Men receiving care at multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinics are more likely to be informed about treatment options and receive evidence-based care, according to a new study. African American men also tend to opt for definitive therapy, challenging national trends.
Researchers found that prostate cancer bone metastases produce high levels of TGF-β, which crowds out helpful T cells needed for effective treatment. Combining anti-TGF-β with checkpoint inhibitors may reverse resistance and improve outcomes.
Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that secondary tumor-reduction surgery followed by chemotherapy did not result in longer survival than chemotherapy alone. The study involved 240 patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer and showed that complete tumor resection was associated with i...
The BEACON CRC Phase III clinical trial found that the three-drug combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab significantly improved overall survival in patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer. Median OS for the triplet-targeted therapy was 9 months compared to 5.4 months for standard therapy.
A Phase III trial validates the benefit of veliparib for patients with newly diagnosed, metastatic high-grade serous ovarian cancer. The combination therapy achieved a PFS of 23.5 months, compared to 17.3 months for the control arm.
A comprehensive tobacco treatment program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center resulted in an average of 45% smoking abstinence rates among participating cancer patients. This rate surpasses that of previous minimal interventions like quitlines, which averaged less than 20% abstinence rates.
A Phase 1B study led by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated positive safety results for pegilodecakin when combined with pembrolizumab and nivolumab. The treatment showed promising anti-tumor activity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and kidney cancer.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center confirm ubiquitin specific protease 21 (UPS21) as a frequently amplified gene in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a form of pancreatic cancer. Depletion of UPS21 impairs tumor growth, promoting malignant transformation and cancer cell stemness.
Long-term survivors of pancreatic cancer have a diverse tumor microbiome, which boosts their immune attack on tumors. Fecal transplant treatments can alter the tumor microbiome, suggesting a potential therapeutic opportunity for improving pancreatic cancer treatment.
The FDA has approved erdafitinib as a targeted therapy for patients with advanced bladder cancer who have specific gene mutations in the FGFR3 gene. The drug achieved a 40% overall response rate and was well-tolerated, offering an alternative to existing treatments.
Scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that PRC1 regulates metastasis by suppressing the immune system, leading to tumor blood vessel growth. A novel PRC1 inhibitor showed efficacy as a single treatment and cooperated with immunotherapy to suppress metastasis.
Researchers discovered a cellular pathway linked to cancer that may benefit patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by reducing side effects and extending immunotherapy duration. The study found that blocking the IL-6/JAK1 pathway could resolve immunotherapy side effects and improve treatment outcomes.
A new study found that the tobacco industry's corrective statements reached only 40.6% of US adults and 50.5% of current smokers in 2018, highlighting the need for targeted advertising to reach key populations. The ads had lower exposure among certain ethnic and socioeconomic subgroups, including those with higher smoking rates.
A phase III trial found that a three-drug combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab significantly improved overall survival in patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer. The treatment resulted in a median overall survival of 9 months compared to 5.4 months for standard therapy.
Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center discovers a symbiotic circuit between PTEN-deficient glioblastoma cells and macrophages, which creates a mutually supportive relationship. Inhibiting LOX, a novel attractor of macrophages, shrinks tumors and blocks macrophage infiltration.
A Phase II clinical trial conducted at MD Anderson Cancer Center revealed an 84.6% overall response rate and 38.5% complete response rate when combination targeted therapy was given prior to chemotherapy for newly diagnosed patients with a specific type of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The findings suggest that patients who respond to...
The combination immunotherapy of nivolumab and ipilimumab met the primary endpoint of the NEOSTAR trial with a 33% overall major pathologic response rate in early-stage lung cancer patients. The treatment was also shown to be effective in reducing tumor viability, with six out of 21 patients achieving a complete pathological response.
The MONALEESA-7 Phase III trial found that adding ribociclib to hormone therapy significantly improved overall survival in premenopausal patients with advanced HR+ breast cancer, with a 29% lower risk of death. The combination was well-tolerated, with no new side effects emerging.
Researchers found that the combination of ibrutinib and venetoclax was highly effective in achieving complete remission with undetectable minimal residual disease in high-risk CLL patients. The study also showed that this combination therapy had no new toxic effects compared to individual agents.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center discovered a small molecule drug, IACS-10759, that targets metabolic reprogramming and inhibits OXPHOS, leading to marked growth inhibition in ibrutinib-resistant mantle cell lymphoma cells. The study provides hope for patients with this incurable B-cell lymphoma.
Eight researchers from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have been awarded $100,000 fellowships to conduct high-impact cancer research over two years. The Andrew Sabin Family Fellowship Program aims to encourage creativity and innovation in cancer research.
A study at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center identified a new therapeutic target in cancer cells, caseinolytic protease P (ClpP), which breaks down proteins within mitochondria. New anti-cancer agents called imipridones activate ClpP and cause cancer cell death via mitochondrial proteolysis.
A Phase II trial led by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports a 90% response rate for patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) treated with tagraxofusp. The treatment was effective regardless of prior therapy, and survival rates were relatively high at 59% and 52% at 18 and 24 months, respe...
Triple negative breast cancer cells can temporarily turn on molecular pathways protecting them from chemotherapy, making them vulnerable to targeted therapy IACS-10759. This discovery offers a new treatment option for resistant TNBC patients.
A Phase II trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center showed umbralisib to be an effective treatment for patients with relapsed marginal zone lymphoma, achieving a 55% partial or complete response rate. The drug was well-tolerated, with a 71% progression-free survival after one year.
A study published in Nature identified a new approach to starve pancreatic cancer cells of molecular resources. The researchers found that the protein syndecan-1 plays a critical role in regulating macropinocytosis, a mechanism used by cancer cells to scavenge resources and divide.
A new study by MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests that certain B cells with unique characteristics can predict which patients are most likely to respond to immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma and kidney cancer. The researchers found that activated B cells with specific phenotypes were associated with a better response to treatment.
Researchers identified a common oncogene, KRAS, as a key player in immune checkpoint blockade therapy resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer. Restoring IRF2 expression or inhibiting MDSCs through CXCL3-CXCR2 signaling increased CRC sensitivity to ICB therapy.
Researchers found that ZEB1 forces KRAS-driven lung cancer cells to switch from stable to mobile, resistant mesenchymal cells, making them less responsive to MEK inhibitors. A combination of an HDAC inhibitor and a MEK inhibitor reversed this transition and restored vulnerability to targeted therapy.
A multi-center study by MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals that a liquid biopsy test, Guardant360, is comparable to standard tissue biopsies in detecting guideline-recommended biomarkers for advanced NSCLC. The test identified four mutations for which FDA-approved drugs exist and offers faster turn-around time.
Researchers found that brain metastases from melanoma are equipped to thwart immunotherapies and targeted therapies due to their reliance on oxidative phosphorylation metabolism. This metabolic pathway presents a potentially new therapeutic against these lethal tumors.
Researchers found a promising new treatment for small cell lung cancer by combining immune checkpoint blockade with targeted therapies that block DNA damage repair. This combination achieved significant tumor regression in mouse models, suggesting potential benefits for patients.
A new therapeutic target has been identified for aggressive pediatric cancers with few treatment options. The researchers discovered that malignant rhabdoid tumors may be sensitive to drugs that block the cancer cell's ability to dispose of misfolded proteins, and a Phase II clinical trial is underway to investigate this approach.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a link between FGL2 protein and glioblastoma progression. FGL2, known for suppressing the immune system, is highly expressed in GBM and can be eliminated by knocking it out, eliminating tumor progression in mice with intact immune systems.
A new study found that complication rates following invasive lung cancer diagnostic tests are twice as high in the community setting compared to clinical trials, with associated downstream costs of $6,320 to $56,845 on average. The researchers emphasize the need for sharing risks with patients considering lung cancer screening.
Researchers identified VISTA on immune cells infiltrating pancreatic tumors, which resisted immune checkpoint blockade drugs. The study highlights the importance of stroma and found higher expression of VISTA in pancreatic tumors compared to melanoma.
Researchers discovered a gene signature associated with treatment response and survival in patients with HPV-positive head and neck cancers. The biomarker distinguishes between two subgroups within HPV-positive patients, one with similar survival rates to HPV-negative cancers.
Researchers identified a key enzyme linked to therapy resistance in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. The study found that inhibiting this enzyme can lead to tumor regression and improved treatment outcomes.
A follow-up analysis of axi-cel-treated patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) reported that 51% were still alive two years post-treatment. The study found that 83% achieved a reduction in cancer activity, and 39% had ongoing responses. CAR-T cell persistence and B-cell recovery were also observed in most patients.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center report high response rates of 90% among frontline-treated patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). The study, led by Naveen Pemmaraju, presents a novel targeted therapy targeting CD-123, a cell surface receptor expressed in BPDCN and other hematologic malignancies.
A triple therapy combining two immune checkpoint inhibitors with standard-of-care chemotherapy has shown a complete response rate of 43% and projected one-year overall survival of 58%. The treatment approach showed promising results, but more study is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Researchers found fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to be an effective treatment for severe colitis caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors. The study showed both patients experienced significant improvements in inflammation and ulcerations after FMT, with reduced resemblance to their own pre-treatment gut microbiome.
A Phase II study found a combination of azacitidine and nivolumab therapy resulted in a 33% overall response rate and 22% complete remission rate for patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia. The drug combination was particularly effective in patients who had not previously received hypomethylating agents, with an overa...
Two studies found that minimally invasive radical hysterectomy is associated with higher recurrence rates and worse overall survival for women with early-stage cervical cancer. The findings have already changed care at MD Anderson Cancer Center and could impact surgical management of all women with early-stage disease.
Researchers developed an antibody to block DKK3, which stimulated cancer growth and resistance to therapy. In a mouse study, the treatment significantly prolonged life and boosted immune cell infiltration.
A study published in Nature Genetics found that long non-coding RNA MALAT1 suppresses breast cancer metastasis, contradicting its previously described role as a metastasis promoter. The researchers used mouse models to show that MALAT1 binds and inactivates TEAD, a transcription factor involved in promoting metastasis.
A Phase II clinical trial found marked improvement in three patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and often fatal brain infection. Patients infused with donor T cells targeting the BK virus experienced significant reductions in JC viral load and clinical improvement.
A phase II study led by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that neoadjuvant combination checkpoint blockade produced a high response rate among patients with high-risk stage 3 melanoma, with nearly half having no sign of disease at surgery. However, the trial was closed early due to high incidence of side effects.
A phase II clinical trial found that a tumor-specific vaccine combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor shrank tumors in one third of patients with incurable cancer related to the human papilloma virus (HPV) and had a median survival of 17.5 months.
Researchers identified BAP1-regulated target genes and mechanisms linking ferroptosis to tumor suppression in various cancers. Treatment with ROS inducer resulted in increased ferroptosis-related cell death in BAP1 cancer cells, suggesting a potential new area of therapy research.