New Synthetic Regulatory Circuit Can Identify and Kill Cancer Cells
September 13th 2011Collaborating scientists at the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT and the Center for Systems Biology at Harvard University have created an engineered biological system that senses and integrates multiple inputs and can precisely regulate the biology of a living cell. This type of approach could be useful to engineer anti-cancer therapies that are able to distinguish a cancer from a non-cancer cell, inducing apoptosis in the cancerous cells.
Cancer-Related TTP and Considerations of Plasma Exchange
September 13th 2011The diagnosis and therapy of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) have advanced dramatically in the past 25 years, with increasing diagnostic awareness spurred on by the discovery of plasma exchange as an effective therapy.
Novel DNA-Silencing Function of BRCA1 Discovered
September 7th 2011Researchers have identified that “maintenance of global heterochromatin integrity” is a novel function of BRCA1 gene, and propose that this DNA-silencing function is linked to the role of BRCA1 as a tumor suppressor, in an article published in Nature.
ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium Intro Page
August 31st 2011CancerNetwork presents exclusive coverage from the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) 2011 Breast Cancer Symposium. Follow the stories below and check back for more write-ups of the most important information to come out of this year's event.
Novel Cancer-Targeting Virus Therapy Shows Efficacy in Early-Stage Trial
August 31st 2011Scientists at Jennerex, Inc. in San Francisco, and collaborators from University of Pennsylvania and the University of Ottawa in Canada have just engineered a poxvirus, JX-594, to selectively replicate in tumor cells that have an activated EGFR/ Ras pathway, but not in normal tissue.
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)
August 9th 2011Mangosteen is an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asian countries, including India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Its reddish to dark purple fruit, with white juicy edible pulp, is considered one of the best tasting tropical fruits. Mangosteen has a long history of medicinal use to treat skin infections, wounds, and dysentery; in ayurveda, it is used for inflammation, diarrhea, and cholera.
FDA to Facilitate Information Access by Proposing Smartphone 'Mobile Medical Applications'
August 1st 2011With the continuing increase in the utilization of smartphone applications (apps), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to jump on the bandwagon. The goal for the FDA is to provide accurate and up to date information for consumers and patients, partly to address the increasing number of ‘health’ applications that may not always be accurate or from reliable sources.
Role for PTEN in DNA Damage Removal and Prevention of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
July 28th 2011Using in vitro techniques and mouse models, scientists at the University of Chicago Department of Medicine and colleagues have demonstrated that downregulation of PTEN in epidermal keratinocytes predisposes skin to ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced tumorigenesis.
Electronic Health Record System Gets Government’s Stamp of Approval
July 18th 2011iKnowMed Electronic Health Record (EHR) System has received the federal government’s approval via a Complete EHR Certification. The 6.3 version of the software is owned by McKesson Specialty Care Solutions and US Oncology, and was developed by US Oncology.
Treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Without Cytotoxic Chemotherapy
July 15th 2011There has been dramatic progress in the management of acute promyelocytic leukemia during the past three decades. Important insights into the pathogenesis of the disease have come to light and effective treatment has been developed.
Transplantation or Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Biology Determines Outcome
July 12th 2011In their article “Liver Transplantation for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma," Drs. Hanish and Knechtle provide a cogent review of many of the issues surrounding the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis.
Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma as Part of a Balanced, Multidisciplinary Strategy
July 12th 2011Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a formidable challenge in the United States due to its increasing incidence, its advanced-stage presentation, and its association with chronic liver disease.[1-3]