Combining venetoclax (Veneclexta) + ibrutinib (Imbruvica) may be an effective initial treatment for previously untreated patients with CLL (a.k.a Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukemia), ​results of a Phase II (Phase 2) study by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, published on May 29, 2019, suggest.

Both of these drugs are already FDA approved. The study was conducted with 80 previously untreated patients.

• Median age was 65 years with 30 percent over age 70.
• Of these patients, 92% had high-risk genetic anomalies.
• 88% of patients had complete remission with normal or incomplete blood count recovery after 12 cycles of treatment.
• 61% of patients had complete remission with undetectable minimal residual disease.
• 60% of patients developed low white blood cell counts, similar to what has been reported in other venetoclax combination trials.

​
According to the researchers, the combination of these two drugs gave substantially better results than each of these two drugs alone. 

The researchers also added that more robust therapies for CLL patients are needed, due to the fact that:

1. majority of patients are older than 65, and
2. that the existing therapies are not always effective.

One of the lead researchers, Dr. Jain, said the following: “This group of patients often has unacceptable side effects and has a lower rate of complete remission and undetectable minimal residual disease. Our data showed that non-chemotherapy, combination therapy with ibrutinib and venetoclax demonstrated no new toxic effects compared to what has been previously reported for the individual agents.”

No new safety concerns were observed with the combination therapy.

The current median follow-up of the trial is 14.8 months. However, according to the researchers a longer follow-up is needed to adequately assess the long-term safety of this combination.

Study findings were published in New England Journal of Medicine on May 29, 2019.

Lead researchers of the study included:

• Nitin Jain, M.D., Associate Professor of Leukemia 
• William Wierda, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Leukemia
• Varsha Gandhi, Ph.D., Department Chair ad interim of Experimental Therapeutics

References: 

1. ​Study reports ibrutinib and venetoclax combo effective as front-line therapy for select chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. 
2. Ibrutinib and Venetoclax for First-Line Treatment of CLL, Nitin Jain, M.D., Michael Keating, M.D., Philip Thompson, M.D., et al., N Engl J Med 2019; 380:2095-2103.
   

#ChronicLymphocyticLeukemia #CLL #ChronicLymphoblasticLeukemia #clinicaltrials #mdanderson #mdandersoncancercenter #leukemia #cancertreatment #venetoclax #Veneclexta #ibrutinib #Imbruvica

The study has been published today, May 2, 2019 in the scientific journal Genes & Development.

Corresponding author of this study is Dr. Diane Simeone: diane.simeone@nyulangone.org

#breakingnews #breakthrough #science #sciencenews #cancerresearch #pancreaticcancer #cancer #cancerresearch #genes #newyorkuni #nyulangone #umich #umichigan #newyork #michigan #langone #hope #pancreaticcancerawareness

Young women who regularly drink alcohol before their first pregnancy may be increasing their risk for breast cancer study published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute reports. The study says that the "breast tissue is particularly susceptible to carcinogens between menarche and first full-term pregnancy". 

This report is the conclusion of a 20-year study, summerizing data from 91,005 parous women. 

The report concludes that "Alcohol consumption before first pregnancy was consistently associated with increased risks of proliferative benign breast disease (BBD) and breast cancer."

References: 

1. J Natl Cancer Inst;2013;105:1571–1578
2. The New York Times, 9/6/2013. 

#breastcancer #driking #womendrinking #breastcancerrisk #cancerrisk #drinkingandcancerrisk #drinkingandbreastcancerrisk #alcohol #effectsofalcohol #health #cancer #breastcancerawareness #cancerawreness #breastcancerawarenessmonth #BCAM #cancerprevention #cancereducation #canceredinstitute 

Read the scientific article entitled Molecular remission of infant B-ALL after infusion of universal TALEN gene-edited CAR T cells here.

To learn more about Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), read our article here.   

​#leukemia #ALL #AcuteLymphoblasticLeukemia #CAR #CARTCells #immunesystem #geneengineering #TALEN #Crispr #geneediting #universalTcells #universalimmunecells #childhoodleukemia #cchildhoodcancer #universitycollegelondon #cancerresearch #cancertreatment #cancer #cancereducation #patientenducation #publiceducation #canceredintitute 

Researchers from Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany, treated human samples of breast cancer cells with Capsaicin to dissect its ability to destroy them. They found that Capsaicin induces apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells. When capsaicin reaches a cancer cell, it attaches to the cell surface and switches on a cell receptor, a protein expressed/produced on the cell surface, called TRPV1. The receptor TRPV1 is a calcium/sodium channel that controls them go in and out of the cancer cell. When TRPV1 is switched on by capsaicin, the cancer cell is sent into overdrive and starts to self-destruct by induced apoptosis (programmed cell death). The researchers have found a significant reduction in cell proliferation after capsaicin stimulation was observed.This study was carried out by scientists from:

• Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany
• Hospital Herz-Jesu-Krankenhaus Dernbach, Germany
• Centre of Genomics in Cologne, Germany

Read more here in the news, and the original scientific article, Expression and functionality of TRPV1 in breast cancer cells, here.

University College London Hospitals (UCLH) researchers used a light-sensitive drug, which is injected into the bloodstream. A laser then activates the drug, which eradicates tumor tissue in the prostate. This new treatment is called vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy, or VTP. 

Published in The Lancet Oncology, the study showed that 49 percent of patients given VTP went into ‘complete remission’ compared with 13.5 percent of patients in the control group.

The scientific title of the study is called 'Padeliporfin vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy versus active surveillance in men with low-risk prostate cancer (CLIN1001 PCM301): an open-label, phase 3, randomised controlled trial'

Read more on CNBC's website:
www.cnbc.com/2016/12/20/a-new-form-of-therapy-involving-lasers-could-transform-the-way-prostate-cancer-is-treated.html

Read the scientific article on The Lancet Oncology's website:
www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(16)30661-1/fulltext

​FDA approves today Rubraca (rucaparib) to treat women with advanced ovarian cancer that has BRCA gene mutation. 

BRCA genes are involved with repairing damaged DNA. Thus, under normal conditions, they work to prevent tumor development. However, mutations (abnormalities) of these genes may lead to certain cancers, which include breast and ovarian cancers. Rubraca is a poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor that blocks an enzyme (a protein involved in catalytic reactions in our body), which is involved in repairing damaged DNA. By blocking this enzyme through Rubraca, DNA inside the cancerous cells with damaged/mutated/abnormal BRCA genes may be less likely to be repaired by the enzyme, which leads to cell death and potentially a slow-down or inhibition of tumor growth.

Common side effects of Rubraca include nausea, fatigue, vomiting, low levels of red blood cells (anemia), abdominal pain, unusual taste sensation (dysgeusia), constipation, decreased appetite, diarrhea, low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia) and trouble breathing (dyspnea).  Rubraca is associated with serious risks, such as bone marrow problems (myelodysplastic syndrome), a type of cancer of the blood called acute myeloid leukemia and fetal harm.

Rubraca is marketed by Clovis Oncology, Inc. based in Boulder, Colorado. The FoundationFocus CDxBRCA companion diagnostic is marketed by Foundation Medicine, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

For more information visit the FDA's website: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm533873.htm

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Skin-cancer-test-offered-at-Rhode-Island-beaches-5602911.php

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Beachgoers can get a free skin cancer screening at Rhode Island beaches in July and August.

The Rhode Island Department of Health, the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Rhode Island Hospital and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, will launch the Sun Smarts Sunscreen Campaign Monday at Scarborough Beach in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

Screenings will be offered from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Fridays: July 11 at Easton's Beach in Newport; July 18 at Roger Wheeler State Beach in Narragansett; Aug. 15 at East Matunuck State Beach in South Kingstown; and Aug. 22 at Sachuest Town Beach in Middletown; and from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 27 at Scarborough State Beach in Narragansett.

Dermatologists and dermatology residents affiliated with Lifespan Hospital will perform the screenings.

CVS announced today to stop selling cigarets. Read the news from several sources here:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/05/271906167/cvs-to-stop-selling-tobacco-products
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/05/health/cvs-cigarettes/http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/cvs-caremark-plans-stop-selling-tobacco-products-22371836

Is a stop of selling tobacco cigarets enough for lung cancer prevention? Wouldn't be education more effective, and something we'd need more? 

And here is an interesting statement: "CVS Caremark's stock price was down 55 cents, or a little less than 1 percent, to $65.56 in midday trading." Read more here:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/05/271997564/by-dropping-cigarettes-cvs-gives-its-reputation-a-boost

What are YOUR thoughts?  Comment below.

World Cancer Day was created to raise awareness worldwide about cancer, and encouraging governments to make cancer research, prevention, and treatment a priority. And, of course, as Cancer Research Simplified, we 100% support this mission. 

You can be a part of this mission too. Here is how you and your loved ones can get involved: 

- Get involved with Cancer Research Simplified and donate for cancer education to prevent and cure cancer,
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