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 tested the novel next-generation small molecule drug SGI-110 in MDS and AML patients, revealing it is well-tolerated and biologically active. The study found potent dose-related DNA demethylation associated with clinical response, showing promise for treating leukemia patients.
The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group has opened the National Cancer Institute-Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (NCI-MATCH) phase II precision medicine trial. The trial seeks to enroll approximately 3,000 adults with solid tumors or lymphoma who have returned or worsened after standard therapy.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine find no evidence of association between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and cancer incidence. The large population sample analyzed various cancer diagnoses among people with PTSD compared to the general population, showing no strong associations even among select groups.
Organ transplant recipients are more susceptible to developing regional stage melanoma due to immunosuppressive medications. The study found that transplant patients were four times more likely to be diagnosed with regional stage melanoma and three times more likely to die from the disease.
Researchers discovered that treating tumors with chemotherapy can trigger a response in the immune system, leading to tumor growth. By combining chemotherapy with an immune-blocking drug, they found that this response could be slowed, potentially preventing tumor regrowth.
The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, in partnership with Wayne State University School of Medicine, is one of the lead centers participating in the National Cancer Institute's MATCH Trial. The trial seeks to determine whether targeted therapies for people with tumors having specific gene mutations will be effective.
A new cancer drug candidate, MCB-613, stimulates proteins crucial for tumor growth, causing cell stress and death. It efficiently kills human cancer cells while sparing normal cells, showing promise as a treatment for a range of cancers.
Researchers found that miR-7 directly targets and suppresses the activity of growth factor receptor IGF1R, as well as the pro-oncogenic NF-κB pathway. Increasing miR-7 levels reduced tumor growth in mice and correlated with improved patient survival.
A new algorithm developed by InSilico Medicine has the potential to improve the effectiveness of targeted therapy for cancer patients. The algorithm predicts whether a specific drug will work for an individual patient based on activation of intracellular regulatory pathways.
A LA BioMed researcher is launching a study of medication adherence among dialysis patients, aiming to improve patient health outcomes. The researcher will examine the factors contributing to non-adherence and its impact on cardiovascular disease risk.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute researcher Amity Manning is awarded $747,000 from the National Institutes of Health to explore molecular mechanisms driving genetic instability in cancer cells. The goal is to turn the genetic tables against cancer by understanding how specific molecules affect DNA packaging and organization.
Patients with metastatic prostate cancer who received a two-drug combination of chemotherapy and hormone blocker lived longer than those on hormone-blocker alone, surviving for 57.6 months versus 44 months. The treatment also delayed disease progression by six months.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute solved the structure of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), important regulators of tumor response to low oxygen. The findings identify potential targets for new cancer drugs, which could inhibit HIF functions and reduce tumor growth.
Researchers at Duke University have successfully packaged a widely used cancer drug into nanoparticles, more than doubling its effectiveness in mice. The new approach delivers the drug directly to tumors while reducing side effects and improving targeting, showing transformative results for patients.
New research published in Science Translational Medicine found that smaller doses of resveratrol are more effective in preventing bowel cancer in mice than high doses. The study showed a 50% reduction in tumour size with lower doses compared to a 25% reduction with higher doses.
A new tool called the Kinase Addiction Ranker (KAR) improves the ability to match drugs to disease by predicting what genetics are truly driving a patient's cancer. The tool clarifies the best drug or combination of drugs that targets specific genetic abnormalities, leading to more effective treatment options.
A study by MIT economists found that pharmaceutical firms tend to invest more in drugs for earlier-stage cancers, resulting in a lack of investment in late-stage cancer treatments. This has resulted in a loss of 890,000 life-years among people diagnosed with cancer in 2003.
Researchers have established the safety and dosing of a new drug for treating blood cancers, targeting dormant cancer stem cells. The drug coaxes these cells to differentiate and exit the bone marrow, where they can be destroyed by chemotherapy agents.
Leading cancer experts recommend several measures to reduce high cancer drug prices, including a post-approval price review mechanism and Medicare negotiations. The recommendations aim to improve patient care and alleviate the financial burden on those affected by high cancer drug costs.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have discovered a new way to improve liver cancer treatment by blocking the activity of the lymphotoxin-beta receptor. The approach, which combines drugs currently in clinical trials with those targeting oncogene signals, may lead to improved patient outcomes.
Mayo researchers found that class II HDAC inhibitors signal through a newly discovered pathway to promote synergy with chemotherapy treatment in anaplastic thyroid cancer. The study identified vorinostat and belinostat as effective agents, which can increase activity of RhoB, a tumor suppressor and stimulate cell death.
Researchers have developed a new drug, CCT245737, that blocks cancer's escape route from chemotherapy, boosting its effectiveness in treating lung and pancreatic cancers. The drug, a CHK1 inhibitor, demonstrates significant anti-cancer activity when combined with chemotherapy in mice.
A major study of over 30,000 women shows that aromatase inhibitors substantially reduce the risk of death from ER-positive breast cancer. Taking aromatase inhibitors for five years reduces the risk of death by 40% compared to tamoxifen.
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has launched a new program to provide independent analysis on pricing linked to patient benefit for new FDA-approved drugs. The program will produce public reports near the time of FDA approval, providing a transparent basis for price negotiations and coverage decisions.
A new website, the Chemical Probes Portal, aims to guide researchers in selecting better-quality chemical probes, reducing errors and wasting time and money. The platform crowdsources knowledge from leading researchers, providing up-to-date comparative information to help users choose the best probe for their needs.
A national clinical trial involving two effective drug combinations will be compared in a new study. The trial, led by Dr. Michael B. Atkins at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, aims to determine the best sequencing of treatment regimens for patients with melanoma.
Patients with advanced disease experienced significant clinical response after receiving genetically engineered T-cells. The therapy was generally well-tolerated and showed long-term ability to fight tumors.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a novel technique to improve glycoprotein-based pharmaceuticals, resulting in better therapeutic effects, longer durations, and faster production. The technology holds considerable potential for improving existing pharmaceuticals and has been published in Nature Biotechnology.
A third of insured breast cancer survivors in Appalachia are not taking critical follow-up treatment, despite having insurance that would cover it. Researchers found that geographical barriers, slower adoption of new technologies, and lack of proper counseling on medication side effects contribute to the issue.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a database that integrates gene expression patterns of 39 types of cancer with data on patient survival rates. The PRECOG database identifies key pathways and genes associated with poor or good survival outcomes, including FOXM1 and KLRB1.
Researchers found a metabolic imbalance that is oncogenic in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, characterized by a deficiency of alpha-ketoglutarate. This imbalance disrupts dioxygenase function, leading to various disturbances. The study suggests that metabolic regulation plays a critical role in cancer biology.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a system to increase bioavailability of resveratrol and quercetin, potentially allowing extensive use of Adriamycin while reducing cardiac toxicity. The co-administration of these polyphenols enhances the efficacy of cancer drugs by sensitizing cancer cells.
Researchers at University of Hawai'i Cancer Center discover two compounds that effectively stop the growth of brain cancer cells and breast tumors. These targeted treatments are less toxic and could improve quality of life for patients with no effective treatment options besides surgery.
Scientists designed nanoparticles that release chemotherapy drugs paclitaxel in the presence of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which enable cancer metastasis. The system effectively delivers high doses of the drug, halting tumor growth and reducing toxicity.
Researchers developed a new compound that stops B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by locking a disease-related protein in an inactive state. The compound showed promise in animal studies, with improved survival rates and reduced side effects when combined with steroids.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have discovered ethylenedione, a diradical molecule that was previously thought to be elusive. The discovery has significant implications for understanding radical molecular species, industrial processes, and potentially even atmospheric chemistry and climate modeling.
Duke University researchers created a method to enhance tumor-frying nanoparticles with chemotherapeutic coatings, releasing drugs in heated tissue. The technique combines photothermal therapy with localized drug delivery, potentially increasing effectiveness.
New imaging technique using radioactive sodium fluoride allows doctors to visualize unstable calcium deposits in arteries, enabling early diagnosis and development of new medicines. The technique non-invasively detects calcification in atherosclerosis, potentially revolutionizing treatment for patients at risk.
A new Australian study has found a promising drug, PR-104, effective against aggressive T-ALL in laboratory models. The research team is now exploring the molecular biology behind AKR1C3, an enzyme that activates the drug.
Researchers developed a method to optically control microtubule inhibitor drugs with high spatial precision, allowing for targeted treatment of cancer cells. The technique uses blue light to switch on and off the drugs, eliminating systemic side effects and improving therapeutic efficacy.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky have identified a new mechanism for targeting multi-subunit complexes that are critical to viral, bacterial, or cancer function, reducing drug resistance. This approach could lead to more potent drugs with fewer side effects.
Researchers aim to understand how reading interventions impact math skills in children with combined reading and math disabilities. They will use fMRI methods to examine brain activity during reading and math tasks.
Researchers have developed a new cancer drug FY26 that is 49 times more potent than Cisplatin, effectively shutting down the metabolism of cancer cells. The drug works by forcing cancer cells to use their mitochondria, which are defective in healthy cells, leading to cell death.
Researchers at the University of Southern California's Keck Medicine have identified a potential treatment for primary effusion lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer affecting HIV/AIDS patients. The treatment involves combining FDA-approved immunomodulatory drugs with BRD4 inhibitors, showing promising results in animal models.
Researchers have found a potential treatment option for children with Ewing's sarcoma by combining two active ingredients, Olaparib and Trabectedin, which achieves complete remission in all cases. The combination enhances the sensitivity of cancer cells to these drugs, increasing its effect.
Scientists discover that Methotrexate, commonly used for arthritis, can also treat myeloproliferative neoplasms with fewer side effects and lower costs. This repurposed treatment could revolutionize the care of patients worldwide.
Researchers use electron cryo-microscopy to visualize proteasome complex in unprecedented detail, revealing target sites for potential cancer drugs. The study paves the way for more precise and effective treatments.
Researchers discovered that a melanoma mutation activates ketogenesis enzyme HMG-CoA lyase, turning on fat breakdown in cancer cells. This rewiring of metabolism may explain why V600E mutation is common in melanomas and provide alternative strategies to existing drugs targeting the mutation.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that combining fostamatinib with paclitaxel can reduce tumor size in ovarian cancer cells by up to 87 percent. The combination therapy may provide a new treatment option for patients with recurrent advanced ovarian cancer who have developed resistance to standard treatments.
Researchers found improved median survival of patients with low-grade gliomas increasing from 44 months to 57 months between 1999 and 2010. The study suggests more effective chemotherapies contribute to the increased survival, despite a decrease in radiation therapy use.
Researchers at Ohio State University developed nanoparticles coated with chitosan that effectively target and kill cancer stem-like cells. The study found that these nanoparticles can increase the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin without systemic toxic side effects.
Researchers found that PI3K inhibitors reprogram the mitochondria of tumor cells, causing them to produce energy in a localized manner, leading to a more aggressive and invasive phenotype. This paradoxical response may offer a new therapeutic angle for treating cancers.
Researchers at SLU developed a drug that targets cancer metabolism, stopping most kinds of cancer by cutting off the energy supply. The drug, SR9243, has shown promising results in cultured cancer cells and human tumor cells grown in animal models.
Scientists at Salk Institute and Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have developed a drug that inhibits the first step of autophagy, a process used by cancer cells to recycle nutrients. This breakthrough opens new avenues for treating resistant cancers.
A UCL-led study has found that a small molecule drug, trametinib, can delay the ageing process in animals, including fruit flies. The treated fruit flies lived 12% longer than average, staying healthier for longer.
A study from VA and the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that honokiol shuts down cancer cells in lab, blocking EGFR protein in squamous cell head and neck cancers. The compound has shown promise as a treatment option for this aggressive form of cancer.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a new device that can track chemical signals within cells, allowing for faster and more accurate detection of cancerous growth. The device uses digital microfluidics to deliver rapid sequences of chemicals, enabling scientists to study cell responses in unprecedented detail.
A multimillion-dollar research partnership at the University of Alberta is developing small molecules that can reactivate a patient's immune system to fight cancer. The team plans to have a 'lead structure' drug ready by the end of the second year, with the potential for human trials by 2020.
Researchers found a higher risk of malignant melanoma among Viagra users, but evidence points to socioeconomic and lifestyle factors as the cause. The study analyzed over 20,000 medical records and found no increased risk among those with more prescriptions or advanced stages of the disease.
Current blood cancer drug prices are too high to be considered cost-effective in the US, according to a recent MD Anderson Cancer Center study. The researchers found that 63% of 20 studies evaluated had costs per additional life-year higher than $50,000, indicating that current prices cannot be justified based on improved quality of life.