Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Cancer Research: Gold intensifies cancer-killing radiation ♦ Recruiting the entire immune system to attack cancer ♦ New biomarker for uterine cancer discovered

New biomarker for uterine cancer discovered A new biomarker has been discovered that makes it possible to identify women with uterine cancer who have a high risk of recurrence. Endometrial cancer of the uterus is the most common form of gynecologic cancer in Europe and North America. The treatment primarily consists of removing the uterus and in some cases offering chemotherapy if the risk of recurrence is deemed high.
Researchers have demonstrated what could become a more precise method for targeting cancer cells for radiation. The method would use cancer-seeking peptides to ferry nanoparticles of gold to the site. The gold then helps focus radiation on the cancer cells.
A new method has been developed to identify a previously unknown structure in a protein called MDMX. MDMX is a crucial regulatory protein that controls p53 -- one of the most commonly mutated genes in cancer.
Recruiting the entire immune system to attack cancer Stimulating both major branches of the immune system halts tumor growth more effectively, new research shows. Orchestrating a successful immune attack against tumors has proven difficult so far, but the new study suggests that such therapies could be improved by simultaneously activating both arms of the immune system. Until now, most researchers have focused on one of two strategies: attacking tumors with antibodies, which activate the innate immune system, or stimulating T cells, which form the backbone of the adaptive immune system.

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