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Disappearing into thin air

University of Bristol researchers have discovered a way to exploit hypoxia to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. The study found that a specific receptor, GPRC5A, can be targeted using genetic techniques to trigger cancer cell death.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·DateAug 24, 2018

Modifying the major model of a modern major mouse model

Scientists have created a more complete humanized mouse model by combining human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with mesenchymal stem cells. This allows for more realistic testing of immunotherapies, leading to improved cancer treatment predictions. The new model enables researchers to compare the interaction of the immune sys...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalMolecular Carcinogenesis·DateAug 23, 2018

A switch to turn fragrances on and off

Scientists at Salk Institute and Purdue University discovered a key to mass-producing beneficial plant compounds, including terpenoids used in fragrances, flavorings, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals. They found that plants have an

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature Plants·DateAug 21, 2018

New study views cancer treatment as a game to find strategies that improve patient outcomes

A new study suggests that cancer treatment should be viewed as a game where physicians can exploit their knowledge of the cancer's evolutionary dynamics to develop flexible strategic treatment plans. By continuously adjusting drugs and doses, physicians can delay or prevent cancer progression caused by resistance.

New RNA & DNA-sequencing platform matches thousands of drugs to late-stage cancer patients

A new RNA sequencing platform has been developed to match thousands of drugs with late-stage and drug-resistant multiple myeloma patients, providing a more accurate treatment approach. The platform's results showed that a majority of patients benefited from personalized treatment plans based on their cancer's RNA profile.

Measuring the effects of drugs on cancer cells

Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a new method to quickly test various anti-cancer drugs and treatment combinations at the cellular level. The approach has revealed how PARP inhibitors work in cancer cells by locking their target protein in an inactive state, leading to DNA damage and cell death.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 11, 2018

Brain metastases common and difficult to treat in ROS1 lung cancer

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study found that brain metastases are a common occurrence in stage IV ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The study also showed that patients with ROS1 mutations had similar progression-free survival rates as ALK patients when treated with crizotinib, but with a higher risk of brain metastas...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateJul 10, 2018

Cost-effectiveness study of risk-based screenings for breast cancer

A cost-effectiveness study analyzed risk-based breast cancer screening programs versus standard age-based screening, evaluating their impact on healthcare resources and patient outcomes. The study found that risk-based screening programs can be more cost-effective than traditional age-based programs for certain populations in the UK.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Oncology·DateJul 5, 2018

Eat 'em up: Next-generation therapeutic helps immune cells detect, destroy cancer

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a supramolecular therapeutic that blocks the 'eat me not' signal sent by cancer cells and converts macrophages to the attacking M1 subtype. The approach has yielded promising results in preclinical models, showing complete inhibition of tumor growth and increased survival rates.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateJul 2, 2018