Latest news with #Olaparib
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Groundbreaking new treatment for aggressive breast cancer has 100% survival rate
Hope is on the horizon for patients with aggressive, inherited breast cancers. A recent clinical trial, led by researchers at Cambridge University, explored the effects of combining chemotherapy with the targeted cancer drug olaparib before surgery. Every patient who received this protocol survived the critical three-year post-treatment period. Advertisement 3 BRCA cancers are notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat. Vasyl – The research, published in Nature Communications, suggests this preemptive, two-part approach could be the most effective plan of treatment for early-stage breast cancer linked to BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Breast cancer or BRCA genes are present in every cell of the human body. When functioning, BRCA1 and BRCA2 repair DNA and prevent cancerous changes. However, when a mutation compromises these genes, cancer risk increases. Inheriting this damaged DNA can increase the risk for breast and ovarian cancer in women and breast and prostate cancer in men. Advertisement BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are more common in young women, and these mutations increase cancer risk by as much as 84%. Six percent of all breast cancer patients carry BRCA gene mutations, but in patients under 45, roughly 12% carry the gene. BRCA cancers are notoriously aggressive and difficult to treat. In 2013, Angelina Jolie, who carries the faulty BRCA1 gene, made headlines when she underwent a preventative double mastectomy. As a result of the procedure, Jolie, who lost her own mother to breast cancer, saw her chances of developing breast cancer drop from 87 percent to less than 5 percent. Advertisement The current protocol for treating BRCA cancers includes shrinking the tumour using chemotherapy and immunotherapy, before removing it through surgery. 3 Angelina Jolie, who carries the faulty BRCA1 gene, underwent a preventative double mastectomy. Getty Images The first three years after surgery — when there is the greatest risk of relapse or death — are critical. The trial recruited patients from across the UK and aimed to test the efficacy of combining chemotherapy with olaparib before surgery and carefully timing when these treatments were administered. Advertisement 'It is rare to have a 100% survival rate in a study like this and for these aggressive types of cancer.' Professor Jean Abraham The study revealed that allowing a 48-hour 'gap' between chemotherapy and olaparib treatments led to more positive outcomes. Researchers believe this interval allows the patient's bone marrow to recover from chemo while leaving tumor cells receptive to olaparib. Olaparib, sold under the brand name Lynparza, is typically taken for 12 months post-surgery. However, trial patients took the tablets pre-surgery for a period of 12 weeks. The survival rate among the control group who received chemotherapy alone was 88%. Of these 45 patients, nine relapsed and six died within three years of surgery. In contrast, there was a 100% survival rate among the 39 patients who received chemotherapy followed by olaparib. Of this cohort, only one patient relapsed in the three years following surgery. 'It is rare to have a 100% survival rate in a study like this and for these aggressive types of cancer,' said trial lead Professor Jean Abraham. 3 Olaparib, sold under the brand name Lynparza, is typically taken for 12 months post-surgery. However, trial patients took the tablets pre-surgery for a period of 12 weeks. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Advertisement 'We're incredibly excited about the potential of this new approach, as it's crucial that we find a way to treat and hopefully cure patients who are diagnosed with BRCA1 and BRCA2-related cancers.' Compared to current care protocols, the two-pronged approach of chemo and olaparib pre-surgery offers a more cost-effective and less toxic treatment for patients. Abrahams and his team are planning the next research phase, which will aim to replicate their results in a larger study. Advertisement They are hopeful their findings can and will be applied to treat other cancers caused by mutated BRCA genes, including some ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among US women after skin cancer. About 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Though breast cancer starts in a localized part of the breast tissue, it can spread to other areas of the body, significantly decreasing rates of survival. Survival rates among breast cancer patients whose cancer is detected before it spreads are high, between 86% and 89%. Yet if the cancer is detected after the cancer cells have migrated, that number drops to 31%.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Fact check: Can baking soda cure cancer? This is what we know
Every now and then, a home remedy makes headlines with big promises. One such claim that's been circulating for years is that baking soda can cure cancer. It's an idea that has sparked debates, hope, and confusion. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But how much of it holds scientific weight? What has actually been studied, and what remains misunderstood? Here are all the facts that we need to know to separate hope from hype and understand what baking soda can and cannot do when it comes to cancer. The idea behind baking soda and cancer: Where did it begin? The theory isn't just pulled from thin air. Solid tumours are known to create an acidic environment around themselves, something scientists call the . This acidity plays a role in helping tumours grow, invade nearby tissues, and resist therapies. Since baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a natural base, the idea is that it could neutralise the acid, slow down tumour growth, or even stop it. This idea first gained traction through lab experiments and animal , where sodium bicarbonate appeared to reduce the acidic environment around cancer cells. In some cases, it made those cells more vulnerable to treatments like chemotherapy. But here's where the caution bell rings loud—lab success doesn't automatically translate into real-world cures. What current research really says: Promising, but not a standalone solution Some recent , especially in ovarian cancer models, have shown that sodium bicarbonate can reduce acidity, improve drug absorption, and even encourage immune responses that help fight cancer. For example: When combined with a drug called Olaparib, sodium bicarbonate helped suppress certain cancer cell activities, including growth and spread. It also seemed to transform immune cells into types that are more aggressive against tumours. Researchers observed less oxidative stress (a process that helps cancer cells survive) in treated samples. But here's the important catch: these results were either in lab dishes (in vitro) or animal models (in vivo). There is no large-scale clinical trial yet that proves baking soda alone can treat or cure cancer in humans. so far suggest this local use of sodium bicarbonate might help, not by curing the cancer, but by making it more vulnerable to existing treatments. It shows that the real power lies in combination, not in isolation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Still, experts agree: this is not a green light for DIY use or home treatments with baking soda. The method, dosage, and delivery are crucial, and none of these are safe to try outside a controlled medical setting. Breast cancer symptoms, diagnosis and ways to treat it Why baking soda alone is not the answer Despite the hopeful headlines and occasional social media buzz, baking soda is not a magic bullet. Here's why:
Scoop
07-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
New Test Could Help More Women Beat ‘Silent Killer'
Press Release – University of Auckland University of Auckland researchers are working to develop a new test that could help women access a revolutionary treatment for ovarian cancer. The Director of Research at the University's Centre for Cancer Research, Professor Andrew Shelling, says the new test is urgently needed, because many women are missing out on a potentially life-saving treatment for ovarian cancer at present. A new type of drug – PARP inhibitors – work 'extremely well' for some women with ovarian cancer, says Shelling, ahead of World Ovarian Cancer Day on 8 May. Some PARP inhibitors, such as Olaparib, are available through the public health system. However, current genetic tests to gauge whether a patient would benefit from the drug cost thousands of dollars, so the tests remain available only for the few who can afford them privately. 'Olaparib it's not being well directed to patients in New Zealand. 'A lot of women are getting the drug, who will have no benefit, and others are not getting it who could benefit. 'Up until now, it has been if you could afford genetic tests, you could get the drug,' Shelling says. The research team hopes to develop a more affordable test that is widely available through the public health system. The team is led by University of Auckland immunologist Dr Alicia Disbury, mentored by Shelling and biological sciences Professor Rod Dunbar, and includes Auckland Hospital clinical director for cancer and blood research Dr Michelle Wilson. 'It's so exciting to be working on a test that could help women with ovarian cancer access this treatment more easily, because in the past, about 60 to 70 percent of women with ovarian cancer died within five years,' says Shelling, who has been studying ovarian cancer for more than 30 years. 'We're seeing really good outcomes with the new treatment in a small sub-set of women, without the toxicity associated with chemotherapy.' About one in 70 women develop ovarian cancer, according to international research. 'Ovarian cancer has been referred to as a silent killer. 'Often women don't know they've got it until it has spread through their body. 'A large tumour can grow in the ovaries without any signs or symptoms, so ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late,' Shelling says. The Precision Medicine Initiative granted $100,000 earlier this year for the team to develop a new multi-colour immunohistochemistry panel to identify women with ovarian cancer who would benefit from PARP inhibitor treatment. The researchers are now applying for overseas funding for the project. The existing genetic test might not work as well for Māori and Pacific women, so the new test will be developed to ensure equity of care in New Zealand, Shelling says.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
New Test Could Help More Women Beat ‘Silent Killer'
Press Release – University of Auckland The Director of Research at the Universitys Centre for Cancer Research, Professor Andrew Shelling, says the new test is urgently needed, because many women are missing out on a potentially life-saving treatment for ovarian cancer at present. University of Auckland researchers are working to develop a new test that could help women access a revolutionary treatment for ovarian cancer. The Director of Research at the University's Centre for Cancer Research, Professor Andrew Shelling, says the new test is urgently needed, because many women are missing out on a potentially life-saving treatment for ovarian cancer at present. A new type of drug – PARP inhibitors – work 'extremely well' for some women with ovarian cancer, says Shelling, ahead of World Ovarian Cancer Day on 8 May. Some PARP inhibitors, such as Olaparib, are available through the public health system. However, current genetic tests to gauge whether a patient would benefit from the drug cost thousands of dollars, so the tests remain available only for the few who can afford them privately. 'Olaparib it's not being well directed to patients in New Zealand. 'A lot of women are getting the drug, who will have no benefit, and others are not getting it who could benefit. 'Up until now, it has been if you could afford genetic tests, you could get the drug,' Shelling says. The research team hopes to develop a more affordable test that is widely available through the public health system. The team is led by University of Auckland immunologist Dr Alicia Disbury, mentored by Shelling and biological sciences Professor Rod Dunbar, and includes Auckland Hospital clinical director for cancer and blood research Dr Michelle Wilson. 'It's so exciting to be working on a test that could help women with ovarian cancer access this treatment more easily, because in the past, about 60 to 70 percent of women with ovarian cancer died within five years,' says Shelling, who has been studying ovarian cancer for more than 30 years. 'We're seeing really good outcomes with the new treatment in a small sub-set of women, without the toxicity associated with chemotherapy.' About one in 70 women develop ovarian cancer, according to international research. 'Ovarian cancer has been referred to as a silent killer. 'Often women don't know they've got it until it has spread through their body. 'A large tumour can grow in the ovaries without any signs or symptoms, so ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late,' Shelling says. The Precision Medicine Initiative granted $100,000 earlier this year for the team to develop a new multi-colour immunohistochemistry panel to identify women with ovarian cancer who would benefit from PARP inhibitor treatment. The researchers are now applying for overseas funding for the project. The existing genetic test might not work as well for Māori and Pacific women, so the new test will be developed to ensure equity of care in New Zealand, Shelling says.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
New Test Could Help More Women Beat ‘Silent Killer'
University of Auckland researchers are working to develop a new test that could help women access a revolutionary treatment for ovarian cancer. The Director of Research at the University's Centre for Cancer Research, Professor Andrew Shelling, says the new test is urgently needed, because many women are missing out on a potentially life-saving treatment for ovarian cancer at present. A new type of drug – PARP inhibitors - work 'extremely well' for some women with ovarian cancer, says Shelling, ahead of World Ovarian Cancer Day on 8 May. Some PARP inhibitors, such as Olaparib, are available through the public health system. However, current genetic tests to gauge whether a patient would benefit from the drug cost thousands of dollars, so the tests remain available only for the few who can afford them privately. 'Olaparib it's not being well directed to patients in New Zealand. 'A lot of women are getting the drug, who will have no benefit, and others are not getting it who could benefit. 'Up until now, it has been if you could afford genetic tests, you could get the drug,' Shelling says. The research team hopes to develop a more affordable test that is widely available through the public health system. The team is led by University of Auckland immunologist Dr Alicia Disbury, mentored by Shelling and biological sciences Professor Rod Dunbar, and includes Auckland Hospital clinical director for cancer and blood research Dr Michelle Wilson. 'It's so exciting to be working on a test that could help women with ovarian cancer access this treatment more easily, because in the past, about 60 to 70 percent of women with ovarian cancer died within five years,' says Shelling, who has been studying ovarian cancer for more than 30 years. 'We're seeing really good outcomes with the new treatment in a small sub-set of women, without the toxicity associated with chemotherapy.' About one in 70 women develop ovarian cancer, according to international research. 'Ovarian cancer has been referred to as a silent killer. 'Often women don't know they've got it until it has spread through their body. 'A large tumour can grow in the ovaries without any signs or symptoms, so ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late,' Shelling says. The Precision Medicine Initiative granted $100,000 earlier this year for the team to develop a new multi-colour immunohistochemistry panel to identify women with ovarian cancer who would benefit from PARP inhibitor treatment. The researchers are now applying for overseas funding for the project. The existing genetic test might not work as well for Māori and Pacific women, so the new test will be developed to ensure equity of care in New Zealand, Shelling says.
