Cancer Research

A new method of separating cancer cells from non-cancer cells has been developed by researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, in a boost for those working to better understand cancer biology using single-cell mRNA sequencing.  The study, published in Communications Biology, improves on existing methods to identify which cells in a sample are cancerous and […]

Scientists from Tel Aviv University have deciphered the mechanism that enables skin cancer to metastasise to the brain and were able to delay the spread of the disease by 60-80% using existing treatments.  Once melanoma, or skin cancer, spreads to the brain, it becomes extremely aggressive. Patients with this stage of cancer are given an […]

A new genetically engineered herpes virus has delivered a one-two punch against advanced cancers in initial findings from a Phase I trial. Researchers have found that RP2 – a modified version of the herpes simplex virus – showed signs of effectiveness in a quarter of patients with a range of advanced cancers. Patients on the […]

Scientists have discovered a type of breast cancer cell that is highly efficient in invading and colonising distant organs and slow their growth once there to evade therapies. This phenomenon then leads to later metastatic breast cancer in patients who have been cancer-free for years. According to a study published in Cell Reports, the breast […]

News round-up for 12-16 September by DDW Digital Content Editor Diana Spencer A slightly quieter week for news in light of national events in the UK, but the vital work of the international drug discovery community goes on and new discoveries are being made all the time.  The last seven days have seen important breakthroughs […]

A new combination therapy could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Findings from the SUNLIGHT trial have revealed that the combination of trifluridine/tipiracil plus bevacizumab showed a statistically significant improvement in overall survival compared to trifluridine/tipiracil alone. The Phase III clinical trial studied participants with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) […]

Professor Dr Cornelis (‘Kees’) Melief has been awarded the 2022 Pedro J Romero Service to JITC Award by the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC).  The Award recognises individuals who have made immeasurable contributions and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer (JITC) and will be presented at the SITC’s 37th Annual […]

News round-up for 5-9 September by DDW Digital Content Editor Diana Spencer Cancer research has been making headlines over the last seven days in the build-up to the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022. Notably, it was a mixed week for PARP inhibitor olaparib, which was approved by regulator the MHRA for patients with […]

Pleco Therapeutics BV has raised €17.3 million in its Series A financing round, which will be used to complete the development of its Plecoid Product, PTX-061, to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The investments include €3.6 million committed by Oost NL and a select number of private investors, […]

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has confirmed its decision not to recommend olaparib for previously treated metastatic prostate cancer in patients with BRCA gene mutations. The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) has called the decision ‘disappointing’ and ‘frustrating’. It means that men in England and Wales with prostate cancer will miss […]