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 at Karolinska Institutet have discovered how cancer cells can infiltrate the lymphatic system by mimicking immune cells. This finding may lead to the development of new treatments targeting metastasis via the lymphatic system.
A study published in the Journal of Cell Biology suggests that new understanding of cell division can reveal potential targets for cancer therapy. Researchers have identified key steps in cell division and highlighted novel targets that could be inhibited to block cancer cell division.
Researchers developed a combinatorial approach to treating glioblastoma by combining three classes of anti-cancer drugs. The study found that a combination of EGFR inhibitor, PLK1 inhibitor and DNA-damaging agent effectively halted tumor growth in mouse models and human glioblastoma tissue.
Researchers used organoids derived from human tumor samples to test cancer drugs and predict patient response. The findings demonstrate the power of organoids to capture complex mutations in tumours.
Researchers grew 22 organoids from tumor tissue of 20 patients with colorectal cancer and found they closely replicate key properties of the original tumors. These cultures can be used to predict drug sensitivity and pave the way for personalized treatment approaches.
A phase I clinical trial has begun for a new 'resistance-busting' experimental skin cancer drug, administered to the first patient just three months after a major publication described its potential. The trial aims to establish the safe maximum dose for a planned phase II clinical trial, focusing on advanced melanoma patients.
Researchers have found a possible treatment for diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), a lethal form of pediatric brain cancer. Panobinostat, an epigenetic drug, may slow DIPG growth and extend survival rates in patients.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute identified three types of resistance to a new lung cancer drug, highlighting the need for combination therapies and novel strategies to overcome resistance mechanisms.
A study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati has found that generic formulations of tacrolimus are bioequivalent to the name-brand version, suggesting they can be used interchangeably post-transplant. The findings have important implications for immunosuppressant drug management and patient care.
Researchers found that teens aged 15-17 who mixed energy drinks with alcohol were four times more likely to meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. The study highlights the potential risks of combining these substances, particularly among adolescents.
A new targeted therapy drug rociletinib demonstrates significant activity against treatment-resistant EGFR-mutant lung tumors, improving outcomes for patients with advanced tumors. The drug showed promising results in patients with T790M-driven resistance, resulting in tumor shrinkage and symptom relief.
The pharmaceutical industry's regulatory system is criticized for lacking accountability and being evidence-based, resulting in high NHS costs and inefficient use of technology appraisal work. The Cancer Drugs Fund is also singled out for criticism due to its inequitable allocation of funds and discrimination against other diseases.
A phase 1/2 trial of rociletinib in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer showed a 59% response rate and 13.1 month progression-free survival, offering hope for patients with previously treated disease.
Chemists have designed four new atomic arrangements of gold nanoparticle clusters, exhibiting lower potential energy and greater stability than previous configurations. The arrangements could inform the use of these nanoparticles in transporting pharmaceutical drugs and removing pollutants from industrial byproducts.
A Mayo Clinic-led research team has identified a molecular switch in the HER2 protein that sets off a cascade of events leading to cancer. Disrupting this site can stem the growth of breast cancer cells more effectively than current treatments.
Scientists have identified 35 genes and three long intervening noncoding RNA molecules that spur aggressive activity in HER2+ breast cancer. These findings provide a new target for treatment approaches, potentially leading to RNA-based therapeutics.
Researchers identified specific molecular profiles and mutational patterns that can help determine which hepatocellular carcinoma patients benefit from targeted anticancer treatments. The study suggests that exome sequencing can be used to identify potential new targets for therapy, leading to optimized personalized patient care.
A Case Western Reserve University researcher has won a $500,000 NSF CAREER grant to develop tiny sensors capable of detecting insecticides in Lake Erie or determining subtypes of human cancers. The technology combines antibodies with plant viruses to create a large surface area for targeting pollutants or cancer cells.
A patented technology called CIVO enables simultaneous testing of multiple cancer drugs in a patient's tumor, accurately predicting systemic response. This innovation has shown positive findings using multiple cancer drugs tested in xenografted mouse models and canine patients.
A new implantable device can carry small doses of multiple drugs to treat cancer, allowing researchers to measure their effectiveness in a tumor. The device was tested on mice with human prostate, breast, and melanoma tumors, showing promise in identifying the most effective treatment for each patient.
Researchers found that a toxic mushroom-based drug can suppress the POLR2A gene in cancer cells, resulting in complete tumor regression and reduced toxicity. The study's findings provide a new therapeutic approach for human cancers with common genomic alterations.
A Purdue University study reveals that cancer drug decitabine combats cell damage by taking the place of nucleotide cytosine, restoring 'meaning' to garbled gene messages. An uptick in 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels could indicate cancer treatment success.
A major trial has shown that olaparib can effectively treat advanced prostate cancer in men with defects in DNA repair genes. The results suggest that up to 30% of patients with terminal prostate cancer may benefit from the drug, which could become a treatment option if replication is confirmed in further trials.
Researchers have tested an experimental immune system drug, MPDL3280A, in a preliminary human study and found it to be generally safe and well-tolerated. The therapy aims to restore the immune system's ability to recognize and attack cancer cells, with promising results in controlling disease in some patients.
Researchers have identified a new mechanism linking chronic inflammation to cancer progression, revealing the role of MUC1 and p65 in driving pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression. This discovery offers potential therapeutic targets for developing drugs that can interrupt the cancer-inflammation process.
A new report from UC San Diego highlights the scope of the problem, finding that only 1,510 counterfeit incidents were reported between 2009 and 2011, despite an estimated 100,000-1 million deaths per year. The study calls for improved detection, data collection, and analysis to combat falsified medicines.
A gene expression model called COXEN predicts canine osteosarcoma response to doxorubicin, potentially allowing veterinary oncologists to choose the most effective drug. The approach validates human models used to predict drug response in clinical trials.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, shrank or stabilized tumors in most patients with pleural mesothelioma. The medication was safe and showed promise for treating this rare and deadly form of cancer.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center identified three subsets of lung cancer with KRAS gene mutations, each with unique signaling patterns and susceptibility to different therapeutic strategies. These subsets may offer new approaches for treating lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.
Researchers at Saint Louis University discovered that targeting the A3 adenosine receptor can 'turn off' pain signals in the spinal cord, providing potential relief for patients with chronic pain. The study found that activating this receptor promotes GABA signaling, which is often lost or diminished in chronic pain conditions.
A common anti-fungal drug, itraconazole, has shown potential in treating metastatic prostate cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The ReDO project is exploring its use in various cancers, offering a more affordable alternative to existing treatments.
A new clinical trial found that early initiation of palliative care significantly improved one-year survival rates among patients with late-stage cancer. Additionally, caregivers experienced reduced depression and stress levels when interventions started earlier in the patient's life.
A multicenter clinical trial launched by Yale University aims to evaluate the effectiveness of personalized medicine in treating metastatic melanoma. The trial will enroll patients lacking a particular genetic mutation and use molecular sequencing techniques to match targeted drugs to unique genetic alterations.
A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine found that many genetic alterations identified using tumor-only sequencing are not associated with cancer, but rather reflect inherited germline mutations. The study analyzed DNA from 815 patients and found that nearly half of the detected genetic alterations were 'false positi...
Dartmouth researchers have identified a specific temperature that stimulates an antitumor immune response, which resists metastatic disease. Using iron nanoparticles and alternating magnetic fields, they found that temperatures of 43 degrees centigrade trigger the systemic immune response.
Scientists at MIT created a new cancer therapy that activates both the innate and adaptive immune systems to attack tumors. The treatment combines an antibody drug with IL-2, which boosts immune responses, resulting in complete tumor disappearance in 80-90% of mice.
Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have launched a revolutionary personalized treatment program to improve bowel cancer survival rates. The S-CORT Consortium will employ state-of-the-art techniques to define the genetic make-up of bowel cancer cells, collected from over 2,000 patients, and develop personalized care plans.
Recent studies in Cancer Cell and Trends in Immunology review the intricate relationship between the immune system and cancer. Research has shown that harnessing anti-tumor immunity can be a promising approach to treating various cancers.
Researchers discovered a previously invisible biological process that may be implicated in the rapid growth of some cancers. The new study reveals that a well-known cancer protein called mTOR can hand off its work to another protein, CDK1, when cells are dividing.
Moffitt scientists developed a novel technique to analyze the MDMX protein, revealing its auto-inhibitory segment that controls p53 activity. This discovery may help identify patients more likely to respond to an MDMX-targeted cancer drug.
A research team has identified a drug target for ATRA, a treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), by targeting the Pin1 enzyme. The discovery offers a promising new way to fight aggressive or drug-resistant cancers by degrading cancer stem cells and blocking multiple cancer-driving pathways.
Scientists at the University of Southampton have developed a drug that can reverse resistance to immunotherapy in certain leukaemias and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The new antibody, BI-1206, works by binding to a molecule called FcγRIIB and enhancing cancer killing, promising improved treatment outcomes for patients with blood cancers.
Researchers James P. Allison and Padmanee Sharma argue that combining targeted therapies with immunotherapy could be key to developing curative treatments for various cancer types, building on promising results from clinical trials.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have received a grant to investigate the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway in various cancers, including breast and colorectal cancer. The study aims to identify compounds targeting this pathway to combat cancer, with a focus on ultra-high-throughput screening resources.
Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center review the potential of combining genomically targeted therapies with immune checkpoint blockade drugs to attack cancer. The approach shows promise, but more support is needed to accelerate progress and minimize side effects.
Researchers have identified six chemical compounds that inhibit HuR, a protein promoting tumor growth. The findings hold promise for treating various cancers and could lead to a novel class of cancer therapies.
A new clinical trial results show that ibrutinib continues to control Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, with a median overall response rate of 91% after 19 months of treatment. The disease shows sustained benefit in patients who survived for two years.
Uninsured cancer patients pay 2-43 times more than Medicare and private insurers for chemotherapy drugs, according to a new study. The study found significant price differences for expensive and inexpensive drugs alike.
According to a Northwestern University study, nearly 400,000 childhood cancer survivors in the US experience chronic health issues, including mental impairment, anxiety, and physical limitations. The majority face these problems five or more years after diagnosis, highlighting the need for comprehensive care.
Many cancers, including pancreatic cancer, enslave and deform mitochondria to create an environment conducive to tumor growth. Researchers found that blocking this process may lead to the growth of tumors.
Scientists have identified a small RNA molecule called miR-182 that can suppress cancer-causing genes in mice with glioblastoma, a deadly type of brain tumor. The new method uses nanotechnology to deliver the microRNA across the blood-brain barrier, targeting multiple oncogenes at once and increasing cancer cell death.
Researchers from USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered that herpesvirus proteins activate the RIG-I receptor through deamidation, a process that could be exploited to bolster immunity against infection. The study identifies the first enzyme responsible for protein deamidation in eukaryotes.
Scientists at CHOP use biodegradable nanoparticles to deliver anticancer drugs selectively to tumors, inhibiting growth and prolonging survival in animal models. The approach exploits the EPR effect, allowing for efficient delivery while avoiding toxicity in healthy tissues.
A new review emphasizes the need to decipher immune response dynamics to enhance cancer immunotherapy. Researchers suggest developing combination therapies and biomarker panels to increase treatment impact, as single biomarkers are unlikely to predict patient responses.
Researchers at UCSF identified a biological escape hatch that explains resistance to targeted drug treatment in lung cancer patients. Combining two compounds, erlotinib and PBS-1086, effectively wipes out cancer cells in mice implanted with cells from drug-resistant tumors.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have found that Imatinib, a leukemia drug, can prevent and control the growth of colorectal tumours. The study suggests that short-term intermittent chemotherapies could be effective in treating colon cancer, reducing side effects associated with long-term treatment.
A new study provides experimental evidence that a drug inhibiting the EphB-signaling pathway effectively suppresses intestinal tumor development. The study suggests that this knowledge may lead to novel treatments for colorectal cancer patients.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that 6-Thioguanine can change how certain cancer cells function, weakening them so they can be killed by other drugs. This discovery could lead to future cancer treatments using combination therapy.
Low doses of Imatinib can stimulate the bone marrow to produce more innate immune cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, to combat bacterial infections. This finding suggests that Imatinib or related drugs may be useful in treating a variety of infections in patients with weakened immune systems.
Researchers at Yale University have successfully restored memory and synaptic connections in Alzheimer's mice using the experimental cancer drug AZD05030. The treatment blocks damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and has led to the launch of human trials.