Articles tagged with Cancer Medication
Researchers found that a slight rise in PSA levels among men taking dutasteride was a stronger indicator of prostate cancer than rising PSA levels in men on a placebo. The study suggests that the drug enhances the ability to detect high-grade cancers, making the PSA test more effective for early diagnosis and treatment.
A study led by Ohio State University found that a drug currently approved for osteoporosis treatment can reduce bone loss and tumor size in mice with oral cancer. The drug, zoledronic acid, was associated with smaller tumors and an increase in new bone formation.
A study found that higher co-payments increase the chance of early discontinuation and inadequate use of breast cancer therapy, particularly among older women. Co-payments above $90 were associated with a higher risk of discontinuation in both younger and older age groups.
A higher prescription co-payment is associated with early discontinuation and incomplete use of adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy in hormone-sensitive early stage breast cancer. Women over 50 years old are more likely to discontinue medication or not take it as prescribed if co-payments exceed $30.
Researchers found that a depression drug, duloxetine, reduced joint and muscle pain in women taking aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer treatment by at least 30%. The study suggests that duloxetine may be an effective treatment option for this type of pain, with only mild additional side effects.
Researchers have tested a cocktail of three drugs that targets gene regulation and cancer cell growth in triple negative breast cancers. The combination therapy halted tumor growth in laboratory-cultured cells and rejuvenated RARbeta expression in mice engrafted with breast tumor cells.
Researchers found that overexpression of HOXB7 gene leads to tamoxifen resistance by interacting with estrogen-activated genes and proteins, including HER2. Knocking out HOXB7 gene increased responsiveness to tamoxifen in breast cancer cells.
Researchers developed a simple fingertip test to evaluate the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome in postmenopausal women taking aromatase inhibitor drugs. The two-point discrimination score worsened significantly among overweight women, indicating a potential way to measure risk for CTS.
A phase II study at Georgetown University Medical Center suggests exemestane reduces mammographic breast density in high-risk postmenopausal women by 7%. The treatment is considered an intermediate marker for breast cancer and may offer a safer alternative to tamoxifen, which has rare but serious side effects.
A meta-analysis reveals that postmenopausal women with breast cancer who use aromatase inhibitors are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that these women should be monitored for shorter durations of treatment to minimize this risk.
Phase III trials should aim to find clinically important differences in survival outcomes, rather than just statistically significant ones. Pharmaceutical companies often prioritize minimal but detectable differences that are feasible within trial constraints.
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that celecoxib, a widely used arthritis drug, significantly reduces non-melanoma skin cancers. The medication achieved a 68% reduction in basal cell carcinomas and a 58% reduction in squamous cell carcinomas among high-risk patients.
Researchers plan an international project to analyze cancer-related proteins, enabling tailored treatments. The initiative could lead to improved treatment outcomes within 5 years of completion.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that thioredoxin-like 2 is highly expressed in cancer cells and helps protect them from oxidative stress. This protein plays a crucial role in cancer cell growth and survival, making it a promising target for future anti-cancer therapies.
Researchers have identified two FDA-approved cancer drugs that can inhibit NOD2's activity, offering a new avenue for treating Crohn's disease and sarcoidosis. The medications target the NOD2:RIP2 pathway, potentially alleviating symptoms and improving outcomes for patients with these conditions.
Cancer treatment decisions will be based on biology as medical oncologists need skills and knowledge to implement personalized medicine. Governments, companies, and clinicians must adapt drug development with targeted patient selection, shorter trials, and cost-effectiveness improvements.
A research team has pinpointed a novel cancer gene called COT (MAP3K8) as a key player behind drug resistance in melanoma. The study provides a framework for discovering ways to tackle cancer drug resistance and identifies potential targets for new treatments.
Researchers have found that patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma develop resistance to targeted treatment PLX4032 through genetic mutations or cell surface protein overexpression, accounting for 40% of cases. The study aims to develop new therapies targeting these mechanisms.
Scientists at the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow are using a £1 million grant to investigate the causes of serious diseases like heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Researchers have identified a new target for stopping tumors from developing their own blood supply, with a newly developed drug called ACE-041 showing promising results in advanced cancer patients. The drug targets the ALK-1 receptor and has been shown to halt tumor progression and improve patient outcomes.
A new anti-cancer drug, inecalcitol, has shown encouraging responses in men with hormone-resistant prostate cancer. In a phase II(a) clinical trial, 83% of patients responded to the treatment with a drop in PSA levels of 30% or more within three months.
In a Phase I trial, MK-4827 demonstrated anti-tumour responses in both sporadic and BRCA1/2 mutation-associated cancers. Patients with exhausted standard therapies showed significant shrinkage or stabilization of tumours for extended periods.
Using OncoMap, researchers can identify specific mutations in oncogenes that drive ovarian cancer growth and choose targeted drugs to halt tumor progression. The technique holds promise for personalized medicine in treating advanced ovarian cancer.
Researchers found that using erythropoietis-stimulating drugs with Herceptin resulted in reduced effectiveness of the cancer treatment. The study suggests that these drugs may activate similar downstream pathways as trastuzumab, causing antagonism between the two treatments.
Joshua Kritzer's $1.5 million grant will fund rapid drug-screening process to identify new cancer treatments. Cyclic peptides, produced using baker's yeast, can bind with disease-causing proteins that are difficult to target.
Dr Guillaume Lessene has been awarded the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute's inaugural de Burgh Fellowship to translate research findings into new cancer treatments. The $AUD150,000 fellowship supports his work on developing inhibitors for Bcl-2 proteins and other targets, with the goal of treating various types of cancer.
A new study found that romiplostim, a drug mimicking the effects of thrombopoietin, is more effective than standard care in treating immune thrombocytopenia. The treatment significantly improved platelet levels and reduced the need for splenectomy in patients, enhancing their quality of life.
A study by Oregon State University researchers found that low birth weight can cause lifelong problems processing medications. The kidneys of underweight animals had significantly less ability to process and transport drugs due to a protein called a 'drug transporter'.
Researchers analyzed data from the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort and found that long-term statin use was not associated with overall cancer incidence or increased risk of common types of cancer. Instead, it was linked to lower risks of melanoma, endometrial cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Researchers identify FOXM1 as a key player in initiating human cancer by exploiting the self-renewal property of stem cells, leading to excessive cell growth and pre-cancerous conditions. The study aims to translate these findings into molecular diagnostic tests and anti-tumour drugs.
Researchers at Northwestern University have found that a soy-based drug can prevent the movement of prostate cancer cells from the prostate to the rest of the body. The experimental treatment, genistein, has shown beneficial effects on human subjects with localized prostate cancer in a recent phase II study.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center found no conclusive evidence linking joint complaints to inflammatory arthritis or autoimmune disease in women taking aromatase inhibitors. However, they suggest encouraging women to continue taking the medication despite joint pain.
Researchers create a nanobioconjugate drug that specifically targets glioblastoma multiforme by blocking the production of laminin-411, promoting tumor cell death. Human clinical trials are anticipated to begin soon, offering new hope for brain cancer treatment.
A team of researchers has discovered a way to target and block the enzyme beta glucuronidase, which causes severe diarrhea in patients taking CPT-11, a widely used colon cancer treatment. The breakthrough approach could improve anticancer drug efficacy and tolerance without harming beneficial gut bacteria.
Researchers found a Japanese asthma drug can stop the spread of breast cancer cells and reduce tumour growth by 50%. Tranilast targets a molecule in cancer cells that binds to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, making it beneficial for treating allergies, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.
A recent study found a decline in unnecessary care for prostate cancer patients not likely to benefit from treatment after Medicare policy changes reduced reimbursement. In contrast, patients with clear benefits from the therapy continued to receive it at the same rate.
Researchers suggest using digitized personal health records (PHR) to improve chronic disease management, increasing patient engagement and reducing hospital visits. A PHR portal-type system could facilitate dialogue between patients and healthcare workers, leading to better overall health outcomes.
Researchers found that NSAIDs like aspirin trigger programmed cell death in abnormal stem cells, preventing colon cancer. This discovery could lead to new strategies for protecting people at high risk of the disease.
Cancer Discovery is a new peer-reviewed journal from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), featuring game-changing research and review articles. The journal combines expertise from founding Editors-in-Chief Lewis C. Cantley and José Baselga, with executive editor Mark W. Landis.
Researchers identified two small-molecule inhibitors that effectively targeted FAK, an enzyme present in certain cancers. These inhibitors, Y11 and Y30, inhibited colon cancer-cell growth and decreased tumor formation, offering a potential for more effective and less toxic cancer therapies.
Tumor cells can escape chemotherapy by hiding in the thymus, an organ where immune cells mature, and are bathed in growth factors that protect them from drugs' effects. Researchers plan to test drugs that interfere with these protective factors to prevent cancer relapse.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that over half of patients with a specific type of lung cancer responded well to a new targeted treatment called crizotinib. The medication targets the gene driving the cancer and has been shown to improve patient outcomes, including reduced tumor growth and improved qualit...
A new oral drug causes dramatic shrinkage of a rare, aggressive form of soft-tissue cancer driven by an abnormally activated protein. The findings highlight the value of personalized medicine gene-testing strategies to predict best drug treatment for individual cancers.
A clinical trial found that daily doses of crizotinib shrank tumors in over half of patients with ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer, and suppressed growth in another one-third. The treatment has been shown to significantly improve symptoms and quality of life for these patients.
A study suggests that plant stem cells derived from trees could be used to produce the anticancer compound paclitaxel at a low cost. This method avoids the use of mature trees and environmentally damaging by-products associated with current industrial manufacturing processes.
The updated guideline advises physicians to discuss individual risks and benefits of ESAs with cancer patients, recommending cautious use due to associated risks of thromboembolism and tumor progression. ESAs are still effective in reducing red blood cell transfusions, which can impact quality of life.
A project led by Mr Hemant Kocher aims to target the stroma surrounding pancreatic cancer tumours, which is believed to drive tumour growth and prevent drug treatments from reaching the tumour. The research may lead to new drug targets for treating pancreatic cancer, a disease with poor survival rates.
Researchers are conducting a phase II clinical trial using reovirus, a common virus that causes mild symptoms, to target and kill specific tumor cells with KRAS or EGFR mutations. The goal is to exploit the virus's ability to replicate in cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy cells.
A research team at Brown University has discovered a key chemical process involved in the development of cancer, particularly breast cancer. The study found that prolactin receptors can come together to form a structure that picks up growth factors leading to cancerous growth.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that the loss of protein Nedd9 initially slows cancer formation but then makes tumors more aggressive. A class of drugs already used in clinics can make these aggressive tumors more sensitive to treatment.
A redesigned microchip-based device, HB-Chip, captures more than 90% of cancer cells from blood samples, improving upon the original CTC-Chip. The new device also identifies previously unseen clusters of tumor cells, providing valuable insights into metastasis and targeted cancer therapies.
A randomized study found that adding topotecan to carboplatin and paclitaxel did not improve progression-free survival in patients with ovarian cancer, but increased toxicity. The standard regimen of carboplatin and paclitaxel remains the best care for epithelial ovarian cancer.
Researchers found that cancer patients across all stages exhibit a high burden of somatic symptoms, including fatigue, pain, and insomnia. These symptoms significantly impair daily functioning and overall well-being, highlighting the need for comprehensive symptom management strategies.
A Phase-II trial investigating pazopanib for relapsed/refractory urothelial cancer has generated promising results, with four patients experiencing tumor shrinkage and twelve seeing their metastases die due to 'necrotic evolution'. Researchers are eager to translate this activity into a survival advantage.
A Phase II study of the new-generation lung cancer drug PF-299 has shown impressive results in preventing disease progression when administered as a first-line treatment in patients with advanced disease. The study found that 85% of patients with EGFR mutations remained progression-free for at least nine months.
A Phase IIb/III trial shows afatinib benefits patients with lung adenocarcinoma whose cancer progressed after chemotherapy and erlotinib or gefitinib. Patients receiving afatinib experienced delayed disease progression and greater tumor shrinkage, but no significant difference in overall survival.
A Phase II clinical trial of MLN8237, a selective Aurora A kinase inhibitor, demonstrates single-agent activity with durable disease control in some patients with ovarian cancer resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy. The study found encouraging responses in several patients, suggesting potential for future combination therapies.
Scientists have determined the three-dimensional structure of CXCR4, a molecule involved in HIV infection and many forms of cancer. The high-resolution structure sheds light on how CXCR4 functions and could point to ways to control its activity.
The MU College of Veterinary Medicine is conducting a study to examine the efficacy of Attaxol in dogs with naturally occurring cancer. The study aims to determine the optimal dose and treatment duration for this cancer drug, which was developed specifically for canine use.
Onconova Therapeutics has agreed with the FDA on a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for its Phase 3 trial of Estybon in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. The trial is expected to begin in Q4 2010 and will compare Estybon to Best Supportive Care.