I attended the Rexahn presentation at the Biotech Showcase on January 12-14, 2015. The company has 3 novel anti-cancer products in the clinic. Continue reading
Category Archives: Cell Cycle
Kevetrin – p53 Inducer by Cellceutix
Thioureidobutyronitrile (Kevetrin) is an intravenous drug currently in a Phase 1 study in patients with advanced solid malignancies. It acts by promoting apoptosis in several ways: Continue reading
Merck Acquires OncoEthix for Novel MYC Blocker
Last week, Merck acquired OncoEthix at a price of $375 MM for OTX015, a synthetic small molecule which targets the BET bromodomain proteins 2, 3, and 4 (BRD2/3/4). Continue reading
Reprogramming Lung Cancer to Self-Destruct Using TRAIL and CDK9 Inhibitor
CANCER RESEARCH UK scientists have found a drug combination that can trigger the self-destruct process in lung cancer cells – paving the way for new treatments, according to research that will be presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Liverpool next week. This process is known as apoptosis. Continue reading
Obesity soon to replace tobacco as the number one preventable / treatable cause of cancer
“Obesity is on its way to replacing tobacco as the number one preventable / modifiable cause of cancer,” says Clifford Hudis, MD, the 2013-2014 President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Indeed, obese post-menopausal women have up to twice the risk of developing breast cancer as do their normal weight counterparts. Continue reading
Why more males develop brain tumors than females
It is widely known that brain tumors, in particular glioblastomas and medulloblastomas, affect males more than females. Moreover, given the age of onset and analysis of incidence by age, sex hormones have been ruled-out as the cause. Continue reading
Targeted therapies for cancer – overview
The National Cancer Institute has a very informative, yet easy to understand overview presented as a Q&A – Targeted Cancer Therapies. Continue reading
Genspera G-202 – anti-cancer hand grenade
Genspera is a company developing novel prodrugs for the treatment of cancer. In a phase 2 study in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have failed treatment with Nexavar (sorafenib), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks KIT, FLT-3 RET, raf, VEGFR1-3, and PDGF kinases, a doubling of time to progression was seen in patients taking G-202. Continue reading
Beleodaq, a new pan-HDAC inhibitor approved for peripheral T-cell lymphoma
HDAC inhibitors work by blocking Histone De-ACetylase enzyme, which removes acetyl groups from the proteins that encase DNA, that is histones. They are triggered by CpG sequences on DNA promoters; HDACs put chromatin in a configuration that favors LACK of transcription. So, blocking HDACs favors transcription – see prior post. Continue reading
HPV DNA Test and Experimental DNA Vaccine
The National Cancer Institute states that “virtually all” cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection. The association is so strong that the FDA recently approved a DNA test for HPV that many believe could supplant PAP smear. This is great news for patients who do not have cervical cancer, yet. But what if you do?… Continue reading