Research on the drugs used to treat cancer and how well they work. Covers immunotherapy, chemotherapy-free regimens, biosimilars, targeted drugs, and treatment costs.
Researchers found that cancer cells promote blood clot formation to enter the brain tissue. Inhibiting clotting factors thrombin and von Willebrand factor reduced brain metastases in mice. The study suggests targeting this process with drugs for preventing brain metastases in high-risk patients.
A biologist has created software tools to model cancer pathways and predict the efficacy of cancer drugs. The project aims to develop targeted treatments that target specific signaling networks in cancer cells, reducing harm to normal cells.
Cancer cells use a molecule called ENPP1 to destroy warning signals that trigger an immune response, making them resistant to immunotherapy. Flipping this switch off could increase sensitivity to checkpoint inhibitors and improve treatment outcomes for various cancers.
A triple drug combination of irinotecan, cetuximab, and vemurafenib has shown better tumor response rates and longer cancer-free periods compared to a two-drug combination in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The treatment targets the BRAF protein directly and blocks cancer growth by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor.
Researchers have discovered that free-floating circular DNA fragments called ecDNA form in cancer cells and drive gene amplification to generate drug resistance. Combining chemotherapeutic drugs with molecules that prevent ecDNA formation can inhibit its emergence and reduce drug resistance.
Studies reveal that income level, employment, housing location, medical insurance, education, tobacco and alcohol use, diet and obesity, access to medical care are common causes of poorer outcomes in both Black patients with cancer and COVID-19 patients.
The FDA Oncology Center of Excellence has developed initiatives to address the unique challenges faced by cancer patients during COVID-19. The center provides guidance and support to healthcare professionals, enabling them to provide high-quality cancer care despite the pandemic's impact.
A new drug combination combining a widely used diabetes treatment with an experimental cancer drug has shown significant improvements in blood glucose control and weight loss in mice. The combination treatment enhanced insulin secretion and reduced body weight, paving the way for clinical studies.
A study from Scripps Research Institute has identified an enzyme that limits blood vessel growth, providing insights into potential medicines to kill tumors and stop cancer from spreading. The findings also may enable new interventions for healthy blood-vessel development in people with heart disease and other conditions.
Researchers developed a compound that inhibits the growth of cancer cells by targeting mitochondrial function, without severe side effects. The compound prevents genetic information within mitochondria from being read, starving cancer cells into dying.
Researchers discovered that abatacept reduced severity of myocarditis in genetic mouse model and human patients. The study provides a potential new treatment option for patients with immune-related side effects from immunotherapies.
Researchers from Lithuania's three top universities have developed a method to improve anticancer drug delivery by combining low-intensity pulsed ultrasound with microbubbles. The team found that the rate of microbubble survival time is the best indicator for determining sonoporation efficiency.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science modified mesenchymal stem cells to carry anti-cancer drugs and deliver them to target cancers, showing efficient delivery in mouse models. The study suggests a faster and more effective method for delivering drugs to tumor cells.
Researchers found a drug used to treat pulmonary hypertension significantly reduced tumor cell migration and invasion, and showed promise in slowing breast cancer progression. The study aims to conduct clinical trials with patients undergoing chemotherapy to further investigate the treatment's effectiveness.
A new RNA drug-discovery tool called Chem-CLIP-Fragment Mapping has been developed to address the challenge of 'undruggable' proteins. The tool uses functionalized fragments that can bind to RNAs and modify their structure, enabling the design of medicines against previously untreatable diseases.
Researchers at Cleveland Clinic's Taussig Cancer Institute have identified a potential new class of targeted drugs to treat myeloid leukemias, including those with the common TET2 gene mutation. The new pharmacological strategy, TETi76, preferentially targets and eliminates leukemia cells with TET2 mutations in preclinical models.
ReceptorNet, a deep-learning algorithm developed by Salesforce Research, can determine hormone-receptor status from inexpensive tissue images, improving treatment decision-making for breast cancer patients. This technology has the potential to make high-quality therapies more accessible globally.
Researchers found non-pharmacological interventions such as fan therapy and bilevel ventilation to be effective in improving breathlessness in patients with advanced cancer. In contrast, medications like opioids had limited impact on symptom relief.
Women who receive mastectomy and reconstructive surgery are at increased risk of developing persistent use of opioids and sedative-hypnotic drugs. The study found that 13.1% of patients become new persistent opioid users after surgery, while 6.6% develop persistent sedative-hypnotic use.
A recent study reveals unique mutation patterns in the genes PIK3CA, GNAS, SMAD3, and TSC2 among young patients with appendiceal cancer. These findings suggest potential for targeted therapies, such as alpelisib, which have already been approved for advanced breast cancer.
New research uses microbubbles to deliver anticancer drugs directly to tumour sites, improving efficacy and reducing harm to healthy cells. The technology allows for targeted delivery of highly toxic drugs with precision, increasing potency and reducing side effects.
Scientists have discovered a way to control the flow of liquids using magnetotactic bacteria, which can be used to transport cancer drugs directly to tumors. The bacteria produce an effect similar to that of a micropump, allowing for precise control over the movement of active substances.
A new cancer therapy approach combines gemcitabine chemotherapy with celecoxib, an anti-inflammatory medication, to activate the immune system and fight cancer. The combination has shown potential in improving the percentage of patients who respond to immunotherapy drugs.
Researchers have discovered that isatuximab, a monoclonal antibody approved for multiple myeloma, can effectively treat relapsed refractory AL amyloidosis. The study showed an overall response rate of 77% among patients who received the treatment.
The combination of venetoclax with chemotherapy improves outcomes for patients with AML and MDS, with a promising overall response rate and acceptable safety profile. Venetoclax also demonstrates efficacy in treating high-risk MDS when combined with azacitidine.
Researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute have identified a potential drug combination to treat uveal melanoma by targeting genes GNAQ and GNA11. The study showed that using trametinib and hydroxychloroquine together led to more cell deaths than the drugs alone.
A comprehensive map of approximately 200 kinases has been created to assist researchers in designing molecules that target specific kinases for destruction. This could lead to more effective cancer therapies by targeting kinases that play a key role in tumor cell proliferation.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have identified a new target for aggressive lung adenocarcinomas driven by the KEAP1 and STK11 mutations. By inhibiting ferroptosis, these tumors rely on this blockade to grow and survive.
A new study from Harvard Medical School forecasts the impact of eliminating race from kidney function formulas on Black patients with kidney disease. The analysis suggests that removing race-based adjustments may lead to earlier diagnoses and better access to care, but also restricts access to certain medications and treatments.
A machine learning model developed in Finland can identify best cancer drug combinations to selectively kill specific cancer cells with unique genetic or functional profiles. The AI model accurately predicts how different drug combinations inhibit particular cancer cells, paving the way for more effective cancer treatments.
Researchers report factors preventing effective launch of oncology biosimilars, including market share struggles and patent litigation lawsuits. The 'Pay-for-Delay' strategy by AMGEN and Genentech/Roche holds the market hostage.
Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine published a study using a donated tumor from Tyler Trent, a college student who died from bone cancer. The team found that a combination therapy significantly slowed tumor growth in models, leading to hopes for new treatments and improved outcomes for children with osteosarcoma.
UTEP researchers will use 3D bioprinting to study the progression of diabetes and its effects on the heart, aiming to develop targeted treatments for cardiomyopathy. The project also aims to screen cardiac toxicity in common drugs used by patients with type 2 diabetes.
A new study found that cancer drug treatment registrations in the UK increased by June 2020, following 'rapid' NHS guidance. The initial decrease in April was largely reversed by May and June, with a significant increase in neoadjuvant breast cancer therapy registrations.
A new therapeutic PD-1 cancer vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in an animal study, activating both B- and T-cell functions to promote tumor clearance. The vaccine is targeted to block signaling pathways crucial for tumor growth and maintenance, offering a promising approach to immunotherapy.
A study led by Massachusetts General Hospital found that early treatment with lorlatinib improved survival rates and reduced the risk of brain metastasis in ALK-positive lung cancer patients. Lorlatinib was shown to be effective as a first-line therapy, reducing the risk of cancer progression or death by 72%.
Researchers designed DNA-based nanogels that break down and release chemotherapeutic contents only in cancer cells. The nanogels use biomarkers like FEN1 to differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells, reducing the impact on normal cells.
Researchers have discovered that Netrin-G1 helps pancreatic cancer cells survive by protecting them from the immune system and supplying them with nutrients. The study found that an antibody targeting Netrin-G1 was able to stunt tumor development in mice, demonstrating its potential as a new treatment.
A team of scientists at Tokyo University of Science has developed a novel synthesis method to create phenazinones, which show high cytotoxicity towards cancer cells. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of new anticancer drugs with minimal side effects.
The EA2176 study aims to enroll 205 patients in the US with inoperable advanced squamous cell anal cancer, comparing standard chemotherapy with or without nivolumab. The trial seeks to determine if adding immunotherapy will prolong progression-free survival and reduce symptoms.
A promising MS drug called TEPP-46 has shown worsening effects on the disease in mouse models, causing inflammation redirection and T cell changes. The research suggests caution before moving the drug to human trials.
Researchers have identified RNF43 as a potential biomarker to predict which cancers will respond to Wnt inhibitor therapies. This discovery brings personalized medicine in cancer therapy closer to reality, offering new hope for targeted treatment and improved patient outcomes.
A SWOG Cancer Research Network study found that the ipilimumab and nivolumab combination shrinks rare angiosarcoma tumors in 25% of patients, with a 60% response rate for those with facial or scalp lesions, offering new hope for treatment
A clinical trial is planned to evaluate personalized drug screens for medulloblastoma, a deadly form of pediatric brain cancer. The approach uses tumor cells from biopsies and has been shown to identify effective therapies that cannot be predicted using other methods.
Researchers found a significant rise in early-stage cancer diagnoses following ACA's Medicaid expansion, while late-stage cancer rates decreased over time. The study suggests that increased access to healthcare led to better cancer screening and treatment outcomes.
A new study from Penn Medicine researchers found that early and repeated exposures to diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays and CT scans, may increase the risk of testicular cancer. The study suggests that reduced medically unnecessary testicular exposure could be considered to reduce radiation dose and optimize shielding practices.
A researcher at Indiana University School of Medicine has received a $2.9 million grant to develop a drug that could make radiation therapy more effective in treating lung cancer and other solid tumors.
A synthetic protein nanoparticle has been developed that can deliver cancer-killing drugs directly to malignant brain tumors. In a study, the treatment led to long-term survival in seven out of eight mice with glioblastoma, with no signs of regrowing tumor cells.
Research at Humane Society International found that human organoid models outperform xenografts in predicting patient responses and developing new medicines. Funding for human biology-based approaches remains scarce, highlighting a need to accelerate the transition to more effective non-animal technologies.
A new predictive model estimates personal risk for advanced polyps and colon cancer in average risk individuals, helping physicians determine screening options. The study identifies lower and higher risk groups among average risk individuals, with approximately 10% deemed high risk for a colonoscopy.
The VA Integration Support Program provides $50,000 grants to VA medical centers to facilitate veteran enrollment in SWOG and NCTN trials. This initiative aims to increase access to targeted treatments and immunotherapies for veterans with cancer.
A new study shows that the introduction of new cancer drugs between 2000 and 2016 led to a significant reduction in mortality rates for patients with 15 common types of cancer, including breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. The study estimates that these drug approvals saved over 1.2 million lives during this period.
A Boston University School of Medicine study reveals a widening gap between high deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollment and the availability of health savings accounts (HSAs), exacerbating health inequities among Black, Hispanic, and lower-income populations.
Researchers found that a commonly prescribed anti-depressant can halt the growth of childhood sarcoma by targeting a specific receptor, offering hope for novel treatment strategies. The study provides a new paradigm for controlling tumour-driving receptors and could lead to the development of specific therapeutics.
Researchers discovered that clonal hematopoiesis, a phenomenon where non-cancer DNA mutations are present in blood plasma, is confounding prostate cancer liquid biopsy results. This can lead to false positives and incorrect treatment for patients undergoing liquid biopsies.
Researchers have developed a novel antibody-drug conjugate that selectively recognizes and penetrates pancreatic tumors, reducing tumor size and metastasis. The treatment, which uses MRI-based molecular imaging to monitor its effect, shows promise as a more precise approach than existing 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...
Researchers have identified a new class of sedatives that could enhance the effectiveness of radiation and immunotherapy treatments for metastatic melanoma, reducing toxic side effects. In animal models, these treatments resulted in improved infiltration of immune cells into tumors, shrinking or eliminating cancerous growths.
Researchers found beta-blocker Propranolol reduces the spread of cancer in lungs with an inflammatory profile similar to COVID-19. Clinical trials are proposed to explore its effectiveness against COVID-19.
Researchers have developed a new treatment that induces an integrated immune response in tumors of patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancers, which are resistant to immunotherapy. The treatment, plerixafor, works by interrupting an immunosuppressive pathway, allowing critical immune cells to infiltrate the tumors.