Halaven (eribulin mesylate) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with unresectable or advanced liposarcoma. The treatment is approved for patients who previously had undergone chemotherapy with an anthracycline drug. It was previously approved for patients with breast cancer who had undergone at least two prior chemotherapeutic regimens, including an anthracycline and a taxane. Continue reading
Category Archives: Apoptosis
Priority Review for Potent Novel Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Venetoclax is a novel cancer therapy being developed by Roche and AbbVie. The U.S. FDA has accepted the New Drug Application and granted Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Designation for venetoclax for the treatment of people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have received at least one prior therapy, including those with 17p deletion. Continue reading
Gilteritinib in Patients with Relapsed and Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated. Continue reading
Why do elephants have lower rates of cancer than humans?
Why elephants do not get cancer is a famous conundrum that was posed by epidemiologist Richard Peto of the University of Oxford, UK, in the 1970’s. Peto noted that, in general, there is little relationship between cancer rates and the body size or age of animals. Continue reading
Targeting Cancer Stem Cells – OncoMed’s R-SPONDIN LGR Antibody for Colorectal Cancer
OncoMed initiated a Phase I/II trial of its anti-RSPO3 antibody (OMP-131R10) in patients with relapsed colorectal cancer. Patients will also be receiving FOLFIRI (5-FU, irinotecan, leucovorin). Continue reading
Vectibix Extends Survival in Colon Cancer
A Phase III study in patients with chemo-refractory colorectal cancer with wild-type K-ras genotype demonstrated that Amgen’s Vectibix (panitumumab) improved overall survival compared to best supportive therapy, alone. A total of 377 patients were randomized to receive best supportive care with or without intravenous infusions of Vectibix every 14 days. Full results of the study will be presented at a future medical meeting and submitted for publication. Continue reading
What do pineapples, glucose, and cancer have in common – mitochondria
I was sent articles by two non-cancer researchers last week – they are quite fitting for discuss on this blog (thank you, Gina and Sherilyn). The first was on DCA (dichloroacetate), a drug approved for congenital lactic acidosis, and the second about bromelain, an enzyme in pineapples. Continue reading
Inhibitory RNA miR-182 Can Turn-Off Glioblastoma
Researchers examined large-scale genomic datasets and found that patients with higher levels of miR-182 had a better chance of surviving glioblastoma (GBM) longer. This prompted them to perform pre-clinical studies to elucidate the mechanism by which miR-182 acts. Continue reading
BXQ-350 – Pre-clinical Cancer Drug with Novel Mechanism of Action
Bexion Pharmaceuticals received Orphan Drug Designation for its novel drug, BXQ-350 for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme. The drug has shown activity in over 60 different cancer cell lines, and is toxic to cancer cells, only.The nanovesicals bypass the blood brain barrier. Continue reading
Iontophoresis: Electric Fields as a New Innovative Way to Deliver Chemotherapy. Guest Contributor – Mariah J. Scott
Researchers at the University of North Carolina have been developing a chemotherapy drug treatment utilizing iontophoresis specifically for prostate and breast cancer. Continue reading