlation between high COX-2 intensity scores and increased risk of biochemical failure and distant metastasis. The study suggests that inhibiting COX-2 expression may make prostate cancer more responsive to radiation therapy.
A new classification system, called the Phoenix definition, provides a better evaluation method for predicting patient outcomes in recurrent prostate cancer. The study demonstrates significant improvement in predicting endpoints such as distant metastasis and overall mortality.
A large-scale study involving over 7,500 men with prostate cancer has concluded that a rise in PSA levels after treatment, known as PSA bounce, does not impact overall survival. The study found no statistical difference in survival rates between patients who experienced a bounce and those who did not.
A study found that MammoSite Brachytherapy does not always deliver lower doses of radiation to the heart during treatment of left-sided breast cancers compared to IMRT. The researchers analyzed data from 101 women with left-sided breast tumors treated with IMRT and found that in some patients, IMRT confers less radiation to the heart.
Patients treated with IMRT had significantly fewer moderate and serious side effects, including urethral stricture and catheterization, compared to those who received I-125 seed brachytherapy. The study found excellent PSA outcomes after treatment in both groups.
A new cost-benefit analysis suggests that the most expensive combination cancer treatment may actually be the most cost-effective in the long run. The study found that patients who received induction chemotherapy and radiation therapy had better outcomes and saved money on treating complications and recurrences.
The study found that men with aggressive locally advanced prostate cancer who received additional hormones lived longer, with a 31.9% increase in survival compared to those without further hormone therapy. The benefits also extended to men with less aggressive cancers, with improved disease-free and disease-specific survival rates.
Researchers found that higher doses of 74-82 Gray radiation significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer spreading to other parts of the body, even 8-10 years after treatment. Treatment centers using IMRT or 3D conformal radiation therapy with high doses can prevent cancer spread.
A retrospective study found that three-dimensional treatment planning reduced feeding tube dependency in 62% of patients. Higher T stages and two-dimensional treatment planning were independent predictors of feeding tube dependency.
New research reveals men treated with IMRT experience fewer long-term gastrointestinal side effects, despite higher radiation doses. The study found no significant difference in genitourinary side effects between the two treatments.
V. Craig Jordan's research has led to breast cancer prevention drugs like tamoxifen and raloxifene; the new grant aims to develop a treatment model to reverse resistance to anti-estrogen therapy, facilitating access to new breast cancer therapeutic drugs.
A collaborative study successfully applied neutrons to locate hydrogen atoms in proteins, revealing how water molecules interact with proteins and influencing their function. The research demonstrates potential for understanding hydrogen-atom transfer processes in large biological systems.
A new study by Fox Chase Cancer Center reveals specific defects in RNA translation underlie a progressive disease called dyskeratosis congenita, linked to anemia, immune deficiency, cancer, and premature aging. The research highlights the importance of proteomic analysis and potential therapeutic targets for developing treatments.
Researchers have developed a new technique called biochemical suppression to identify protein targets for small molecule inhibitors. This method allows for rapid identification of multiple components of complex biological systems, such as cancer cell spread.
A large population-based study found that older men with early prostate cancer who received radiation therapy or surgery lived significantly longer than those who were observed. The study, which examined over 48,000 men between 65 and 80 years old, demonstrated a survival advantage for treatment over observation.
A laboratory study demonstrates that breast cancer cells die when re-introduced to estrogen after becoming resistant to tamoxifen and other estrogen inhibition drugs. This finding has important clinical implications for long-term therapy with aromatase inhibitors, suggesting a new strategy for treating treatment-resistant breast cancer.
A clinical trial has found that a new treatment regimen combining radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy significantly increases the probability of survival for patients with recurrent squamous-cell head and neck cancer. The study showed improved one-year and two-year survival rates compared to standard chemotherapy treatment, ...
A recent study found that single men with bone metastases are less likely to seek multiple radiation treatments, potentially due to lack of social support. The study suggests clinicians should be sensitive to the greater likelihood of negative outcomes in single male patients.
Researchers have identified a strong biomarker, MDM2, that predicts more aggressive forms of prostate cancer. This overexpression is associated with an increased chance of metastasis and death from the disease.
A study by Fox Chase Cancer Center found no significant impact of type II diabetes on the initial profile or treatment outcomes of prostate cancer. However, men with type II diabetes experienced significantly worse long-term overall survival rates compared to those without diabetes.
A Fox Chase study found that men with a history of TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) and an intermediate PSA level are at higher risk for prostate cancer recurrence. This misleads doctors about disease extent, potentially leading to less aggressive treatment.
A new study published in Fox Chase Cancer Center found that sequential sequencing of radiation and tamoxifen after lumpectomy significantly improves cosmetic outcomes for women with early-stage breast cancer. The study included 1,088 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy, and received adjuvant tamoxifen.
A new study from Fox Chase Cancer Center found that married breast cancer patients do not have different survival rates than unmarried women. However, younger women and those over 70 tend to fare worse despite similar disease characteristics and treatment factors. Age emerged as a significant predictor of relapse-free survival.
A randomized study of 471 women with T1-T2 invasive breast cancer found that those with high-risk factors may benefit from an aromatase inhibitor added to five years of tamoxifen. The study suggests a 1-2% clinical benefit, which is below the commonly used threshold of 3%.
Weakened T-cell receptor signals shift T-cell lineage towards the gamma-delta pathway, enabling immune surveillance against external disease-causing agents. Gamma-delta T cells appear particularly adept at combating skin cancers and may play a role in detecting potential cancers.
Researchers found prostate cancer in 45% of high-risk men, including those with low PSA levels. The study's findings challenge traditional screening guidelines and suggest more aggressive screening for these individuals.
A recent study at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that doctors and patients have differing perceptions of clinical trial participation. While both groups agree that clinical trials are crucial for improving cancer treatment, patients are more likely to cite fear of side effects as a barrier to participation.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that reducing BRCC36 expression by 80 percent increases the number of breast cancer cells killed by radiation. This discovery holds promise for future breast cancer treatments, targeting radiation-resistant cancer cells.
A study by Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers identified a subset of ovarian cancer patients who respond to Iressa, a targeted therapy. The team found that mutations in the EGFR tyrosine kinase portion of the receptor can make tumors more susceptible to the drug, potentially leading to improved treatment outcomes for some patients.
Researchers found that selenium metabolite methylseleninic acid (MSA) enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, providing a potential novel therapeutic strategy. The study suggests that the combination of TRAIL and MSA may be effective in targeting apoptosis-resistant forms of prostate cancer.
RAD001 targets mTOR enzyme in high-AKT activity ovarian cancer cells, arresting cell division and reducing angiogenesis. The treatment may be combined with chemotherapy to kill weakened cancer cells.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) induces permanent genetic changes in the mammary gland, which are related to its breast cancer prevention effect. The studies also showed that pregnancy and hCG inhibit breast cancer in rats.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have developed a non-invasive test to monitor kidney cancer patients by analyzing DNA methylation patterns in urine samples. The test, called methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), can detect even a few cancer cells among healthy cells with high specificity.
Researchers found that exposure to BPA and BBP altered gene expression in mammary tissues of young rats, increasing protein production with age. The study suggests these estrogens could contribute to breast cancer development.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified an immune-system mutation in mice that can help them understand how T cells specialize to do different jobs. The mutation, which affects the helper-deficient (HD) mice strain, was found to redirect immature T cells towards killer-cell pathways.
Researchers discovered three proteins, HIRA, ASF1a, and PML, that contribute to the formation of senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF), which silences genes promoting cell growth. This finding may lead to new cancer treatments and a better understanding of human aging.
A new study by Fox Chase Cancer Center finds that a shortened course of radiation therapy for women after lumpectomy may be a viable alternative to traditional six-week treatments. The four-week treatment schedule showed comparable skin toxicity levels to longer courses, with most side effects resolving within six weeks.
Researchers found that younger men and those with increased disease recurrence risk experience more frequent PSA bounces, but without additional treatment, their survival rates are comparable to those without a bounce. The large-scale study provides evidence that a PSA bounce may not automatically dictate hormone therapy.
A study published by Fox Chase Cancer Center found that obese women with early-stage breast cancer have a higher risk of death compared to their normal-weight peers. The research analyzed data from 2,010 patients and showed that obese women experienced a significantly lower overall survival rate and increased distant metastasis.
A study by Fox Chase Cancer Center found that prostate cancer patients with intermediate-risk disease do not require long-term androgen deprivation if they receive high-dose radiation above 76 Gy. High doses of radiation were associated with better outcomes in this patient group.
Researchers examined the effect of treatment delay on patients treated with external-beam radiation for prostate cancer. The study found that a delay within certain limits does not alter ultimate clinical outcome, but using hormone therapy during this time should be avoided in men with favorable risk factors.
A recent study published by Fox Chase Cancer Center found that patients who used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regularly before their diagnosis and treatment had improved overall survival rates. The research involved 1,206 men with localized prostate cancer and compared the outcomes of those who used NSAIDs regularly to...