Research on chemotherapy and its side effects. Covers nerve-injury prevention, gold-nanorod therapy, less-intensive regimens, and combination treatments.
Researchers discovered BIM accumulation is crucial for paclitaxel-induced apoptosis, while H-ras/MAPK pathway suppresses it. Cotreatment with proteosome inhibitors restored BIM accumulation, enabling tumor regression. This study highlights the importance of understanding signaling mechanisms to guide rational combination therapy.
A new chemotherapy combination has shown significant improvement in survival rates for brain tumour patients, with almost half of those with an inactivated MGMT gene surviving after 2 years. The treatment also did not negatively impact patients' quality of life, offering a promising breakthrough in glioblastoma treatment.
Researchers have found that a combination of surgery and intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) improves overall survival and quality of life in patients with tumors of the appendix, small bowel, ovarian cancer, colon, rectum, stomach, and mesothelioma. The treatment has been shown to be effective for high-grade and low-grade...
A new study finds that MRI is more accurate than current standards in assessing the effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. The imaging technique correctly identified the presence of residual tumor in 71% of cases, while sonography and clinical examination were less accurate.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital finds that upfront treatment with radiation followed by chemotherapy can cure brain tumors in children over 3 years old, raising survival rates to 78% for two-year event-free survival and 89% for overall survival. The study shows promise for treating relapse cases using ICE chemotherapy.
A study analyzing data from four clinical trials found that older patients with lymph node-positive breast cancer can tolerate standard and intensive chemotherapy regimens similarly to younger patients. The findings suggest that age is not a barrier to the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy in healthy older women.
Researchers at Purdue University have created a chip with thousands of tiny vessels on top of a material containing pores to mimic synthetic cell membranes. This innovation aims to develop 'laboratories-on-a-chip' that can screen individual drugs and increase the efficiency of drug discovery.
Researchers identified a 76-gene signature that can predict disease relapse in patients with lymph-node negative breast cancer. The signature showed high sensitivity (93%) but lower specificity (48%) in predicting distant recurrence within five years.
Researchers found that a genetic component of the body's internal clock affects immune cells' sensitivity to cyclophosphamide, an anti-cancer drug. The study's findings may lead to more effective and less toxic cancer treatments.
A new study in JAMA found that over 75% of patients with malignant brain tumors underwent common procedures like radiation therapy, MRI, or surgery. However, the study also discovered that some practice patterns contradict published guidelines, such as the infrequent use of chemotherapy and anti-depressant medications.
The study found significant variations in treatment practices for patients with malignant glioma, including differences in the use of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and antidepressants. These variations were associated with differences in survival rates, highlighting the need for further investigation and potential improvements to tr...
Chemists in Australia have created a molecule called the 'superbowl' that can carry large molecules of medicinal value, including painkillers and chemotherapy drugs, to specific areas of the body. The molecule shows promise for precision drug delivery and may one day improve medical treatments and save lives.
The addition of locoregional radiation therapy significantly improved breast cancer survival and reduced mortality in high-risk patients. A 20-year follow-up study found that the regimen resulted in a 32% reduction in breast cancer mortality and a 27% reduction in overall mortality compared to chemotherapy alone.
Researchers found women with invasive lobular carcinoma have a different disease type, benefiting from tailored treatment approaches. Alternative therapies like hormonal treatments may be more effective for this rare form of breast cancer.
A newly discovered compound, SP-4-84, has shown potential to enhance cancer treatments by increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs while reducing side effects. The compound works by inhibiting cancer cells' ability to survive chemotherapeutic treatment, allowing for lower drug dosages and fewer side effects.
A Stanford study found that infusing bone marrow cells from a donor mouse into laboratory mice before chemotherapy can significantly improve their ability to fight infections and survive. This new approach boosts neutrophil production, reducing the risk of neutropenia-related complications.
A recent study suggests that Akt3 protein is key to melanoma's resistance to chemotherapy, promoting tumor cell survival and development in 43-60% of non-inherited melanomas. Lowering Akt3 activity can reduce tumor-creating potential and make cancer cells more susceptible to signals inducing apoptosis.
A study found that cancer patients receiving long-term bisphosphonate therapy were at risk of developing jawbone necrosis, a condition that can lead to bone death and require surgery. The condition is often associated with tooth extractions or other major dental work while on the drugs.
A large phase III trial showed that sequential treatment with ELLENCE delivered superior disease-free and overall survival compared to FEC 100 alone. The sequential regimen resulted in a 17% reduction in relapse risk and a 23% reduction in mortality risk.
A recent re-analysis of large clinical trials found that chemotherapy significantly improves survival rates in patients with ER-negative tumors, reducing the risk of death by 56 percent. The study suggests that chemotherapy has a greater impact on ER-negative patients than previously thought.
A new molecular test uses a panel of genes to predict the risk of breast cancer recurrence and identify patients who will benefit from chemotherapy. The test shows that women with low risk of recurrence do not derive much benefit from chemotherapy, while those with high risk have a large benefit.
Researchers found that breast cancer patients who lose tau protein expression are twice as likely to have a good response to Taxol treatment. The discovery suggests that tumor tissue could be screened to predict which patients will respond to the chemotherapy, leading to improved treatment outcomes.
A new study by Loyola Medicine found that tamoxifen or other hormonal therapy alone may not be sufficient to treat hormone-dependent breast cancer. Chemotherapy proved more effective in stopping cancer recurrence, especially when combined with tamoxifen.
Researchers found that patients with basal-like and erbb2+ subgroups had the highest rates of pathological complete response to chemotherapy, while luminal tumors showed minimal response. The study suggests stratifying patients into molecular subgroups for more accurate treatment predictions.
U of MN researchers have developed a new approach to adult cord blood transplantation, achieving high engraftment rates and low complications. The treatment uses combined use of two cord blood units from different donors, offering potentially life-saving therapy to patients previously denied treatment.
A combination of two biologic agents, alemtuzumab and rituximab, with chemotherapy has shown a promising response rate of 55% in CLL relapse patients. Complete remission was achieved by 23% of patients, while leukemia levels were reduced by at least half in 35% of cases.
A new oral therapy, Zarnestra, has shown benefit in improving blood counts and preventing leukemia development in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The drug, a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, produces responses in about one-third of patients, offering hope for those at high-risk for developing acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has developed a host of imaging techniques to develop better ways to look noninvasively at the molecular characteristics of tumors. They aim to forecast early response to chemotherapy so that treatment choices can be adjusted.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons warns that breast enhancement pills can be dangerous and interact with prescribed medications. Many women may place their health at risk by taking these pills, which are sold as herbal supplements and lack FDA scrutiny.
A study of 189 breast cancer patients found no association between paclitaxel chemotherapy and radiation pneumonitis. No hospitalized cases or deaths from the side effect occurred, regardless of treatment group.
BRCA1 mutations are found in only 5% of breast and ovarian cancers, but loss-of-function mutations can significantly increase cancer risk. Researchers review preclinical and clinical evidence to determine if BRCA1 function can predict chemotherapy response, highlighting the need for prospective studies.
A new study suggests that increased selenium levels in the blood are associated with a lower risk of developing colorectal adenoma recurrence. The research pooled data from three randomized trials and found that participants in the highest quartile for blood selenium levels had a 34% decreased risk of developing a new adenoma.
Researchers found that patients' neuromotor functions, including problem-solving and motor skills, significantly declined after cancer treatment but recovered within a year. Factors such as chemotherapy type and immune suppressant use lowered the risk of impaired function.
Researchers developed a method combining CYP3A4 phenotyping with UGT1A1 genotyping to optimize irinotecan chemotherapy. Greater height, obesity, and lower physical activity levels are linked to increased endometrial cancer risk.
A St. Jude clinical trial has shown promising results in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a new chemotherapy regimen that eliminates irradiation, achieving high event-free survival rates of over 80% and overall survival rates of around 86%. The trial's stringent risk classification and early intensification of chemotherapy le...
A study suggests chemotherapy, not tamoxifen, is linked to increased stroke risk in women with breast cancer. Chemotherapy remains a key component of treatment despite this finding.
A study found that chemotherapy, but not tamoxifen, is linked to an increased risk of stroke in breast cancer patients. Women who had not completed menopause and those with a history of hypertension or diabetes were more likely to experience a stroke. The researchers conclude that women can use tamoxifen without concern for stroke risk.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill develop new technique to trap single water molecule inside protein molecule using mass spectrometry, improving inhibitor molecules for cancer treatment. The discovery may lead to more effective combination therapies with anti-cancer agents like cytarabine.
A European study found that shorter chemotherapy courses for children with Wilms' tumour are as effective as traditional treatment, but with reduced side effects and healthcare costs. The two-year survival rate was around 90% in both groups.
A recent study led by Dr. Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh and Dr. Kamran Alimoghaddam found that arsenic achieved complete remission in over 90% of newly diagnosed APL patients. The treatment has also shown promising results in other cancers like multiple myeloma, with a mean survival time of nearly 34 months for most patients.
A meta-analysis of RCT data found that patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy had a lower risk of death and recurrence than those not receiving chemotherapy. Women with optimally staged stage I ovarian cancer may have an excellent prognosis without adjuvant chemotherapy.
A 39-year-old woman gave birth to a healthy baby girl after undergoing orthotopic autotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue. This procedure bypasses the need for in-vitro fertilization, offering new hope for young cancer patients facing premature ovarian failure.
A study of 4,522 patients found that 48-53% received less than 85% of recommended chemotherapy doses due to treatment delays or dose reductions. Patients over age 60 had significantly higher risk of under-treatment. The study emphasizes the importance of timely and effective chemotherapy management.
A study of 128 women found that immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy did not delay the initiation of postoperative chemotherapy. The overall rate of wound complications was 15.5%, with higher rates in patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction, but these complications did not affect chemotherapy timing.
Researchers have developed core/shell nanogels that can target cancer cells using folic acid, a nutrient that cancer cells absorb more than healthy cells. The nanoparticles can be heated to kill cancer cells, but applying targeted heat sources like ultrasound can spare healthy cells.
Researchers have created a group of rhodium-based compounds that can target and kill cancer cells, as well as deactivate viruses like West Nile and yellow fever viruses. These compounds work by binding to DNA in tumor cells and rendering them inert, and they offer a promising alternative to traditional chemotherapy drugs.
Researchers have uncovered a powerful new cancer-fighting property of Herceptin, which targets HER-2 positive breast cancer cells. The study found that high levels of PTEN in tumor cells predict response to the drug, and offers potential combination therapy with PI3K inhibitors.
A new compound called OSU 111 has been developed to target both cancer cells and the formation of new blood vessels that feed them. In laboratory experiments, it was found to be highly effective in killing prostate cancer tissue cells within three days.
The American Chemical Society has recognized four companies for developing innovative therapies for various ailments, including eye disease and high cholesterol. These breakthroughs were made possible by the work of industrial chemists and chemical engineers who have led to commercially successful products that improve quality of life.
The guideline states that routine adjuvant chemotherapy is not recommended for medically fit, average-risk patients with Stage II colon cancer. Patients who receive adjuvant chemotherapy have a small but significant benefit in survival rates, around 4-5% more chance of survival five years after surgery.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that combining an anti-tumor vaccine with chemotherapy significantly extended patient survival to 26 months on average. The treatment, which involves dendritic-cell immunotherapy, was shown to slow tumor growth and increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
Researchers have discovered a common binding site on tubulin protein crucial to cell division, providing more options for developing effective anti-cancer drugs. This finding could lead to the creation of safer and more effective artificial forms of existing compounds.
A study found that low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer in overweight and obese women. The association was strongest in women who gained weight over the years of follow-up.
A randomized clinical trial showed that adjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy for colon cancer patients offer no disease-free or overall survival benefits after 10 years. The improvements in 5-year survival rates observed in the past have disappeared over time, suggesting that newer chemotherapy regimens may be more effective.
Researchers found that adherence to St-Gallen guidelines improved overall survival at 7 years, especially for those at moderate risk of recurrence. Women whose treatment conformed to guideline recommendations experienced better survival and lower recurrence rates compared to those with non-guideline therapy.
Researchers have developed a new approach to identify connections between genes and chemotherapy drugs, which may enable clinicians to customize treatment plans. By analyzing cell lines from large families, the team found potential links between genetic markers and increased sensitivity to two chemotherapy drugs.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released a new technology assessment recommending against the use of chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance assays. The assessment found limitations in the literature, including small sample sizes and low yield of assays, cast doubt on their effectiveness in determining treatment.
A sub-study of the FASG-05 trial found that a higher dose of ELLENCE improved disease-free and overall survival in patients with node-positive breast cancer. The study also showed a low risk of adverse cardiac events, despite concerns about cardiotoxicity.
Stanford researchers have developed a new technique to analyze cellular behavior in leukemia patients, identifying patterns that predict response to treatment. By understanding how cells respond to environmental signals, doctors can propose less common therapies and tailor treatment options to individual patients.
A new phase 2 study shows that combining cetuximab with irinotecan can resensitize tumors resistant to irinotecan, offering patients a new treatment option. The study's modest benefits in stopping cancer growth and improving patient response are seen as a step forward in treating colorectal cancer.