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City of Hope part of successful international Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating sotorasib medication combination for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

A new therapeutic option has been found for patients with a treatment-resistant tumor mutation called KRAS G12C. The sotorasib and panitumumab combination demonstrated superior progression-free survival rates compared to standard of care.

SourceCity of Hope·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 27, 2023

Suppression of cancer stemness and drug resistance via BRAF/EGFR/MEK inhibition in colorectal cancer cells

Researchers discovered that inhibiting the BRAF/EGFR/MEK pathway significantly reduced cancer stemness and drug resistance in primary colorectal cancer cells. The study also identified a triple combination treatment against BRAF, EGFR, and MEK as a promising approach to block these activities and develop effective treatments.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2023

Newfound mechanism suggests drug combination could starve pancreatic cancer

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism for starving pancreatic cancer cells, potentially leading to improved treatment outcomes. A combination of treatments involving the drug DRP-104, which blocks glutamine metabolism, and trametinib, an existing ERK signaling pathway blocker, showed promising results in mouse models.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNature Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 9, 2023

Esketamine nasal spray effective against depression

A Phase IIIb study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that esketamine nasal spray achieved higher remission rates (27.1%) compared to quetiapine extended-release (17.6%) in patients with treatment-resistant depression, indicating its potential as a targeted therapy for this population.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 5, 2023

Esketamine nasal spray: an option for patients with treatment-resistant depression

A new study reveals that esketamine nasal spray is effective in treating treatment-resistant depression, with 27.1% of patients achieving remission after 8 weeks compared to 17.6% on quetiapine XR. Long-term data shows sustained remission rates at 21.7% for esketamine NS and 14.1% for quetiapine XR.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 4, 2023

Discovery could lead to ‘kinder’ treatment for devastating childhood cancer

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have made a groundbreaking discovery that could lead to more effective treatments for neuroblastoma, a devastating form of childhood cancer. The new approach uses a combination of two drugs to encourage cancer cells to become normal non-dividing cells, potentially reducing side effects.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2023

Overdose deaths from fentanyl laced stimulants have risen 50-fold since 2010

US overdose deaths involving fentanyl and stimulants increased 50-fold from 2010 to 2021, with stimulants becoming most common drug class found in fentanyl-involved overdoses. The trend disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority communities, particularly Black and African American people.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalAddiction·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 14, 2023

Nicotine e-cigarettes, prescription drugs and dual nicotine replacement therapy identified as most effective stop-smoking aids

A comprehensive global analysis found that these stop-smoking aids are nearly twice as effective as single forms of NRT. Dual forms of NRT, such as combining a patch with gum or a lozenge, were found to be nearly as effective as nicotine e-cigarettes and prescription medications.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 12, 2023

Predicting lifespan-extending chemical compounds for C. elegans with machine learning

A new study uses machine learning to analyze data from DrugAge, a database of chemical compounds modulating lifespan in model organisms. The researchers create four types of datasets to predict whether or not a compound extends the lifespan of C. elegans, using features such as compound-protein interactions and Gene Ontology terms.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 26, 2023

The best drug combos to prevent COVID recurrence

A machine-learning study has found that individual characteristics, including age and weight, determine which drug combinations most effectively reduce COVID-19 recurrence rates. The study used real-world data from a hospital in China and identified unique treatment combinations for different demographic groups.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalFrontiers in Artificial Intelligence·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 13, 2023

LSU Health New Orleans researchers discover potential new rx strategy for ischemic stroke

LSU Health New Orleans researchers found that a combination therapy using Neuroprotectin D1 and Resolvin D1 boosted brain cell survival, growth, and stability. The therapy showed promising results in reducing lesion volume and improving neurological function in acute ischemic stroke models.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalCellular and Molecular Neurobiology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 6, 2023

USC research identifies biomarker that may predict treatment response to chemoimmunotherapy

Researchers at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a biomarker, CX3CR1, that can predict which patients with non-small cell lung cancer will respond well to chemoimmunotherapy. Elevated levels of the biomarker in T-cells after six to nine weeks of treatment indicate long-term benefits from the combination therapy.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalCancer Research Communications·TypeObservational study·DateMay 11, 2023

Combination therapy outperforms chemotherapy in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Researchers from Amsterdam UMC and Copenhagen University have found that a chemofree drug-combination therapy is more effective than traditional chemotherapy in treating CLL, resulting in reduced side effects and improved patient outcomes. The study, the largest ever conducted on CLL, involved 920 fit patients and showed that treatment...

SourceAmsterdam University Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 10, 2023

Three-drug combination slows progression of advanced kidney cancer

A targeted kinase inhibitor added to a two-drug immunotherapy combination slowed the progression of advanced kidney cancer, with patients experiencing significantly improved progression-free survival. The median PFS was 11.3 months for those on nivolumab and ipilimumab alone, compared to not yet reached in the three-drug group.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 10, 2023

Risks of removing ovaries at benign hysterectomy may outweigh the benefits for women at low risk for ovarian cancer

Researchers found that removing ovaries during a benign hysterectomy increases the risk of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease in premenopausal women, but not necessarily for cancer. The study supports current recommendations to conserve ovaries in premenopausal patients at low risk for ovarian cancer.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateApr 17, 2023

New drug combination holds unusually positive results for HPV-negative patients with advanced head and neck cancer

A new drug combination has doubled the expected time until cancer progression in heavily resistant head and neck cancer patients. The treatment, which includes a monoclonal antibody drug called ficlatuzumab, has shown an unusually high response rate of 38% in HPV-negative patients.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 28, 2023

Dual immunotherapy plus chemotherapy before surgery improves patient outcomes in operable lung cancer

A Phase II trial led by researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center demonstrated that adding ipilimumab to a neoadjuvant combination of nivolumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy resulted in a major pathologic response in half of all treated patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment also...

Breakthrough drug combination remains safe and effective in patients with cystic fibrosis after four years

A multicenter study found that patients with cystic fibrosis can safely take a dual combination of CF modulator drugs for four years while maintaining previously achieved clinical improvement. This breakthrough therapy has improved the quality and length of patients' lives, with some even seeing a 15% increase in lung function.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of Cystic Fibrosis·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 15, 2023

Oncotarget | Selective protection of normal cells from chemotherapy, while killing drug-resistant cancer cells

A new review paper suggests that selective protection of normal cells from chemotherapy could increase the therapeutic window and improve outcomes for cancer patients. The authors propose using antagonistic drug combinations to kill drug-resistant cancer cells, reducing side effects and improving quality of life.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 13, 2023