Cancer treatment
As doctors excitement grows about the potential of Avastin, a drug already widely used for colon cancer, as a treatment for breast and lung cancer, many are cringing at the price Genentech plans to charge: about $100,000 a year. This price, more than double the current level for colon
Cancer treatment
A recent study conducted at the University of California in San Francisco has highlighted the need for increased participation of Asian-American women in cancer prevention research. Investigators mailed surveys to primary care physicians in Northern California to assess their knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers concerning the participation of Asian-American women
Cancer treatment
Research conducted at Kyoto University Hospital in Japan has provided insights into the regulation of peptide transporter 1 (PEPT1) in gastric cancer cells by anticancer drugs. The study focused on the human gastric cancer cell line MKN45, which expresses and functions PEPT1. The researchers found that treatment with 5-fluorouracil significantly
Cancer treatment
Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has initiated a second phase 1 clinical trial of IPI-504, a heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor and lead investigational anticancer agent. The open-label, dose-escalation trial will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic profile, and potential efficacy of IPI-504 in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) resistant to Gleevec
Drugs
Pediatric patients with sarcoma who received epirubicin as part of a study in Germany showed low levels of cardiotoxicity, according to researchers. The study, which included 172 patients between the ages of 2 and 18, found that the incidence of clinically manifest cardiomyopathy was 0% in patients treated with epirubicin,
Drugs
Low-dose estrogen therapy, paired with fulvestrant, is being proposed as a promising strategy to maintain tumor control in breast cancer patients whose tumors have become resistant to traditional hormone therapies. Scientists in the United States have discovered that exhaustive antihormonal therapy can lead to two phases of resistance, with estrogen
Drugs
Recent research from Ireland has shed light on the potential of vitamin C to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy in treating esophageal cancer. The study, conducted by M.M.M. Abdellatif and colleagues at St. James Hospital, found that vitamin C can inhibit the activation of certain transcription factors, thereby
Drugs
A recent surge in oncology research from the United States and Turkey has shed light on novel approaches to treating breast cancer. Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, has been shown to prevent breast cancer metastasis to the lungs by potentiating chemotherapy. Additionally, heparanase, an enzyme that promotes tumor growth
Drugs
Gemin X Biotechnologies, Inc.'s GX15-070, a first-in-class targeted cancer treatment, has shown significant promise in preclinical studies against multiple types of blood cancers, including mantle cell lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The data, presented at the American Society of Hematology's 47th
Drugs
Researchers from Japan, the Netherlands, and South Korea have made significant contributions to the field of gastroenterology, shedding light on the complexities of colorectal cancer metastasis. The studies investigated various molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies to improve treatment outcomes for patients with liver metastases. The findings of these studies have
Drugs
A novel gene transfer strategy has been developed that combines promoter and transgene activities to improve tumor cell inhibition. Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo, led by B.E. Strauss, have shown that this approach can lead to more robust expression of the transgene and more effective inhibition of
Drugs
Piramed Limited, a privately-owned UK biotechnology company, has announced a research and development collaboration with Genentech, Inc., a US biotechnology company, to develop a new class of cancer drugs targeting a key intracellular enzyme involved in a broad range of cancers. This partnership has the potential to yield significant returns
