Public release date: 16-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Hilary Graham hngraham@mdanderson.org 713-794-4383 University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center HOUSTON A new study published online in Nature Medicine, led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, describes the discovery of a novel drug combination aimed at a subset of melanoma patients who currently have no effective therapeutic options. Melanoma patients have different responses to therapy, depending on what genes are mutated in their tumors. About half of melanomas have a mutation in the BRAF gene; while a quarter have a mutation in the NRAS gene. New BRAF inhibitor drugs are effective against BRAF-mutant melanoma, but no comparable therapies are currently available against NRAS-mutant melanoma. For the first time, this study provides new hope for patients with NRAS-mutant melanoma that an effective targeted treatment might be developed in the coming years. By analyzing a sophisticated, genetically engineered mouse model of NRAS-mutant melanoma with a novel systems biology approach, scientists discovered that combining two different classes of drugs shrinks these tumors. The researchers, led by Lynda Chin, M.D., chair of the Department of Genomic Medicine and scientific director of the Institute for Applied Cancer … Continue reading →

Public release date: 17-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Stephanie Jansky janskys@ccf.org 216-636-5869 Cleveland Clinic Saturday, September 15, 2012, Cleveland: Cleveland Clinic researchers have discovered that vitamin E may prevent cancer in patients with an under-recognized genetic disorder. Several genetic mutations are known to be present in Cowden Syndrome (CS) a disease that predisposes individuals to several types of cancers, including breast and thyroid cancers. One type of mutation in the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) genes may be responsible for cancer development, according to research by Charis Eng, M.D., Ph.D., Hardis Chair and Director of the Genomic Medicine Institute and Director of its Center for Personalized Genetic Healthcare at Lerner Research Institute, published today in Clinical Cancer Research. Dr. Eng discovered that mutations in SDH genes, responsible for energy production, result in an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These changes damage the cells and make them resistant to apoptosis our bodies' natural method of weeding out cancerous cells. However, when vitamin E was applied to the mutant cells, ROS accumulation decreased, as well as the accompanying cellular damage. "These findings support the notion that vitamin E may be useful as an anti-cancer therapeutic adjunct or preventive agent, especially … Continue reading →

By Jacqueline Savard. First published in The Conversation. 17 September 2012 Jacqueline Savard explores the growing prevalence of genetic testing and what impact they have on over-diagnosis. Genetic testing and screening is increasingly becoming a presence in our lives. Daily news reports discuss new associations between genes and common conditions. And these associations are used to calculate risks for individuals who have the genes for the conditions, but don't display any symptoms. In essence, these people become the "worried well", a group of people not yet ill, but at risk of developing diseases. Genetic tests and over-diagnosis Once restricted to the domain of the clinic, genetic testing is now available to most people, either through their doctor or via the internet. There are a variety of tests in the market, some of which can provide risk estimates associated with complex common diseases such as diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. A major concern with such tests is that they're the beginning of a path toward over-diagnosis, where the potential to develop a disease or being at risk for the disease is strong enough to constitute a label of sickness. Over-diagnosing includes, but is not limited to, widening disease definitions, early … Continue reading →

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pathway Genomics Corporation, a San Diego-based clinical laboratory that offers its genetic tests internationally, has partnered with innovative La Jolla-based medical practiceMD Revolution. Founded byDr. Samir DamaniandDr. Sunil Bhoyrul, MD Revolution is the first clinical practice to systematically incorporate genomic and mobile health technologies into chronic disease management and prevention. Dr. Damani,a board-certified cardiologistwho currently serves as the practices primary physician, has fully integrated Pathway Genomics premier nutrigenetic test,Pathway Fit, into his practice, and has experienced exceptionally positive results in patient outcomes. We have enrolled over 50 patients into one of our programs. Among patients that have completed the program, we found dramatic clinical and statistically significant improvements in at least one of four key health parameters including weight loss, visceral fat reduction, increases in metabolism and allowable daily caloric intake, said Dr. Damani. Other parameters have included improved blood pressure control and marked improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness as measured by sub-maximal VO2 (oxygen consumption) testing. Through its patent pending processes, MD Revolution is defining how genomic and mobile health technologies can be leveraged for superior clinical outcomes for adults of any age who have a range of health goals, from simply optimizing their health to treating … Continue reading →

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- America Stem Cell, Inc. (ASC) today announced that it has been awarded an Advanced Technology Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) grant from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health. This grant will be conducted in collaboration with scientists at the Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) in Winston-Salem, NC, and will explore the combination of two technologies: ASC-101 developed by America Stem Cell and amniotic fluid-derived stem cells discovered and pioneered by Dr. Shay Soker and colleagues at WFIRM. We will examine the effect of ASC-101-treated amniotic fluid-derived stem cells in an experimental model of compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome results from a variety of injuries such as fractures, contusions, burns, trauma, post-ischemic swelling and blast injuries such as gunshot wounds. If not addressed quickly, it can lead to considerable loss of muscle tissue. Musculoskeletal disorders are the primary cause of disability in the United States with associated costs of more than $800 billion annually. In addition to civilian injuries, more than 42,000 soldiers have been injured since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: the majority of these injuries were musculoskeletal in nature. America Stem Cell has demonstrated … Continue reading →

The beneficial effects attributed to antioxidants such as polyphenols could be reversed when they are used in nano-forms, according to new research. The UK-based researchers have suggest the antioxidant effects of green tea polyphenols could be reversed when the compounds are used in nano-formulations after research published in Nanomedicine compared the effects of different polyphenol forms on white blood cells. Led by Professor Diana Anderson from the University of Bradford, UK, the researchers revealed that the known antioxidant properties of polyphenols such as epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG) and theaflavins can be reversed when they are used in their nanoparticle form. The findings showed that when used in bulk form, these polyphenols exhibited their anticipated antioxidant responses, but the nanoform at higher concentrations had the reverse effect and exhibited statistically significant pro-oxidant effects, which can cause increased DNA damage. Both the compounds in the bulk form produced statistically significant concentration-dependent reductions in DNA damage, revealed the authors. In contrast, when used in the nano-particle form both theaflavin and EGCG, although initially causing a reduction, produced a concentration-dependent statistically significant increase in DNA damage. "We didn't expect these changes," explained Anderson. "When my PhD student came to me with the results, she assumed she'd … Continue reading →