Latest news with #livercancer
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
New ultrasound forecast to cut Addenbrooke's treatment times
NHS patents will be the first in Europe outside a trial setting to have access to a liver cancer treatment described as "cutting-edge and non-invasive".Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge will start using a histotopsy system, an ultrasound treatment that can be delivered in a single short session. It could potentially take no longer than 30 minutes with limited or no pain and a quick Sinker, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), said the technology could make a "huge difference" and reduce cancer treatment times. The Edison Histotripsy System, made by US-based HistoSonics, is expected to be fully installed at CUH later this year. It will initially be used to treat patients with primary and secondary liver tumours, and research is exploring its potential on treating other hard-to-reach Sinker said: "Histotripsy is an exciting new technology that will make a huge difference to patients. "By offering this non-invasive, more targeted treatment, we can care for more people as outpatients and free up time for surgeons to treat more complex cases. "The faster recovery times mean patients will be able to return to their normal lives more quickly, which will also reduce pressure on hospital beds, helping us ensure that patients are able to receive the right treatment at the right time." The incisionless surgery uses pulsed sound waves to create "bubble clouds" from gases present in the targeted form and collapse in microseconds, creating mechanical forces able to destroys tumours without surgery, scalpels or has been procured following a donation to the University of Cambridge from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, a supporter of cancer research at the Deborah Prentice, vice-chancellor of the university, said: "Through his longstanding support of cancer research at Cambridge, Sir Ka-shing Li continues to make a significant impact on outcomes for cancer patients. "Cutting-edge technology such as this histotripsy machine allows Cambridge to remain at the forefront of understanding and treating cancer, a position we aim to strengthen further with Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital."Previously, 23 patients from Europe were recruited in a histotripsy clinical trial. More than 1,500 patients worldwide have received the treatment, mainly in the United States. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CancerVax Targets Liver Cancers to Further Showcase Flexibility of Its Universal Platform
Using AI machine learning, the Company discovers distinct biomarkers for detecting certain rare liver cancers that have stem cell characteristics and will include them as additional indications in its preclinical program Lehi, Utah, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CancerVax, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough universal cancer treatment platform designed to use the body's immune system to treat cancer, today announced that it will expand its preclinical program to include liver cancers, specifically rare stem cell-like forms of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Patients with these stem cell-like tumors have a significantly worse survival than patients with more traditional liver tumors. CancerVax's novel platform uses engineered lipid nanoparticles to detect and mark only cancer cells for destruction by the immune system. The nanoparticles use a 2-step detection mechanism to precisely target cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The nanoparticles first target cells with specific surface proteins ('Marker1'), then release proprietary Smart mRNAs that are activated only in the presence of cancer-specific signatures ('Marker2'). Once activated, the mRNA forces cancer cells to express proteins associated with well-immunized diseases like measles, effectively tricking the immune system into killing cancer cells as if they were common diseases. The Company previously announced that it was targeting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in its preclinical program. After extensive research and AI-driven analysis, the Company's scientific team has discovered a very distinct Marker2 signature for a group of rare liver cancers. These tumors have stem cell characteristics, making them more aggressive and less responsive to traditional therapies. By taking advantage of the distinct Marker2 signature, CancerVax believes it can overcome the severe unmet clinical need for these cancer patients and can more quickly validate the universality of its platform. The Company's preclinical cancer indications will now be expanded to three (3) cancer types: PDAC, rare HCC and ICC. Dr. Adam Grant, Principal Scientist of CancerVax said, "When we first identified these subsets of liver cancers with this distinct Marker2 signature, I couldn't believe it. It was amazing to come across a patient population that has a high unmet clinical need and is uniquely suited to validate our technology. Of course, we expect that our platform will work on many different cancer types but the unique genetic signatures in these rare liver cancers make them a no-brainer for us to target. This precision-based discovery is what every computational biologist dreams of and I'm beyond excited to have the opportunity to help provide relief for these patients with severely poor outcomes. Dr. George Katibah, Chief Scientific Officer of CancerVax said, "The results from our AI data analytics are really striking. This particular cancer biology leads to not one but a group of rare liver cancers for which there are limited treatments. Our team has uncovered this novel cancer stem cell biology using advanced computational techniques showing that these tumors' underlying biology can be targeted by the CancerVax approach. These results demonstrate the flexibility of our platform and how we can swap out Marker1 and Marker2 to attack other cancers with a precision medicine approach. The next steps include creating new nanoparticles for these new cancer indications and to perform in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate efficacy and safety.' The Company's universal cancer treatment platform is architected in such a way that off-the-shelf injections can be created by changing the Marker1 and Marker2 combination to target different cancer types. This approach allows for the Company's immunotherapies to be broadly available when a patient is diagnosed and needs to be treated immediately. These injections are more like 'off-the-shelf' flu shots, rather than complex treatment procedures. About CancerVax CancerVax is a pre-clinical biotech company developing a novel Universal Cancer Treatment platform that will be customizable, as an injection, to treat many types of cancer. Our innovative approach DETECTS, MARKS, and KILLS only cancer cells. By making cancer cells look like well-immunized common diseases such as measles or chickenpox, we intend to use the body's natural immune system to easily kill the cancer cells. We look forward to the day when treating cancer will be as simple as getting a shot -- a better way to fight cancer. To learn more, please visit Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of our business, plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. Press Contact:CancerVax, (805) 356-1810Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
News24
4 days ago
- Health
- News24
Missed, misunderstood, and deadly: A Cape Town family's heartbreak with hepatitis B
When Desmond Pedro discovered a strange hardness under his ribcage, he was just 30 and preparing for a fresh start on a government skills course. Little did he know that he would soon die of liver cancer caused by undetected hepatitis B. Spotlight spent time with his family and spoke to experts to uncover how this overlooked virus continues to claim lives. Desmond Pedro was getting ready to attend a course at a college in Bellville in Cape Town when he noticed a hardness under his ribcage. The 30-year-old unemployed father of two small children hoped to learn skills on the government-sponsored boiler-making course. The strange condition worried him. When Desmond first went to a clinic, nurses said it wasn't serious and gave him laxatives for constipation. He returned three times and got the same response. On his fourth visit, Desmond's wife went with him, and she insisted on a scan. Two weeks later, while on his way to college, he returned to receive the results. His older brother, Mario tells the story: 'When he arrived, the clinic staff wouldn't let him leave. An ambulance took him to Tygerberg Hospital. We visited him that night but were told nothing. We felt helpless.' About a week later, Desmond asked Mario to meet him at Tygerberg's oncology unit, where a doctor delivered the news of his diagnosis. 'When I arrived, he was in agony and couldn't stand up straight. This had all happened within two to three weeks. A porter brought a wheelchair, and we went into the doctor's office where the doctor told us hepatitis B had brought on Desmond's liver cancer.' Hepatitis means that the liver is swollen or irritated. This can happen for many reasons, such as infections from viruses or bacteria, parasites, injuries, or when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the liver. Viral hepatitis is a type of liver inflammation caused by a virus. There are five main types: A, B, C, D and E. As Spotlight previously reported, new, highly effective cures for hepatitis C are slowly becoming more widely available in South Africa. Where did it come from? Until Desmond's cancer diagnosis, he had no idea that he was carrying the hepatitis B virus in his body, nor where he contracted it. The virus is transmitted from person to person through blood, semen or other body fluids. It can, for instance, be passed from pregnant women infected with the hepatitis B virus to their babies during childbirth, through sexual contact with an infected person, sharing of needles carrying traces of infected blood, and accidental needlestick injuries in health workers working with people who have the virus. After Desmond's diagnosis, his entire family were tested. Mario said: Both myself and my youngest brother, Johan tested positive for hepatitis B. To this day, we don't know where we got it or if we ever had the vaccine. 'At the time, I was 33. My mother was negative, as were our wives and all the children. For Desmond, it was too late.' Once infected, some people have strong enough immune systems to fight off the infection and usually clear it within six months. This is called acute or short-term infection. People who get infected as adults normally have acute infections. In long-term or chronic cases, it lasts more than six months and can lead to liver failure, liver cancer or cirrhosis - a condition where scar tissue has replaced healthy tissue to such an extent that the liver can no longer function. The younger a person is when they contract the virus, the higher their risk of the condition becoming chronic, particularly in the case of newborn babies or children under five. In most cases, people with chronic infection show no symptoms for years until they become seriously ill from liver disease. A silent killer One of the reasons that viral hepatitis can go undetected, as it did for Desmond, is that it is often asymptomatic. Symptoms, for those who do get them, can start as soon as two weeks after infection and include stomach pain, joint pain, fever, extreme fatigue, dark urine and jaundice - a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. Professor Mark Sonderup, Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Division of Hepatology at the University of Cape Town, explains that with chronic inflammation in the liver, the body's attempt to heal the inflammation drives scarring, or fibrosis, of the liver. Over 10, 20 or 30 years, he says, there's a serious risk of cirrhosis. ALSO READ | Stem cell transplant recovery hinges on living conditions - transplant donor organisation 'The other risk of hepatitis B, which increases dramatically as the scarring worsens, is that because the virus is a DNA virus and inserts itself into the DNA of the liver cell, it dramatically increases the risk of liver cancer which is why hepatitis B accounts for most liver cancer in the world.' Sonderup says hepatitis B is endemic in South Africa and the region. He cites figures pegging the country's chronic infection rate at just below 5%, which suggests there are in the region of three million people living with the infection in South Africa. Most cases can be treated Chronic infection can usually be treated successfully with antiviral medicines if diagnosed in time. These medicines have to be taken for life since they suppress, but do not eliminate the virus. For acute infection there are much fewer treatment options. Those with serious liver damage often need a liver transplant. Since their diagnosis, Mario and Johan have been going to the Groote Schuur Liver Clinic where he says they are in good hands. 'They've been there for us from the start,' says Mario. The brothers are both on tenofovir, an anti-retroviral used to treat chronic hepatitis B infection. READ MORE | Why most people in South Africa can't get the shingles vaccine 'We take one tiny tablet a day, which suppresses our viral load and has no side effects. I take my tablet religiously at the same time every night.' Tenofovir is also part of standard HIV treatment in South Africa. As such, it is taken by more than five million people in the country, some of whom will happen to have undiagnosed hepatitis B infection. Sadly, Desmond's diagnosis came too late for antiviral treatment to save him. Mario recalls: I'll never forget the look on Desmond's face when the doctor said there was nothing they could do. 'The liver cancer was aggressive. He died at home about four weeks later. The time between getting his results and passing away was about two months.' It is for this reason that Mario has become such a passionate advocate for hepatitis B testing. 'All it takes is a simple blood test, and if it's caught in time, you take one small tablet daily. There are no side effects and you're good to go,' he says. Mario reckons nurses testing for HIV should be testing for hepatitis B at the same time. A highly effective vaccine One piece of good news is that many people in South Africa, especially those younger than 30 years of age, would have been vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus as babies. The South African government began rolling out the vaccine in 1995, starting with a three-dose schedule for babies, administered at 6, 10, and 14 weeks. 'It took a while to reach full coverage across the entire country. To date, our numbers lag a little behind, in that full three dose coverage is somewhere in the mid 80 percent in South Africa,' says Sonderup. 'This is pretty decent, except that we do have babies born to women who are inadvertently chronically infected, and there's a full six-week period before the first dose of vaccine is given.' READ MORE | The US funded 40% of SA's data capturers: Why losing them is so dangerous In other words, there's a six-week gap before babies receive their first hepatitis B vaccine, leaving them unprotected during that time. This is why Sonderup recommends giving a vaccine birth dose within the first 24 hours after birth alongside the standard polio and BCG vaccines all newborns receive. 'This would be followed by the second, third and fourth doses at 6,10 and 14 weeks. This has been shown to completely shut down that potential six-week period where a baby may be exposed,' he says. A phased approach Dr Kgomotso Vilakazi-Nhlapo, the top hepatitis official in the National Department of Health, agrees that a birth dose is important. However, she says that due to resource challenges, the department has opted for a phased approach. 'Instead of starting with the implementation of the universal hepatitis B birth dose vaccination, we test all pregnant women for the hepatitis B virus, treat those who are hepatitis B positive (and HIV negative) and offer the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine to newborn babies of pregnant women who tested positive for hepatitis B,' she says. According to Vilakazi-Nhlapo, this approach was implemented in April 2023 in all public health facilities but by the end of December 2024, they were only testing about 50% of pregnant women. READ MORE | Common weed shows potential to fight cancer, UJ researchers find 'This meant that women among the 50 percent who were not tested could be positive for hepatitis B and be transmitting the infection to their babies,' she says. 'Of course, it would be preferable to give a universal birth dose to all newborns, but, unfortunately, the budget and human resources remains an issue.' Vilakazi-Nhlapo estimates that with around a million births per year and hepatitis B prevalence of around 5%, every year in the region of 50 000 women living with the virus are giving birth in South Africa. What to do Sonderup says the solutions to South Africa's hepatitis B problem are neither complex nor overly expensive. 'Firstly,' he says, 'we need to fully implement the universal birth dose vaccination; secondly, we need to ensure children complete their vaccine schedule in total, thirdly we need to screen pregnant woman and link them to additional care.' He also says that in a country where almost 5% of people are living with the virus, everyone should be screened for hepatitis B at least once as we do with regular HIV testing. 'This can be done through a simple finger prick test and it's not expensive. People should at least know their status,' Sonderup says. South Africa's key hepatitis B policy document is the viral hepatitis treatment guidelines published in 2019. Sonderup, who was involved in the development of the guidelines, is concerned about its implementation. He blames 'policy inertia' and competition for limited resources for the country not having made greater progress against hepatitis B. 'But we can actually do a great deal with not very much, with significant impact, to eliminate a virus that continues to cause significant havoc,' he says. 'A shortage of resources, staff, and skills' For her part, Vilakazi-Nhlapo blames a lack of 'resources, staff, and skills' for there not being more progress. She says there is only one other person working with her on hepatitis at the national level, and no dedicated staff at provincial health departments. 'We work mainly with NGOs and civil society. Provincial physicians have helped us greatly to do our work but it's not enough,' Vilakazi-Nhlapo says. 'There is still insufficient knowledge both among healthcare workers and within communities about hepatitis B. For now, patients with hepatitis B are referred to hospitals … but the reality is that, if primary healthcare staff are managing HIV patients, they can manage hepatitis B patients,' she says. She adds that they are trying to integrate hepatitis into other health programmes, such as those for maternal and child health. 'Everyone should know their status' Back in Cape Town, Mario, now 45, says he feels healthy apart from the normal aches and pains associated with his age. He has become an advocate for more awareness about hepatitis B. 'We'd never have known we had it if this hadn't happened to my brother. It's a silent killer. Someone could be dying of it right now without knowing. Everyone should know their status,' he says.
