Articles tagged with Chemotherapy
Researchers discovered a new class of anti-cancer agent, BH3 mimetics, that target Bcl-2 proteins in cancer cells. Combining these agents with chemotherapy shows improved tumour response and survival rates for aggressive breast cancers.
Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine discovered that low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has a potent antitumor effect on human ovarian cancer. Combining LDN with chemotherapy resulted in an additive inhibitory action on tumorigenesis, reducing DNA synthesis and cell replication.
Clinical trials show half-matched bone marrow or cord blood transplants have comparable survival rates and lower relapse rates compared to fully matched donors. This advancement in transplant technology may increase access to life-saving treatments for leukemia and lymphoma patients worldwide.
The number of elderly cancer patients taking multiple medications is increasing, posing a significant risk of adverse drug reactions and interactions. Research suggests that polypharmacy is becoming more frequent in older adults due to the increasing number of drugs used to prevent or treat medical problems.
The EURTAC Phase III study found that erlotinib nearly doubled progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy, with a better tolerability profile for Western patients with NSCLC and EGFR activating mutations. The response rate to erlotinib was 54.5%, significantly higher than the 10.5% response rate to chemotherapy.
Research found that high EGFR expression is a predictor of improved survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with cetuximab and chemotherapy. Patients with high tumor EGFR expression averaged 12 months of overall survival, compared to 9.6 months for those without high expression.
A recent study published in International Journal of Cancer found that boosting the production of a specific microRNA, miR-34a, increases sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to chemotherapy. The study suggests that miR-34a may be used as a predictor of response to chemotherapy and a target for new drugs.
Researchers have discovered new gene mutations in CLL patients, linking NOTCH1 pathway to poorer prognosis and shorter survival. The findings suggest the potential for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in human CLL.
A new study has identified predictors that can help guide treatment decisions for head and neck cancer patients who require a second round of treatment. Certain characteristics, such as cancer-free period and radiation dose, can determine which patients are most likely to benefit from this potentially toxic treatment.
Rectal cancer patients may benefit from additional chemotherapy before surgery for better outcomes. City of Hope researchers also investigated the effectiveness of palliative care in late-stage lung cancer patients, finding significant gaps in current care.
A study of over 1,000 patients with colon cancer found that 13% received unproven chemotherapy regimens, resulting in unnecessary side effects and costs totaling millions. The researchers emphasize the importance of evidence-based treatment for cancer patients to avoid harming them with ineffective therapies.
Researchers found that Tai Chi improves cognitive functioning and psychological health in women who have undergone chemotherapy. The study suggests that Tai Chi could be a valuable addition to cancer treatment for mitigating cognitive decline.
Researchers find that melanoma cells can develop an invasive phenotype when exposed to anti-melanoma drugs, leading to relapse. Blocking CCL2 or its upstream effectors may represent a novel therapeutic approach.
A hormone test measuring anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels can predict a woman's ovarian function after chemotherapy for breast cancer. Women with low AMH levels before treatment are more likely to experience infertility due to chemotherapy-induced damage.
A study published in JAMA found that delays in starting adjuvant chemotherapy after colorectal cancer surgery are associated with poorer survival outcomes. The research suggests that clinicians should prioritize timely access to chemotherapy to improve patient outcomes.
The COIN trial found that standard chemotherapy with cetuximab does not improve progression-free survival or overall survival in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. However, taking treatment breaks without compromising survival improves quality of life for most patients.
Scientists at Penn State College of Medicine have created a new approach to treating brain tumors by targeting the ferritin protein with siRNA. By reducing ferritin levels in cancer cells, the sensitivity to chemotherapy can be increased, allowing for lower doses and potentially fewer side effects.
Scientists identify novel MRSA strain with highly divergent genes not detected by traditional methods, suggesting transmission from animals to humans. The study highlights the emergence of new MRSA strains from animal reservoirs in Ireland and Europe.
Researchers found that itraconazole can delay the progression of prostate cancer and reduce PSA levels, with 48.4% of patients experiencing stable or declining PSA after high-dose treatment. The antifungal also disrupted a key cancer-initiating biological pathway called Hedgehog.
Researchers found Asian non-small cell lung cancer patients survived longer than Caucasians regardless of the number of chemotherapy drugs given, with improved survival rates after targeted therapies were introduced in the early 2000s.
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have found a less toxic combination of erlotinib and bevacizumab to be effective in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment regimen resulted in improved progression-free survival and overall survival rates, with fewer patients experiencing severe side effects.
Researchers at Georgia Health Sciences University have identified PKC-delta as a critical regulator of cisplatin-mediated kidney toxicity. Inhibiting this protein not only protected the kidneys but also enhanced the antitumor effects of cisplatin in mouse tumor models.
A recent study by Michigan State University found that many patients struggle to take oral chemotherapy properly, leading to complications and premature death. The study highlights the need for healthcare providers to monitor and facilitate adherence through identifying barriers and implementing strategies to overcome them.
A phase II study by the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center found that an antibody-guided chemotherapy drug eradicated or greatly reduced ALL cells in 61% of patients with resistant or recurrent disease. This makes it a potential most active single-agent therapy for ALL.
Researchers have successfully used gene-modified stem cells to protect bone marrow cells from chemotherapy's toxic effects in patients with brain tumors. The treatment involved infusing gene-modified blood stem cells into patients, which persisted for over a year without showing any harmful effects.
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have found that dietary inorganic nitrate can stabilize mitochondria and protect against free-radical damage in the heart. The study suggests that nitrate supplementation may reduce the risk of heart damage in patients undergoing chemotherapy with doxorubicin.
Patients with mismatch repair defects have lower tumor recurrence rates, longer remissions, and improved overall and disease-free survival compared to those without the defects. The study suggests that these defects are associated with a reduced response to 5-FU therapy, particularly in patients with inherited defects.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that adding low-dose sorafenib to chemotherapy and radiation can improve treatment efficacy while reducing harsh side effects. The triple combination was well-tolerated in an animal model.
A new predictive test developed from gene expression microarrays identified patients with a high probability of survival following chemotherapy for breast cancer. The test had a positive predictive value of 56 percent and showed significant association between predicted sensitivity to treatment and improved distant relapse-free survival.
A new genomic test has shown promise as a predictor of chemotherapy response and survival benefit in women with invasive breast cancer. The test combines multiple signatures, including estrogen receptor status, endocrine therapy response, chemotherapy resistance and sensitivity, to predict treatment outcomes.
Two widely used multi-gene tests produce broadly similar results for high- and low-risk breast cancer patients, but differ for those at intermediate risk. The study's findings suggest that these tests can provide additional independent prognostic information to help clinicians make informed treatment decisions.
Researchers have identified sFRP1 as a molecular marker that correlates with chemotherapy sensitivity in triple-negative breast cancers. The study found that sFRP1 expression levels in individual tumors predict response to chemotherapy, and knocking down the gene in cell culture decreased sensitivity to certain chemotherapies.
A study found that most patients experience a return to normal motor and memory function within five years after stem cell transplant. However, some patients continue to have measurable deficits in fine motor skills and verbal memory, highlighting the need for cognitive rehabilitation strategies.
Researchers found that temsirolimus strongly blocked mTOR-mediated signals and had a cytostatic effect on all mesothelioma cells. The study suggests using mTOR inhibitors as a novel anti-mesothelioma strategy, particularly in combination with chemotherapy.
Researchers have identified multiple molecular targets of the anti-HIV drug nelfinavir, which may explain its effectiveness as a cancer therapy. The study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, suggests that the collective effect of these weak interactions leads to the clinical efficacy of nelfinavir.
Researchers have identified potential human molecular targets of Nelfinavir, an anti-HIV drug also effective as a cancer therapy. The study suggests that the collective effect of weak interactions with multiple protein kinases leads to clinical efficacy.
A phase III clinical trial will recruit 4,000 women with low to intermediate Oncotype DX recurrence scores to determine whether a gene expression test can spare thousands of women from unnecessary chemotherapy. The RxPONDER trial aims to identify an optimal recurrence score cutpoint for these patients.
A modified chemotherapy regimen combining reduced CHOP doses with rituximab has shown substantial response and improved survival in very elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The R-miniCHOP regimen is well-tolerated, with a high overall response rate and low treatment toxicity.
A Phase III study found that GOLFIG increased progression-free survival to 16.5 months, compared to 7.5 months with FOLFOX regimen. Researchers added gemcitabine and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor to boost immune system.
A UCSF research team has made a breakthrough in predicting breast cancer survival by analyzing the immune profile of tumors. By identifying specific patterns of immune cells, they were able to develop a treatment strategy that slows tumor growth and improves patient outcomes.
A team of researchers has developed a new model that uses artificial neural networks to predict adverse drug reactions (ADRs) among 10,000 observations with 99.87% accuracy. The technology has the potential to save lives by identifying potential ADRs at an early stage of drug development and marketing.
A long-term study reports the effectiveness of stem cell transplants in replacing bone marrow and reducing disease activity in people with rapidly progressive MS. The treatment showed promising results, with an average improvement in symptoms lasting two years.
Professor Sylvain Martel's team at Polytechnique Montréal successfully guided microcarriers loaded with an anti-cancer drug to a targeted area in the liver, where it was administered. This breakthrough improves chemoembolization treatment for liver cancer by precisely targeting cancerous cells without harming surrounding tissue.
Researchers used laser light to force cancer cells to take in chemotherapy drugs and fluorescent dyes, creating a potential delivery system. The technique also allowed them to target anti-Alzheimer's medicines to the brain non-invasively.
A new study shows that a surgical technique called microdissection testicular sperm extraction (TESE) can effectively locate and extract viable sperm in over one-third of adult male childhood cancer survivors who were previously considered sterile. This technique enabled many men to father children with the help of in vitro fertilization.
A new treatment strategy using chemotherapy drugs Erlotinib and Gefitinib has been found to be effective in treating a subset of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The drugs, which target the EGFR mutation, produced a response rate of over 70% and had fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments.
A Northwestern University research team found that binding chemotherapy drugs to nanodiamonds significantly improves the effectiveness of cancer treatment, particularly in cases where tumors are resistant to conventional therapies. The discovery holds promise for treating aggressive cancers with fewer toxic side effects.
Researchers discover that malaria parasite relies on host cell signaling pathways to proliferate. A class of cancer-fighting drugs targeting these pathways can effectively kill the parasite.
The phase 3 trial shows that zalutumumab treatment is associated with a long-term benefit in progression-free survival, with a 20% PFS rate at 6 months compared to 7.3% in the best supportive care group. However, overall survival was not significantly increased.
A study published in The Lancet found that eribulin monotherapy extends the lives of breast cancer patients with extensive treatment by a median 2.5 months compared to physician's choice treatment. The drug targets microtubules, leading to cell death and improved survival rates.
Researchers at York University have identified a key role for microRNA 376c in allowing ovarian cancer cells to thrive despite chemotherapy. By targeting the receptor ALK7, this microRNA enables cancer cells to survive and resist cell death.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that patients with invasive T3 and T4 non-small lung cancer who received chemotherapy before surgery had a significantly improved survival rate. The study, published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, showed that median survival was greatest for those who rec...
A new phase III trial has shown that erlotinib has comparable efficacy to chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients whose disease has progressed after first-line treatment. The study found no difference in overall survival or progression-free survival time between the two groups.
A long-term study confirms trastuzumab's benefit for women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer, showing a significant reduction in disease-free survival and no increase in mortality risk. The treatment also improves outcomes in patients who cross over to trastuzumab therapy.
Researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center found that combining rituximab with fludarabine can produce long-term remissions in CLL patients. After nearly 10 years of follow-up, 13% of patients achieved remissions lasting more than seven years.
Scientists at Queen's University Belfast have discovered the role of an enzyme that causes life-threatening damage to the heart when cancer patients receive chemotherapy, restricting treatment doses. New drugs targeting this enzyme could reduce heart damage and increase survival rates.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a new chemotherapy method that targets cancer tumors more effectively by using gold nanoparticles to deliver an anti-cancer drug directly into the tumor. This approach allows for lower doses of toxic chemicals, reducing damage to healthy tissue.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that low doses of losartan improved the effectiveness of two nanotherapeutic approaches against several types of cancer. Losartan normalized the abnormal extracellular matrix of tumors, allowing for better delivery and efficacy of therapies.
Bevacizumab, a cancer treatment drug, increases the risk of fatal adverse events (FAEs) when combined with chemotherapy or biological therapy. According to a review of published trials, the overall incidence of FAEs was 2.5%, with a significant increase in patients receiving taxanes or platinum agents.
Scientists successfully applied home device technology to increase solubility of anticancer drugs like tamoxifen and paclitaxel. The process has potential for improving performance of dyes, paints, rust-proofing agents and other products.