Results of studies in patients with low- and intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) treated with hypomethylating agents (low dose azacytidine or decitabine) followed for a median of 18 months were presented at the Society of Hematologic Oncology meeting in Houston on September 9, 2016. Continue reading
Cancer results from accumulated mutations in the cancer cell’s genome. These mutations can occur spontaneously in any cell throughout an individual’s lifetime, often increasing with age or exposure to carcinogenic or mutagenic compounds. These are called somatic mutations that do not exist in every cell, and cannot be passed along from one generation to the next. However, in approximately 5 to 10% of all cancer cases, mutations are passed along through the germ line and can predispose an individual to various types of cancers. Continue reading
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
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