Research on chemotherapy and its side effects. Covers nerve-injury prevention, gold-nanorod therapy, less-intensive regimens, and combination treatments.
Researchers developed a new anti-HIV medication called EFdA, which prevents vaginal and oral transmission of HIV in pre-clinical models. The study showed that daily doses of EFdA can prevent HIV infection in mice exposed to high doses of the virus.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology has updated its treatment standard for rectal cancer, recommending a more customized approach that may reduce treatment side effects. The new guideline suggests alternatives to the traditional tri-modal approach, including short-course radiation therapy and non-operative management.
Researchers discovered a correlation between rare POLE mutations in bowel cancers and improved patient outcomes. These tumours are less likely to recur, particularly when diagnosed at an early stage.
Researchers have developed a new treatment that blocks neurotransmitters to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, significantly improving patient outcomes. The study found that 74% of participants experienced no nausea or vomiting when treated with olanzapine, compared to 45% on placebo.
Researchers at McGill University Health Centre have discovered a new genetic mutation linked to osteonecrosis of the hip, which could allow for early diagnosis and treatment. The TRPV4 gene mutation was found to be common among affected family members and absent in unaffected ones.
Researchers have identified 10 genetic mutations that can confer resistance to methotrexate, a chemotherapy agent, using a new 'back-to-the-future' approach combining traditional and deep sequencing techniques. This breakthrough offers potential leads for making the drug more reliable.
A new approach shields a toxic chemotherapeutic until it reaches the tumor site, leading to greater efficacy and fewer side effects. The treatment was successful in mice with sarcoma tumors and had fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.
A Swiss analysis found that treating Nivolumab only to patients with positive PD-L1 tests compared to DOC or all patients with NIV is more cost-effective, with ICERs below the WTP threshold. Treating only patients with ?1% or ?10% PD-L1+ with NIV also results in improved cost-effectiveness.
Two independent studies in mice show that fasting or caloric restriction mimetics during chemotherapy increases the presence of cancer-killing T cells, reducing tumor mass over time. The research provides proof of concept for two potentially safe approaches to enhance chemotherapy.
Researchers have developed a blood-based screening test to gauge colon cancer recurrence and monitor chemotherapy effects. The test detects tumor DNA fragments in the blood, which can identify patients at high risk of relapse and track treatment efficacy.
A study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology reveals that short remission telomere length is associated with delayed blood count recovery in children with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) after chemotherapy. The research aims to identify high-risk children and develop targeted treatments to prevent complications.
A phase III trial found that chemoradiotherapy after surgery for gastric cancer (GC) does not achieve better outcomes than post-operative chemotherapy. The study, which involved 788 patients, showed equivalent five-year survival rates of 40.8% in both treatment arms.
Doctors used PET scans to identify patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma who could safely stop using the potentially toxic drug bleomycin. This approach resulted in similar survival rates and fewer side effects for those who stopped bleomycin compared to those who continued it.
Research suggests that patients with advanced ovarian cancer who underwent pre-surgical chemotherapy showed altered immune cells in their tumors, indicating a potential increase in effectiveness of immunotherapy after treatment. This study found evidence of activation of certain T cells and reduction of immune suppressive cells in pati...
Researchers discovered that chemotherapy activates immune cells T cells within tumours, but also boosts cancer defences against immune attack. Effective immunotherapy treatments will have to block PD-L1 protein to target tumours effectively.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have developed a new mass spectrometry technique that can quantify anti-cancer drugs in individual cancer cells. This breakthrough technology aims to improve treatment efficacy and reduce toxicities for cancer patients.
A large cohort of 29,908 patients with pathologic stage T2N0M0 NSCLC showed improved median overall survival and 5-year OS when receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. The study demonstrated a benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with completely resected stage T2N0M0 NSCLC regardless of tumor size.
Experts argue that integrated treatment could lead to a 40% reduction in implementation costs and be cost-effective in treating school-aged children and entire communities. The authors emphasize the need for increased drug subsidies, donations from pharmaceutical companies, and improved epidemiological surveillance.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati found that a pre-procedure medication regimen can significantly reduce hospital stays and readmission rates for liver cancer patients undergoing DEB TACE treatment. The study involved 113 procedures in 71 patients, with only 5% requiring hospital admission due to post-procedural syndrome.
Researchers at University of California - Davis Health found that patients with late-stage lung cancer who undergo surgery have better survival rates than those who don't. However, only 11% of these patients receive surgery, highlighting a need for improved access to care.
A new treatment uses chemotherapy followed by autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation to fully halt clinical relapses and development of new brain lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis. Eight patients showed a sustained improvement in disability 7.5 years after treatment.
Colorado State University's Brad Reisfeld and colleagues create a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model to predict drug concentrations in the body. The model can account for individual differences and changes in metabolism, allowing for more effective treatment.
Researchers found that a plant-virus-based carrier successfully delivers the drug candidate phenanthriplatin, outperforming cisplatin in mouse models of triple-negative breast cancer. The nanoparticles target tumors, accumulating inside lysosomal compartments and releasing the drug to block transcription, leading to greater cell death.
Researchers developed a device that can absorb up to 90% of chemotherapy drugs in 25-30 minutes, reducing their circulation and potential harm. The system targets tumors with a concentrated dose while capturing the majority of drugs like a sponge, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
Research suggests that coordinating chemotherapy treatments with the time of day when a patient's body is most awake can minimize drug toxicity and increase anti-cancer therapeutic drug efficacy. This approach targets the circadian clock, which regulates certain signaling pathways to regulate drug metabolism.
A new combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has shown a remarkable 53% response rate in pediatric neuroblastoma patients, with some tumors shrinking or disappearing completely. Researchers plan to expand the study to include more children, offering hope for a potential cure.
Pediatric leukemia patients exposed to higher concentrations of methotrexate are more likely to struggle with mental flexibility, organization, and related skills as long-term survivors. Brain imaging revealed changes in brain regions associated with executive functioning, including increased activity in the frontal lobe region.
In a phase II clinical trial, pembrolizumab elicited partial responses in 17% of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer. The overall response rate was more than triple that of methotrexate, the current standard treatment for resistant cases.
A clinical trial shows atezolizumab, a checkpoint inhibitor, is effective in treating advanced bladder cancer, shrinking tumors and stopping new growth. The drug was well-tolerated, with mild side effects, and half of patients responded within 15 weeks.
A phase II clinical study found a 32% clinical benefit in pancreatic cancer patients with BRCA mutation, including one complete response and two partial responses. The drug's acceptable safety profile suggests it may be an option earlier in the treatment course for some patients.
A phase III clinical trial found that giving chemotherapy after radiotherapy delays further growth of anaplastic glioma and increases the number of patients alive at five years. The treatment improved survival for patients with this rare type of brain tumour, now being considered standard care.
Researchers found that adding metformin to a chemotherapy and radiation treatment regimen for head and neck cancer patients showed improved outcomes, including better overall survival, compared to those not on metformin. However, faster escalation of metformin was poorly tolerated due to nausea, vomiting, and other side effects.
Researchers discovered leukemia cells harvest mitochondria from normal cells during chemotherapy, allowing them to survive and thrive. This finding offers new hope for developing better treatments for acute myeloid leukemia by targeting the energy-boosting mechanism.
Researchers in Norway used ultrasound to enhance absorption of chemotherapeutic compounds Gemcitabine into pancreatic cells, increasing treatment cycles and median survival time from 7 months to 18 months. The technique, called sonoporation, showed promising results without increased toxicity or side effects.
Research on carboplatin therapy in rats suggests that chemotherapy can affect dopamine and serotonin levels, leading to cognitive issues. The study provides new insights into the development of chemo brain, a condition affecting up to one-third of chemotherapy patients.
Researchers have found that a combination of vitamin A and chemotherapy can reduce cancer cell proliferation and invasion in pancreatic cancer. The approach targets both cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells, blocking multiple cell signalling pathways used by cancer cells to become aggressive.
Mayo Clinic researchers found that a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can significantly improve survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients. Patients who received chemotherapy and/or radiation before surgery had better long-term outcomes than those who did not, with median survival times approaching four years.
Researchers discovered that immune T cells can overcome chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer by outsmarting fibroblasts. By boosting these immune cells, the tumor cells begin to die off, suggesting a new approach to treating ovarian cancer.
University at Buffalo researchers have created a method to strip away excess surfactants from common injectable drugs, potentially making them safer and more effective for millions. The breakthrough removes potentially harmful additives, improving the formulation of anti-cancer medicine, testosterone, and other drugs.
A research team identified low expression of methylation-controlled J protein (MCJ) as a marker of poor response to chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer patients. They found that MCJ-expressing tumors had reduced relapse-free survival and that mice deficient in MCJ had larger tumors and increased chemoresistance.
A study published in Brain Connectivity suggests that pediatric leukemia survivors may experience cognitive impairment due to chemotherapy-induced brain damage. The research used diffusion tensor imaging to analyze the white matter connectome of ALL survivors and healthy young people, revealing significantly lower connectivity and grea...
Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered a new way to kill off resistant leukemia cells via necroptosis, a cell death program that can bypass traditional apoptosis. SMAC mimetics, which activate necroptosis, showed promise in killing leukemia cells in 33% of patient samples tested.
Cisplatin kills rapidly dividing cancer cells but also causes permanent hearing loss due to damage to sensory hair cells in the inner ear. Individuals with Cockayne syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting DNA repair, are more susceptible to this side effect.
Women with early-stage breast cancer who used dietary supplements and complementary medicine were less likely to start chemotherapy than nonusers, according to a new study. CAM use was associated with lower chemotherapy initiation rates among those for whom treatment was indicated.
Women with early-stage breast cancer who used dietary supplements and complementary therapies were less likely to start chemotherapy. Dietary supplement usage was associated with a lower likelihood of initiating chemotherapy, while mind-body practices showed no relation.
Researchers used pharmacologic modeling and simulation to calculate optimal drug doses for a clinical trial of ependymoma patients. The approach led to the development of a successful phase I clinical trial with a recommended dose of 500mg/m2 body surface area administered weekly.
A randomized study found that chemoradiotherapy did not improve overall survival compared to chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, contradicting prior expectations. The study also showed no significant difference between gemcitabine and gemcitabine plus erlotinib treatments.
A new study suggests that cognitive-behavioral therapy can help prevent long-term memory issues caused by chemotherapy. The therapy, called Memory and Attention Adaptation Training (MAAT), was developed to increase awareness of situations where memory problems arise and develop skills to compensate for memory dysfunction.
A large study of 2,437 patients with stage II testicular seminoma found that radiation therapy was associated with better outcomes compared to chemotherapy, particularly in stage IIa disease. The study's findings support the recommendation for radiotherapy as the preferred treatment option for early-stage II testicular cancer.
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) highlights significant progress in lung cancer prevention, diagnosis, staging, and treatment in 2015. The organization introduces a comprehensive educational resource covering topics such as tobacco control, early detection, and immunotherapy.
Breast cancer survivors undergoing anthracycline-based chemotherapy did not experience greater risk of lasting cognitive decline, according to a recent study. Neuropsychological tests revealed comparable cognitive function between groups up to seven years after treatment.
A phase III trial found that patients taking nivolumab were more than twice as likely to be alive after one year compared to those treated with chemotherapy. Median survival for nivolumab was 7.5 months, significantly longer than 5.1 months for chemotherapy.
A 20-month-old girl's tumor regression shows promising evidence of the potential for LOXO-101 to provide significant benefit for pediatric patients with NTRK gene fusions. The patient achieved a 90% reduction in tumor size after receiving an experimental treatment.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have found a way to attack a process that tumor cells use to escape the effects of standard cancer drugs. The discovery highlights how targeting specific metabolic requirements of cancer cells can prove effective in their selective eradication.
Researchers create micro-sized gas bubbles coated with cancer drug particles that can be directed to a specific tumour using magnets and ultrasound. This innovative technique aims to overcome limitations of chemotherapy by delivering drugs directly to the core of the tumour.
Patients with EGFR expressing advanced squamous non-small-cell lung cancer benefit most from necitumumab added to gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy. The addition of necitumumab improves overall survival and progression-free survival by 21% and 16%, respectively, in patients whose tumours express the EGFR protein.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles found that targeting survivin enhances chemotherapy effectiveness in retinoblastoma cells and mouse models. The combination of a survivin inhibitor with chemotherapy agents increased Rb cell death, demonstrating a therapeutic advantage.
Patients with grade 2 gliomas treated with radiation therapy plus chemotherapy had a better overall survival of 13.3 years compared to 7.8 years without chemotherapy. The study also found that patients with IDH1 mutation had significantly better overall survival regardless of treatment.
Researchers have developed an implantable device that delivers chemotherapy drugs directly to pancreatic tumors, showing promising results in slowing disease progression and shrinking tumors. The device uses a flexible film that conforms to the tumor shape and releases drugs locally, minimizing side effects and improving treatment outc...
A phase Ib trial demonstrated that combining immunotherapy with live bacterium CRS-207 and chemotherapy resulted in a 94% disease control rate and 59% response rate in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The therapy also showed good immune activation and synergistic efficacy with chemotherapy.