Posts Tagged ‘Strategies’

Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: Therapeutic Strategies, Drug Development Pipeline, Biomarkers and Diagnostic Opportunities 2010

Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) research has accelerated in the last two years and considerable efforts are now being made to identify drug molecules that selectively target and destroy them. Today, 50 developmental molecules are being evaluated in the hope of targeting this subset of cancer cells. More than 40 companies and commercial groups are progressing these activities and around 20 drug-targeting strategies are being evaluated. Efforts are being made to target CSCs using novel single agents as well as combinations, based on new and established classes. This 2010 report gives a comprehensive update on current therapeutic and diagnostic development in this field, on the drug development pipeline and the most promising research areas in CSC characterisation. New therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities in this field are also presented.

Background: Many cancers contain a subset of stem-like cells believed to play a critical role in the development and progression of the disease. These cells, named Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), have been found in leukaemia, myeloma, breast, prostate, pancreatic, colon, brain, lung and other cancers. Findings suggest that CSCs are able to “seed” new tumour formation and drive metastasis. CSCs also show resistance to a number of chemotherapy drug classes and radiotherapy – which may explain why it is difficult to completely eradicate cancer cells from the body, and why recurrence remains an ever-present threat. If these findings are confirmed in the clinic, the targeting of CSCs alongside the bulk of other cancer cells will offer a new paradigm in cancer therapeutics. Currently, there are more than 50 CSC R&D programmes in progress, around 50% of which are at Phases I-III. Patient data from the first clinical trials on CSC-targeting drugs are now being reported. More than two thirds of CSC R&D programmes are being taken forward by SME’s, and >90% of the patents in this field have been filed by Universities. Substantial opportunity for collaboration exists in this field, and this has lead to agreements between SMEs and number of international pharmaceutical companies.

Drug Pipeline: Approximately 20 different strategies, which are described in this report, are being pursued in the hope of discovering ways of selectively targeting CSCs. Recently for example, at the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December 2009, data were presented on the targeting of chemotherapy-resistant breast CSCs with the Merck compound MK-0752, a gamma-secretase inhibitor that targets the Notch pathway. In a study involving 35 women with advanced breast cancer, biopsies revealed reduced numbers of breast CSCs. In this particular case, it was suggested that combination therapies involving agents that also target the Notch pathway (believed to be important in CSC renewal) may offer more powerful strategies for killing resistant CSC populations.

Cancer Diagnostics: CSCs are believed to be causally linked to the development and metastatic spread of cancer. If this is confirmed in the clinic, this will place CSCs at the heart of cancer diagnostics and biomarkers. Scientists have identified a number of surface proteins, such as CD44, CD133 and many others, that may have important utility in both of these areas. A number of intracellular markers found in CSCs may also have diagnostic utility. These developments are described in this report. For example, CD133 mRNA levels in peripheral blood, measured using RT-PCR, have been found to predict colon cancer recurrence. There is a need for new methodologies that isolate and characterise circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in the blood, and can be applied to CSCs. CTC technologies using the EpCam marker to isolate these cells are able to predict breast and colon cancer recurrence. The adaption of these techniques, based on specific CSC phenotypes, may provide sensitive new methods for identifying CSCs in the body. If this is achieved, it will have important implications in therapeutic decision-making and monitoring.

This 2010 report gives a comprehensive and up-to-date review of global R&D on CSCs, and strategies to target them. This includes around 40 companies or commercially based research organisations (including 27 SMEs and 8 international pharmaceutical companies) that are progressing drug discovery activities, including drug pipeline (pre-clinical to Phase III), discovery strategy, candidate molecules, drug targets, clinical trials and related areas.

For more information on the report, kindly visit :
http://www.visionshopsters.com/product/3358/Targeting-Cancer-Stem-Cells-Therapeutic-Strategies-Drug-Development-Pipeline-Biomarkers-and-Diagnostic-Opportunities-2010.html

or email us your query at :

Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) research has accelerated in the last two years and considerable efforts are now being made to identify drug molecules that selectively target and destroy them. Today, 50 developmental molecules are being evaluated in the hope of targeting this subset of cancer cells. More than 40 companies and commercial groups are progressing these activities and around 20 drug-targeting strategies are being evaluated. Efforts are being made to target CSCs using novel single agents as well as combinations, based on new and established classes. This 2010 report gives a comprehensive update on current therapeutic and diagnostic development in this field, on the drug development pipeline and the most promising research areas in CSC characterisation. New therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities in this field are also presented.

Background: Many cancers contain a subset of stem-like cells believed to play a critical role in the development and progression of the disease. These cells, named Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), have been found in leukaemia, myeloma, breast, prostate, pancreatic, colon, brain, lung and other cancers. Findings suggest that CSCs are able to “seed” new tumour formation and drive metastasis. CSCs also show resistance to a number of chemotherapy drug classes and radiotherapy – which may explain why it is difficult to completely eradicate cancer cells from the body, and why recurrence remains an ever-present threat. If these findings are confirmed in the clinic, the targeting of CSCs alongside the bulk of other cancer cells will offer a new paradigm in cancer therapeutics. Currently, there are more than 50 CSC R&D programmes in progress, around 50% of which are at Phases I-III. Patient data from the first clinical trials on CSC-targeting drugs are now being reported. More than two thirds of CSC R&D programmes are being taken forward by SME’s, and >90% of the patents in this field have been filed by Universities. Substantial opportunity for collaboration exists in this field, and this has lead to agreements between SMEs and number of international pharmaceutical companies.

Drug Pipeline: Approximately 20 different strategies, which are described in this report, are being pursued in the hope of discovering ways of selectively targeting CSCs. Recently for example, at the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in December 2009, data were presented on the targeting of chemotherapy-resistant breast CSCs with the Merck compound MK-0752, a gamma-secretase inhibitor that targets the Notch pathway. In a study involving 35 women with advanced breast cancer, biopsies revealed reduced numbers of breast CSCs. In this particular case, it was suggested that combination therapies involving agents that also target the Notch pathway (believed to be important in CSC renewal) may offer more powerful strategies for killing resistant CSC populations.

Cancer Diagnostics: CSCs are believed to be causally linked to the development and metastatic spread of cancer. If this is confirmed in the clinic, this will place CSCs at the heart of cancer diagnostics and biomarkers. Scientists have identified a number of surface proteins, such as CD44, CD133 and many others, that may have important utility in both of these areas. A number of intracellular markers found in CSCs may also have diagnostic utility. These developments are described in this report. For example, CD133 mRNA levels in peripheral blood, measured using RT-PCR, have been found to predict colon cancer recurrence. There is a need for new methodologies that isolate and characterise circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in the blood, and can be applied to CSCs. CTC technologies using the EpCam marker to isolate these cells are able to predict breast and colon cancer recurrence. The adaption of these techniques, based on specific CSC phenotypes, may provide sensitive new methods for identifying CSCs in the body. If this is achieved, it will have important implications in therapeutic decision-making and monitoring.

This 2010 report gives a comprehensive and up-to-date review of global R&D on CSCs, and strategies to target them. This includes around 40 companies or commercially based research organisations (including 27 SMEs and 8 international pharmaceutical companies) that are progressing drug discovery activities, including drug pipeline (pre-clinical to Phase III), discovery strategy, candidate molecules, drug targets, clinical trials and related areas.

For more information on the report, kindly visit :
http://www.visionshopsters.com/product/3358/Targeting-Cancer-Stem-Cells-Therapeutic-Strategies-Drug-Development-Pipeline-Biomarkers-and-Diagnostic-Opportunities-2010.html

or email us your query at : info@visionshopsters.com
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Research and Markets: Triple Analysis: A Comprehensive Focus on Cancer Drug Development Strategies in Both Breast …

Research and Markets: Triple Analysis: A Comprehensive Focus on Cancer Drug Development Strategies in Both Breast …
DUBLIN—-Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Triple Analysis: Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer and Peptides” report to their offering.

Read more on Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance

Research and Markets: Triple Analysis Focusing on Cancer Drug Development Strategies in Both Breast Cancer, Cancer …

Research and Markets: Triple Analysis Focusing on Cancer Drug Development Strategies in Both Breast Cancer, Cancer …
DUBLIN—-Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Triple Analysis: Breast Cancer, Leukemia and Cancer Vaccines” report to their offering.

Read more on Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance

Research and Markets: Triple Analysis: Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer and Melanoma 2010 Defines Development Strategies for …

Research and Markets: Triple Analysis: Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer and Melanoma 2010 Defines Development Strategies for …
DUBLIN—-Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Triple Analysis: Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer and Melanoma” report to their offering.

Read more on Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance

Magnitude of overdiagnosis in cancer indicates need for strategies to address the problem

Magnitude of overdiagnosis in cancer indicates need for strategies to address the problem
Many cancers detected by screening tests are not destined to cause symptoms or death and therefore represent a phenomenon known as overdiagnosis. And because overdiagnosis leads to unnecessary treatment and other harms, it is important to develop clinical and research strategies to quantify, recognize, and manage it, according to a new review.

Read more on Science Daily

First-Of-Its-Kind Project Will Sequence Difficult Breast Cancers To Provide Insight Into Treatment Strategies

First-Of-Its-Kind Project Will Sequence Difficult Breast Cancers To Provide Insight Into Treatment Strategies
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) has announced that it is collaborating with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and US Oncology to sequence the genomes of 14 patients afflicted with triple negative breast cancer whose tumors have progressed despite multiple other therapies. The goal of this first-of-its-kind research collaboration is to demonstrate whether genomic …

Read more on Medical News Today

Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Strategies

Many women suffering from breast cancer are interested in learning more about natural treatment options. This type of treatment is often referred to in the medical field and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatment, and there are actually a number of different types of treatment options that fall under this category.

Understanding CAM

CAM is any type of medical practice, system, or product that is not considered to be the standard form of care. There are three areas of natural breast cancer treatment that fall under this category: Complementary Medicine, Alternative Medicine, and Integrative Medicine.

Complementary medicines are those that are used along with standard medical treatments like chemotherapy and surgery. A common complementary treatment is acupuncture, which is used to help with the side effects associated with cancer treatment. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, is a natural treatment approach that is used instead of standard medical treatments. Special diets to treat cancer, for example, may be used rather than chemotherapy. Integrative medicine takes care of your mind, body, and spirit by combining standard medicine techniques with CAM techniques.

Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Techniques Involving the Mind and Body

There are a number of treatment techniques you can utilize to help ease the pain and assist in the treatment process. Some of these techniques include:

Biofeedback – using machines to learn how to affect certain bodily functions you are normally not aware of, such as your heart rate.

Meditation – focusing breathing or repeating words or phrases in order to calm your mind.

Yoga – using special stretches and poses with special attention given to your breathing.

Hypnosis – creating a state of relaxed and focused attention and concentrating on certain ideas, feelings, or suggestions to assist in the healing process.

Creative Outlets – special therapy such as dance, music, and art.

Imagery – imagining certain pictures, scenes, or experiences in order to help the body heal.

Biological Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Options
It is also possible to treat your breast cancer by taking advantage of things found in nature, such as herbal products and dietary supplements. These can include certain foods, vitamins, herbs, and special dietary plans. Soy products are one additive that have shown a great deal of promise when it comes to preventing and treating breast cancer.

You should also include whole grain foods, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, fatty fish, low-fat dairy products, flaxseed, green tea, as many herbs as possible, and either virgin oil or canola oil in your diet. All kinds of herbs are good to add to your diet because they increase your intake of phytochemicals, which may help to fight cancer.

Body-Based Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Options

Body-based treatment options are those that work on one or more parts of your body. These techniques manipulate the body in order to achieve a greater level of health. Massage involves manipulation of the tissues, while chiropractic care manipulates the skeletal system and joints. Reflexology, which utilizes pressure points in the feet and hands to affect parts of the body, is another type of treatment.

Deciding if Natural Breast Cancer Treatment Options are Right for You

Before deciding to start a treatment program, it is important to discuss it with your doctor. There are certain foods and supplements that can actually interfere with other forms of treatment, so you want to be sure the plan you are following is safe.

Your best option is to consult a professional that is trained in natural strategies. Your doctor or nurse might be able to refer you to a specialist. If not, contact your local cancer center or hospital and ask for names of professionals that might be able to help you. Before working with the person, however, make sure he or she is licensed to practice in your state. Your health is important, so you need to be sure to have the best care possible.