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New research identifies promising drug therapy target for breast cancer

The genome of a cell is under constant attack, suffering DNA damage that requires an army of repair mechanisms to keep the cell healthy and alive. Understanding the behavior of the enzymes defending these assaults helps determine how - and where - cancer gets its foothold and flourishes.

18 Mar 2015

Global breast cancer therapeutics market estimated to reach $13.38 billion in 2018

Despite the availability of approximately 25 drugs for the treatment of breast cancer, the unmet need in the global market is vast. To address this drawback, pharmaceutical companies have established a robust pipeline that currently has about 52 drugs in development. While chemotherapy remains the most important class of drugs for breast cancer treatment, the trend toward targeted drugs is on the rise.

17 Mar 2015

Super-resolution microscopes reveal the link between genome packaging and cell pluripotency

In 1953 Watson and Crick first published the discovery of the double helix structure of the DNA. They were able to visualize the DNA structure by means of X-Ray diffraction. Techniques, such as electron microscopy, allowed scientists to identify nucleosomes, the first and most basic level of chromosome organisation

13 Mar 2015

Kalorama Information: Budding market for digital PCR reached 175 million in 2014

Kalorama Information estimated the budding market for digital PCR reached 175 million in 2014. The market research publisher said companies will be looking to provide products to increase research and diagnostics in diseases like cancer and neurological disorders.

13 Mar 2015

Bielefeld University chemists develop copper molecule that could help prevent spread of cancer

Chemists at Bielefeld University have developed a molecule containing copper that binds specifically with DNA and prevents the spread of cancer. First results show that it kills the cancer cells more quickly than cisplatin - a widely used anti-cancer drug that is frequently administered in chemotherapy.

2 Mar 2015

Simple paper strip test can rapidly diagnose Ebola

When diagnosing a case of Ebola, time is of the essence. However, existing diagnostic tests take at least a day or two to yield results, preventing health care workers from quickly determining whether a patient needs immediate treatment and isolation.

25 Feb 2015

Polypropylene PCR plates

To ensure full compatibility with robotic systems, DNase / RNase- and pyrogen-free PCR plates from Porvair Sciences feature high rigidity to minimise distortion before and after thermal cycling.

From Porvair Sciences Limited 18 Feb 2015

Fusobacterium necrophorum often causes severe sore throats in young adults

New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham suggests that Fusobacterium necrophorum more often causes severe sore throats in young adults than streptococcus — the cause of the much better known strep throat.

17 Feb 2015

New study finds promising target for future therapies to treat breast and ovarian cancer patients

The Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of the drug olaparib for ovarian cancer patients with inherited mutations in the genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 came as welcome news to the thousands of women now eligible to receive it. A new study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists indicates that the pool of patients who can benefit from the drug is potentially much wider - and offers a ready means of identifying them.

16 Feb 2015

Researchers discover molecular 'switch' that controls replication, transcription of mitochondria DNA

A team of researchers led by Dmitry Temiakov, PhD, of the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM), has discovered a molecular 'switch' that controls replication and transcription of mitochondria DNA, a key finding that could influence the development of targeted therapies for cancer, developmental processes related to fertility and aging.

16 Feb 2015

Researchers study epidemiology of Ebola Virus Disease to prevent future disease outbreaks

Now, researchers from Arizona State University and Georgia State University are trying to better understand the epidemiology and control of Ebola Virus Disease in order to alleviate suffering and prevent future disease outbreaks from reaching the catastrophic proportions of the current crisis.

9 Feb 2015

New study sheds light on syndrome linked to aggressive pediatric cancer

A new study involving researchers at The University of Nottingham has revealed how children with an aggressive cancer predisposition syndrome experience a never before seen flood of mutations in their disease in just six months.

4 Feb 2015

Researchers reveal new pathway for inhibiting growth of tumor cells tied to BRCA mutations

Inhibiting the action of a particular enzyme dramatically slows the growth of tumor cells tied to BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations which, in turn, are closely tied to breast and ovarian cancers, according to researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center.

3 Feb 2015

NEB announces introduction of one-step cloning and multiple DNA fragment assembly

New England Biolabs announces the introduction of the NEBuilder HiFi DNA Assembly Cloning Kit and Master Mix for one-step cloning and multiple DNA fragment assembly in as little as 15 minutes.

From New England Biolabs 31 Jan 2015

New insight on how naturally occurring mutations can be introduced into DNA

Scientists have shed light on how naturally occurring mutations can be introduced into our DNA.

31 Jan 2015

Plasma EGFR mutation cfDNA predicts advanced lung cancer outcome

Monitoring plasma cell-free DNA levels of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations may indicate prognosis for patients with lung adenocarcinoma after EGFR–tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, research suggests.

28 Jan 2015

Case Western researchers awarded NSF grant to develop new method to reduce risk of Ebola virus

Health care workers must diagnose and isolate Ebola victims at an early stage to have a chance to save them and prevent the virus from spreading. But the most sensitive and quickest diagnostic test produces a small percentage of false negative results that undermine efforts to control the deadly agent.

27 Jan 2015

Sophia Genetics obtains CE-IVD marking for BRCA1/2 testing solution

Sophia Genetics, the European leader in Data Driven Medicine, has today obtained CE-IVD marking for its solution to detect BRCA1/2 associated genetic variants in live tumours.

14 Jan 2015

EGFR mutations, ALK translocations not mutually exclusive in NSCLC

Researchers from the Republic of Korea have found that epidermal growth factor receptor mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase translocations can occur concomitantly in a proportion of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

12 Jan 2015

Study finds difference between results from IHC and quantitative molecular techniques

The cause of type 1 diabetes remains unknown. Several studies using immunohistochemistry (IHC) have independently reported hyperexpression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I on pancreatic islet cells in young patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes. Investigators have therefore suggested that HLA hyperexpression may be an important first step in the development of type 1 diabetes.