Research on chemotherapy and its side effects. Covers nerve-injury prevention, gold-nanorod therapy, less-intensive regimens, and combination treatments.
Research by the University of Missouri School of Health Professions reveals that women's environments and support systems significantly impact their quality of life after chemotherapy. Those with limited social support, including therapy, report lower quality of life and higher depression rates.
Researchers have developed miniature solar cells that can release chemotherapeutic drugs directly to tumors, reducing systemic side effects. The devices convert light into electric current and can be controlled by varying the intensity of light.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center found that combining curcumin with Cisplatin suppresses head and neck cancer cell growth, slowing tumor progression. The study showed that curcumin regulates cell cycling, inhibiting cancer-promoting NFκB.
Researchers have identified how a membrane protein transfers essential copper ions throughout the body, which could lead to improved treatment of cancer patients. The study's findings may also help develop more effective chemotherapy drugs by understanding how essential minerals are transferred into cells.
A renowned gynecologic oncologist expresses concerns about a major ovarian cancer study, highlighting the need for targeted genetics-based treatments over delayed treatment timing. The study found no significant difference in survival rates between early and delayed chemotherapy groups.
Experiments with artificial stomachs suggest that combining Compound X with Sprite improves its absorption. This could lead to better treatment outcomes for patients taking the oral anticancer drug.
Researchers have found a synthetic molecule, LLL12, that blocks activation of the oncogene STAT3 in liver cancer cells, halting their survival and increasing sensitivity to chemotherapy. This discovery offers potential for an anti-cancer therapy option.
A recent study found that newer treatments for age-related macular degeneration, including intravitreous bevacizumab and ranibizumab, do not significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular complications or death. The study analyzed data from 146,942 Medicare beneficiaries treated for AMD in 2005 or 2006.
The Phase III trial confirms that abiraterone acetate extends life by four months for patients with advanced prostate cancer, improving median overall survival to 14.8 months. This breakthrough treatment challenges the standard care for men with advanced disease.
A new study found that both high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant and conventional treatment with lenalidomide achieved positive responses in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. The study showed improved quality of response compared to induction alone.
A new meta-analysis shows that continuing chemotherapy after bringing cancer under control can increase survival time and reduce disease progression in metastatic breast cancer patients. The analysis found a 34% reduction in disease progression and a 9% reduction in death rates for patients who received longer chemotherapy durations.
In a phase II study, patients with locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC experienced significant increases in survival time when treated with TTF therapy in combination with chemotherapy. The therapy has also been shown to have clinical efficacy in human trials for other solid tumors, including recurrent glioblastoma.
The final phase-II results show that iniparib plus chemotherapy significantly improves overall survival from 7.7 to 12.3 months, offering a promising new treatment option for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients. Over half of patients experience clinical benefit, and there is little increase in adverse events.
Researchers reported that adding cetuximab to a three-drug chemotherapy regimen for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer did not improve response rates, progression-free survival, or overall survival. The NORDIC VII study included 566 patients and found no statistically significant differences between the treatment groups.
A study of Italian women with breast cancer found that most cases were diagnosed in people over 50 and had not spread to lymph nodes. The disease was hormone-receptor positive and HER2-negative, indicating a classical endocrine-responsive type. Treatment choices were influenced by tumor stage rather than biological factors.
Erlotinib has been shown to improve progression-free survival in patients with advanced lung cancer carrying EGFR activating mutations. The OPTIMAL trial found that erlotinib nearly tripled progression-free survival compared to a standard chemotherapy combination. Safety analyses also showed lower rates of adverse events with erlotinib.
A study presented at the ESMO Congress found that a patient's overall survival time is linked to the time to treatment failure for each line of chemotherapy. Analyzing data from 980 women with metastatic breast cancer, researchers identified this key factor as the most significant determinant of overall survival.
A new type of cancer treatment has shown encouraging activity as a first-line therapy in HER2-positive metastatic disease. The study demonstrated that T-DM1 has good anti-tumor activity and much lower toxicity compared to the older standard.
Researchers have discovered a new way that DNA-repair enzymes detect and fix damage to the chemical bases in the genetic code. The newly discovered mechanism detects and repairs a common form of DNA damage called alkylation, which is caused by environmental toxins and chemotherapy drugs.
A new study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that approximately half of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients received chemotherapy treatment, exceeding previous estimates. The retrospective analysis showed age and insurance type were associated with chemotherapy administration.
Researchers found that adding rituximab to chemotherapy significantly prolongs lives of CLL patients. Chemoimmunotherapy showed improved response rates and disease progression rates compared to standard chemotherapy alone.
A new randomised trial shows that starting chemotherapy earlier does not improve survival or quality of life for women with relapsed ovarian cancer. The study found that patients who received early treatment experienced a faster deterioration in quality of life, including role, emotional, social, and fatigue symptoms.
A phase 3 trial shows cabazitaxel improves overall and progression-free survival in men with advanced multi-drug resistant prostate cancer. The medication was found to be effective in patients whose disease progressed after standard chemotherapy with docetaxel.
Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine found gray matter changes in breast cancer patients' brains during and after chemotherapy treatment. Memory and executive functions were most affected, with some women experiencing subtle and others severe cognitive impairments.
A new clinical trial found that 96% of patients with intermediate-risk neuroblastoma survived for three years after receiving reduced chemotherapy doses. The study, led by Katherine Matthay at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, aimed to minimize the toxic effects of cancer drugs on young children.
Scientists have developed a new form of methotrexate as nose drops to treat brain cancer, showing promise in bypassing the blood-brain barrier. In initial testing on laboratory rats with brain cancer, the nose drop drug reduced tumor weight by almost one-third compared to injectable treatment.
Studies identified that postmastectomy irradiation triples the risk for an unplanned return to the operating room and immediate breast reconstruction increases that risk eight-fold. Women considering immediate reconstruction may benefit from a sentinel lymph node biopsy prior to mastectomy.
Researchers propose new clinical trial endpoints for immunotherapies, accounting for delayed responses and novel patterns of anti-tumor activity. The immune-related response criteria (irRC) offer a revised approach to measuring treatment success, considering factors such as lymphocyte infiltration and tumor burden.
A genetic signature has been identified that can help doctors determine which patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer are at high risk for developing disease recurrence and may benefit from chemotherapy after surgery. The study found that the 15-gene signature predicted aggressive disease in 62 patients, and those with agg...
Researchers have created a new cancer treatment that uses conditional small RNA molecules to selectively kill cancer cells. The approach exploits characteristics of DNA and RNA to separate diagnosis and treatment steps, potentially eliminating unwanted side effects.
A study published in Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that using the histoculture drug response assay to guide chemotherapy improves lung cancer survival and prognosis for patients who have undergone surgery. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy based on assay results showed a higher five-year survival rate compared to traditional treatm...
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a nano-sized vehicle that can deliver chemotherapy drugs directly into cancer cells while avoiding interaction with healthy cells. This technology has the potential to increase the efficiency of chemotherapeutic treatments while reducing their debilitating side effects.
A phase 3 trial found trastuzumab improves median survival to 13.8 months for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer patients, with a 26% reduction in death rate compared to chemotherapy alone. The treatment's cost effectiveness is questioned due to its estimated £13,857 per patient cost and $55,000 cost per life-year gained.
A study by Yale University researchers found that a combination of four herbs reduced gastrointestinal side effects of chemotherapy in mice while increasing the effectiveness of cancer treatment. The herbal formula PHY906 enhanced anti-tumor activity and promoted intestinal cell regeneration.
A centuries-old traditional Chinese medicine, PHY906, may reduce intestinal side effects of chemotherapy by stimulating gut cell division and reducing inflammation in cancer patients. Researchers found that PHY906 triggers Wnt signaling, which drives the replacement of damaged intestinal stem cells with healthy ones.
Assistant Professor Annelise Nguyen receives $370,000 grant to study cell communication in cancer cells, potentially leading to enhanced drug treatments. Her work also has potential applications for colon and prostate cancers.
Dr. Thomas J. Walsh, Director of the Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program at Weill Cornell Medical College, has been selected as the 2010 laureate of the sanofi-aventis ICAAC Award for his groundbreaking work on antifungal pharmacology and therapeutics.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges scientists' understanding of programmed cell death and its role in tumour formation. The study found that the body's natural cell-suicide program can fuel tumour development under certain conditions.
For nearly three-quarters of elderly patients, intensive chemotherapy is associated with poor prognosis and low median survival time. Researchers identified several predictive factors for mortality rate, including age over 80, genetic abnormalities, and kidney function impairment.
Researchers confirm bevacizumab's safety in treating advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer when combined with chemotherapy. The comprehensive study found no new safety signals beyond previously known toxicities, including life-threatening effects like bleeding.
A genetic test has been developed to predict which children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) are unlikely to benefit from standard chemotherapy. The test identifies patients whose leukemia cells harbor an intact TCR-gamma gene, who generally have a poor response to induction chemotherapy.
A recent study found that combining radiation and chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma increases treatment-related toxicities and non-cancer deaths. Patients treated with combined therapies experienced a higher acute toxicity rate compared to those treated with radiation alone.
A study found that perfusion CT can detect hemodynamic changes in liver tissue, indicating drug-induced hepatic damage. The research team correlated perfusion CT parameters with ALT levels and treatment cycles, revealing increased HPI and MTT in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Researchers use mesoporous silica nanoparticles to store and deliver chemotherapeutic drugs, effectively suppressing tumors in mice. The treatment led to significant tumor regression and minimal toxicity.
Researchers at TGen have found a way to revive chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients who no longer respond to conventional treatment. By inhibiting the CHEK1 protein, they were able to make these cells sensitive again to cisplatin, a widely used platinum-based chemotherapy drug.
A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that Medicare cuts to physician payments for outpatient chemotherapy drugs increased treatment rates among Medicare recipients. The study analyzed data from 222,478 beneficiaries with lung cancer and found a 2.4% increase in chemotherapy treatment within one month of diagnosis.
Researchers found that administering nab-paclitaxel weekly resulted in a 48% response rate and less severe side effects compared to every-three-week dosing. The study showed improved anti-tumor activity and reduced nerve damage with the novel formulation.
The study enrolled 237 patients with recurrent GBM and found that NovoTTF was as effective as the best available chemotherapies without the toxicity. Patients treated with NovoTTF lived longer and experienced fewer infections compared to chemotherapy.
Researchers found that adding sorafenib to chemotherapy regimens does not improve patient survival in advanced melanoma patients. The study, sponsored by ECOG, enrolled 823 patients and did not confirm promising results from previous phase II studies.
Vandetanib significantly prolongs progression-free survival and improves response rates compared to standard chemotherapy alone in previously treated advanced NSCLC patients. The addition of vandetanib also reduces symptoms and increases time to worsening of symptoms.
Researchers from University Hospitals Case Medical Center will present new clinical research findings on biomarker-driven treatment in stage II colon cancer and the utility of the Vulnerable Elders Survey for predicting sixth-month functional decline among older patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Additionally, a study found t...
Patients with stage II colon cancer treated after 1995 had longer time to recurrence, but improved overall survival. Stage III colon cancer patients treated after 1995 also showed improved overall survival without change in time to recurrence compared to those treated before 1995.
Researchers at University of Florida have developed a two-pronged therapy targeting both leukemia cells and their environment. The therapy, called Oxi4503, uses an agent that poisons leukemia cells and destroys blood vessels supplying them with oxygen and nutrients.
Researchers developed a nanosponge-based delivery system that is three to five times more effective than direct injection in reducing tumor growth. The system uses biodegradable particles with predictable release characteristics, making it an attractive alternative for targeted cancer therapy.
A study published in The Lancet Oncology found that zoledronic acid reduced the number of tumor cells in bone marrow at surgery and improved bone density in women with stage II or III breast cancer. The treatment may also help fight certain types of breast tumors directly.
A study published in the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting showed that lenalidomide significantly improved response rates and complete remission in patients with transformed lymphoma. Patients treated with lenalidomide had a remarkable response rate, with some experiencing complete remission for over a year.
Erlotinib maintenance therapy significantly improves progression-free and overall survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. The treatment is generally well-tolerated, with mild to moderate side effects.
Patients who undergo gastric cancer surgery followed by chemotherapy have a lower risk of death and improved disease-free survival compared to those who receive surgery alone. The analysis found an 18% reduction in the risk of death and improved overall survival with chemotherapy.
A recent study by American Academy of Pediatrics found that parents administering medication to children with chronic conditions often make mistakes. The researchers visited the homes of 83 children and reviewed 544 medications, discovering 128 errors, including those that could injure the child.
A Phase I trial combining pemetrexed with radiation and chemotherapy for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer demonstrates tolerability and efficacy. The regimen allows high cytotoxic doses during radiotherapy, increasing the chance of killing cancerous cells.