A healthy immune system is able to recognize and remove cancer cells, and boosting natural anticancer immune responses is a key objective of contemporary cancer treatment. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy are two principal strategies for accomplishing this goal. Researchers at the University of California San Diego, along with international collaborators, now report combining the two approachesContinueContinue reading “The right combination to fight cancer”
Tag Archives: cancer
AACR Annual Meeting 2015
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2015 convened investigators from all over the world to highlight recent progress in cancer research. The meeting’s program committee chose a theme that acknowledges the vital link between investigation and treatment: “Bringing Cancer Discoveries to Patients”. Precision medicine is poised to be a key strategy inContinueContinue reading “AACR Annual Meeting 2015”
Combination is key in cancer therapy
Two independent research groups recently reported success in preventing tumors in rodent models using combined therapies. The results add to the growing body of evidence that the best way to control cancer progression is to attack it from multiple angles at once. Lab Anim. (NY) 44, 160 (2015). view full text (login required)
To boost cancer immunotherapy, just add oxygen?
Even when surrounded by immune cells, tumors often continue to grow. Their rapid growth consumes oxygen, leading to hypoxia in the surrounding area or tumor microenvironment. Hypoxia further promotes tumor growth by encouraging the release of adenosine, which prevents immune cells from entering the tumor microenvironment. Reducing this immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment could freeContinueContinue reading “To boost cancer immunotherapy, just add oxygen?”
Marking cancer cells for removal
Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor that often infiltrates surrounding tissue. Surgery is frequently indicated to remove as much of the glioblastoma as possible. To this end, various technologies are being developed to improve the visualization of cancer cells and to maximize the amount of the tumor that can be safely removed. One example isContinueContinue reading “Marking cancer cells for removal”
Mouse model to clarify ovarian clear-cell carcinoma
Ovarian clear-cell carcinoma (OCCC) is an aggressive form of cancer. Although its incidence is not high, accounting for 5–20% of all epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs), it has a poorer prognosis, higher recurrence and lower survival than other EOC types, particularly when diagnosed at advanced stages. A better understanding of OCCC development and progression could leadContinueContinue reading “Mouse model to clarify ovarian clear-cell carcinoma”
Disrupting metastasis by using a decoy
Metastasis is the process by which cancer spreads in the body, and it contributes to poor prognosis in many cases. “The majority of patients who succumb to cancer fall prey to metastatic forms of the disease,” explained Jennifer Cochran (Stanford University, CA). Most attempts to slow or stop metastasis use chemotherapy, but this approach isContinueContinue reading “Disrupting metastasis by using a decoy”
Immune therapy for liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer in the US, is often treated by removing the tumor. But relapse after resection is very common, and there are currently no effective therapies for reducing recurrence. Approaches that activate a patient’s immune system to fight cancer recurrence have been tested but so far haveContinueContinue reading “Immune therapy for liver cancer”
Characterizing resistance in a subset of breast cancer
About 20% of breast cancers have elevated levels of the protein HER2. Treatment with drugs that target HER2, such as a combination of trastuzumab and lapatinib, can lead to improved outcomes in such cases, but many tumors eventually become resistant to this therapy. Joan T. Garrett (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN) studied the developmentContinueContinue reading “Characterizing resistance in a subset of breast cancer”
AACR Annual Meeting 2014
The 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) brought together researchers, patient advocates and other cancer professionals from around the world to address the theme of “Harnessing Breakthroughs—Targeting Cures.” The gathering in San Diego set a new attendance record, with a 2% increase in registered attendees over last year’s conference inContinueContinue reading “AACR Annual Meeting 2014”
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