Study exposes Achilles heel of deadly kidney cancer

The red dots represent the protein complex in kidney 

cancer cells that spur cancer growth. The right frame 

shows tumor after treatment with PT2385

CANCER DIGEST – Feb. 22, 2020 – An experimental drug already shown to be safe and helps some patients with a deadly form of kidney cancer, has shed light on a possible new way to treat the cancer.

“Short of a cure, which we’re still struggling to get to patients, we think this drug and other future drugs in this class could offer a durable way to fight this cancer while preserving quality of life,” said Kevin Courtney, M.D., Ph.D. in a press release.

5 days of radiation for sarcomas as effective as 5 weeks

Researchers Dr. Fritz Eilber, left, and Dr. Anusha
Kalbasi, find shorter radiation for sarcoma is effective

CANCER DIGEST – Feb. 15, 2020 – Significantly shorter radiation treatments for cancer of soft tissues like muscle, nerves, fat or connective tissues, is safe and likely just as effective as conventional 5 week regimens, a new study shows.

Led by researchers at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 52 adults diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma of the limbs or trunk, where such tumors most commonly occur, participated in the study. The tumors had not spread to other parts of the body. The treatment consisted of a condensed form of radiation for 5 days, followed by surgery. The researchers then followed the patients for an average of two-and-half years.

First trial shows direct editing with CRISPR to fight cancer is feasible

CANCER DIGEST – Feb. 8, 2020 – A new study in three patients with advanced cancer has shown that directly editing T cells to fight cancer can be done safely.

Many advances in immunotherapy approaches have been achieved                                   Credit Mayo Clinic