Articles tagged with Cancer Medication
A new HPV vaccine study is underway in women aged 24-45 to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts. The quadrivalent vaccine protects against four common strains of human papillomavirus virus, including two that cause cervical cancer and two that cause genital warts.
Researchers found that combining doxorubicin with dexrazoxane reduced heart damage in high-risk ALL survivors by 25 percent compared to doxorubicin alone. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, used blood tests to detect heart damage before it could be seen on echocardiograms.
A new study by The Wistar Institute suggests that the MYC protein binds to a large percentage of genes without activating them. This discovery raises questions about MYC's other functions and potential tissue-specific controls.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have developed a microarray chip that can track the genetic signature of cancer and normal tissue by analyzing miRNA gene expression patterns. This technology has the potential to provide new targets for drug development and improve our understanding of cancer phenotypes.
A study using FMISO-PET scans found that high uptake of the tracer correlates with a greater risk of tumor recurrence, while low uptake is associated with a longer survival rate. The technique may enable more precise prediction of therapeutic outcomes and improved patient treatment.
A new combined PET/CT scanner has shown significant improvement in tumor staging accuracy compared to traditional CT and PET imaging methods. The study involved 260 patients with various oncological diseases, yielding accurate staging results in 84% of cases.
Researchers at UC Davis are developing a new cancer treatment that uses ultrasound to steer tiny capsules carrying cancer-fighting drugs to tumors. This approach aims to reduce the toxic side effects of current cancer treatments by concentrating the drug directly in the tumor.
Researchers found that Cox-2 inhibitors slowed disease progression in men with recurrent prostate cancer by inhibiting tumor growth and increasing programmed cell death. The study showed significant results in 22 of 24 patients, with a 92% reduction in PSA levels after three months.
A small clinical trial showed that 22 out of 27 patients experienced improvement in symptoms such as weakness and pain after taking pentoxifylline for eight weeks. Researchers believe the drug may help reduce inflammation and improve quality of life for those with radiation fibrosis.
The study found that 85% of cancer patients use prayer as a common non-medical therapy for healing, while 25% change their diets or use mega-vitamins to improve their health. Patients often don't discuss these therapies with their doctors due to communication gaps.
Researchers found that approximately 50% of gemcitabine dose was converted to an active form, while the remaining 50% remained inactive. This discovery highlights the need for alternative treatment schedules for cancer patients undergoing gemcitabine infusions.
Researchers found Veglin to be safe and effective in lowering blood levels of key enzymes, showing promise in blocking tumor growth and metastasis. The phase I trial has shown encouraging results in patients with diverse disease types, paving the way for future phase II clinical trials.
A Phase III clinical trial of Tarceva and chemotherapy showed no overall benefit in survival or response, but a subgroup analysis found young non-smokers treated with Tarceva survived longer than those using chemotherapy. The study suggests that this class of drug may not function well when combined with chemotherapy.
A global study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that docetaxel therapy significantly improves survival time for hormone-resistant prostate cancer patients. Patients treated with tri-weekly docetaxel survived 2.4 months longer than those receiving the standard chemotherapy drug, mitoxantrone.
Two landmark studies show that Taxotere-based regimens improve patients' PSA responses by 43% and pain responses by 59%, leading to a 27% increase in disease-progression-free survival. The treatment also provides hope to thousands of men worldwide, offering an important new option for living longer.
A Phase II trial has shown SU11248 benefits more than half of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that have developed resistance to Gleevec, a widely used drug in treating the disease. The drug was found to be effective in shrinking tumors and stabilizing disease for extended periods.
Researchers have discovered a new clinical treatment, SU11248, that overcomes resistance to Gleevec in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). The drug has shown striking clinical benefits, stabilizing the disease in 65% of patients and inducing partial responses in 13%.
Lapatinib, a new breast cancer drug, has shown promising results in shrinking tumors or slowing growth in 46% of patients. The medication targets both Her-2 and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGFR) receptors, which blocks cell signaling and inhibits tumor growth
A new investigational drug has shown promise in treating kidney cancer, producing durable responses and stable disease in patients. The study found that nearly two-thirds of patients experienced stable disease after 12 weeks, and the median time to progression was nearly one year.
A Phase I/II trial combining bevacizumab (Avastin) and erlotinib (Tarceva) achieved 85% tumor control and 12.5-month median survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients, outperforming traditional therapies.
A new medication called atrasentan has shown promise in slowing the progression of prostate cancer to the bone, reducing pain and maintaining quality of life. The drug's effect on stabilizing disease progression was observed across phase II and III clinical trials.
A new breast cancer treatment, gemcitabine with paclitaxel, has been shown to extend overall survival in women with advanced breast cancer. The study found that median overall survival was 18.5 months for the combination therapy, compared to 15.8 months for paclitaxel alone.
The study found that Tarceva significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with advanced NSCLC, with a median survival of 6.7 months compared to 4.7 months in the placebo arm. The treatment also showed improvements in time to symptom deterioration, response rate, and patient survival at one year.
Researchers at UC Davis Cancer Center discovered that sequential administration of erlotinib and docetaxel enhances effectiveness in treating non-small cell lung cancer. The study showed that giving docetaxel first, then erlotinib, was more effective than simultaneous or alternative administration.
Researchers have found a novel agent, SU11248, to be highly effective in treating advanced renal cell carcinoma. The treatment has shown significant activity in patients whose cancer had failed to respond to standard therapy.
The FDA-approved Avastin increases patient survival by almost five months when combined with chemotherapy, showing a 10.6-month progression-free survival rate compared to 6.2 months in the control group.
Researchers at UNC have identified a crucial role for a segment of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) in activating the enzyme, which promotes cancer cell growth and metastasis. By making subtle changes to this region, they created a mutant protein that blocks FAK activity, suggesting potential therapeutic applications.
Researchers at Tufts University have discovered an extracellular form of heat shock protein 90 (hsp90) involved in cancer cell invasion, a key step in tumor progression. The study highlights the potential for developing antibodies against hsp90 as a new treatment option for cancer.
Researchers found that comorbidities are strongly correlated with cancer survival rates, with severe comorbidities reducing overall survival by 33% after five years. Comorbidity data is most useful in treatable types of tumors, like prostate and breast cancer.
Researchers identified six genes with mutations that affect cancer development in colon cancers, providing potential new targets for therapy. The study also found significant mutations in tyrosine kinase and phosphatase families across various types of cancer.
The study showed that ganciclovir treatment lowers the risk of developing cancer and early organ rejection in kidney transplant patients. Ganciclovir offers dual benefits, extending patient life by reducing malignancy and improving graft survival with reduced rejection.
Researchers find that alkylating agents can induce necrotic cell death in cancer cells by damaging DNA and activating the PARP protein. This process is specific to proliferating cancer cells and does not affect healthy cells, offering a potential new approach to treating cancer.
A recent study has found that minimally invasive laparoscopically assisted colectomy is an acceptable alternative for treating colon cancer when performed by experienced surgeons. The procedure's success depends on stringent surgical standards being followed.
Researchers at VIB have developed nanobodies, tiny proteins that can target specific cancer cells. These nanobodies have shown promise in treating various diseases, including inflammatory and heart conditions.
A multicentre, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study is underway to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tectin in moderate to severe inadequately controlled cancer-related pain. The trial has shown promising results, with almost three-quarters of patients experiencing a clinically meaningful analgesic response.
The US task force recommends targeted screening of healthy women over 70 with mammography and Pap tests, as there is limited evidence to support universal screening for lung cancer. Meanwhile, a study reveals that managing drug care for older adults requires improvement, with failures in educating patients on medication use and underus...
Researchers found that patients with certain EGFR gene mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) respond well to treatment with Iressa, a kinase blocker. The study identifies the potential for screening patients for these mutations to predict treatment response and benefits ethnic populations differently.
Researchers at MGH Cancer Center found that specific gene mutations in the EGFR gene predict responsiveness to Iressa, a targeted therapy that causes tumors to shrink significantly. The discovery will help determine which patients benefit from Iressa and potentially lead to new targeted therapies.
A team of scientists developed a biological computer that can diagnose cancer and produce a drug to kill cancer cells in a test tube. The system uses pre-programmed medical knowledge and DNA-manipulating enzymes to identify cancer biomarkers and release targeted therapy.
Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions can occur in cancer patients receiving potentially life-prolonging agents, necessitating expert nursing care. Nurses play a critical role in monitoring patients, stabilizing reactions, and providing emotional support.
A new study on BCX-1777, a PNP inhibitor, found that it can elevate plasma dGuo levels and inhibit erythrocyte PNP activity in cancer patients. The results suggest potential therapeutic applications for BCX-1777 in treating autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers identified a new kinase inhibitor that blocks a different path used by cancer, leading to improved treatment outcomes for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The study found that the inhibitor impaired proliferation of leukemic cells and prolonged survival in mice with B-ALL.
A survey of 32 popular English-language websites found that many promoted unproven therapies and some were even dangerous, while others provided valuable and reliable information. The researchers recommend a seal of approval scheme for complementary and alternative websites to minimize harm.
A study examining health care benefits and disadvantages when physicians treat themselves found that even doctors who disapprove of self-doctoring may do so due to lack of thought. Benefits include convenience and control, but also risks such as delayed care and ignoring medical instincts.
Researchers found that higher doses of imatinib were more effective in achieving complete cytogenetic response (CCR) and complete molecular response, with a CCR rate of 90% compared to 60-75%. The high dosage was also well-tolerated with similar side effects as standard dose imatinib.
Dr. Blossom A. Damania has been awarded the $50,000 Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award for her research on tumor virology and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). This award recognizes her groundbreaking work in deciphering how the virus can transform cells into malignancies.
A new study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine found that taking patients off thyroid medication for only two weeks prior to a scan produces the desired changes in nearly 90% of patients. This simplified approach reduces the need for six-week follow-up scans, making it easier and quicker for patients.
Webster Cavenee receives $250,000 grant from National Foundation For Cancer Research to study cancer tumors. His research focuses on defining genetic lesions in human cancer and developing therapeutic approaches.
Engineers at Ohio State University used compressed carbon dioxide to embed protein molecules in plastic, creating a process for developing implantable drugs. The technology could be used to release medicines into the body, improving medical treatment and reducing environmental impact.
A combination of two existing drugs, rapamycin and doxorubicin, was found to be effective in treating cancer by restoring a natural cell death mechanism and triggering programmed cell death. The treatment led to complete remission in mouse models of B-cell lymphoma.
A study found that mutated tumor suppressor genes, particularly p53 and p21, play a significant role in bladder cancer development. Eighty bladder cancer patients were evaluated, and the researchers discovered that these genes are altered in 83 percent of patients.
Faslodex, a novel oestrogen receptor antagonist, has been approved by the EU for treating advanced oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The drug offers durable responses and tolerability benefits compared to existing therapies, with a unique sustained release formulation administered monthly.
A new clinical trial called TREE-2 is evaluating the safety and efficacy of three regimens of ELoxatin as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The study combines an effective anti-angiogenesis antibody with chemotherapy to improve treatment outcomes.
Dr. Gutkind received the IADR Oral Medicine/Pathology Research Award for his seminal research on normal and oncogenic functions of non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinases. He has published over 200 scientific papers and contributed to developing molecular markers of disease progression in oral malignancies.
According to Dr. McDougall, high-fat low-carbohydrate diets can increase the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, colon cancer, and more. In contrast, populations that consume high-carbohydrate foods tend to have a lower risk of these conditions.
A widely used anti-nausea drug, dexamethasone, may interfere with cancer chemotherapy. Pretreatment with dexamethasone reduces the ability of paclitaxel and doxorubicin to kill cancer cells by upregulating genes that protect breast cancer cells from cell death.
Researchers developed a model to calculate the optimal length of follow-up time for breast cancer patients without significantly reducing detection rates. By reducing follow-up periods from ten years to four years, six years' worth of physician time and outpatient costs could be redirected to more effective treatment processes.
Cancer specialist Professor Bleyer warns that teenagers and young adults are 'orphaned in the world of cancer care delivery,' citing a 25-year stagnation in survival rates compared to children and older adults. The main reasons include delayed diagnosis due to psychological factors, lack of routine medical care, and underinsured status.
Tony Hunter and Raymond N. DuBois have been awarded prestigious Landon-AACR Prizes for their significant contributions to understanding, treatment, and prevention of cancer. Their work has led to the development of anti-cancer drugs and potential mechanisms to inhibit enzyme activity.
Researchers have discovered that low-dose HDAC inhibitors can prevent the production of inflammatory cytokines, reducing cell damage and improving survival rates in mice with GVHD. The study suggests that these drugs may be used to reduce the risk of death, hospitalization, and serious side effects associated with bone marrow transplants.