New Research from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Strategic Insights -

Scientists at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas have published three studies on new approaches to treating prostate cancer, predicting the oncogenicity of missense mutations, and measuring out-of-field photon and neutron dose equivalents. These studies demonstrate significant advancements in the field of cancer research and treatment.

Key Takeaways:

  • Study 1: Researchers developed a novel anti-proliferation, anti-angiogenic compound that inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1.6 to 5.9 mcM. This compound, DBPT, induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells and downregulated proangiogenic molecules, making it a potential therapeutic agent for treating prostate cancer.
  • Study 2: Researchers developed an algorithm to predict the clinical significance of missense mutations in the TP53 gene, a common site of mutations in cancer. The algorithm used the International Association for Research on Cancer (IARC) mutation database on TP53 to estimate the relative oncogenicity of all missense mutations reported in the database.
  • Study 3: Investigators measured the photon and neutron out-of-treatment-field dose equivalents to various organs from different treatment strategies, including conventional and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. The results showed that photon doses decreased exponentially with distance from the treatment field, while neutron dose equivalents were independent of distance and decreased with increasing tissue depth.

Statistics:

  • DBPT inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1.6 to 5.9 mcM.
  • The algorithm used to predict the clinical significance of missense mutations reported a relative oncogenicity of 1.5 for nonsense mutations.
  • Out-of-field photon dose equivalents decreased approximately exponentially with distance from the treatment field.
  • Neutron dose equivalents were independent of distance from the treatment field and decreased with increasing tissue depth.
  • PA, E - Field Minimum dose photon dose equivalents levels in Colon (Tenant whole body, Femurhead, and Thymus) organs varied across treatment strategies, energy and deliverer (average 0.353 Sv).
  • The study estimated a neutron fluence contribution at increasing depths: 14.5%, 72.1%, 81.3%, 94.8% and 99.97% for 6 MV, 10 MV, 12 MV, 18 MV and 20 MeV photon beams respectively.

Sources:

  • Teraishi, F., et al. "Antitumor activity and downregulation of pro-angiogenic molecules in human prostate cancer cells by a novel thiazolidine compound." Prostate, vol. 66, no. 4, 2006, pp. 430-438.
  • Gorlov, I.P., et al. "Predicting the oncogenicity of missense mutations reported in the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) mutation database on p53." Human Mutation, vol. 26, no. 5, 2005, pp. 446-454.
  • Kry, S.F., et al. "Out-of-field photon and neutron dose equivalents from step-and-shoot intensity-modulated radiation therapy." International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, vol. 62, no. 4, 2005, pp. 1204-1216.