Researchers found that adding retinoic acid to standard-of-care treatment for melanoma can turn off myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that resist immune treatments, leading to increased immune system activity. The study showed a safe and promising strategy to target MDSCs, which could be a useful addition to immunotherapies for ...
A phase 1 clinical trial at the University of Colorado Cancer Center has shown promising results, with 72% 2-year survival in heavy smokers. The combination of olaparib, cetuximab, and radiation was found to be synthetically lethal for cancer cells, leading to enhanced cell death.
Researchers identify MUC5AC gene as a key player in KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancers, which are resistant to current treatments. Inhibiting this gene may lead to new therapeutic strategies against KRAS-driven lung cancer.
A new study by CU researchers has identified histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11) as a potential therapeutic target for treating obesity and diabetes. Deleting HDAC11 in mice stimulates the formation of brown adipose tissue, leading to increased energy expenditure and a reduction in white adipose tissue.
A recent survey conducted by the Center for Health, Work & Environment found that 13% of veterinarians in Colorado had seen a client intentionally injure or abuse an animal to obtain prescription painkillers. The study's results highlight the need for better training and surveillance to address opioid misuse among pet owners.
Kenneth Tyler's review article in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights the need for improved diagnosis and treatment of acute viral encephalitis. The condition, which affects about seven patients per 100,000 population annually, imposes a heavy economic burden on healthcare systems.
Researchers have discovered that antibodies in mother's milk can survive the digestive system and deliver intact molecules into a baby's bloodstream. Now, they hope to encapsulate chemotherapy drugs in milk particles to create a potential alternative to infusions.
A CU Cancer Center study found that common laboratory tests used to determine ROS1 status in lung cancer have inherent limitations, leading to false-negative results. The study highlights the need for multiple testing methods and secondary analysis to confirm results, particularly for patients with suspicious symptoms or unusual profiles.
A study by CU Anschutz researchers found that US drug prices are not aligned with their value or net health benefits. The researchers used a forecasting model to calculate cost-effectiveness for commonly reimbursed cardiovascular drugs, revealing a wide spectrum of cost-effectiveness and varying price-to-health-gain ratios.
A recent study found a disturbing increase in violent and unintentional injuries in the US, reversing positive trends from the 1980s and 1990s. The study, published in JAMA Surgery, examined injury data between 2000 and 2016 and found that injury remains a leading cause of death in the nation.
Scientists found a link between the brain's response to taste stimuli and high anxiety in patients with anorexia nervosa. The study suggests that this response may drive the illness and proposes potential treatments based on manipulating biomarkers.
A study reveals a connection between viruses and inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Phages play an unidentified role in IBD, potentially leading to new treatments by targeting specific bacteria with viruses.
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus received an $8 million grant to refine and expand the Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group. The PCRC addresses national research priorities in end-of-life care by enhancing research quality and efficiency.
A Phase 1b clinical trial has demonstrated that the combination of tucatinib and T-DM1 can control median 8.2 months in heavily pretreated HER2-positive breast cancer patients, with 48% response rate. The drug also shows efficacy against brain metastases, a major cause of mortality from the disease.
A University of Colorado Cancer Center study found that brain metastases are a common occurrence in stage IV ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The study also showed that patients with ROS1 mutations had similar progression-free survival rates as ALK patients when treated with crizotinib, but with a higher risk of brain metastas...
Researchers at CU Anschutz Medical Campus found little association between suicide and hypoxia, contradicting longstanding theories. Social isolation and access to firearms were identified as significant contributors to high-altitude suicide rates.
A University of Colorado Cancer Center study shows that combining radiosurgery with immunotherapy, especially PD-1 inhibitors, can significantly improve cancer control and overall survival in melanoma patients. The study found that patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapies had a median brain metastasis-free survival of not reached, whe...
Researchers identify essential switch AMPK that activates mitophagy in leukemia stem cells, offering potential new treatments for acute myeloid leukemia. Without AMPK, LSCs are stressed to death, highlighting the need for targeted therapies.
Researchers identified a pair of genes, EphB4 and ephrin-B2, that are silenced in healthy adult tissue but reactivated in tumors resistant to treatment. Adding an experimental inhibitor targeting these genes to existing therapies improved survival rates in mice models.
Updated phase 1 clinical trial results of crizotinib against MET-amplified non-small cell lung cancer show a 40 percent response rate and 6.7-month median progression-free survival. The study defines new criteria to define 'highly MET-amplified' cancer, suggesting that crizotinib may benefit more patients than previously thought.
The ALEX trial results show alectinib achieving a median progression-free survival of 34.8 months compared to 10.9 months for crizotinib in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer patients. Alectinib also demonstrated an improved overall response rate and fewer side effects than crizotinib.
A new trial presented at ASCO18 shows that PET scans can improve treatment outcomes for esophageal cancer patients. Patients who responded to induction chemotherapy had a median overall survival of 46 months, while those who did not respond had a 27-month median survival, significantly better than previous studies.
A phase 1 trial of ivosidenib against IDH1+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML) achieved an overall response rate of 41.9% and median progression-free survival of 8.2 months. Twenty-four percent of patients reached a complete response.
Colorectal cancer screening may need to be started earlier than previously recommended, with a new study suggesting starting at age 45. Researchers estimate that cutting mortality from colorectal cancer could save up to 70% of lives if everyone followed the revised guidelines.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have shed light on intestinal failure-associated liver disease, a condition that affects people relying on IV nutrition due to intestinal damage. The study suggests three possible new targets for drug intervention to prevent or treat the disease.
Researchers discovered a new strategy against anaplastic thyroid cancer using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which showed better results than conventional radiotherapy. The study was made possible by a patient's donation of $10,000 to fund research.
A new study by CU School of Medicine researchers found that dairy-based protein intake promoted greater weight gain while meat-based protein intake resulted in increased length gain. The study tested 64 formula-fed infants and found significant differences in growth patterns between the two groups.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center have made a breakthrough discovery that could improve immune therapy for triple-negative breast cancer. They found that a protein called Eya3 plays a key role in activating PD-L1, which helps cancer cells evade the immune system.
The study found that nearly 4.7 million adults had Alzheimer's in 2010, expected to grow to 13.8 million by 2050. The researchers emphasize the importance of conversations about gun ownership with families and physicians, balancing safety concerns with individual rights.
A large-scale study of thyroid cancer genetics has identified specific genes driving the disease and found that certain cancers can benefit from immunotherapy. The research also found amplifications of key receptor tyrosine kinases in anaplastic thyroid cancers, suggesting a potential target for treatment with lenvatinib.
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has received a $46.5 million NIH grant to enhance its translational science workforce and research environment. The grant will support the development of novel methodologies and resources to tackle rare diseases, improve health screenings in underserved communities, and reduce mortalit...
A recent study found that Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities have varying care practices for military veterans with chronic pain, leading to inconsistent rates of long-term opioid therapy. Facilities with a wider range of non-opioid treatment options had lower rates of opioid use among veterans.
A new study found a significant association between prenatal cannabis use and low birth weights, with a 50 percent increase in risk. The study's lead author emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to screen for cannabis use during pregnancy and provide counseling on its adverse health consequences.
A study of the KhoeSan population found high levels of immune cell diversity and divergence in two distinct groups. Researchers identified unique genetic variants that impact natural killer cell function and combat disease specific to this geographic area.
The Global ROS1 Initiative is a patient-researcher collaboration that aims to accelerate research on ROS1 cancer. Members have contributed tumor samples and participated in epidemiological surveys, providing valuable insights into the disease.
Research suggests that bone cells can release signals driving prostate cancer progression and growth, especially when cancer metastasizes to bone. A study found that inhibiting BMP signaling in myeloid cells could restrict cancer cell production and tumor growth.
A study found that tumors may overcome immunotherapy by increasing TIM3 and regulatory T cells, which inactivate immune killer T cells. Adding a TIM3 inhibitor to radiotherapy/immunotherapy increased response duration, but tumors still relapsed. Researchers also discovered that Tregs contribute to cancer regrowth.
Researchers used single-cell imaging to study how melanoma cells evade drug action and acquire resistance to BRAF-inhibitor dabrafenib. The study found that 10% of treated cells reactivated the MAPK signaling pathway within 2-3 days, allowing them to signal through the pathway even in the presence of BRAF inhibition.
A recent study found that stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) can improve overall survival and reduce cognitive side-effects in patients with brain metastases from small-cell lung cancer. The study compared outcomes of 5,752 patients who received whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) to those of 200 patients who received SRS.
Researchers at CU Anschutz are working on stem cell-created skin grafts to treat Epidermolysis Bullosa, a debilitating inherited skin disease. The $3.8M grant from the DoD will help move technology into clinical trials, bringing hope for potential cures.
A new study reveals that only 52 out of 548 infant and toddler foods sold in the US contain single-vegetable products, with dark green vegetables being largely absent. This lack of variety may contribute to low vegetable consumption rates among children.
Researchers identified various resistance mechanisms in ALK+ and ROS1+ lung cancers, including kinase mutations and non-genetic changes. A second study demonstrates the ability to detect these changes in patient blood samples using ctDNA tests, potentially easing early detection of treatment failure.
A comprehensive review of scientific literature shows that directly facilitating vaccination and reducing barriers are key to increasing immunization rates. Interventions such as reminders, prompts, and presumptive announcements can lead to higher vaccination uptake.
A study found that 65% of emergency department physicians underestimated their opioid prescription rates, but rates decreased after they saw their actual data. The researchers believe this change was due to the shock of seeing the reality of their actions versus their perceptions, priming them to make a change.
Researchers established two new adrenal cancer cell lines and mouse models to test novel treatments, identifying PBK as a key target. A patient treated with pembrolizumab showed remarkable response with 77% tumor reduction, while a humanized mouse model also responded to the immunotherapy.
Researchers collected three tumor samples from a patient with salivary gland cancer, revealing a significant increase in cancer stem cells and aggressive mutations over time. This study demonstrates how tumors can adapt and overcome therapies, leading to relapse and treatment resistance.
Researchers discovered that inhibiting autophagy with the help of FOXO3a molecule can push cancer cells into apoptosis. The study found that combining autophagy inhibition with a drug called Nutlin increases PUMA production, leading to cell death.
Researchers developed a statistical model to predict hospitalized patients at risk of progressing to chronic opioid therapy. The model correctly identified high-risk patients in 79% of cases and was found to be highly associated with variables such as substance use disorder, benzodiazepine receipt, and surgical procedures during hospit...
Researchers found that viruses use epigenetic regulation to mute the immune system, causing cancer cells to proliferate. By demethylating specific gene promoter regions, it may be possible to revive an immune system muted by cancer-causing viruses and increase the effectiveness of immune-based therapies.
Researchers at CU Anschutz Medical Campus found that shared decision-making can lead to better choices in high-stakes treatments. The study used patient decision aids to improve understanding and values-choice agreement, leading to more informed decisions.