All articles tagged with #tumor
Yale scientists have developed a "Trojan horse" method to deliver anticancer drugs directly into tumor cells by targeting extracellular nucleic acids released from dying cells within tumors. This innovative approach shows promise for treating a wide range of cancers, including difficult-to-target brain tumors, and aims to minimize damage to healthy tissue.
A woman in Germany with a rare genetic disease, NF-1 neurofibromatosis, developed a 20-pound tumor on her neck, causing balance issues and pain. After finding a surgeon in Los Angeles, she underwent a risky six-hour surgery to remove the tumor, experiencing immediate relief and joy. Another woman from Texas also sought help for a growth on her butt, which was successfully removed in a one-hour surgery. Both cases were featured on TLC's new show, "Take My Tumor," shedding light on the challenges of living with rare diseases and the hope for successful treatment.
Scientists have discovered that cancer cells create an "acid wall" to evade the immune system, as revealed in a study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering. The acidic environment around tumors, caused by the cells' production of lactic acid, was found to be polarized, with increased acidity on one side compared to the other. This acidity forms a protective barrier against the immune system, preventing the infiltration of killer T cells. The findings open new possibilities for targeted cancer treatments and the development of drugs to prevent cancer cells from creating acid walls, making them more vulnerable to immune system attacks.
Scientists from UC San Francisco and Northwestern University have successfully used a mutation found in cancer cells to enhance CAR-T cell therapy, enabling it to effectively target and destroy solid tumors in mice. By inserting this mutation into CAR-T cells, the researchers created a "Judo T-cell therapy" that can thrive in the harsh conditions of tumor microenvironments. While the approach shows promise, concerns about potential risks, such as the development of secondary cancers, remain. The researchers have founded a startup to further develop this supercharged CAR-T cell therapy, with lung cancer as their initial target for clinical trials.
A study in mice has shown that engineered CAR-T cells carrying a mutation found in cancerous T cells can effectively eliminate tumors that do not respond to current CAR-T therapies. The mutation, known as CARD11–PIK3R3, enhances the T-cell function and enables them to infiltrate tumors and exhibit long-lasting cancer-killing activity. The supercharged cells were able to melt away tumors in mice with both blood and solid cancers, and the researchers hope to move these cells towards clinical trials in the next two to three years. This approach opens the door for better CAR-T therapies in the future and provides an opportunity to discover other cancer mutations that can enhance T-cell therapies.
Shari Dawson discovered she had a hidden tumor after noticing changes in her jaw and experiencing various health issues. It took almost a decade for her to be diagnosed with acromegaly, a rare condition caused by a pituitary tumor. Despite undergoing surgery and medication, she still faces challenges, including fertility issues. Now the general manager of the Australian Pituitary Foundation, she aims to raise awareness about the condition to help others receive earlier diagnoses and treatment.
Scientists at the University of California, Davis and Indiana University have discovered a "kill switch" for cancer cells by activating a death receptor called Fas. By attaching specific antibodies to Fas receptors, the researchers were able to trigger self-destruction of the cells lining a tumor's blood vessels, allowing engineered immune cells to gain access to the tumor and fight it off. This breakthrough could potentially enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies like CAR-T therapy against solid tumors, which have been difficult to treat. Further research is needed to investigate the potential of targeting Fas receptors as future drug targets.
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a bio-inspired drug that restores the effectiveness of immune cells in fighting cancer. The drug slows tumor growth, extends lifespan, and enhances the efficacy of immunotherapy in mouse models of melanoma, bladder cancer, leukemia, and colon cancer. The drug targets a common DNA deletion found in many cancers, which impairs the immune system's ability to detect and eliminate cancer cells. The drug, called PEG-MTAP, shows promise in combination with immunotherapies and may be a game changer for cancer patients. Further safety tests and funding are needed for human clinical trials.
A new molecule, ABBV-CLS-484, developed by TIDE, AbbVie, and Calico Life Sciences, shows promise in cancer immunotherapy by enhancing tumor susceptibility and boosting immune cell potency. The small molecule, currently in clinical trials, works through two different mechanisms to slow tumor growth and increase survival in lab animals. By inhibiting specific proteins, the molecule makes tumors more sensitive to immune attack and enhances the activity of immune cells. This dual-action approach is unique compared to other cancer immunotherapies and may explain why the molecule is effective on its own. The molecule's discovery and development were made possible through a collaboration between academia and industry.
Kipenzi, a 6-year-old Masai giraffe at Seneca Park Zoo, has a life-threatening growth under her jaw that is impacting her ability to eat. Veterinarians will perform a biopsy and radiograph to determine the nature of the growth, which they suspect could be a tumor. Anesthesia poses risks for giraffes due to their body structure, but the team will carefully monitor Kipenzi's vital signs during the procedure. If the growth is determined to be malignant, there may be limited treatment options available.
New research has found that immune cells called T cells become exhausted within hours of encountering cancer cells, which explains why they often fail to eliminate tumors. The study used mice genetically engineered to develop liver cancers and found that T cells showed signs of dysfunction within six to 12 hours of encountering cancer cells, including thousands of changes in genetic structure and gene expression. The researchers discovered that negative signals from cancer cells induce T cell dysfunction, while a lack of positive signals like inflammation prevents T cells from functioning effectively. The findings suggest that stimulating inflammatory pathways in T cells could help enhance their ability to kill cancer cells.
New research has found that immune cells called T cells become exhausted within hours of encountering cancer cells, which explains why they often fail to eliminate tumors. The study used mice genetically engineered to develop liver cancers and found that T cells showed signs of dysfunction within six to 12 hours of encountering cancer cells, including thousands of changes in genetic structure and gene expression. The researchers discovered that negative signals from cancer cells induce T cell dysfunction, while a lack of positive signals like inflammation prevents T cells from effectively killing cancer cells. The findings suggest that stimulating inflammatory pathways in T cells could help enhance their ability to target and kill cancer cells.
Scientists predict that vaccines could be the next big thing in cancer treatment, with experimental treatments showing promise in shrinking tumors and stopping cancer from coming back. Targets for these treatments include breast and lung cancer, with gains reported this year for deadly skin cancer melanoma and pancreatic cancer. Cancer vaccines boost the immune system to find and kill cancer cells, and some new ones use mRNA, which was developed for cancer but first used for COVID-19 vaccines. More vaccines that prevent cancer may be ahead too, with decades-old hepatitis B vaccines preventing liver cancer and HPV vaccines preventing cervical cancer.
A journalist undergoing radiation therapy for a benign tumor near his pituitary gland found solace in listening to U2's music during his treatment. The band's songs helped him escape and relax during the long and difficult sessions, and also served a utilitarian purpose by allowing him to estimate how much of the treatment remained. The music often brought up memories and served as a reminder of the importance of life's small saving graces.
Miranda Edwards was repeatedly dismissed by doctors who told her that her pounding headaches and heart palpitations were just anxiety. It wasn't until she had a heart attack at 19 that she was diagnosed with a rare adrenaline-secreting tumor. Despite surgery to remove the tumor, her symptoms returned and got worse. Four years later, an MRI showed that her disease had spread to other organs in her body, including her liver. She was given one to five years to live. Edwards now shares tips for living with her illness on social media to inspire other patients.