Latest news with #cancerResearch
The Guardian
an hour ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Immunotherapy trial helps cancer patients with tumours live 40% longer
Cancer patients treated with a pioneering immunotherapy that genetically modifies their own cells to wipe out tumours live 40% longer, according to 'exciting' and 'groundbreaking' results from a world-first clinical trial. Car T-cell therapy is a new form of immunotherapy where a patient's own T-cells – a type of white blood cell – are tweaked in a lab to target and kill cancer cells. The designer cells are then infused back into their bloodstream to fight the disease. The therapy has already proved successful in treating blood cancers. Now results from the world's first randomised controlled trial of Car T-cell therapy in solid tumours suggest it could be transformative in the fight against these cancers too. Solid tumours represent about 90% of all cancers, including breast, lung and pancreatic cancer. In the trial hailed as a 'milestone' by experts, patients with advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer treated with Car T-cell therapy lived on average approximately 40% longer than patients who received standard care. The results were published in The Lancet and presented at the world's largest cancer conference, the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco), in Chicago. Dr Carl June, a leading expert on Car T-cell therapy at the University of Pennsylvania, who was not involved with the trial, said: 'This is an exciting study showing the first positive results from a randomised trial testing Car T-cells for a solid cancer. 'The study shows that satri-cel Car T-cells provide significant benefits to advanced gastric cancer patients who have failed at least two prior lines of therapy. This represents a groundbreaking milestone for the field of Car-T therapies against solid tumours.' In the trial, more than 100 patients in China with advanced gastric or GEJ cancer were randomised to receive either Car T-cell therapy or one of the standard-of-care medications. Patients who received Car T-cell therapy lived an average of 7.9 months after randomisation, compared with 5.5 months through standard care. Patients receiving the designer immunotherapy also experienced 3.3 months without the cancer advancing compared with 1.8 months in the standard care group. The researchers, from Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute in Beijing, said Car T-cell therapy 'showed a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival'. The results suggest Car T-cell 'could represent a paradigm shift' in care, addressing a crucial unmet need for some patients, they added. Dr Jason Luke, an Asco expert and associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, said the results were 'exciting'. He added: 'This is a very important 'plant the flag' publication that should rally the cancer research community to push forward toward improving the lives of patients [with] solid tumours.' A second study on Car T-cell, led by the University of Pennsylvania and due to be presented at Asco on Sunday, suggests the approach can also be used to treat brain tumours. Results from that trial are expected to show Car T-cell can shrink tumours in glioblastoma, an aggressive and fast-growing brain cancer, and help patients live much longer. Car – chimeric antigen receptor – T-cell therapy works by genetically engineering a patient's T-cells to recognise and destroy cancer cells. T-cells are a type of white blood cell that can recognise and destroy foreign cells, including cancer cells, but because cancer is able to evade immune detection, they often miss their mark. Car T-cells are engineered to make them better at detecting cancer cells. Oncologists in Chicago said they were increasingly optimistic that Car T-cell therapy could revolutionise treatment of solid tumours, after dramatic success with blood cancers. 'For solid cancers, there is clearly now not only an interest but evidence that this treatment can benefit patients, making this an important new development that should be shared,' said Dr John Haanen, of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, who will give a presentation on Car T-cell therapy at the Asco meeting. 'I think this [is] a new generation of treatment that wasn't there for medical oncologists before.' Dr Catherine Elliott, the director of research and partnerships at Cancer Research UK, said it was 'encouraging' to see early signs that Car T-cell therapy could help patients with solid tumours. The therapy will need to be trialled in larger numbers of patients before being rolled out widely, Elliott said, but 'could mark an important step forward for patients with limited treatment options'.
CNN
20 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
‘We agree to disagree': Pfizer CEO on working with HHS despite vaccine views
Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla speaks to CNN's Meg Tirrell about pushing past vaccine skepticism to work with the Trump administration, concerns about proposed budget cuts to the National Institutes of Health, and breakthroughs in cancer research.
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Man thought he was 'tired from work' before brain tumour diagnosis
A man who initially attributed his "soul-destroying" fatigue and memory loss to being overworked is now trying to raise awareness of brain tumour symptoms. In 2019, Liam Harvey, from Bristol, was diagnosed with cystic craniopharyngioma - a benign brain tumour - following sudden blackouts and extreme exhaustion. The 26-year-old underwent three brain surgeries, eight weeks of radiotherapy treatment and the insertion of a permanent brain drain to combat swelling. Now in recovery, Mr Harvey walked 124 miles (200km) in May to raise awareness of symptoms and gather vital funds for cancer charity Brain Tumour Research. The maintenance worker was used to 80-hour weeks, but one day something said he began blacking out without warning, falling asleep mid-conversation, forgetting entire days and "projectile vomiting"."I went to the doctor twice and was told it was poor diet and working long hours, so I didn't think too much of it," he said. Mr Harvey was initially diagnosed as "underworked and underfed", but after losing 80% of his eyesight, an emergency visit to the optician marked the first step in a life-altering journey. "I couldn't even stay awake through the exam," he recalled. "I woke up hearing the optician telling my mum that I needed to go to the hospital, urgently. "He said there was something behind my eye."A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan at Royal United Hospital in Bath revealed Mr Harvey's diagnosis. He then underwent eight hours of surgery to remove the tumour. 'A nightmare' Mr Harvey gained more than eight stone over eight weeks due to steroid medication, and his skin split under the pressure of rapid weight gain. "My skin tore from the stretch marks. The fatigue was soul-destroying," he said. "It was a nightmare that I just wanted to end. I had no idea what was going on, I was in shock." By the end of October 2019, Mr Harvey rang the bell to mark the end of recovery brought new challenges as his hip began deteriorating from the side effects of his received a hip replacement at Southmead Hospital in January 2021 and returned to work in August that Mr Harvey has not only reclaimed his independence but is determined to bring hope to others. Katrina Jones, head of community and digital fundraising at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Liam's journey is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for increased investment in brain tumour research. "His resilience and determination to raise awareness and funds inspire us all. "We are deeply grateful for his support and commitment to helping find a cure for this devastating disease."
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Being overweight as a child and young adult linked to bowel cancer risk
Being overweight as a child, teenager and young adult has been linked to a higher risk of bowel cancer in adulthood, researchers suggest. A higher birth weight was also associated with an increased chance of developing the disease, according to a study. Experts in the Netherlands reviewed 37 studies on body weight in early life and the risk of colorectal cancer – also known as bowel cancer – in adults. Cancer is a complex disease which develops over several decades, so better understanding of its early origins is critical for more effective prevention efforts and understanding the research gaps The research, which is published in the International Journal of Cancer, found an increase in BMI of 5kg/m2 heightened the risk of bowel cancer by 12% in people aged 18 to 25. In youngsters aged 10 to 19, an increased BMI was linked to a 5-18% risk of developing the disease, while in children aged two to nine, BMI was linked to a higher risk of colon cancer. Meanwhile, each 1kg increase in birth weight was linked to a 9% bowel cancer risk, the study found. Dr Dieuwertje Kok, associate professor of nutrition and cancer at Wageningen University & Research, said: 'Although the relationship between adult body size and colorectal cancer risk is well-documented, the potential influence of measures of body size during early life is less understood. 'The team was excited to review results from 37 publications that explored birth weight, as well as body mass index across different early life stages. 'This study bridges the existing knowledge gap and enhances our understanding of how early life factors may affect colorectal cancer risk in adults.' Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with almost 44,000 new diagnoses every year. The analysis is part of World Cancer Research Fund International's Global Cancer Update Programme. Dr Helen Croker, assistant director of research and policy at the World Cancer Research Fund, added: 'Cancer is a complex disease which develops over several decades, so better understanding of its early origins is critical for more effective prevention efforts and understanding the research gaps. 'The results of this study show that raised body mass index across childhood through young adulthood is an important risk factor for colorectal cancer.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Key body measurement linked to 18% greater risk of bowel cancer – are you at risk?
WITH bowel cancer rates rising in younger adults around the world, experts are desperately searching for possible causes. Risk factors like diet, alcohol and smoking could be explanations, say experts. Now, researchers have found being overweight as a child, teenager and young adult is linked to higher risk of bowel cancer in later life. A higher birth weight was also associated with an increased chance of developing the disease, according to the new study. Experts in the Netherlands reviewed 37 studies on body weight in early life and the risk of colorectal cancer - also known as bowel cancer - in adults. Cancer is a complex disease which develops over several decades, so better understanding of its early origins is critical for more effective prevention efforts and understanding the research gaps The research, which is published in the International Journal of Cancer, found an increase in BMI of 5kg/m2 heightened the risk of bowel cancer by 12 per cent in people aged 18 to 25. In youngsters aged 10 to 19, an increased BMI was linked to a 5-18 per cent risk of developing the disease, while in children aged two to nine, BMI was linked to a higher risk of colon cancer. Meanwhile, each 1kg increase in birth weight was linked to a 9 per cent bowel cancer risk, the study found. Dr Dieuwertje Kok, associate professor of nutrition and cancer at Wageningen University & Research, said: "Although the relationship between adult body size and colorectal cancer risk is well-documented, the potential influence of measures of body size during early life is less understood. "The team was excited to review results from 37 publications that explored birth weight, as well as body mass index across different early life stages. "This study bridges the existing knowledge gap and enhances our understanding of how early life factors may affect colorectal cancer risk in adults." Popular drink is 'doubling' risk of bowel cancer in adults who have more than two per day Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with almost 44,000 new diagnoses every year. Dr Helen Croker, assistant director of research and policy at the World Cancer Research Fund, added: "Cancer is a complex disease which develops over several decades, so better understanding of its early origins is critical for more effective prevention efforts and understanding the research gaps. "The results of this study show that raised body mass index across childhood through young adulthood is an important risk factor for colorectal cancer." To help keep your child's BMI in check, focus on promoting a healthy, balanced lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet and regular physical activity. Prioritise fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and dairy (or dairy alternatives). Reduce or eliminate sweets, sugary cereals, and sugary drinks. And encourage at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily for school-aged children. Diet Eat a balanced diet: Prioritise fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains, which are rich in fibre. Limit red and processed meat: Reduce your intake of these, and consider swapping for chicken or fish. Consider adding more calcium: Research suggests that an extra 300mg of calcium per day, from sources like milk or calcium-fortified plant milks, may be beneficial. Avoid excessive sugar and fat: Limit sweets, cakes, crisps, and fizzy drinks. Physical activity Be active regularly: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Lifestyle choices Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese increases bowel cancer risk. Limit alcohol intake: Excessive alcohol consumption is linked to increased risk. Quit smoking: Smoking is a known risk factor for various cancers, including bowel cancer. Bowel cancer screening Take part in screening programmes: The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening for those over 50 in England and Wales and over 50 in Scotland.
