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.…
Conditions
Conditions
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…
Dosing Starts in Athira’s Phase 2 ACT-AD Trial Testing ATH-1017; Enrollment Ongoing
Athira Pharma has begun dosing patients in its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating ATH-1017, an investigational small molecule for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical efficacy will be demonstrated by improvements in cognition and functional assessments among participants, compared with a placebo. “The initiation of our second late-stage study for ATH-1017 represents…
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…
$3.2M NIH Grant Supports Development of New Approach to Target ‘Invisible’ Residual Tumors
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…
EU Approval Urged for Bavencio as Maintenance Therapy for Bladder Cancer
A European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee has adopted a positive opinion on Bavencio (avelumab), recommending its approval as a first-line maintenance treatment for adults with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma) who have not progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. The opinion, from the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), will now…
Study Describes New Way to Place CRISPR/Cas9 Into Cancer Cells
Researchers have developed a new technology that can be used to deliver the gene-editing tool CRISPR/Cas9 into prostate cancer cells without the need for viral vectors, a proof-of-concept study demonstrates. The study, “ZIF-C for targeted RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 based gene editing in prostate cancer,” was published in Chemical Communications. Cancer cells harbor genetic changes that…
Biogen, Eisai Request Approval of Aducanumab for Alzheimer’s in Japan
Biogen and Eisai are seeking approval of aducanumab (BIIB037) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in Japan, the companies have announced. If approved, aducanumab will become the first therapy with the potential to slow the clinical decline seen in patients with Alzheimer’s. “The filing of the application is an important step in serving patients and their…
Antibody-drug Combo Shows Early Promise in Targeting Cancers, Company Says
BrickBio’s antibody-drug conjugate BRKB-28 showed preclinical effectiveness in eradicating breast cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed, the company announced. BRKB-28 combines an antibody against a cancer protein with a toxic payload, using a linker molecule that connects the two. Once bound to its target, BRKB-28 releases its toxic compound into cancer cells, triggering their…
STRO-002 Continues to Show Promise in Phase 1 Trial for Advanced Ovarian Cancer
STRO-002, Sutro Biopharma’s experimental antibody-drug conjugate, continues to be safe and elicit promising responses in heavily pretreated patients with advanced ovarian cancer, according to the latest data from a Phase 1 clinical trial. Updated interim findings from the ongoing open-label study (NCT03748186) showed that 32% of women who were eligible for response analyses responded to…
Teams Working in Advanced Cancer Win 2020 PCF Challenge Awards
The philanthropic organization Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and the charity Movember Foundation have announced the winners of the 2020 PCF Challenge Awards, an initiative that supports promising research in the pursuit of a cure for prostate cancer. The awards total $2 million, of which $792,000 came from the 2019 Movember U.S. Campaign and $477,000 were…
Tebentafusp Prolongs Life for Those With Advanced Eye Cancer, Trial Finds
Immunocore’s investigational immunotherapy tebentafusp (IMCgp100) is superior to investigator’s choice at prolonging the lives of adults newly diagnosed with metastatic uveal melanoma — a common and hard-to-treat form of eye cancer, interim data from a Phase 3 trial show. These preliminary findings add to the positive survival benefits reported with tebentafusp’s use in a Phase…