Hall of Fame baseball player, Tony Gwynn, died today of head and neck cancer. He was an avid user of chewing tobacco, which has many known carcinogens. Gwynn was 54 years old… Continue reading
Category Archives: Uncategorized
OncoMed’s Wnt-targeted experimental cancer drugs and bone-related adverse events
OncoMed is a biotech company that is developing therapies directed at the Wnt and Notch signaling pathways. Clinical studies with two products directed at the Wnt pathway (Vantictumab – anti-Fzd-7, and Fzd-8 Fc) have been halted by the company while it explores findings of bone toxicity. Continue reading
IDH1 and IDH2 inhibitors
IDH1 and IDH2 are enzymes in the Krebs Cycle of glucose metabolism – IDH1 (AG-120) is active in the cyotplasm and IDH2 (AG-221) is active in the mitochondria. Phase 1 clinical studies of these compounds are underway. Continue reading
FDA Clinical Hold lifted on telomerase inhibitor
In clinical trials, “clinical holds” are imposed by the FDA when toxicities emerge that are unexpected, either new toxicities that have not been seen before, (or were not anticipated) or increased severity of known or anticipated side effects. The hold allows the FDA to assess the data, demand more data from the sponsoring companies, and make appropriate changes in the study protocol… Continue reading
Two Sides of Immune Checkpoint Control
Immune checkpoint control is the hottest area in cancer immunology. Indeed, the checkpoint inhibitors have shown great activity in a variety of cancers. This article http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140506-908279.html) summarizes 2 approaches that Merck is taking… Continue reading
250 Years of Advances Against Cancer
This is a FANTASTIC summary of the major discoveries and breakthroughs in cancer over the past 250 years – http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/overview/250-years-advances?utm_content=sf25688262&utm_medium=spredfast&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=National+Cancer+Institute&cid=sf25688262 Continue reading