EurekAlert! Cancer Research - News Releases

News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 17-May-2025 08:09 ET (17-May-2025 12:09 GMT/UTC)

New combination immunotherapy for melanoma and breast cancer

Medical University of Vienna
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team at the Medical University of Vienna led by Maria Sibilia has investigated a new combination therapy against cancer. This therapy employs systemic administration of the tissue hormone interferon-I combined with local application of Imiquimod. This combination showed promising results in topically accessible tumors like melanoma and breast cancer models: The therapy led to the death of tumor cells at the treated sites and simultaneously activated the adaptive immune system to fight even distant metastases. The results published in the top journal Nature Cancer could improve the treatment of superficial tumors such as melanoma and breast cancer.

Journal: Nature Cancer

Integrative proteogenomic and pharmacological landscape of acute myeloid leukaemia

Science China Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a paper published in Science Bulletin, a Chinese team of scientists reported a comprehensive proteogenomic analysis of 101 Chinese AML patients, including proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses and an in vitro drug sensitivity analysis in addition to whole exome and transcriptome sequencing. They integrated multi-omic data to predict and validate patient prognosis and drug sensitivity. They revealed three subtypes based on proteome, where S-II and S-III characterized mainly by metabolism and could benefit from Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, but S-I enriched in tumour proliferation could not. Further correlation analysis of 77 drugs sensitivity with proteomic and phosphoproteomic data uncovered the therapeutic strategies of cytarabine-disulfiram and PI3K inhibitor-PDK inhibitor combinations. Overall, the research provide a resource for understanding the molecular alterations in AML and developing potential therapeutic strategies.

Journal: Science Bulletin

First evidence of olaparib maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed homologous recombination deficient positive/BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer: real-world multicenter study

Higher Education Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Ovarian cancer, a deadly gynecologic malignancy, has seen a significant shift in its treatment paradigm with the introduction of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which are now standard in the maintenance setting following first-line chemotherapy. This retrospective cohort study investigates the real-world effectiveness and safety of olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, in patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage, high-grade serous ovarian cancer who are HRD positive but BRCA wild-type, a demographic less extensively explored in previous research. The primary goal was to assess the 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of olaparib maintenance therapy in this specific patient group, offering insights into its potential as a therapeutic option.

Journal: Frontiers of Medicine

PET probe images inflammation with high sensitivity and selectivity

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a breakthrough method to detect inflammation in the body using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. This innovative probe targets CD45, a marker abundantly expressed on all immune cells but absent from other cell types.

Journal: Nature
Funder: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Harvard Medical School, NIH/National Institutes of Health, NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Ultrasensitive test detects, serially monitors intact virus levels in patients with COVID-19

Mass General Brigham
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Investigators from Mass General Brigham have found that a method originally designed for cancer detection can also identify and monitor even tiny amounts of SARS-CoV-2 intact viral particles in blood and other fluids from patients with acute COVID-19 infections, creating the potential for guiding future treatment of patients. The research is published in Science Advances.

Journal: Science

Researchers develop biomarker algorithm for noninvasive detection of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer

Johns Hopkins Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

By studying biomarkers known to be involved in gastrointestinal cancers, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have developed a biomarker algorithm that, when combined with a noninvasive method to collect esophageal cells for study, could give clinicians insight into which patients have esophageal cancer or precancerous conditions such as Barrett’s esophagus (BE) or high-grade dysplasia.

Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health, Peter Nicholl and Stuart Israelson

MD Anderson Research Highlights for January 22, 2025

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Peer-Reviewed Publication

HOUSTON ― The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back.

HER2-low breast cancer: Genomic insights and evolving treatment paradigms

Impact Journals LLC
Peer-Reviewed Publication

BUFFALO, NY - January 22, 2025 – A new review was published in Oncotarget's Volume 16 on January 20, 2025, titled “Evolving concepts in HER2-low breast cancer: Genomic insights, definitions, and treatment paradigms."

Journal: Oncotarget

Princeton Chemistry develops copper-detection tool to discover possible chelation target for lung cancer

Princeton University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Continuing in its mission to elucidate the role of metal nutrients in human biology, the Chang Lab also offers a possible treatment modality in which copper chelation shows promising results in certain lung cancers where cells have two related phenomena: a heightened transcription factor responding to oxidative stress and a diminished level of bioavailable copper. Copper imbalances have long been implicated in cancer cell growth and other disease states.

Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health

Insilico Medicine announces first patient dosed in phase I clinical trial of ISM6331, the novel inhibitor for the treatment of mesothelioma and other solid tumors

InSilico Medicine
Business Announcement

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., January 23 --- Insilico Medicine( “Insilico”) , a clinical stage generative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven biotechnology company today announced the first patient has been dosed in the global multicenter Phase I Trial of ISM6331, a novel pan-TEAD inhibitor developed from Insilico's generative chemistry engine Chemistry42, for the treatment of mesothelioma and other solid tumors. Currently, ISM6331 is the leading oncology program among Insilico's wholly owned AI-driven drug discovery pipelines, which was granted orphan drug designation (ODD) by the FDA for the treatment of mesothelioma.