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Icy therapy spot treats cancer in the lung

Researchers have successfully treated metastatic lung cancer using cryoablation, a minimally invasive procedure that uses frozen balls of ice to kill cancerous tumors. The treatment has shown promising results, with 100% effectiveness in killing tumors at three-month follow-up and prolonged survival for patients.

SourceSociety of Interventional Radiology·JournalJournal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology·DateApr 14, 2013

Certain breast cancer patients may benefit from combined HER2 targeted therapy without chemotherapy

A subset of breast cancer patients with HER-2 positive tumors may benefit from a combination of targeted treatments that avoid chemotherapy. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, shows high efficacy in eradicating tumors and offers a groundbreaking approach to treatment without significant side effects.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateApr 8, 2013

Researchers identify therapeutic targets in neurofibromatosis

Three independent studies demonstrate that hyperactivation of MAPK signaling pathways underlies NF1-associated disorders. Researchers found that inhibiting MEK and ERK can block the development of JMML, reduce the growth of peripheral nerve tumors, and ameliorate myeloproliferative disorders in NF1 mutant mice.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateDec 10, 2012

Melanoma - The wolf in sheep's clothing

Melanoma cells can temporarily alter their external characteristics to become invisible to defense cells, allowing them to evade destruction. This knowledge forms an important foundation for improving combination therapies and may also be relevant to treatment with inhibitors of signal transmission in tumor cells.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature·DateOct 10, 2012

Studies show new drug to be effective in treating skin cancer, Stanford researchers say

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that vismodegib is effective in treating basal cell carcinoma, a common cancer caused by sun exposure. Researchers found that patients with Gorlin syndrome who took vismodegib developed an average of two new tumors per year, compared to 29 in those taking placebo.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 6, 2012

Novel discovery by NUS scientists paves the way for more effective treatment of cancers

Researchers from NUS have discovered how a drug-lead compound named BPTES can deprive cancer cells of energy and stop them from growing into a tumour. Building on these findings, they also derived positive results for a novel dual-drug treatment regime that kills kidney and breast cancer cells more effectively.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 20, 2012

Plasmacytoid DCs: Tumor-killing immune cells

Researchers found that imiquimod converts plasmacytoid DCs into tumor-killing effector cells, clearing tumors in a mouse model of melanoma. This discovery has implications for antitumor therapies targeting both skin cancers and other types.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 17, 2012

JCI online early table of contents: Jan. 17, 2012

Researchers discovered that topical application of imiquimod recruits plasmacytoid DCs to the tumor site, converting them into tumor-killing effector cells. A new mechanism for IFN-alpha suppression was also identified, targeting epigenetic regulation of nuclear cccDNA minichromosome.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 17, 2012

Using Viagra to combat malignant melanoma

Researchers have found that sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, can neutralize chronic inflammation caused by malignant melanoma, allowing tumor-specific T cells to function properly. This study suggests that Viagra may improve treatment results for people with melanoma by boosting antitumor immunity.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 8, 2011

Feed a cold -- starve a tumor

Researchers found that 2-deoxyglucose reduces tumor size in mice on either diet, while a carbohydrate-free diet led to greater tumor growth. This combination imposes energy stress on tumors and correlates with lower serum glucose levels.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalCell & Bioscience·DateOct 20, 2011

PET scan with [11C]erlotinib may provide noninvasive method to identify TKI-responsive lung tumors

A new PET imaging technique using [11C]erlotinib may help doctors identify lung cancers that respond well to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), enabling personalized therapy. The test showed significantly higher tracer uptake in tumors with activating EGFR mutations, indicating a potential non-invasive predictive marker.

Protein targeted to stop melanoma tumor growth

Researchers have discovered MIC-1 as a regulator of angiogenesis, finding that it is present in high levels in 67% of melanoma patients. Targeting this protein can prevent blood vessel formation and decrease tumor development by up to 300%. This could lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating melanoma.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·DateDec 9, 2010

JCI online early table of contents: Sept. 13, 2010

Researchers discovered an indirect approach to reducing JAK2 activity by targeting HSP90, which stabilized JAK2. This treatment normalized blood counts and improved survival in mouse models of myeloproliferative neoplasms. Inhibiting c-Met also decreased mTOR signaling and blocked cyst formation in a mouse model of autosomal dominant p...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 13, 2010

JCI online early table of contents: July 1, 2010

Researchers have identified biomarkers for life-threatening conditions in preterm infants, such as late-onset septicemia and necrotizing enterocolitis. Additionally, studies on leptin's role in childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes have shed light on the importance of hypothalamic signaling in preventing obesity development, while also...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 1, 2010