Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research discovered that molecular changes in lung tissue can trigger breast cancer cells to 'reawaken' and form secondary tumors. They found that blocking PDGF-C activity with an existing cancer growth blocker could help prevent this, offering a potential strategy to defuse these 'time bombs'. Th...
A major new study in the journal Nature reveals a 'traffic light' mechanism controlling genetic activity within cells. The research describes how epigenetic changes act as a stop-go signal determining whether a gene should be read, and how this system could potentially be targeted by cancer drugs already in development.
Scientists have discovered that cancer cells can manipulate their size to resist treatment, with smaller cells potentially more vulnerable to DNA-damaging agents and larger cells responding better to immunotherapy. This study provides new insight into how cell size affects disease and may lead to new treatment strategies.
Scientists have uncovered the inner workings of tankyrase, a protein that fuels bowel cancer growth, using cutting-edge electron microscopy. This discovery paves the way for more precise and less toxic cancer drugs, which could also benefit other diseases like diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
A study found that non-coding 'junk' DNA can get in the way of genome replication, potentially allowing mutations to accumulate. The researchers believe repetitive patterns of DNA sequences could trigger a damage response signal indicating errors in DNA replication have occurred and require repair.
Researchers have discovered a key protein regulating pancreatic cancer cell growth and spread, which can be manipulated to reverse the process. Boosting levels of GREM1 has been shown to turn back aggressive tumours, making them easier to treat.
A combination of five existing drugs, including bortezomib and lenalidomide, kept patients with ultra-high risk multiple myeloma alive longer than those who received standard care. The trial found that patients receiving the new five-drug cocktail had stable disease at 18 months compared to those in a previous study.
Research suggests that regular PSA testing from age 40 could detect life-threatening prostate cancer in men with genetic hallmarks of Lynch syndrome, increasing the chances of earlier diagnosis and treatment. Men with MSH2 gene faults were eight times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at a younger age.
A new study found that common gut bacteria can drive prostate cancer growth and treatment resistance by providing an alternative source of growth-promoting androgens. Researchers identified specific bacterial 'fingerprints' linked to prostate cancer outcome, which could help identify men who could benefit from strategies to manipulate ...
A new study has revealed key genetic changes underlying rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. The findings link specific genetic changes to aggressiveness, early age of onset, and location in the body, which can affect treatment outcomes.
Researchers identified a new class of POLQ inhibitors that specifically kill cancer cells with mutations in the BRCA genes while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The drugs show promise in treating cancers such as breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer with BRCA mutations.
Cancers resistant to radiotherapy may be rendered susceptible through immunotherapy treatment, according to a new study. The research found that profiling the immune landscape of cancers before therapy can identify patients who are likely to respond well or poorly to radiotherapy.
A new type of ultrasound scan, shear wave elastography, has been shown to detect residual cancerous tissue in the brain more sensitively than traditional methods. The technique, which measures tissue stiffness and stretchiness, could improve surgical outcomes and reduce the risk of tumor recurrence.
A new ATR inhibitor, BAY1895344, showed promising clinical benefits in a phase I trial for patients with advanced solid tumours and defects in genes that coordinate DNA repair. The drug was well-tolerated and stopped tumour growth in over half of patients.
A major trial shows olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, is more effective than modern hormone treatments in slowing down prostate cancer growth and spread. Patients with genetic alterations in DNA repair genes who received olaparib had a median overall survival of 19.1 months.
Researchers found a combination of olaparib and capivasertib to be effective against advanced cancers, including those that stopped responding to chemotherapy. The treatment targets two weaknesses in cancer, DNA repair and AKT addiction, offering new hope for patients with drug-resistant cancer.
A major clinical trial found that a blood test can reliably match women with advanced breast cancer to effective targeted treatments by tracking disease evolution and mutations. The plasmaMATCH trial showed promising results, validating the use of liquid biopsies in routine care for patients with rare subtypes of breast cancer.
A new study found that delays in cancer diagnosis due to the pandemic could result in more than 1,000 excess deaths in England. The researchers suggest prioritizing certain tumor types and ramping up diagnostic capacity to mitigate the impact of these delays.
A 10-year study found that radiotherapy in five larger doses, rather than daily doses, is equally effective and safe in the long term. This approach benefits patients with low risk of relapse who cannot tolerate daily radiation due to frailty or chronic conditions.
A comprehensive study of lung cancer in non-smokers found that the disease is biologically distinct from smoking-related cases. Genetic changes vary depending on age and sex, with young women showing particular patterns that drive aggressive cancer progression.
A new study suggests that a type of MRI scan used for heart disease can also pick out aggressive cancers in children. The T1-mapping technique measures how water molecules interact inside cells, allowing clinicians to understand the cellular make-up of tissue and spot early signs of treatment effectiveness.
A new class of precision medicine targeting cancer's ability to repair its DNA has shown promising results, with half of patients experiencing tumor growth halt. The drug works by stopping cancers from repairing DNA damage and is particularly effective when combined with chemotherapy.
A UK-first pilot study has shown that genetic screening for prostate cancer can safely identify undiagnosed cases in approximately one-third of otherwise healthy men. The study involved testing for 130 DNA changes and found that population screening was effective at detecting new cancers in this high-risk group.
A new study by The Institute of Cancer Research reveals that delays in cancer surgery due to the Covid-19 pandemic could result in thousands of additional deaths. The modelling suggests that a three-month delay would lead to an additional 4,755 deaths and 92,214 years of life lost.
Scientists have created a dynamic database driven by AI to collect and analyze coronavirus research, identifying potential druggable sites and assessing treatment efficacy. The Coronavirus-CanSAR platform combines vast amounts of data on viral proteins, interactions with human proteins, and clinical trials.
A clinical trial found that a breast cancer drug called olaparib is more effective than targeted hormone therapy at keeping advanced prostate cancer in check. The study showed significant delays in disease progression for men with faulty DNA repair genes.
A new study found that babies and young children with brain tumours tend to have better outcomes due to specific genetic weaknesses that can be targeted by existing drugs. Clinical trials are set to open to test the benefit of these precision medicines, offering a potential first-line treatment for infant brain tumours.
Researchers discovered that a combination of small molecules and CHK1 inhibitors can boost cancer cell killing, even in cancers resistant to current treatments. Targeting B-family DNA polymerases also increased effectiveness.
A new genetic test can identify patients with multiple myeloma who are at 'ultra high risk' of their cancer progressing aggressively early on. These patients have poorer survival rates and are unlikely to benefit from lenalidomide alone, highlighting the need for alternative treatment approaches.
A new trial has found that chemotherapy after surgery significantly reduces the risk of rare kidney cancer returning. The treatment has been shown to increase survival rates by over half, with 71% of patients living cancer-free for three years or more.
A type of micro RNA known as MIR1249 plays a key role in allowing bile duct cancers to resist chemotherapy. The researchers hope that targeting this molecule could make chemotherapy more effective.
A new study creates personalized cancer vaccines that amplify the effects of immunotherapy, curing mice with treatment-resistant tumors. Researchers used a molecule called APOBEC3B to drive rapid genetic changes in cancer cells, creating unique signatures vulnerable to immune checkpoint blockade.
Researchers found that highly innovative cancer drugs took 3.2 years longer to reach NHS patients than low-innovation treatments, highlighting a need for streamlined regulations and incentives for innovation. The study suggests that initiatives to prioritize the most innovative drugs have yet to be effective.
A new clinical trial has shown that giving men one cycle of chemotherapy is as effective at preventing testicular cancer from coming back as two cycles. This reduction in chemotherapy dosage lowered debilitating side effects, improving patients' quality of life.
A clinical trial found that olaparib slowed or stopped tumour growth in men with advanced prostate cancer and BRCA mutations, with a median overall survival of 17.7 months. The study suggests that PARP inhibitors could become the first gene-targeted drug to be approved for prostate cancer.
A new report recommends that researchers use expert reviews and computational Big Data approaches to select high-quality chemical probes. The report highlights the value of resources like the Chemical Probes Portal, which provides assessments on 192 chemical probes for 181 different proteins of interest.
A phase II clinical trial found that a small proportion of men with end-stage prostate cancer responded to pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy treatment, and lived for two years or more. The study identified a group of patients with DNA repair gene mutations who responded particularly well to the treatment.
A non-invasive imaging technique can assess tumor stiffness, providing valuable diagnostic information about breast and pancreatic tumors. The technique, magnetic resonance elastography, may help select the best treatment course for some cancer patients.
A new type of drug that blocks one of cancer's key evolutionary escape routes from chemotherapy has been shown to reinvigorate the response to chemotherapy in cancers that had become resistant. The drug, BOS172722, works by forcing cancer cells through cell division too quickly, leading to fatal errors.
A new study shows that a reduced diversity of gut bacteria is associated with an increased risk of radiotherapy-induced gut damage. Patients at higher risk can be identified before radiotherapy, potentially benefiting from faecal transplants or altered radiation doses.
A modern chemotherapy drug is more effective against advanced prostate cancer than a second targeted hormone therapy, with cabazitaxel extending men's lives by an average of 3 months. The study suggests that cancer's lethal ability to develop drug resistance affects treatment response across precision medicines.
A phase III trial found that olaparib significantly delayed disease progression by about four months compared to enzalutamide and abiraterone, resulting in a 66 per cent greater delay. The study highlighted the importance of genomic testing in prostate cancer patients.
Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research have discovered the three-dimensional structure and function of the 'mix n match' protein DHX8, which helps control a process linked to cancer progression and drug resistance. This study opens up a potentially exciting new way to tackle drug-resistant cancers.
Researchers used artificial intelligence to identify five new types of breast cancer with distinct patterns of response to treatment, including two that are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy. The study aims to personalize treatment for women with breast cancer by selecting patients for different drugs in clinical trials.
A gene test can identify prostate cancer patients who are likely to respond to a new type of treatment that uses radioactive particles to kill cancer cells. The test detects genetic weaknesses in DNA repair genes, which is linked to high levels of PSMA on the surface of cancer cells.
A new study found that combining targeted drugs palbociclib and crizotinib is significantly more effective against cancer cells in the laboratory than either drug used alone. The combination approach may broaden the clinical use of palbociclib beyond breast cancer to include other tumour types.
Researchers found that immune cells were six times more active in tumours resistant to cetuximab. Immunotherapies designed to boost the immune system could be effective against these cancers. A phase II clinical trial has begun to test this approach.
Researchers found that cancer cells respond differently to targeted drugs based on tumour type and genetic weaknesses. The study suggests rethinking precision medicine and designing clinical trials with both gene faults and tumour type in mind.
A new clinical trial has successfully treated women with HER2-positive breast cancer who have no other treatment options by combining Herceptin with chemotherapy. The two-in-one treatment extended life for patients with high and low levels of the HER2 protein, offering a promising solution to drug resistance.
A new clinical trial shows that immunotherapy pembrolizumab is more effective than standard aggressive chemotherapy in treating people with recurrent head and neck cancer. The combination of pembrolizumab with platinum chemotherapy extended survival by 3.7 months, while the immunotherapy alone showed improved survival rates compared to...