Pancreatic Cancer News and Research

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Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of all cancer deaths in the United States and the third leading cause of cancer deaths in individuals ages 40 to 60. Approximately 37,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year, and, each year, approximately the same number die from it. Often, pancreatic cancer is found too late for surgical intervention, and chemotherapy and radiation treatments have little effect.

ICGC article lays foundation for the coming era of cancer genomic research

An eye-opening article from the International Cancer Genome Consortium was published today in the prestigious journal Nature Communications. It lays a foundation for the coming era of research in cancer genomics.

13 Dec 2015

Bionomics plans to launch BNC210 Phase 2 trial for treatment of PTSD

Australian drug development company Bionomics Limited will launch a key Phase 2 trial of its novel anxiety drug BNC210 as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), following a US$12 million private placement to US institutional investors.

8 Dec 2015

Experimental drug may stop life-threatening muscle wasting associated with advanced cancers

New data describes how an experimental drug can stop life-threatening muscle wasting (cachexia) associated with advanced cancers and restore muscle health. The experimental agent, known as AR-42 while in testing, was developed and tested in preclinical studies at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

25 Nov 2015

Findings could offer doctors new method to diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier in patients

By collecting samples from the portal vein--which carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, including from the pancreas, to the liver--physicians can learn far more about a patient's pancreatic cancer than by relying on peripheral blood from a more easily accessed vein in the arm.

23 Nov 2015

VolitionRx's NuQ blood tests accurately detect more than 90% of lung cancer cases

VolitionRx Limited today announced interim data demonstrating its NuQ blood tests have accurately detected more than 90% of lung cancer cases in a study of 73 patients.

19 Nov 2015

Johns Hopkins scientists use gene-based tests to distinguish precancerous cysts from harmless cysts

In a "look-back" analysis of data stored on 130 patients with pancreatic cysts, scientists at Johns Hopkins have used gene-based tests and a fixed set of clinical criteria to more accurately distinguish precancerous cysts from those less likely to do harm. The findings may eventually help some patients in real time safely avoid surgery to remove harmless cysts.

18 Nov 2015

Simple microRNA sensor holds promise for prognosis, treatment of pancreatic and other cancers

A simple, ultrasensitive microRNA sensor developed and tested by researchers from the schools of science and medicine at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center holds promise for the design of new diagnostic strategies and, potentially, for the prognosis and treatment of pancreatic and other cancers.

18 Nov 2015

New antenna-like device makes breast cancer surgery easier for surgeons

Breast cancer surgeons routinely face a dilemma: how to find tumors they cannot feel. Before going into the operating room they must use some method to locate them. Currently, the method they use requires a radiologist to insert a device into the woman's breast.

12 Nov 2015

MD Anderson study reveals why chemotherapy drugs not effective for many pancreatic cancer patients

A study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center may explain why chemotherapy drugs such as gemcitabine are not effective for many pancreatic cancer patients, and perhaps point to new approaches to treatment including enhancing gemcitabine's ability to stop tumor growth.

12 Nov 2015

Janssen doses first patient in daratumumab clinical trial using Halozyme's ENHANZE technology

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that Janssen Biotech, Inc. has dosed the first patient in a clinical trial evaluating subcutaneous (SC) delivery of daratumumab with Halozyme's proprietary ENHANZE technology in multiple myeloma.

5 Nov 2015

Researchers team up to evaluate biological and genetic differences of GI cancers in race, ethnicity

Americans of African descent are at a significantly higher risk for developing and dying from Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, which include colorectal and pancreatic cancers, compared to individuals who are of Caucasian descent.

5 Nov 2015

CA 19-9 tumor marker test can help predict early-stage pancreatic cancer patients

Only 1 in 5 U.S. pancreatic cancer patients receive a widely available, inexpensive blood test at diagnosis that can help predict whether they are likely to have a better or worse outcome than average and guide treatment accordingly, a Mayo Clinic study shows.

4 Nov 2015

New clinical trial uses aggressive treatment method for patients with pancreas cancer

Pancreas cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. In the United States, it accounts for only three percent of all diagnosed cancers but it causes almost seven percent of all cancer deaths. A pancreas cancer diagnosis often comes after age 50 and after the cancer has spread, making it difficult to remove surgically.

4 Nov 2015

RNA profiles of tumor-educated platelets may diagnose cancer, identify potential therapeutic approaches

Analysis of tumor RNA carried in platelets - blood components best known for their role in clotting - may prove to be more useful than other "liquid biopsy" technologies for diagnosing cancer and determining its primary location and potential therapeutic approaches.

31 Oct 2015

Specialized type of immunotherapy can boost survival from pancreatic cancer

A new study in mice by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that a specialized type of immunotherapy — even when used without chemotherapy or radiation — can boost survival from pancreatic cancer, a nearly almost-lethal disease, by more than 75 percent. The findings are so promising, human clinical trials are planned within the next year.

30 Oct 2015

Halozyme Therapeutics announces initiation of rivipansel Phase 1 clinical trial

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that the first healthy subject has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a subcutaneous formulation of rivipansel, a compound discovered by GlycoMimetics, Inc. and being developed by Pfizer Inc., using Halozyme's ENHANZE formulation.

30 Oct 2015

UNM CCC biostatisticians help scientists conduct research on cancer

In contrast to most people, Ji-Hyun Lee, DrPH, doesn't find statistics difficult or boring. For her, statistics is fulfilling because it's how she helps people fight cancer. "People think biostatistics is purely numbers," Lee says, "but my work helps to improve patients' care." She recalls a visit to a hospital patient as a young statistician working for a cystic fibrosis research team.

29 Oct 2015

Cancer diagnosis improvements in England: an interview with Lucy Elliss-Brookes

The ‘two week wait’ referral was brought into England in 2000. If a patient goes to see their GP and they meet specific criteria that cause the GP to think they might have cancer, then they should be referred to see a specialist within two weeks.

28 Oct 2015

New method to grow 3D pancreatic cancer organoid may help test drug responses and personalized treatments

The development of a new method to grow three-dimensional organoid cultures of pancreatic tumors directly from patients' surgical tissue offers a promising opportunity for testing targeted therapies and drug responses and personalizing treatments in a rapid, cost-effective manner.