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University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center


Targeted therapy pralsetinib safely effectively treats lung and thyroid cancers with RET alterations

Researchers found that pralsetinib achieved an overall response rate of 70% and complete response rate of 11% in patients with no prior systemic treatment for advanced RET fusion-positive NSCLC. In the thyroid arm, the ORR was 71% in patients with treatment-naïve RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateJun 9, 2021

Mitochondrial enzyme found to block cell death pathway points to new cancer treatment strategy

Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that targeting the mitochondrial enzyme DHODH can induce ferroptosis and suppress tumor growth in cancer cells. The study suggests a new therapeutic strategy for inducing ferroptosis, which could have broad implications for treating various types of cancer.

Single-cell map of early stage lung cancer and normal lung sheds light on tumor development, new therapeutic targets

Researchers created a spatial atlas of early-stage lung cancer and normal lung tissue at single-cell resolution, providing insights into tumor development and immune cell interactions. The study identified CD24 as a new immunotherapy target for lung cancer treatment, correlating with poor clinical outcomes and shortened survival.

Antiviral T cells safe and effective for treating debilitating complication common after stem cell transplants

A Phase II trial found that BKV-specific T cells from healthy donors are safe and effective in treating debilitating complications after stem cell transplants. Patients experienced rapid responses, with 81.6% showing improvement after 28 days, and no cases of severe GVHD or toxicities.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateApr 30, 2021

Researchers identify surface protein as a new osteosarcoma therapeutic target for antibody-drug conjugates

Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a new surface protein, MT1-MMP, as a promising therapeutic target for osteosarcoma. The protein is highly expressed on the surface of osteosarcoma cells but not in normal human tissues, making it an attractive target for antibody-drug conjugate therapy.

New sequencing approach finds triple-negative breast cancers continue accumulating genetic changes during tumor growth

A novel method for single-cell DNA sequencing has enabled faster and deeper study of chromosome evolution in triple-negative breast cancers. The technique revealed that these cancers undergo continued genetic copy number changes after an initial burst of chromosomal instability, which may explain why treatments are not always effective.

Study finds high tumor mutation burden predicts immunotherapy response in some, but not all, cancers

A new study found that a high rate of genetic mutations within a tumor (high tumor mutation burden) can predict clinical responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors in certain cancer types, such as melanoma, lung and bladder cancer. However, this was not the case for other cancers, including breast, prostate and brain cancers.

Single-cell analysis of metastatic gastric cancer finds diverse tumor cell populations associated with patient outcomes

Researchers developed a gene expression signature that robustly predicts patient survival in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, a form of metastatic gastric cancer. The signature is associated with tumor cell populations and lineage compositions, offering potential for tailored treatment strategies.

Large-scale cancer proteomics study profiles protein changes in response to drug treatments

The study generated a valuable resource to aid in predicting drug sensitivity, understanding therapeutic resistance mechanisms, and identifying optimal combination treatment strategies. The dataset includes expression changes in over 200 clinically relevant proteins across more than 300 cell lines after treatment with 168 different com...

Study identifies characteristics of infused CAR T cells associated with efficacy and toxicity in in patients with large B-cell lymphoma

A study at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that monitoring early changes in circulating tumor DNA can predict patient outcomes. Infused CAR T cells with certain characteristics are associated with better treatment responses, while those with exhaustion signatures may experience poor outcomes.

Next-gen bioinformatics tool enables big data analysis without programming expertise

A new bioinformatics tool called DrBioRight has been developed to enable biomedical researchers to conduct routine analyses of large datasets without specialized expertise in bioinformatics or programming languages. The tool uses a natural-language interface to allow users to ask questions and receive intuitive analysis results.

New study from MD Anderson and BridgeBio's Navire Pharma shows SHP2 inhibition overcomes multiple therapeutic-resistance mechanisms in lung cancer

A preclinical study from MD Anderson and BridgeBio's Navire Pharma shows that SHP2 inhibition can overcome osimertinib resistance in lung cancer. The study found that IACS-13909 suppressed tumor cell proliferation and caused tumor regression in various activated kinase-driven models.

Lung cancer trial of RET inhibitor selpercatinib achieves durable responses in majority of patients with RET gene fusions

The Phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 trial found that selpercatinib achieved durable objective responses in the majority of participants with RET gene fusions, including an ORR of 85% in previously untreated patients. The study also showed promising results in patients with brain metastases and thyroid cancers.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 26, 2020

Targeted therapy combination effective for patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma and BRAF mutations

A Phase II trial conducted at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center found a 51% overall response rate in patients with BRAF-mutated cholangiocarcinoma treated with dabrafenib plus trametinib, providing a much-needed treatment option for patients with treatment-resistant advanced disease.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateAug 17, 2020

Study shows frequently used serology test may not detect antibodies that could confirm protection against reinfection of COVID-19

Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that some commercially available serological tests only detect N-protein antibodies, which may not indicate immunity to reinfection. S-RBD antibody detection is considered a better indicator of protection against COVID-19 reinfection.

Implementation of social distancing policies correlates with significant reduction in SARS-CoV-2 transmission

The study found that social distancing policies implemented in the US and globally led to significant reductions in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with an estimated 1.57 million cases prevented over a two-week period. The researchers also observed a strong correlation between decreased mobility and reduced virus transmission.

Combination biomarker predicts response to immune checkpoint therapy in patients with advanced bladder cancer

Researchers discovered a novel combination of biomarkers from baseline tumor tissues that predict improved clinical responses and prolonged survival in patients with advanced bladder cancer. ARID1A mutations and CXCL13 expression were associated with better overall survival, suggesting potential patient selection improvements.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 17, 2020

Study finds no overall survival benefit, but improved quality of life with talazoparib in advanced BRCA-mutated breast cancer

The Phase III EMBRACA trial found talazoparib improved patient-reported quality-of-life measures and had a tolerable safety profile in patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer and BRCA1/2 mutations. However, the study did not demonstrate a statistically significant overall survival benefit due to subsequent treatments.

Immunotherapy effective in metastatic prostate cancers with specific markers of immune activation

A Phase II trial found patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who showed active T-cell responses in their tumors experienced prolonged survival after ipilimumab treatment. Researchers identified biomarkers associated with improved responses, including higher T-cell density and interferon-γ signaling.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 1, 2020