Monday 26 October 2020

Radiopharmaceuticals for radiation therapy

 Research arising from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) indicates that radiopharmaceuticals, "which deliver radiation therapy directly and specifically to cancer cells" can reduce both the short and long-term effects of radiation therapy treatment.  According to Dr. Charles Kenos of NCI CTEP, radiopharmaceuticals will "transform radiation oncology in the next 10 to 15 years." 

To read more about this study, click here

Monday 19 October 2020

Targeted therapy based on molecular profiling of malignant mesothelioma tumours is feasible

 Treatment recommendations from the recently held MAP 2020 Virtual Congress indicated that "molecular profiling demonstrated gender specific differences in gene expression" in patients with metastatic malignant mesothelioma.  The study, conducted at the Universitatsklinik fur Innere Medizin in Vienna, Austria determined that this form of targeted therapy varied according to gender, with more significant recommendations made for men vs. women "due to gender-specific differences in PDGRFA expression." 

To read more about this study, click here

Source mentioned: 

Taghizadeh H, Zöchbauer-Müller S, Mader RM, Müllauer L, Klikovits T, Bachleitner-Hofmann T, Hoda MA, Prager GW. Gender differences in molecular-guided therapy recommendations for metastatic malignant mesothelioma. Thorac Cancer. 2020 Jul;11(7):1979-1988. doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.13491. Epub 2020 May 21. PMID: 32438515; PMCID: PMC7327667.

Tuesday 13 October 2020

Radiation-induced genomic scars associated with poor patient outcome

New research from the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, USA studied the genomic affects of radiation therapy on gliomas.  Following an analysis from 190 paired primary and recurrent gliomas from the Glioma Longitudinal Analysis (GLASS) databases, it was determined that "an increased burden of radiation-induced deletions was significantly associated with poor patient outcome."  

To read more about this study, which was recently presented at the MAP 2020 Virtual Congress, click here

Study mentioned: 2MO – Kocakavuk E, Anderson KJ, Johnson KC, et al. Radiotherapy in cancer is associated with a deletion signature that contributes to poor patient outcomes. MAP 2020 Virtual Congress (9-10 October 2020).

Tuesday 6 October 2020

Treatment for cancer with microsatellite instability

 A new study led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) shows that targeting an enzyme known as WRN may be a new method used to treat specific cancers.  Over the previous year, "scientists discovered that cancers cells with a genetic feature called micro satellite instability-high (MSI-high) need WRN to survive." Approximately 1 in 3 endometrial, 1 in 7 colorectal, stomach, and ovarian cancers, are considered MSI-high. 

To read more about this study, click here