PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 11-Sep-2014 Contact: Robin Dutcher 603-653-9056 The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Dartmouth researchers have found that the genetic mutation BRAFV600E, frequently found in metastatic melanoma, not only secretes a protein that promotes the growth of melanoma tumor cells, but can also modify the network of normal cells around the tumor to support the disease's progression. Targeting this mutation with Vemurafenib reduces this interaction, and suggests possible new treatment options for melanoma therapy. They report on their findings in "BRAFV600E melanoma cells secrete factors that activate stromal fibroblasts and enhance tumourigenicity," which was recently published in British Journal of Cancer. Authors of the study are Dr. Chery A. Whipple, research associate at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and Dr. Constance Brinckerhoff, professor of Medicine and of Biochemistry at Geisel and member of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center. "This work supports the importance of the tumor cells "talking" with the normal cells present in the tumor microenvironment," said Whipple, first author on the study. "Targeting the tumor cells with specific therapy to reduce the secreted proteins can reduce the aggressive behavior of the tumor and inhibit disease progression." Melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, … Continue reading →

013 Sharing Science Explaining a Nanomedicine Breakthrough By: Sophia Wight … Continue reading →

IBM Research's Jim Hedrick has a great job. His work on polymers -- those repeating chains of macromolecules that make up most things in our world, like the computer or phone you're reading this on -- has led to the creation of substances with Marvel Comics-worthy descriptors. There's the self-healing, Wolverine-like substance that arose from a recycled water bottle and something called "ninja particles" that'll advance the reality of nanomedicine. Both discoveries will inevitably make their way into consumer products in the near future, but it's his team's progress on nanomedicine that Hedrick discussed during my visit to IBM Research's sprawling Almaden lab in San Jose, California. The inspiration for IBM's foray into nanomedicine is twofold: our growing resistance to antibiotics and the incidence of medical-implant rejection by the human body. With this in mind, Hedrick and his team, leveraging IBM's background in semiconductor research, developed synthetic polymers that mimic the immune system. Using a simple charge, these resultant polymers are capable of hunting down and clinging to specific microbes throughout the body. And, once attached, cause those microbes to rupture as if they'd been hit by an explosive shuriken (or ninja star) -- hence, the name. Of course, anyone … Continue reading →