A $3.2-million grant from the National Institutes of Health has been awarded to the collaborative work between Northeastern University’s Spring Lab and Cellaria into a new method of eliminating the microscopic cancerous tumors left behind by standard therapies. The approach uses antibody-photosensitizer molecules that make cancer cells susceptible to light-induced destruction. Researchers will mainly focus…
About Cancer
Cancer, also called malignancy, is an abnormal growth of cells with the potential to invade or spread to surrounding tissues and structures found within the body. There are more than 100 types of cancer. A few examples include breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma. According to the American Cancer Society, 4 out of 10 people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. Cancer prevalence has given rise to multiple medical specialties focused on symptom management and disease management. Current treatment options depending on the form of cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, blood or bone marrow transfusions, and/or surgery. Lifetime prognosis of cancer mortality is dependent on the type of cancer and is heavily conditional to early detection.
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Cancer News
MMRF Joins Dana-Farber to Advance Research in Smoldering Myeloma
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) has joined forces with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to develop new biomarkers and treatments for people with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) — a precursor condition to multiple myeloma. The collaboration will take advantage of MMRF’s data hub CureCloud and at-home genetic test program and Dana Farber’s expertise in SMM to build “the most…
Keytruda Approval Recommended in EU as First-line Therapy for Certain Colorectal Cancers
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has been recommended for approval in the European Union (EU) as a first-line treatment for adults with inoperable or metastatic colorectal cancer with certain genetic features. These include high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) or deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) — both good indicators of impaired DNA repair, which increase the number of mutations in a…
Computer Model Uses Enzyme Organization to Predict Early Breast Cancer Recurrence
The distinctive organization of enzymes in early breast ductal cancer can be used to correctly predict recurrences in 91% of cases, with 4% false negatives, a new study has found. The diagnostic tool may assist with the early identification of patients at high risk of cancer recurrence while reducing overdiagnosis and treatment of low-risk patients.…
Roche’s Cevostamab Leads to Durable, Deep Responses in Heavily Pre-Treated Patients
Cevostamab (BFCR4350A), a bispecific antibody developed by Roche, induces durable and deep responses in heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, according to early data from a Phase 1 trial. Preliminary data from the trial, called GO39775 (NCT03275103), also showed cevostamab had a manageable safety and toxicity profile when given in a single…
Yescarta Shows Promise in Advanced Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas, Trial Data Show
Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), Kite Pharma’s CAR T-cell therapy, leads to a high rate of strong and sustained responses in adults with relapsed or refractory (resistant) follicular lymphoma, known as FL, or marginal zone lymphoma, called MZL, who received at least two prior therapy lines, according to interim data from a Phase 2 trial. Both FL and MZL are…
Canada Approves Lynparza for Metastatic CRPC Patients With Certain Gene Mutations
Canadian authorities have approved Lynparza (olaparib) as an oral treatment for people with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who carry mutations in BRCA or ATM genes, both of which are involved in DNA repair. The approval, granted under priority review, is specifically indicated for patients who progressed after treatment with new forms of hormone therapy, such as Xtandi (enzalutamide)…
Anixa Enters License Agreement With Cleveland Clinic for Ovarian Cancer Vaccine
Anixa Biosciences has entered in a license agreement with the Cleveland Clinic to obtain the exclusive, global rights for a new ovarian cancer vaccine technology. “Through this collaboration we are expanding into additional preventive and therapeutic areas and we look forward to seeing the development of this ovarian cancer vaccine,” Vincent Tuohy, PhD, an immunologist at…
Xpovio Approval Sought for Myeloma Indications in 3 Asian Pacific Markets
Antengene is asking health authorities in Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong to approve Xpovio (selinexor) for the treatment of multiple myeloma, the company announced in a press release. Specifically, the new drug applications will cover myeloma patients who have received at least four therapies, and failed to respond to at least two immunomodulatory therapies, two…
‘Unassuming’ Non-medicinal Plant Can Stop Growth of Breast Cancer Cells, Study Shows
Scientists have discovered that an unassuming non-medicinal plant can stop the growth of human breast cancer cells without affecting non-cancerous cells. Their research into Arabidopsis thaliana, a small annual flowering plant in the mustard family, could lead to potential new treatments for breast cancer and other diseases. The study, “Jasmonates induce Arabidopsis bioactivities selectively inhibiting the…
FDA Puts RV001 on Fast Track for Treating Prostate Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast track status to RV001, RhoVac‘s investigational therapy for prostate cancer, the company announced. Fast track designation helps speed the approval of potential medicines that address unmet medical needs in serious or life-threatening conditions. It grants RhoVac greater access to FDA input throughout the regulatory process…
Tislelizumab Safely Prolongs Survival in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients, Interim Data Show
When given as a second- or third-line therapy, BeiGene’s tislelizumab is superior to docetaxel at prolonging the survival of people with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), whose disease progressed while receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. Additionally, tislelizumab had a favorable safety profile that was consistent with that of previous studies, and its use…