Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise (MEMPHIS, Tenn. March 4, 2015) The St. Jude Childrens Research HospitalWashington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project found that melanoma in some adolescent and adult patients involves many of the same genetic alterations and would likely respond to the same therapy. The research appears in the March issue of the Journal of Investigational Dermatology. The similarities involved adolescents with conventional melanoma tumors and included the first genetic evidence that sun damage contributes to melanoma in children and adolescents as well as adults. The findings stem from the most comprehensive analysis yet of the genetic alterations responsible for pediatric melanoma, which is the most common skin cancer in children and adolescents. This study shows that unlike many cancers, conventional melanoma is essentially the same disease in children and adults. That means we need to make it easier for adolescents to access promising therapeutic agents being tried in adults, said co-corresponding author Alberto Pappo, M.D., a member of the St. Jude Department of Oncology. These results also underscore the importance of starting sun protection early and making it a habit for life. Researchers also identified distinct genetic alterations associated with other pediatric melanoma subtypes, including … Continue reading →

WALKER, MI -- Bolt, a two-year-old terrier mix, behaves just like any other dog at Kelley's Animal Clinic. When called or tempted with a treat, he rears his head, ears perked in interest. Unlike other dogs, however, Bolt needs a bit of mechanical help to get around. Equipped with a set of wheels mounted to his hind quarters, the small white and brown dog continues to thrive even after suffering an accident that left him without control of his lower half. Jan Denny, an administrator at the Walker-based clinic, said after finding Bolt at a nearby shelter, she knew she wanted to get him any help she could. "He stole my heart," Denny said. After picking up Bolt from Pound Buddies Animal Shelter in Muskegon, the terrier mix was examined by veterinarian James Kelley. The only information anyone had on Bolt was that it appeared he was hit by a car and someone had turned him into the Muskegon shelter a few days later. During Kelley's examination, he discovered Bolt's spinal cord wasn't completely severed, as was previously thought. If treated using stem cells, Kelley believes Bolt could see restored use of his hind quarters. "Maybe we can regenerate some … Continue reading →

London, UK (PRWEB) March 05, 2015 The emergence of nanotechnology has greatly impacted the clinical therapeutics landscape over the past decade. The pharmaceutical world has witnessed advancements in biocompatible nanoscale carriers for drug delivery in the form of liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles that are capable of delivering manifold drugs with more safety and efficiency. In the area of cancer therapeutics, the nanoparticles could perhaps rely greatly upon the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect induced by leaky tumour vasculatures for a better accumulation of drugs at the tumour sites. Due to these benefits, the therapeutic nanoparticles in this respect have grown into a very promising field with the potential to successfully take the place of traditional chemotherapy. The development of nanoparticle drug delivery systems for the treatment of cancer is set to become a lucrative field in the years to come. The protein polymers from natural sources emerge as up-and-coming materials for building the nanocarrier systems. The commercial success of albumin-based nanoparticles has also generated great interest in other proteins. With the rational design of protein nanoparticles on the grounds of their behaviours in the tumour microenvironment and based on the cell biology of cancer, enhanced cancer treatment efficacy and … Continue reading →