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Invalidation of gene patents will benefit patients

Dr. Jim Evans, an expert in gene patenting and genetics policy who has led a program to educate federal judges about the intricacies of genetics and genetic policy, says the ruling by United States District Court Judge Robert Sweet that invalidated seven patents related to the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes "came as a surprise to everybody. It's really quite unusual for plaintiffs to get a summary judgment."

3 Apr 2010

Identification and elimination of cancer stem cells

A new field of cancer research could explain why some cancers that appear to have been cured can rear their ugly head or spread to other organs.

3 Apr 2010

Cancer research at Georgia Tech: Report

Cancer treatment typically involves surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or biological therapy. An oncologist may use one therapy or a combination of methods, depending on the type and location of the cancer, whether the disease has spread, the patient's age and general health, and other factors.

3 Apr 2010

Study: Trial vaccine eliminates residual cancer cells in CML patients

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say preliminary studies show that a vaccine made with leukemia cells may be able to reduce or eliminate the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients taking the drug Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).

3 Apr 2010

Notch pathway may be a good target for drug development, study says

Working with mice, Johns Hopkins scientists who tested drugs intended to halt growth of brain cancer stem cells -- a small population of cells within tumors that perpetuate cancer growth -- conclude that blocking these cells may be somewhat effective, but more than one targeted drug attack may be needed to get the job done.

3 Apr 2010

Study could aid in developing new, effective treatments for prostate cancer

Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) scientists have determined how two proteins required for the initiation and development of prostate cancer interact at the molecular level, which could lead to improved treatments for the disease.

3 Apr 2010

Study uses hESC to derive floor plate tissue

New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Fellow, Christopher Fasano, PhD, of the New York Neural Stem Cell Institute, is lead author on a study that investigating human neural development. Dr. Fasano conducted this work while working as a post-doctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the lab of Dr. Lorenz Studer.

3 Apr 2010

Kinetics of T cell receptors: New findings could lead to reevaluation of earlier conclusions

T cell receptors are among the most important molecules in the immune system because of their role in recognizing the antigens that signal such threats as viruses and cancer. The receptors must also distinguish these threats from the body's own cells to avoid triggering an unwanted immune system response.

3 Apr 2010

Researchers explore microbial infection of human cells in space environment

In a first-of-its-kind experiment, the unique conditions of spaceflight will be used to examine how cells remain healthy or succumb to disease, particularly in the face of stress or damage.

3 Apr 2010

Harnessing body's own natural killer cells to battle cancer in children

Work underway at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital seeks to harnesses the body's own immune cells known as natural killer, or NK, cells to help children battle cancer. NK cells are the immune system's warriors. The cells circulate widely in the body, armed with proteins, called enzymes, capable of delivering a deadly one-two punch to viruses and cancer cells.

3 Apr 2010

Kaiser Permanente ranked highest in 2010 Member Health Insurance Plan Study

Kaiser Permanente announced today that its members in four geographic regions rated the organization's health plans highest in customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Member Health Insurance Plan Study.

3 Apr 2010

New production method yields hundredsfold more ubiquitylated proteins critical for cancer research

Scientists at the University of Delaware have developed a new method for producing proteins critical to research on cancer, Alzheimer's, and other diseases.

3 Apr 2010

CTRC commences enrollment in Phase 2 trial of REOLYSIN combination for SCC lung cancer

A virus that destroys cancer cells but leaves normal cells unharmed may offer hope to those affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs (SCC lung cancer), according to investigators from the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The CTRC has started patient enrollment in a US Phase 2 clinical trial using intravenous administration of REOLYSIN® in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with SCC lung cancer.

3 Apr 2010

Beike Biotechnology awarded ISO9001 certification for implementation of comprehensive QMS

Beike Biotechnology Co. Ltd., one of the world's leading biotechnology companies focusing on adult stem cell therapies, has been awarded ISO9001 certification by the International Organization for Standardization ("ISO"). This internationally recognized designation signifies Beike has established a Quality Management System (QMS) that complies with ISO9001 standards.

3 Apr 2010

Scientific American features Echo Therapeutics' non-invasive, wireless Symphony tCGM System

Echo Therapeutics, Inc., a company developing its needle-free Symphony™ tCGM System as a non-invasive, wireless, transdermal continuous glucose monitoring (tCGM) system and its Prelude™ SkinPrep System for transdermal drug delivery, announced today that its Symphony™ tCGM System has been featured in a March 31, 2010 online magazine article in Scientific American entitled "This Really Won't Hurt a Bit: Wireless Sensor Promises Diabetics Noninvasive Blood Sugar Readings," by Larry Greenemeier.

3 Apr 2010

Variant of ATG16L1 gene associated with higher risk for Crohn's disease

The ATG16L1 gene is located on chromosome 2 and encodes a protein involved in the formation of autophagosomes during autophagy. Autophagy is a cytoplasmic process that keeps a cell stable. Hampe et al first identified ATG16L1 as a Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility gene in 2007, and many other studies have arisen since then. However, the definite relationship of variants of ATG16L1 with IBD remains unclear.

2 Apr 2010

Elsevier adds extensive FDA Advisory Committee content to new PharmaPendium

PharmaPendium, Elsevier announces a new release that adds extensive FDA Advisory Committee content to the online resource for authoritative preclinical, clinical and post-market drug information. These documents provide preclinical and clinical drug development and regulatory affairs departments with a substantial collection of comparative scientific and regulatory data that may not be included in final FDA Approval Package documents.

2 Apr 2010

Nanotechnology for eavesdropping on inner electrical activity of individual cells

A nanometer-scale probe designed to slip into a cell wall and fuse with it could offer researchers a portal for extended eavesdropping on the inner electrical activity of individual cells.

2 Apr 2010

PIH to acquire DRMC, signs non-binding letter of intent

Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (PIH) and Downey Regional Medical Center (DRMC) today announced they had each signed a non-binding letter of intent with plans to execute a definitive agreement calling for PIH's acquisition of DRMC. This will bring together two not-for-profit hospitals both with long standing histories of being dedicated to providing quality care to the communities they serve. The nonbinding letter of intent would allow for the continuation of a nonprofit hospital serving the greater Downey community.

2 Apr 2010

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals' abstracts on cell cycle inhibitor drugs selected for presentation at AACR meeting

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that six abstracts highlighting translational and preclinical data for Cyclacel's cell cycle inhibitor drugs have been selected for presentation at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, being held from April 17-21, 2010, in Washington, DC.

2 Apr 2010