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Drugs that target DNA in later-stage cancers could be effective in treating breast tumors

Breast cancers that arise sporadically, rather than through inheritance of certain genes, likely start with defects of DNA repair mechanisms that allow environmentally triggered mutations to accumulate, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

30 Nov 2010

Overexpression of microRNA 125b can cause leukemia: Research

Whitehead Institute researchers have shown in mouse models that overexpression of the microRNA 125b (miR-125b) can independently cause leukemia and accelerate the disease's progression. Their results are published in this week's online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

30 Nov 2010

Transgenomic signs definitive agreement to acquire diagnostic business of Clinical Data

Transgenomic, Inc. announced today the signing of a definitive agreement for Transgenomic to acquire the diagnostic business of Clinical Data, Inc. This acquisition includes a suite of proprietary genetic commercial tests, certain proprietary biomarker assays, and the CLIA-certified laboratory operations of Clinical Data for a purchase price of approximately $15.4 million, primarily in cash and notes.

29 Nov 2010

ACS recommends annual MRI screening in women with family history of breast cancer

Women with a personal history of breast cancer should consider annual screening with MRI in addition to mammography, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

29 Nov 2010

JAK3 pathway highlighted as leukemia target

An intriguing study published in Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy has revealed that the signaling protein JAK3 represents a viable target in the treatment of a broad range of B-lineage cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

28 Nov 2010

Research finds ways to tackle drug resistance in melanoma

The past year has brought to light both the promise and the frustration of developing new drugs to treat melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Early clinical tests of a candidate drug aimed at a crucial cancer-causing gene revealed impressive results in patients whose cancers resisted all currently available treatments.

25 Nov 2010

Response to PLX4032 drug short lived in BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma patients

Researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that melanoma patients whose cancers are caused by mutation of the BRAF gene become resistant to a promising targeted treatment through another genetic mutation or the overexpression of a cell surface protein, both driving survival of the cancer and accounting for relapse.

25 Nov 2010

A new treatment landscape for triple-negative breast cancer

A concerted R&D effort directed at triple-negative breast cancer patients promises new treatment options in the near future, according to latest research from independent market analyst, Datamonitor.

24 Nov 2010

Study finds solution for debate about mutation testing to prevent children with cystic fibrosis

Testing for genetic mutations beyond those medically recommended is unlikely to prevent the birth of children with classic cystic fibrosis and may detect mutations causing only mild disease, according to a study published online in Genetics in Medicine, the official publication of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG).

From Quest Diagnostics 24 Nov 2010

Hepcidin hormone may be potential therapeutic tool for anemic blood disorders

A hormone made by the body may be a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of two anemic blood disorders beta-thalassemia and hemochromatosis. The new research was led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and the journal Blood.

24 Nov 2010

Erbitux development program featured in ASCO's Clinical Cancer Advances report for third consecutive year

For the third year in a row, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has included Erbitux® (cetuximab) research in its annual report, Clinical Cancer Advances, which features the most significant studies of 2010. The report cites as a notable advance this year the finding that BRAF mutation status is a prognostic, not predictive, marker for Erbitux efficacy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

23 Nov 2010

Breakthrough with mutant gene that causes familial ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that eventually destroys most motor neurons, causing muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body. There is no cure and the current treatment has only a moderate effect on the march of the disease, which typically kills within three to five years. This week in PNAS, a team of Brandeis scientists reports an innovative approach to treating the most common form of familial ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

23 Nov 2010

Soligenix receives U.S patent for modified immunogen in RiVax vaccine

Soligenix, Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted patent #7,829,668, entitled Compositions and methods for modifying toxic effects of proteinaceous compounds.

22 Nov 2010

Alexion's Soliris Phase 2 clinical study for aHUS meets primary, secondary endpoints

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that a Phase 2 clinical study investigating Soliris (eculizumab) as a treatment for patients with atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) who are resistant to plasma therapy met primary and key secondary endpoints with high levels of statistical and clinical significance, according to results presented today at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) annual meeting in Denver.

21 Nov 2010

New I-SPY 2 study to evaluate effectiveness of medical treatment for breast cancer

A clinical trial that aims to speed up the study of new treatments for certain subtypes of breast cancer now has a designated study site at the Diane O'Connor Thompson Breast Center at the University of Colorado Hospital.

20 Nov 2010

Reprogrammed amniotic fluid cells can generate iPS cells

Reprogrammed amniotic fluid cells can generate all types of body cells. High hopes rest on stem cells: one day, they may be used to treat many diseases. To date, embryos are the main source of these cells, but this raises ethical problems. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have now managed to convert amniotic fluid cells into pluripotent stem cells.

20 Nov 2010

FDA-approved anti-parasite drug blocks Wnt signaling pathway in colon cancer

An old pinworm medicine is a new lead in the search for compounds that block a signaling pathway implicated in colon cancer. The findings, reported by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers in the November issue of Nature Chemical Biology, suggest a fresh approach for developing therapeutics that target the pathway.

20 Nov 2010

Fifth gene defect, 47 DNA regions linked to thoracic aortic disease: Researchers

Discovery of a fifth gene defect and the identification of 47 DNA regions linked to thoracic aortic disease are the subject of studies released this month involving researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

19 Nov 2010

ACE-041 drug may provide new option to treat cancer

Researchers have found that a newly developed drug, which is aimed at a particular receptor involved in the development of blood vessels that sustain tumour growth, is active in patients with advanced cancers and, in some cases, has halted the progress of the disease. The drug, ACE-041, targets a different molecular pathway to other anti-angiogenesis drugs and may provide a new option to treat cancer.

19 Nov 2010

Researchers document novel form of splicing in nerve cell cytoplasm

Cells have their own version of the cut-and-paste editing function called splicing. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have documented a novel form of splicing in the cytoplasm of a nerve cell, which dictates a special form of a potassium channel protein in the outer membrane.

19 Nov 2010

Mutation News and Research

Drugs that target DNA in later-stage cancers could be effective in treating breast tumors

Overexpression of microRNA 125b can cause leukemia: Research

Transgenomic signs definitive agreement to acquire diagnostic business of Clinical Data

ACS recommends annual MRI screening in women with family history of breast cancer

JAK3 pathway highlighted as leukemia target

Research finds ways to tackle drug resistance in melanoma

Response to PLX4032 drug short lived in BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma patients

A new treatment landscape for triple-negative breast cancer

Study finds solution for debate about mutation testing to prevent children with cystic fibrosis

Hepcidin hormone may be potential therapeutic tool for anemic blood disorders

Erbitux development program featured in ASCO's Clinical Cancer Advances report for third consecutive year

Breakthrough with mutant gene that causes familial ALS

Soligenix receives U.S patent for modified immunogen in RiVax vaccine

Alexion's Soliris Phase 2 clinical study for aHUS meets primary, secondary endpoints

New I-SPY 2 study to evaluate effectiveness of medical treatment for breast cancer

Reprogrammed amniotic fluid cells can generate iPS cells

FDA-approved anti-parasite drug blocks Wnt signaling pathway in colon cancer

Fifth gene defect, 47 DNA regions linked to thoracic aortic disease: Researchers

ACE-041 drug may provide new option to treat cancer

Researchers document novel form of splicing in nerve cell cytoplasm

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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