A clinical trial found that combination immunotherapy reduced melanoma brain metastases by 26% in 94 patients. The treatment, combining checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab and nivolumab, also showed durable responses with 59.5% of patients remaining progression-free at nine months.
The EMBRACA trial shows that talazoparib provides a significant clinical benefit to patients with metastatic breast cancer and BRCA mutations. The study found that talazoparib improved progression-free survival, quality-of-life measures, and overall response rates compared to chemotherapy.
The guidelines outline lessons learned by experts in various fields to identify early signs and symptoms of treatment-related toxicity, detailing ways to manage it. Key recommendations include monitoring for cytokine release syndrome and addressing parent and/or caregiver concerns.
Scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center have engineered a system allowing microscopic monitoring and imaging of cancer in mice, enabling better understanding and treatment of bone metastasis. The model reveals how cancer cells interact with bone and bone resident cells over time, providing insights into the disease's progression.
A new biomarker blood test improves lung cancer risk assessment over existing guidelines, capturing risk for people who have ever smoked. The test achieved superior sensitivity and accuracy compared to guidelines for screening approved by the USPSTF for heavy smokers.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that a combination of ipilimumab and CPI-1205 enhances T cell responses, tumor rejection, and survival in cancer patients. Elevated EZH2 levels in T cells suppress immune activity, but inhibition of EZH2 improves effector T cell function.
Researchers found a link between calcitriol and reduced ovarian cancer progression by blocking smad signaling in tumor cells and supportive fibroblasts. The study opens a new potential avenue for treating ovarian cancer, with calcitriol already FDA-approved for other uses.
A Phase II trial found that adding PARP inhibitor veliparib to standard chemotherapy improved overall response rates and progression-free survival in patients with small cell lung cancer. Researchers identified SLFN11 as a biomarker for patient selection, which may lead to new treatment options.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Therapeutics Discovery team has developed a drug called IACS-10759, which targets metabolic vulnerability in cancer cells. The drug, an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, shows promise for treating acute myeloid leukemia and solid tumors.
A Phase II study found that over half of women with early-stage BRCA+ breast cancer who took talazoparib once daily prior to surgery had no evidence of disease at the time of surgery. The oral medication showed high response rates and manageable toxicities, offering an alternative to chemotherapy for this patient population.
A clinical trial shows that an immune checkpoint inhibitor can shrink tumors in nearly half of patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The drug, cemiplimab, works by blocking PD1, a surface receptor on T cells that shuts down immune response to cancer.
A Phase II trial suggests that erdafitinib, an FGFR inhibitor, benefits patients with metastatic urothelial cancer harboring FGFR3 mutations. The therapy achieved a 40% overall response rate, including complete and partial responses, as well as stable disease in nearly half of patients.
The study found that matching targeted therapies to tumor-specific gene mutations improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with advanced disease. Receiving matched targeted therapy was also an independent factor for predicting longer overall survival.
A Phase I trial shows ivosidenib, a protein inhibitor drug, is safe and effective for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with IDH1 mutations. The study achieved an overall response rate of 41.6% and complete remission rates of 21.6%, with improved survival rates at 18 months compared to historical controls.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that intense post-treatment surveillance does not improve detection of recurrence or overall survival in stage I, II, or III colorectal cancer. The study suggests that current guideline recommendations need to be reconsidered.
The new model allows researchers to conduct multiple clinical trials across several cancer types, lessen expenses, and increase the likelihood of finding medical solutions. This approach has already led to a new standard of care for chronic myeloid leukemia treatment and expanded program opportunities.
Researchers identified a link between ARID1a mutations and mismatch repair deficiency, which can render tumors susceptible to immune checkpoint blockade therapies. The study found that tumors with ARID1a mutations exhibited increased sensitivity to anti-PD-1 therapy, suggesting potential benefits for patients with these mutations.
A multi-center study discovered how adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing contributes to protein diversity in breast cancer, increasing cancer cell proliferation and invasion. The findings suggest that individualizing therapies for each patient is reliant upon a better understanding of the protein genome.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center found poziotinib to be up to 100 times more potent against cells with exon 20 mutations than other drugs. In mouse models, poziotinib reduced disease burden by 80% in EGFR mice and 60% in HER2 mice, with durable responses at 12 weeks.
Researchers discovered that pre-existing chemoresistant genotypes in tumors can adapt to become fully resistant to chemotherapy, leading to poor overall survival. The study's findings may lead to diagnostic opportunities for detecting resistant clones in TNBC patients before treatment.
A pre-clinical study has revealed that combining OX40 agonist antibody and GSK2366771 may enhance the immune system's ability to kill melanoma tumors deficient in PTEN. The combination appears to 'step on the gas', revving up T cells and providing extra power to more efficiently kill cancer cells.
Researchers found that combining anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 immunotherapies enhances response rates and generates more memory T cells, leading to better tumor control. This combination may help prevent relapse in patients with therapies targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1 checkpoints.
A preclinical study by MD Anderson Cancer Center researchers found that precancerous colon polyps in patients with Lynch syndrome display immune system activation, challenging traditional models of cancer immune activation. The study suggests immunotherapy may be useful for colorectal cancer prevention in certain high-risk groups.
A new liquid biopsy-based cancer model has revealed insights into the development of chemotherapy resistance in small-cell lung cancer. The study found that intratumoral heterogeneity, or differences in gene expression between tumor cells, contributes to rapid chemotherapy resistance.
A phase I clinical trial of BLU-667, a novel precision-targeted drug, reports significant durable disease control in patients with RET-driven cancers. The study reveals an overall response rate of 37% for RET-driven cancers, with responses of 45% for non-small cell lung cancer.
Researchers have discovered five previously unknown cancer subtypes among others, using a comprehensive analysis of 2,579 tumors from breast and gynecologic cancers. The study identifies shared and unique molecular features, clinically significant subtypes, and potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center discovered a rare pre-existing mutation in PIK3CA that causes rapid drug resistance in melanoma patients. The study found that this mutation was present in the tumor before treatment and rapidly expanded after treatment, leading to swift disease progression.
The studies reported an overall response rate of 75 percent for patients ages four months to 76 years with 17 different cancer diagnoses. Larotrectinib had rapid, potent, and durable anti-tumor activity in children and adults with solid tumors and TRK fusions.
Research finds obese male patients treated with targeted or immune therapies live significantly longer than those with a normal BMI. The 'Obesity Paradox' suggests that obesity may improve survival in men with metastatic melanoma, contradicting prior assumptions about the impact of weight on cancer outcomes.
A phase I clinical trial found that the altered adenovirus DNX-2401 allowed 20 percent of patients with recurrent glioblastoma to live for three years or longer. The virus triggered an immune response, leading to tumor reduction and complete responses in some patients.
A nationwide population-based study analyzed over 120,000 women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, finding that only 14.7% required additional biopsies during follow-up care. The study's findings will help physicians counsel patients about breast cancer recurrence rates and the need for future biopsies.
Researchers found that patients who received a combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors before and after surgery had a six-fold increase in time to progression compared to standard-of-care surgery. The study suggests that presurgical targeted therapy may improve outcomes for patients with high-risk stage 3 melanoma.
A new single-cell sequencing tool, TSCS, has provided a clearer understanding of how ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) progresses to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Genome evolution occurs in the ducts before cancer clones can be disseminated, and most mutations evolve within the ducts prior to invasion.
A large percentage of US small-cell lung cancer patients do not receive standard chemotherapy and radiation treatments, leading to lower overall survival. Patients with federal insurance are more likely to receive chemotherapy but less likely to receive radiation therapy.
A multi-national phase Ib study has demonstrated a complete response in up to 50 percent of patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with venetoclax and idasanutlin. The combination therapy shows promise as an effective treatment option for patients with limited treatment options.
A Phase 2 study of axi-cel, a CD19-targeting CAR T cell therapy, reported remarkable improvement in outcomes for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. The study showed that 42% of patients remained in remission at 15 months, with complete responses in 54% and measurable responses in 82%.
A Phase III trial led by MD Anderson Cancer Center found that talazoparib, a PARP inhibitor, extends progression-free survival and improves quality-of-life measures for patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer and BRCA1/2 mutations. Talazoparib was associated with a 46% lower risk of progression compared to chemotherapy.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center presented significant advances in patient survival for various blood cancers, including multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. The studies showed promising results for new treatments, such as combination chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
Research from MD Anderson Cancer Center finds improved adherence to surgical treatment guidelines, but chemotherapy guideline adherence remains largely unchanged. Informed patient-physician discussions are crucial for better survival outcomes and quality care.
Research from MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests that chronic stress hormones can promote resistance to EGFR inhibitors in lung cancer patients. However, using beta blockers may slow or prevent this resistance, according to the study's findings.
A study found circulating tumor cells (CTCs) associated with relapse in stage IV melanoma patients, suggesting a potential predictor for high-risk disease progression via liquid biopsy. CTCs were detected in approximately 40% of advanced stage melanoma patients and linked to faster relapse rates.
Patients with higher diversity of bacteria in their digestive tract had longer median progression-free survival. A favorable microbiome also was associated with increased antigen processing and presentation by the immune system at the tumor site.
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has been selected as one of four national Cancer Immune Monitoring and Analysis Centers (CIMACs) under the Partnership for Accelerating Cancer Therapies (PACT). CIMACs will provide expertise in systematic collection, processing, and analysis of blood and tumor samples to improve immun...
The study found that modifying diet or adding moderate exercise can improve chemotherapy efficacy independent of weight loss. Obesity is on the rise in pediatric cancer patients, with lower survival rates and higher relapse rates compared to non-obese patients.
Participating in twice-weekly Tibetan yoga reduced sleep disturbances and improved sleep quality in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Women who practiced at least two times a week reported better sleep quality and efficiency over time compared to those practicing less often.
Researchers developed guidelines to handle CAR T cell side effects, including cytokine release syndrome and neurological toxicity. The new algorithms provide conservative and tailored treatment options to recognize and stage emerging side effects.
Researchers found that anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors expand distinct immune infiltrates against cancer by targeting different types of T cells. This study provides a reason why combining these therapies works better than either alone.
A study by MD Anderson Cancer Center found improved survival rates for patients with stage 3 lung cancer treated with concurrent chemotherapy and proton therapy. The treatment reduced toxic effects compared to standard care, with a median overall survival of 26.5 months.
Researchers developed genetically enhanced cord-blood derived immune cells to target B-cell malignancies, boosting persistence and embedding a suicide gene. The engineered natural killer cells showed improved efficiency in killing cancer cells and extended survival in mouse models.
A preclinical study published in PNAS found that BMTP-11 targets high-risk osteosarcoma and shows anti-tumor activity. The treatment has the potential to reduce cumulative side effects associated with current treatments, which often cause health problems and organ damage.