A phase 2 clinical trial found that autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy helped stabilize metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in some patients. The median response duration was 7.6 months, with cancer stabilization occurring in 64% of patients.
The symposium will feature talks by leading researchers on various aspects of cancer, including molecular discovery, clinical application, and population impact. Key findings include the exploration of genomic inequities and their impact on cancer disparities.
Researchers have developed a novel technology that can simultaneously silence two notoriously difficult-to-target cancer-related genes, KRAS and MYC. This innovation has the potential to treat cancers that have been challenging to treat, with significant implications for patients.
The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center has developed an adaptive clinical trial for metastatic breast cancer, leveraging $28 million in funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The study aims to adapt treatment plans in near real-time using tumor biopsies, blood samples, and biomarkers.
Researchers found that e-cigarette warnings are effective in discouraging vaping, with health harm warnings being more effective than addiction warnings. The analysis included 22,549 participants and showed no negative unintended consequences, such as encouraging people to smoke cigarettes instead of vaping.
A new clinical trial found that oral semaglutide can significantly reduce cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes and pre-existing cardiovascular disease. The medication decreased the risk of major cardiac events by 14% compared to placebo, with nonfatal myocardial infarction seeing the greatest reductions in risk.
Researchers at University of North Carolina Health Care found that combination immunotherapy before surgery increased survival rates in people with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. The treatment regimen doubled or tripled the response rate versus single immunotherapy, leading to a survival benefit for up to a third of patients.
A North Carolina state-run pilot program helped Medicaid recipients address food insecurity, housing instability, and other social needs, resulting in reduced spending over time. The program showed an average monthly savings of $85 per beneficiary after approximately 8 months of enrollment.
A clinical trial found that semaglutide significantly reduced weekly alcohol craving, drinking quantity, and the frequency of heavy drinking days in adults with symptoms of alcohol use disorder. Participants who received semaglutide also consumed lower amounts of alcohol during laboratory tests.
Researchers found that people with diabetes are more likely to develop antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, which can spread rapidly and evade treatment. Controlling blood sugar levels through insulin use may be key in preventing antibiotic resistance.
A multicenter study found that electronic symptom monitoring improved quality of life, clinical outcomes, and well-being in metastatic cancer patients. The PRO-TECT trial showed significant benefits for patients who reported their symptoms via a home-based electronic monitoring system.
A three-drug cocktail of drugs has been identified as a potential booster of CAR-T cancer therapy by researchers at the University of North Carolina. The cocktail preserves a critical cell subset called T-memory stem cells, which are crucial for long-term persistence of CAR-T cells.
A team of UNC-Chapel Hill researchers will develop an oncology health learning system using AI-ready data to generate real-time identification of new cancer cases and support personalized treatments. The project aims to improve cancer diagnosis, care equity, and quality by creating accessible tools for health providers.
A new study shows that mailing at-home fecal immunochemical testing kits and providing coordinated follow-up led to a tripling of screening completion rates compared to usual care. The intervention increased screening rates by 30% within six months and 34.6% by 12 months.
Researchers at UNC Health Care have discovered a little-known protein, PDGFA-associated protein 1 (PDAP1), that plays a crucial role in the replication and infection of hepatitis A virus. The protein is used by the virus to exploit the host cell's stress response, allowing it to produce its own proteins necessary for replication.
New treatment combinations and predictive biomarkers hold promise for improving bladder cancer outcomes. The NIAGARA trial showed that combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy can significantly increase two-year survival rates and reduce cancer recurrences.
A new study led by Dr. Jasmine Weiss found that HBCU students face three major themes in navigating medical school: complex institutional relationships, preferential treatment concerns, and the importance of a 'village mindset'. The study highlights opportunities for medical schools to engage with HBCUs and attract diverse student bodies.
Scientists found that sleep deprivation during early life can negatively impact key brain functions, leading to lasting effects on behavior and social skills. The study also suggests that genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder can interact with sleep disruption to cause long-lasting changes.
Industry-sponsored trials have grown while federally funded enrollment remains flat, jeopardizing research in cancer prevention, screening, and health disparities. Diversified funding and strong advocacy are needed to ensure all patient populations benefit from research advancements.
Researchers have discovered a novel immunotherapy approach using natural killer T cells to combat solid tumors. By targeting tumor-associated macrophages and promoting systemic immune responses, CAR-natural killer T cells demonstrate superior antitumor activity compared to traditional CAR-T therapy.
Recent years have seen therapeutic advances in kidney cancer due to deeper understanding of the disease's biology, with improved treatments and early detection contributing to decreased deaths. Cigarette smoking and being overweight remain major risk factors for kidney cancer.
A recent study found that approximately half of FDA-approved AI medical devices are not trained on real patient data, sparking concerns about device accuracy. The researchers analyzed 500+ medical AI devices and discovered that many lacked clinical validation data, which is essential for ensuring the credibility of these technologies.
Researchers have identified nearly 300 common and over 20 rare genetic variants as significant risk factors for schizophrenia. The study emphasizes the role of multiple genes rather than single-gene causation, revealing complexity in the mechanisms underlying the disorder.
Researchers found that type II innate lymphoid cells transform after a cancer patient receives stem cells from a donor, preventing an effective immune system rebuilding. This new understanding may lead to better strategies for enhancing immune system recovery post-transplantation.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine discover a key brain pathway linking the cingulate cortex to cerebellum that's crucial for placebo analgesia. The study reveals neurons and synapses along this pathway are highly activated when mice expect pain relief, paving the way for potential new treatments
A new study by UNC School of Medicine researchers found that wearable devices can significantly amplify anxiety and increase healthcare use in patients with atrial fibrillation. Patients with Afib who use wearables are more likely to be preoccupied with their heart symptoms and report concerns about their treatment.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine have identified a small molecule that could potentially treat Angelman syndrome by 'turning on' the dormant paternally-inherited UBE3A gene copy. The compound, (S)-PHA533533, has shown excellent uptake in developing brains and bioavailability, making it a promising lead for gene therapy.
A comprehensive molecular portrait of KRAS has been established, revealing its key role in pancreatic cancer progression and resistance to treatment. The study identifies ERK as a critical regulator of KRAS activity, with implications for developing targeted therapies.
A recent study by Bryan Roth and colleagues validated the accuracy of AlphaFold2 in modeling ligand binding sites, leading to promising results for drug discovery. The researchers found that up to 54% of potential compounds interacted successfully with the target proteins, paving the way for new treatments.
Scientists at UNC-Chapel Hill discovered that xylazine binds too kappa opioid receptors, suggesting why fentanyl/xylazine withdrawal is so harsh. This finding could have big implications for future scheduling recommendations and treatment approaches for patients experiencing respiratory depression.
Researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a mouse model of Kaposi sarcoma, which could facilitate the development of new drugs to treat the disease. The model provides a better understanding of angiogenesis and its potential targets for therapy.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine discovered the detailed protein structure of the TAS2R14 bitter taste receptor, revealing how it identifies and activates bitter tastants. The discovery has potential applications in drug development for metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes.
A new study found that international and female trainees reported lower career-self-efficacy across the national sample. The study highlights how immigration status intersects with individuals' perceptions of their own capabilities, influencing their career trajectories and opportunities for advancement.
Researchers have discovered that neurochemicals influence neural activity, blood flow, and fMRI measurements. The study found that certain neurochemicals can cause constrictions in blood vessels, leading to negative fMRI signals.
A study by UNC researchers found that a metabolic enzyme called Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC) causes T cells to store fat rather than burning it for energy in solid tumors. Inhibiting ACC expression allowed T cells to persist better in tumors, leading to potential breakthroughs in immunotherapies like CAR T-cell therapies.
Researchers have discovered that specific neurons in the thalamus are actively involved in processing cardiac and respiratory signals. This breakthrough understanding of brain-body integration may help characterize how subcortical regions process signals through a functional pathway from internal organs.
Researchers will develop new tools to understand how proteins interact and regulate the nervous system. The project aims to identify new therapeutic targets for brain disorders and generate diagnostic tools.
A study by researchers at UNC School of Medicine found that chronic cocaine use alters the functional networks in the brain, including the default mode network and salience network. This disruption can make it harder for individuals to focus, control impulses, or feel motivated without the drug.
A new FDA-approved treatment, omalizumab, has shown promise in reducing allergic reactions in multi-food allergic children and adults. The OUtMATCH clinical trial results indicate that a 16-to-20-week course of the monoclonal antibody increased the tolerance threshold for peanut, tree nuts, egg, milk, and wheat.
The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center has been selected as a national research site for the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Screening Research Network. The network will conduct large-scale studies using emerging cancer screening technologies to identify effective and accurate methods for early detection and prevention. The ...
A new clinical trial demonstrates a small reduction in the latent reservoir of HIV-infected cells using a combination of vorinostat and immunotherapy. While the results are promising, further research is needed to create more effective approaches to flush out the virus and attack it when it emerges from latency.
Researchers found that APOE4 accumulates on fat droplets in astrocytes, damaging brain cells and preventing them from cleaning up toxic lipids. This mechanism could explain why APOE4 increases Alzheimer's disease risk.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina Health Care developed a wearable patch that can receive wireless commands to schedule and trigger drug release from individual microneedles. The patch enables precise and customized drug delivery for various conditions, including Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that E. coli can evolve to produce increased persister cells, leading to increased survival and antibiotic failure. Persister cells contribute to poor patient outcomes when classic antibiotic resistance does not explain such failure.
Researchers have found that a specific pathway, cGAS-STING, is unleashed to prevent cancer formation by detecting DNA damage within cells. The discovery reveals the 'key' to unleashing this pathway, which can potentially reactivate it to treat and prevent breast cancer development.
Researchers found that infants with enlarged perivascular spaces have a 2.2 times greater chance of developing autism compared to those with the same genetic risk. The study also indicates that these infants are more likely to experience sleep problems seven to ten years after diagnosis.
A new study finds that 10% of patients with microscopic colitis are unaware of their diagnosis, while 15% of those without the condition were unsure or thought they had it. Despite this, many cases remain symptomatic and undertreated, emphasizing the importance of follow-up appointments and education.
A study published in Gastro Hep Advances found that 14% of IBD patients were at high risk for malnutrition, emphasizing the importance of malnutrition screening. The prevalence of a positive screen was higher among patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
A randomized clinical trial found that excluding aspirin from the antithrombotic regimen in LVAD patients improved adverse event rates by a significant reduction in non-surgical bleeding. The study results suggest that an aspirin-free regimen is safe and may improve longevity, morbidity, and quality of life for these patients.
A comprehensive meta-analysis led by Dr. Micheal Sandbank reveals that many low-quality studies are driving intervention recommendations and patient outcomes in early childhood autism care. The study highlights the need for more rigorous research to understand the positive and negative effects of various interventions.