Chemotherapy News and Research

Latest Chemotherapy News and Research

MACROD2 gene may explain why some breast cancers are resistant to tamoxifen

After mining the genetic records of thousands of breast cancer patients, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have identified a gene whose presence may explain why some breast cancers are resistant to tamoxifen, a widely used hormone treatment generally used after surgery, radiation and other chemotherapy.

25 Nov 2014

Adults diagnosed with retinoblastoma as infants perform better on tasks, study finds

Most long-term survivors of retinoblastoma, particularly those who had been diagnosed with tumors by their first birthdays, have normal cognitive function as adults, according to a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital study. The research, which appears in the current issue of the journal Cancer, found that the vast majority of survivors work full time, live independently and fulfill other milestones of adult life.

25 Nov 2014

New approach to fighting breast, thyroid cancers

A team of researchers from the University of Alberta has discovered a new approach to fighting breast and thyroid cancers by targeting an enzyme they say is the culprit for the "vicious cycle" of tumour growth, spread and resistance to treatment.

24 Nov 2014

Dacomitinib ‘not superior’ to erlotinib in advanced NSCLC

Dacomitinib, an irreversible, pan-epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, does not improve outcomes compared with the first-generation EGFR–TKI erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, irrespective of their KRAS mutation status, finds the ARCHER 1009 study.

24 Nov 2014

New drug shows promise against treatment-resistant non-small cell lung cancer

A new drug that targets not only common cancer-causing genetic mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but also a form of the mutation that causes resistance to treatment, has shown promising results in patients in a phase I/II clinical trial.

23 Nov 2014

Accelerated treatment regimen feasible for advanced NSCLC

A treatment strategy designed to minimise the effects of accelerated repopulation using hypofractionated radiotherapy with chemotherapy is feasible for patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer, according to UK researchers.

21 Nov 2014

Biomarker-directed chemotherapy detrimental in NSCLC

Treating non-small-cell lung cancer patients with chemotherapy customised according to expression of BRCA1 and receptor-associated protein 80 does not improve progression-free survival compared with nonselected, cisplatin-based chemotherapy, show study findings.

19 Nov 2014

Gastric cancer patients who receive chemoradiation after surgery have better survival rates

Patients who receive chemotherapy and radiation after surgery for gastric cancer appear to have better survival rates than those who had surgery followed by only chemotherapy, according to results of a look-back study of more than 500 people by Johns Hopkins scientists.

19 Nov 2014

New study identifies crizotinib drug as possible new coating for drug-eluting stents

A new study has identified an FDA approved cancer drug, crizotinib, as a possible new coating for drug-eluting stents. Researchers found that crizotinib in mice helped prevent the narrowing of blood vessels after stenting without affecting the blood vessel lining.

19 Nov 2014

Common anti-malaria medicine could have significant impact on colorectal cancer

Medical experts say a common malaria drug could have a significant impact on colorectal cancer providing a cheap adjunct to current expensive chemotherapy.

18 Nov 2014

3SBio enters into exclusive license agreement with PharmAbcine for Tanibirumab

3SBio Inc., a leading China-based biotechnology company focused on researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing biopharmaceutical products, today announced it has entered into an exclusive license with PharmAbcine, Inc. for the development, manufacturing and marketing of Tanibirumab, an anti-VEGFR2/KDR antibody for cancer in the territory of Greater China (including Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau) and several emerging countries, including Thailand, Brazil and Russia.

18 Nov 2014

Zytiga is commonly prescribed for second-line treatment of mCRPC patients

Decision Resources Group finds that Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Biotech/Janssen Cilag/AstraZeneca's Zytiga is the clear agent of choice for second-line treatment of metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients, according to surveyed oncologists from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom (EU5).

18 Nov 2014

Pros and cons of medical marijuana to be discussed at Queensland Epilepsy Symposium

The pros and cons of medical marijuana is a discussion focus at the fifth annual Queensland Epilepsy Symposium, Epilepsy – On the Horizon.

18 Nov 2014

Curcumin and tackling mesothelioma: an interview with Dr. Afshin Dowlati

An important point about this work is that the research into curcumin was conducted following a discovery about mesothelioma, rather than being the primary endpoint of the study.

17 Nov 2014

Study: Chemotherapy following radiation therapy improves survival in adults with low-grade gliomas

A chemotherapy regimen consisting of procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine (PCV) administered following radiation therapy improved progression-free survival and overall survival in adults with low-grade gliomas, a form of brain cancer, when compared to radiation therapy alone.

17 Nov 2014

Researchers use cutting-edge software to predict aggressive breast cancer tumours

Researchers at Western University are using cutting-edge genetic mutation-analysis software developed in their lab to interpret mutations in tumour genome that may provide insight into determining which breast cancer tumours are more likely spread to other parts of the body and which ones won't.

17 Nov 2014