Research on the drugs used to treat cancer and how well they work. Covers immunotherapy, chemotherapy-free regimens, biosimilars, targeted drugs, and treatment costs.
A large study found a strong association between eating more whole grains and lower total and cardiovascular mortality rates. The researchers estimated that every serving of whole grains per day was associated with a 5% lower total mortality rate or a 9% lower CVD mortality rate.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University identified a way to increase the presence of the 53BP1 protein, which weakens cancer cells and makes them more susceptible to radiation and chemotherapy. The breakthrough could lead to improved cancer treatment outcomes if supported by animal model tests.
A recent article describes clinical trials targeting TRK fusions in various cancer types, including lung, breast, and melanoma. The TRK family of genes can cause cancer when improperly fused with other nearby genes.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found that feeding mice Neu5Gc promotes spontaneous cancers and systemic inflammation. The study suggests a potential link between red meat consumption and cancer risk, and may also explain connections to other diseases exacerbated by chronic inflammation.
Researchers developed a scoring system using biomarkers to predict patient response to GVHD treatment, allowing for personalized treatment approaches. The new system may identify patients who require experimental treatments and those who are over-treated.
Researchers found that bisphosphonate users were half as likely to develop endometrial cancer, suggesting a potential preventive effect. The study suggests that women taking bone-strengthening medications with increased endometrial cancer risk may benefit from nitrogen-form bisphosphonates.
A team of researchers has discovered a previously unknown form of multidrug resistance in cancer cells, known as inducible drug glucuronidation. By understanding this chemical pathway, scientists may be able to develop new treatments that can overcome this resistance and improve patient outcomes.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine developed a sugar-based molecular microcapsule that eliminates the toxicity of an anticancer agent, stopping tumor progression in mice while protecting healthy tissues. The encapsulated drug is now a promising candidate for clinical trials for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered a single protein responsible for triggering allergic reactions to various medications, including cancer drugs and antibiotics. A new drug targeting this protein could improve treatment outcomes for patients with conditions such as prostate cancer and diabetes.
The Hotnet2 algorithm identified 16 subnetworks of genes mutated with surprising frequency in cancer samples. The research provides new leads for somatic mutations driving cancer and may help prioritize experiments towards specific genes and pathways.
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have discovered a novel microRNA-gene interaction that could lead to new therapies for malignant glioma, the most common and deadly form of brain tumor. Increasing miR-184 expression slows glioma cell growth by regulating SND1, a cancer-promoting gene.
A Dartmouth study found that low-income adolescents consume more fruits and vegetables when eating at school, while high-income peers consume fewer during the school months. School food plays a crucial role in improving dietary quality among vulnerable students.
A new family of cancer drugs targeting multiple key proteins could treat incurable skin cancers. The panRAF inhibitors showed effectiveness in patients with melanoma resistant to BRAF inhibitors.
Research reveals that blocking androgen receptors can reduce the growth of estrogen-positive breast cancers and kill triple-negative breast cancer cells. Combining these drugs with HER2 or mTOR-targeting therapies shows promise for increased effectiveness in treating breast cancer.
A phase II trial found that a combination of bortezomib and fulvestrant delayed disease progression in post-menopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. The study showed a doubled rate of survival at 12 months compared to fulvestrant alone.
Researchers have identified a novel therapeutic approach using gamma secretase inhibitors (GSI) to inhibit Notch and block critical genes involved in tumor growth. The study suggests that GSI may optimize existing endocrine therapies and overcome resistance to cancer drugs.
Myriad Genetics announced new studies on its myRisk Hereditary Cancer test, detecting 105% more mutations than conventional BRCA testing. The test also showed promising results in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) by predicting response to platinum-based therapy. Additionally, the company's BRACAnalysis molecular diagnostic test sig...
Market-access agreements for anti-cancer drugs lack transparency, leading to higher prices for patients in small and low-income countries. The financial arrangements between pharmaceutical manufacturers and health systems are kept confidential, making it difficult for these countries to negotiate lower prices.
A team of researchers has discovered a way to make triple-negative breast cancer cells susceptible to chemotherapy by inhibiting the HIF protein network. The study found that HIF inhibitors can decrease tumor size and prevent relapse in mice, offering new hope for treatment-resistant patients.
A phase three study has demonstrated increased survival rates among AML patients who relapse, with combination therapy employing cytarabine and vosaroxin showing significant benefits. Patients over 60 years old experienced the greatest overall survival benefit from the treatment.
A phase two study demonstrated that a combination of azacitidine and lenalidomide is an effective frontline treatment regimen for patients with higher-risk forms of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. The therapy was well tolerated in the study of 88 patients.
New immunotherapy treatments aim to enable the body's natural defenses to recognize and destroy malignant cells. Studies present promising early data that encourage long-term outcomes among patients who have not responded to other therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors and drugs targeting the PD-1 pathway.
Studies presented at the ASH Annual Meeting show that immunotherapy drugs pembrolizumab and nivolumab are producing dramatic responses in Classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients. These results are promising for patients with few treatment options left, highlighting the potential of immunotherapies to work in various types of cancer.
In a groundbreaking clinical trial, nivolumab achieved complete or partial remission in 87% of patients with resistant Hodgkin lymphoma. The treatment targets the immune system, reactivating T cells to attack cancer cells.
Researchers have developed a new technique to wrap chemotherapy drugs in fatty covers called liposomes, reducing heart damage and improving cardiac function. The study found that the group receiving Myocet had better diastolic and systolic function compared to conventional doxorubicin, with less fibrosis development.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center show that YK-4-279 prevents tumor growth and spread in mice with prostate cancer harboring a common chromosomal abnormality. The agent targets the ETS fusion, producing new genes that push cancer cells to become more aggressive.
Researchers have developed a novel approach to drug screening that could more precisely tailor chemotherapy to a patient's individual blood cancer type. By correcting for the matrix effect, Shin and Mooney believe their approach could identify a subset of drugs that will be more likely to be effective against chronic myeloid leukemias.
A team of Michigan State University scientists has discovered an enzyme, called POPB, which converts toxins into cyclic peptides with missile-like precision in the human liver. This breakthrough could lead to single-minded medicines with zero side effects by harnessing the distinct properties of POPB.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that crizotinib significantly improves symptoms and delays cancer growth in patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The trial involved 343 previously untreated patients, showing promising results without unexpected side effects.
A large study found that the benefits of regular low-dose aspirin in healthy women are outweighed by its drawbacks. However, limiting its use to women over 65 may lead to a better balance between risk and benefit. The study involved nearly 30,000 women aged 45 and above.
A new study of over 1 million people found no link between pioglitazone or rosiglitazone and bladder cancer, contradicting previous studies. The study used a different approach to minimize bias and found no dose-response relationship between the drugs and bladder cancer risk.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine found that the chemotherapy drug topotecan suppresses a gene essential for normal brain function, leading to neurological side effects like memory loss and confusion. The effects are reversible upon removal of the drug, suggesting a potential link to autism.
A study of 596 patients found that those taking antacid medications had significantly better overall survival rates than non-users. The results suggest that proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2 blockers may have a favorable impact on patient outcomes.
Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital discovered that bisphosphonates block abnormal growth signals passed through the human EGF receptors, which drive some tumors. The study suggests that bisphosphonates could be used to prevent or treat lung, breast, and colon cancers.
Researchers identify chemical pathway disrupting behaviour in Fragile X patients and find potential treatment using cancer drug cercosporamide. The drug blocks the pathway, improving sociability in mice with the condition.
A recent study published in ecancermedicalscience found that cimetidine, an over-the-counter medication, can increase survival rates in colorectal cancer. The ReDO project aims to repurpose other common medicines for cancer treatment, offering promising alternatives to expensive anti-cancer drugs.
Scientists from Queen Mary University of London have developed a new therapy for advanced bladder cancer, showing significant tumor shrinkage in patients. The treatment, MPDL3280A, has been given breakthrough therapy designation status by the US FDA and has promising results in a phase one clinical trial.
A promising immunotherapy drug, MPDL3280A, shows improved efficacy in patients whose immune cells initially attack cancer but are shut down by PD-L1. Researchers found that tumor expression of PD-L1 in surrounding immune cells is a key indicator of response to the treatment.
A new drug called Bozepinib has been successfully tested against cancerogenic stem cells in mice, proving its efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. Researchers are now conducting safety tests before running the drug on actual patients.
A two-year study by the Stand Up To Cancer - Cancer Research Institute Immunology Translational Research Dream Team found that pembrolizumab removes PD-1, freeing up immune cells to kill cancer cells. The study validated a pathway to determine patient responsiveness and anticipated better drug combinations for more patients with melanoma.
Researchers found that metformin use was associated with a 23% decrease in mortality compared to other treatments, and may have therapeutic benefits for certain types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers.
Researchers have discovered a combination of two drugs that target both the MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways, resulting in more effective killing of colorectal cancer cells. The dual approach overcomes the limitations of individual drug treatments, showing promise for treating laboratory models of colorectal cancer.
Researchers at University of Cincinnati have found a Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy effective in treating older and African American patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The study suggests that gefitinib improves quality of life and outcomes for this subgroup of patients, who often face limited treatment options.
Researchers developed LipoLLA, a therapeutic nanoparticle containing linolenic acid that effectively kills Helicobacter pylori bacteria in mice. The treatment also reduced inflammation and was non-toxic, making it a promising alternative to standard antibiotics.
Researchers have found that selenium compounds can effectively block immunostimulatory molecules in cancer cells, which overactivate the immune system. This breakthrough could lead to better cancer drugs with fewer adverse effects, slowing down cancer development.
A multi-centre clinical trial suggests that a combination of three targeted drugs may be more effective than one drug for certain patients with advanced BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer. The treatment, which includes encorafenib, cetuximab, and alpelisib, showed improved efficacy and extended progression-free survival in patients.
A phase I clinical trial has demonstrated that ASP8273 causes tumour shrinkage in patients with treatment-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have both the EGFR and T790M mutations. The overall response rate is 78%, comparable to other drugs in development.
The STING pathway plays a crucial role in detecting tumor cells and promoting an aggressive anti-tumor response. Activating the pathway triggers production of chemical signals that help the immune system identify tumor cells and generate killer T cells.
Salk scientists unveil a new method that enables detection of fleeting protein interactions, which could dramatically accelerate cancer drug discovery. The ReBiL method, published in Cell Reports, provides an immediate platform to screen for badly needed new drug candidates.
Researchers have developed a potent and systematic AC inhibitor, tilting the balance between pro-aging/death and pro-life chemical signals in favor of death. The compound may be used as 'chemosensitizers' to enhance anti-tumoral drug efficacy.
PharmaMar presents results highlighting a pipeline of targeted therapies, including Aplidin, an antitumoral compound targeting eEF1A2, and an ADC combining a marine-derived agent with trastuzumab. The company's pipeline includes multiple compounds in clinical development for various tumor types.
Scientists have found a biological indicator that can predict which women without BRCA1/2 mutations will respond well to the PARP inhibitor rucaparib. The biomarker is related to genomic loss of heterozygosity, and its presence indicates that patients with ovarian cancers may benefit from treatment.
A new study by researchers at Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found no increased risk of breast cancer in women taking calcium channel blocker medications. The study, which analyzed over 3,700 women with long-term use of the medication, showed a minimal increase in risk and a 50% reduced risk in some cases.
Researchers discovered that immune cells secrete molecules across a small gap, which larger drugs struggle to penetrate. Smaller molecules are key to targeting immune cells, offering new ideas for treating auto-immune diseases and increasing cancer reactivity.
Patients with B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphomas and advanced solid tumors have responded to the new drug E7438, a histone methyltransferase inhibitor. The drug has shown anti-tumor effects in four patients with refractory lymphoma and one patient with a malignant rhabdoid tumor, indicating potential for personalized medical therapy.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have made a breakthrough discovery that may lead to a reliable diagnostic test for predicting which patients will respond to immunotherapy drugs like ipilimumab. The study found that tumors with high numbers of gene mutations are more likely to benefit from the treatment.
Researchers at Salk Institute develop a powerful dual-drug therapy that doubles the survival rate of mice with lung cancer and halts cancer in pancreatic cells. The treatment combines two existing drugs, Zometa and rapamycin, to successfully target KRAS mutation.
Researchers found minimal increased risk in one study and a 50% reduced risk in another, leading to continued use of calcium channel blocker medications. The study's results contradict a previous report suggesting a higher risk of breast cancer among women taking the medication.
The Endocrine Society suggests a single dose of IV zoldedronate as the first-choice treatment for Paget's disease. This option can put the condition into remission for up to six years, making it a preferred choice over oral medications with gastrointestinal side effects.
Chemists developed a new way to manufacture natural chemicals by clipping smaller molecules together, enabling the efficient assembly of scarce anti-inflammatory drugs like pseudopterosin. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper ways to produce rare drugs in large quantities.