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New T cell engineering approach can improve success rate of immune-cell therapies

Clinical trials using patients' own immune cells to target tumors have yielded promising results. However, this approach usually works only if the patients also receive large doses of drugs designed to help immune cells multiply rapidly, and those drugs have life-threatening side effects. Now a team of MIT engineers has devised a way to deliver the necessary drugs by smuggling them on the backs of the cells sent in to fight the tumor. That way, the drugs reach only their intended targets, greatly reducing the risk to the patient.

16 Aug 2010

Childhood brain tumor survivors may be vulnerable to physical declines associated with aging: Study

A large study focused on documenting the strength and fitness of childhood brain tumor survivors has found that many face health challenges as they age. The study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators showed that although most participants were young adults in their 20s, many functioned like people in their 60s, making them less likely to live independently or attend college.

16 Aug 2010

Adverse effects in childhood lead to immune impairment later in life

The emotional pains we suffer in childhood can lead to weakened immune systems later in life, according to a new study.Based on this new research, the amount of this immune impairment even enhances that caused by the stress of caregiving later in life."What happens in childhood really matters when it comes to your immune response in the latter part of your life," explained Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University. She explained her work at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Diego.

16 Aug 2010

Scientists discover new signaling pathway to reduce tumour growth in glioblastoma multiforme

Malignant gliomas are the most common subtype of primary brain tumor - and one of the deadliest. Even as doctors make steady progress treating other types of solid tumor cancers, from breast to prostate, the most aggressive form of malignant glioma, called a glioblastoma multiforme or GBM, has steadfastly defied advances in neurosurgery, radiation therapy and various conventional or novel drugs. But an international team of scientists, headed by researchers at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, reports in the August 15 issue of Genes & Development that they have discovered a new signaling pathway between GBM cells - one that, if ultimately blocked or disrupted, could significantly slow or reduce tumor growth and malignancy.

16 Aug 2010

Mercator signs license agreement with MD Anderson Cancer Center and closes $2.0 million seed round

Mercator Therapeutics, the first biopharmaceutical company to use in vivo phage display technology systematically to develop novel cancer drugs, today announced the signing of a license agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the closing of a $2.0 million seed round.

13 Aug 2010

Aeolus completes $1.0M financing to initiate human clinical studies of AEOL 10150 for cancer

Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has completed a $1.0 million financing with two existing institutional shareholders, both of which are affiliates of Xmark Opportunity Partners, LLC.

13 Aug 2010

Study finds Olaparib can reduce tumor size in ovarian cancer women

Understanding the underlying genetic weakness of certain types of cancer may lead to targeted therapy and provide the key to effective treatment, a new study suggests. An international consortium of researchers has shown that an investigational drug, Olaparib, can reduce the size of tumors in women with advanced hereditary ovarian cancer with BRCA gene mutations.

13 Aug 2010

Problems with analytical study design and data misinterpretation leads to biomarker failure: Report

The boom in cancer biomarker investments over the past 25 years has not translated into major clinical success. The reasons for biomarker failures include problems with study design and interpretation, as well as statistical deficiencies, according to an article published online August 12 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

13 Aug 2010

Merlin protein controls adult cell activity to cause liver cancer

A protein known to be involved in a rare hereditary cancer syndrome may have a role in the regulation of liver stem cells and the development of liver cancer. In the August 15 issue of Genes & Development, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team describes finding that the protein called merlin, encoded by the NF2 (neurofibromatosis type 2) gene, controls the activity of adult stem cells that give rise to the two major types of liver cells.

13 Aug 2010

Aeterna Zentaris second-quarter revenues decrease to $5.6 million

Aeterna Zentaris Inc., a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrinology, today reported financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

12 Aug 2010

Seattle Genetics, Genentech expand antibody-drug conjugate collaboration

Seattle Genetics, Inc. announced today that it has expanded its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration agreement with Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group. Under the expanded agreement, Genentech will pay an upfront fee of $12 million for rights to utilize Seattle Genetics' ADC technology with additional antigens to be named by Genentech.

12 Aug 2010

Scientists develop new imaging technique to create three-dimensional images of melanoma

Melanoma is one of the less common types of skin cancer but it accounts for the majority of the skin cancer deaths (about 75 percent).The five-year survival rate for early stage melanoma is very high (98 percent), but the rate drops precipitously if the cancer is detected late or there is recurrence.So a great deal rides on the accuracy of the initial surgery, where the goal is to remove as little tissue as possible while obtaining "clean margins" all around the tumor.So far no imaging technique has been up to the task of defining the melanoma's boundaries accurately enough to guide surgery.Instead surgeons tend to cut well beyond the visible margins of the lesion in order to be certain they remove all the malignant tissue.Two scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed technologies that together promise to solve this difficult problem.

12 Aug 2010

Hybrid scanner helps to enhance visibility of skin cancer cells

Scientists are reporting development of a substance to enhance the visibility of skin cancer cells during scans with an advanced medical imaging system that combines ultrasound and light. The hybrid scanner could enable doctors to detect melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, in its earliest and most curable stages, the report in the monthly journal ACS Nano indicates.

12 Aug 2010

Syndax raises $6 million to support ENCORE 301 study in breast cancer

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage epigenetics oncology company, today announced that it has issued $6M in convertible notes and warrants to its Series A investors bringing the total investment to date to $55M. All current investors, including Domain Associates, MPM Capital, Avalon Ventures, Forward Ventures, Pappas Ventures and MC Life Sciences participated in the securities offering.

12 Aug 2010

HemaQuest commences HQK-1004 global Phase 2 clinical trial in EBV-related malignancies

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has initiated the Company's Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating its proprietary HQK-1004 therapy for the treatment of lymphomas and related cancers associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. These EBV-related cancers have poor prognoses and short patient survival. Currently available cancer therapies are typically much less effective in patients with EBV-related lymphoid malignancies than in patients who have similar cancers not infected with the virus.

11 Aug 2010

GenSpera issued additional patent for G-202

GenSpera, Inc. announced that its patent application, entitled "Tissue Specific Prodrugs," has been issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as US Patent 7,767,648. The patent covers the method of use for G-202, GenSpera's lead oncology drug, which is currently in a Phase I clinical study treating cancer patients whose disease has progressed after other treatments.

11 Aug 2010

Researchers to develop a prototype for laser based radiation therapy

Currently, new treatment facilities for radiation therapy with ions are built all over the world. These particles destroy cancer cells and have a better ability to spare the surrounding healthy tissue than other techniques. Today, accelerated hydrogen and carbon ions are mainly used to treat inoperable tumors in organs like the brain and bone marrow, which are sensitive to radiation therapy.

11 Aug 2010

SMI/Omega development team receives fund to develop prototype fast multispectral endoscope

Cascade Technologies, Inc., announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary Spectral Molecular Imaging, Inc. (SMI) will receive NIH research funding through a collaboration with Omega Optical of Brattleboro, Vermont. This effort will accelerate development of a new class of medical endoscopes enhanced with proprietary multispectral imaging technology. The principal investigators on the project are Dr. Gary Carver, Director of Research at Omega Optical, and Dr. Daniel L. Farkas, Chairman and CEO of SMI.

11 Aug 2010

Georgia Institute receives EUREKA grant to design brain tumor treatment

The Georgia Institute of Technology has received a EUREKA grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to design a new way to treat invasive brain tumors by capturing the migrating cells that spread the disease. The EUREKA -- Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration -- program helps scientists test new, unconventional ideas or tackle major methodological or technical challenges.

11 Aug 2010

Study shows physicians reluctant to use finasteride for prostate cancer

Despite the dramatic results of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), which showed a significant reduction in prostate cancer among those taking finasteride, physicians have not increased its use, according to a study published in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

11 Aug 2010

Tumor News and Research

New T cell engineering approach can improve success rate of immune-cell therapies

Childhood brain tumor survivors may be vulnerable to physical declines associated with aging: Study

Adverse effects in childhood lead to immune impairment later in life

Scientists discover new signaling pathway to reduce tumour growth in glioblastoma multiforme

Mercator signs license agreement with MD Anderson Cancer Center and closes $2.0 million seed round

Aeolus completes $1.0M financing to initiate human clinical studies of AEOL 10150 for cancer

Study finds Olaparib can reduce tumor size in ovarian cancer women

Problems with analytical study design and data misinterpretation leads to biomarker failure: Report

Merlin protein controls adult cell activity to cause liver cancer

Aeterna Zentaris second-quarter revenues decrease to $5.6 million

Seattle Genetics, Genentech expand antibody-drug conjugate collaboration

Scientists develop new imaging technique to create three-dimensional images of melanoma

Hybrid scanner helps to enhance visibility of skin cancer cells

Syndax raises $6 million to support ENCORE 301 study in breast cancer

HemaQuest commences HQK-1004 global Phase 2 clinical trial in EBV-related malignancies

GenSpera issued additional patent for G-202

Researchers to develop a prototype for laser based radiation therapy

SMI/Omega development team receives fund to develop prototype fast multispectral endoscope

Georgia Institute receives EUREKA grant to design brain tumor treatment

Study shows physicians reluctant to use finasteride for prostate cancer

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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