Researchers discovered that combining palbociclib with autophagy inhibitors can significantly reduce side effects and improve treatment efficacy for ER+ breast cancer patients. The study found that Rb and cytoplasmic cyclin E biomarkers predict response to therapy, allowing for personalized treatment approaches.
Researchers developed 'iExosomes' that target mutant KRAS, a common mutation in pancreatic cancer, to deliver RNAi and suppress tumor growth. The therapy approach was more efficient than traditional methods, offering new hope for treating this aggressive form of cancer.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center present two combination therapies that significantly shrink metastatic brain tumors in over half of patients with stage IV melanoma. The trials demonstrate the feasibility of conducting clinical trials for these patients and offer new hope for those with brain metastases.
A study found that combining therapies targeting polyADP ribose polymerase (PARP) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitors showed promise in treating RAS-mutant cancers. The combination therapy was effective in multiple tumor models, regardless of mutations in tumor suppressor genes.
Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center discovered that the enzyme ACSS2 enables brain tumors to thrive in a nutrient-deprived environment by converting acetate into a carbon-based food source. This finding offers new potential treatment approaches for this deadly disease.
A study published in JAMA Surgery found that certain breast cancer patients who achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) after chemotherapy have a low risk of developing local metastases, making them candidates for less invasive treatment options. These patients may be able to avoid follow-up surgery, including axillary surgery.
A team led by Jennifer Wargo at MD Anderson is studying the connection between gut bacteria and immune system response in melanoma patients treated with anti-PD1 therapy. The study aims to understand how microbiome diversity influences treatment outcomes.
A new study found that combining nivolumab and bevacizumab resulted in a 53% complete or partial response rate for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The combination therapy showed promising clinical activities and measured immunological changes, suggesting potential for improved treatment outcomes.
Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have identified arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) as a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a deadly form of pancreatic cancer with limited treatment options. PRMT1 plays a crucial role in tumor development and maintenance, and i...
Hispanics have a higher burden of poor health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) compared to white and black patients. Meanwhile, Hispanics experience longer median survival times, averaging 85.4 months, followed by blacks at 47.8 months and whites at 43.2 months.
Researchers develop immunotherapy approach for prostate cancer by combining anti-hormonal drug with checkpoint inhibitors, driving T cells into tumors and blocking PD-L1/PD1 response. Targeting VISTA brake is also shown to inhibit immune response in human tumors.
Researchers found that after reirradiation with intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT), the majority of patients were free from local recurrence one year following treatment and few experienced severe side effects. Patients who received a higher dose of radiation had fewer local recurrences and improved progression-free survival.
A pilot study published in the journal Cancer found that neurofeedback training reduced symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in cancer survivors. The study used electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback to retrain brain activity and resulted in measurable changes in targeted brain regions.
A Phase III clinical trial revealed that blinatumomab significantly increased overall survival and remission rates compared to standard chemotherapy in patients with advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The study showed a median survival of 7.7 months for those treated with blinatumomab versus four months for those on chemotherapy.
Researchers found that loss of tumor-suppressing genes, not mutations, leads to resistance to immune checkpoint blockade drugs in melanoma. Anti-CTLA4 treatment can prime T cells for anti-PD1 therapy, improving patient response.
A recent study at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that a protein called ENL plays a key role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a fast-growing cancer of bone marrow and blood cells. Depletion of ENL led to anti-leukemic effects, suggesting BET inhibitor drugs as a potential treatment for AML.
Adding two blood-borne proteins, TFPI and tenascin C, to the current biomarker CA-19-9 improves the detection of early-stage pancreatic cancer in three cohorts. The combination shows higher predictive value than the individual biomarkers.
Researchers at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center discover PGK1's dual role in regulating cell metabolism and autophagy, a cellular process crucial to tumor development and maintenance. The findings suggest that inhibiting PGK1-regulated autophagy may increase cancer treatment efficacy for glioblastoma patients.
A study found that patients with metastatic melanoma who responded to PD1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy had a greater diversity of gut bacteria and larger volumes of specific bacteria than non-responders. The researchers also discovered increased immune infiltrates in responders' tumors, correlated to the abundance of a specific bacterium.
Researchers found that hormonal maintenance therapy significantly improved survival in women with low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary/peritoneum. Women who received HMT showed an average progression-free survival of 64.9 months, compared to 26.4 months for those in the surveillance group.
A retrospective analysis of 1,424 patients found that those with an intermediate risk recurrence score (RS) had similar outcomes whether they received chemotherapy or not. The study suggests that less is more for women with early-stage disease, potentially leading to a shift away from aggressive treatment protocols.
Researchers identified a gatekeeper protein SMARCB1 that prevents aggressive pancreatic cancer cells from transitioning into a resistant type. Depletion of SMARCB1 leads to mesenchymal status, a mobile and invasive cell state, making these cells vulnerable to therapies targeting proteostasis.
A recent study published in the journal Cancer found that breast cancer patients with dense breast tissue have almost a two-fold increased risk of developing disease in the contralateral breast. The researchers identified 680 stage I, II and III breast cancer patients who were treated at MD Anderson between 1997 and 2012.
A new method called synthetic essentiality has been found to identify therapeutic targets in cancers lacking specific key tumor suppressor genes. By analyzing gene deletion patterns, researchers identified CHD1 as a potential treatment site for prostate and breast cancers with PTEN gene loss.
Scientists identified collateral lethal vulnerability in pancreatic cancers that can be targeted pharmacologically in certain patient populations. ME3 inhibitors may provide an effective therapy for many cancer patients.
A pilot study at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that image-guided biopsies accurately predicted residual disease in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy. The study suggests that certain patients may be able to avoid surgery, paving the way for personalized treatment.
A study published by University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that older women with breast cancer who underwent less radiation therapy reported improved cosmetic satisfaction. However, reduced radiation was also associated with a slightly increased risk of disease recurrence. The researchers suggest that there may be an opti...
A Phase IB/II study found that combining nivolumab with azacitidine improved response rates (34%) and overall survival (9.3 months) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, compared to a historic response rate of 12-15% with azacitidine alone.
A study by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found pre-leukemic mutations can predict the development of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MNs), a leukemia with poor prognosis. Patients with these mutations are at higher risk, and detecting them earlier could help prevent or treat t-MNs.
Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who were initially ineligible for clinical trials due to existing medical conditions responded well to treatment with azacitidine (AZA) and vorinostat. Sixty-day survival rates were 83% and 79% respectively, with low-grade gastrointestinal side effects reported.
Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a link between the Golgi apparatus and lung cancer metastasis. The study found that targeting certain proteins in the Golgi can prevent tumor cells from spreading, offering a new potential therapeutic approach for preventing metastasis.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center identified a pathway by which cancer cells spread in the brain, opening up new possibilities for treatment. They found that the gene WNT5A enables glioma stem cells to transition into GdECs, leading to aggressive tumor growth and disease recurrence.
A study at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that the tumor suppressor gene quaking (QKI) plays a major regulator role in cancer stem cells of glioblastoma, the deadliest type of brain tumor. QKI impacts cellular activity called endocytosis, allowing glioma stem cells to thrive in inhospitable sites.
A study by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that 81% of indoor tanning facilities complied with the Texas ban on indoor tanning for those under 18. The study also showed that daily use practices exceeded FDA guidelines, and most facilities indicated that burns are possible with indoor tanning.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a new tool to predict lung cancer risk in never, light, and heavy smokers. By incorporating various risk factors, the model can better classify those in greatest need of lung cancer screening, thereby reducing unnecessary screenings and false positives.
A Phase III trial found ribociclib improved PFS of post-menopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer by 44 percent compared to hormone therapy alone. The study also showed a higher ORR in patients receiving ribociclib, with serious adverse events occurring less than five percent overall.
A new study from MD Anderson found substantial variation in the costs of breast cancer treatment for different chemotherapy regimens, with varying prices by up to $20,354. The researchers suggest that informed choice of chemotherapy could impact costs nationally by $1 billion annually.
Researchers discovered a combination of two inhibitor drugs that can stop CML completely and significantly lower treatment costs. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, found encouraging response and cure rates for both chronic phase and blast crisis, offering new hope for patients.
A new study reveals that chromosomal changes in breast cancer occur in short, punctuated 'bursts' at the earliest stages of tumor growth, contradicting the traditional gradual acquisition model. This finding has significant implications for diagnosis and treatment, suggesting a potential new approach to clinical management.
Researchers analyzed tumor biopsies from 53 melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors to predict treatment response. The study found that adaptive immune responses, such as killer T cells, were significantly higher in responders after treatment began.
A study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals protein ZMYND8's ability to block metastasis-linked gene expression in prostate cancer. ZMYND8 cooperates with histone mark eraser JARID1D to suppress metastasis-linked genes.
A study at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that genetic mutations in DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) are present in 15% of colorectal cancer cases. The study identified MSH2 and MSH6 as the most commonly affected genes, providing a new approach to diagnosis and treatment using precision medicine.
Researchers developed a rapid screening technique to analyze human tumors transplanted into mice, identifying WDR5 as a new culprit in pancreatic cancer. The study found that WDR5 protects tumors from DNA damage and works with the previously known cancer-promoting gene Myc to help tumors thrive.
A new study finds that a shorter radiation course with higher doses per fraction is equivalent to a longer, lower-dose course in terms of cosmetic, functional, and pain outcomes. The results support the use of hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation as the preferred treatment for early-stage breast cancer patients.
A randomized Phase III study found nearly 81% of patients in the inotuzumab ozogamicin group achieved complete remission, compared to 31-41% with standard therapies. The drug enabled 41% of patients to proceed with stem cell transplants, increasing their chances of a curative treatment.
A new study led by MD Anderson Cancer Center found an eight-month progression-free survival benefit in patients treated with local consolidative therapy, a significant shift in clinical care for thousands of lung cancer patients. The treatment improved outcomes for those with oligometastases, defined as three or fewer sites of metastasis.
A Phase I/II clinical trial found that nivolumab reduced tumor burden in 24.4 percent of patients with metastatic bladder cancer, regardless of PD-L1 marker presence. The treatment was well-tolerated and showed a median survival of at least one year for 45.6% of patients.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have made significant breakthroughs in the treatment of endometrial and ovarian cancers. A Phase II trial combining everolimus, letrozole, and metformin shows a 67 percent clinical benefit rate for patients with recurrent endometrioid endometrial cancer. Additionally, hormonal maintenance therap...
A Phase II clinical trial conducted by MD Anderson Cancer Center found that nivolumab significantly improves outcomes for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal, with a control rate of 70%. The study enrolled 39 patients and demonstrated efficacy in both HIV-positive and non-HIV positive populations.
A new study from MD Anderson Cancer Center found substantial variation in costs of breast cancer treatment for different chemotherapy regimens, with insurer costs varying by as much as $20,354. Choosing equally effective but less costly regimens could impact the cost of breast cancer care nationally by $1 billion every year.