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Early trial results in lung cancer

Results from early phase trials investigating different therapeutic agents in lung cancer patients were presented during the third Presidential Session at the European Cancer Congress in Vienna, Austria. Here we summarise two studies reported at the session.

22 Oct 2015

New study describes multi-method strategy to improve detection of PMS2 gene mutations in Lynch syndrome

About 3% of colorectal cancers are due to Lynch syndrome, an inherited cancer susceptibility syndrome that predisposes individuals to various cancers. Close blood relatives of patients with Lynch syndrome have a 50% chance of inheritance. The role that PMS2 genetic mutations play in Lynch syndrome has been underestimated in part due to technological limitations.

27 Aug 2015

NeoGenomics announces launch of new germline cancer predisposition testing services

NeoGenomics, Inc., a leading provider of cancer-focused genetic testing services, announced today the launch of a new line of germline cancer predisposition testing services. The new tests include comprehensive testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 encompassing an analysis of all exons and adjacent intronic regions.

20 Jul 2015

Researchers identify genetic abnormalities that lead to skin SCC

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin is one of the most frequent cancers in humans affecting more than half million new persons every year in the world. The transformation of a normal cell to a cancer cell is caused by an accumulation of genetic abnormalities in the progeny of single cells. The spectrum of genetic anomalies found in a variety of human cancers have been described.

14 Jul 2015

Scientists identify gene that causes hereditary hypertension and brachydactyly type E

Individuals with this altered gene have hereditary hypertension (high blood pressure) and at the same time a skeletal malformation called brachydactyly type E, which is characterized by unusually short fingers and toes. The effect on blood pressure is so serious that -- if left untreated -- it most often leads to death before age fifty.

11 May 2015

Quantitative phosphoproteomic approach to identify targeted cancer therapy

Winner of the Louise Eisenhardt Traveling Scholarship Award, Teresa Purzner, MD, presented her research, Quantitative Phosphoproteomics for Targeted Cancer Therapy.

7 May 2015

CML guidelines highlight need for TKI switch timing, choice

A review of the European LeukemiaNet guidelines on the care of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia highlights the need for research into the timing and use of second-line and third-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

20 Apr 2015

Iceland paint a genomic picture for an entire nation

Researchers in Iceland have published the largest ever studies of whole-genome data and effectively deduced the genetic code of “an entire nation.”

26 Mar 2015

Rare and classic EGFR mutations have different impacts on NSCLC outcome

Certain rare epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are associated with tobacco smoking, worse prognosis and poor response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy compared to the more common "classical" EGFR mutations.

12 Feb 2015

Vanderbilt researchers find link between the biological clock and Angelman syndrome

Monitoring participants' biological clocks may be the quickest way to determine the effectiveness of experimental drugs currently under development to treat Angelman syndrome: a debilitating genetic disorder that occurs in more than one in every 15,000 live births.

6 Feb 2015

Researchers gain new insight into fragile X syndrome

Scientists have gained new insight into fragile X syndrome -- the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability -- by studying the case of a person without the disorder, but with two of its classic symptoms.

17 Jan 2015

Mirati begins dosage in MGCD265 Phase 1b clinical trial for NSCLC

Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that the first patient with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) has been dosed in a Phase 1b clinical trial of MGCD265 in selected patients exhibiting genetic alterations of MET or Axl.

23 Dec 2014

Metastatic lung cancer outcomes independent of KRAS mutation subtypes

Overall survival in patients with metastatic lung cancer does not correlate with Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue mutation subtypes, US researchers report.

12 Dec 2014

Researchers show that iPS cells can be used to edit genetic mutations that cause DMD

Researchers at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, show that induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be used to correct genetic mutations that cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

27 Nov 2014

OGT's new CytoSure Medical Research Exome Array to be launched at ASHG 2014

Oxford Gene Technology, The Molecular Genetics Company, will launch its CytoSure Medical Research Exome Array at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics 2014, taking place in San Diego on October 18-22.

From Oxford Gene Technology 15 Oct 2014

Mutant allele frequency predicts lung cancer TKI response

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor sensitivity may be predicted by the frequency of a point mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene, suggests a study of Japanese patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

28 Aug 2014

Co-targeting strategies suggested for EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC

Researchers have identified additional resistance mechanisms that could be targeted to improve the efficacy of irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harbouring both EGFR and T790M mutations.

23 Jul 2014

Study reveals how BTK mutation triggers drug resistance in CLL patients

A multi-institutional team of researchers has pinpointed exactly what goes wrong when chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients develop resistance to ibrutinib, a highly effective, precisely targeted anti-cancer drug.

29 May 2014

Erlotinib, gefitinib have similar efficacy in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation

Disease progression-free survival is similar for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and epidermal growth factor receptor mutations whether they receive erlotinib or gefitinib, show the results of a South Korean study.

21 May 2014

Whitehead Institute scientists identify genetic cause of hemifacial microsomia

Whitehead Institute scientists have identified a genetic cause of a facial disorder known as hemifacial microsomia (HFM). The researchers find that duplication of the gene OTX2 induces HFM, the second-most common facial anomaly after cleft lip and palate.

12 May 2014