With the release of the study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a team of researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, led by Michael Weiss, MD, PhD, Cowan-Blum Professor of Cancer Research and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry, reveals their invention of a “smart” insulin protein molecule that binds considerably less to cancer receptors and self-assembles under the skin. To provide a slow-release form of insulin, t he analog self-assembles under the skin by means of “stapling” itself via bridging zinc ions. In light of its scientific and societal importance, the publication was highlighted as a “Paper of the Week” by the editors of the journal.

“It’s quite a novel mechanism. Our team has applied the perspective of biomedical engineering to the biochemistry of a therapeutic protein. We regard the injected insulin solution as forming a new biomaterial that can be engineered to optimize its nano-scale properties,” says Dr. Weiss. He adds, “The notion of engineered zinc staples may find application to improve diverse injectable protein drugs to address a variety of conditions from cancer to immune deficiency.”

While initially tested in diabetic rats by team member Faramarz Ismail-Beigi, PhD, professor of medicine at CWRU School of Medicine, the study of this new, self-assembling insulin will continue with approval by the National Institutes of Health toward the goal of human clinical trials….

“The goal of all drug therapies is to make therapeutic molecules more selective, in other words, more effective with less complications. We’ve sought to accomplish this with our engineering a new and “smarter” insulin molecule, as the hormone’s primary job is to bind to the key receptors that regulate blood glucose concentration (designated the insulin receptor), not cancer-related receptors,” says Dr. Weiss.

The new insulin analog exhibits reduced binding to a receptor that can drive cell growth, called the IGF receptor. Protein engineering spans both basic science and its translation to clinical care. Critical to reaching the translational goal of improved insulin therapy was an interdisciplinary team, including endocrinologist, Dr. Ismail-Beigi; biochemist, Nelson Phillips, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry; X-ray crystallographer, Zhu-li Wan, PhD, instructor in biochemistry; and receptor expert, Jonathan Whittaker, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry.

The study concludes and demonstrates, “…The potential of interfacial zinc-binding sites, introduced by design, to modify the pharmacokinetics of a protein in a subcutaneous depot. Such bottom-up control of assembly illustrates general principles of supramolecular chemistry and their application to nanobiotechnology.

“Zinc stapling of insulin exemplifies a general strategy to modify the pharmacokinetic and biological properties of a subcutaneous protein depot. The engineering of novel lattice contacts in protein crystals can thus enable control of supramolecular assembly as a therapeutic protein nanotechnology.”

via:sciencedaily.com

Gloucester, founded in 2003, focused on developing new therapies to fulfill unmet medical needs in cancer treatment. The acquisition adds Istodax (romidepsin) to Celgene’s already established cancer portfolio. Istodax received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2009 for treating CTCL patients who have received at least one prior systemic therapy. Celgene is expected to launch the drug in the first half of this year. Furthermore, it will pursue the European approval for Istodax in CTCL besides advancing the drug’s development for other cancer indications, including peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

Additionally, Istodax has been granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s T-cell lymphoma and Fast Track status in PTCL by the U.S. regulatory agency. The drug has received orphan status designation from the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products for treating both CTCL and PTCL patients. We believe that the inclusion of Istodax in the cancer portfolio of a large company like Celgene would boost its sales and allow it a competitive edge over rival drugs such as Allos Therapeutics’ (NasdaqGM: ALTH – News) injectable treatment for PTCL − Folotyn − which hit the market in 2009.

The acquisition should further strengthen Celgene’s cancer portfolio. It already boasts of Revlimid, currently approved for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and second-line multiple myeloma (MM) and the company is expanding its label into other indications. Furthermore, its product portfolio includes Vidaza for MDS, which should also drive growth.

However, sales of Celgene’s Thalomid have been declining. We feel this decline will continue since safer and more effective drugs are available for multiple myeloma in the form of Revlimid and Takeda’s Velcade.

We believe that the addition of Istodax is aimed to make up for the disappointing performance of Thalomid.

The 38-year-old actor said in a media statement that he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a treatable cancer of the lymphatic system.

He did not say when the diagnosis was made.

Via:

Charles was diagnosed with stage IV urothelial carcinoma over the summer but announced Friday that he is 80 percent in remission and that his doctors have given him the go-ahead to resume working.

He will be back on the air for the Jan. 29 “ShoBox,” which is will be headlined by bantamweight prospect Chris Avalos facing Jose Nieves at the Tingley Auditorium in Albuquerque, N.M., working with analysts Steve Farhood and Antonio Tarver. Charles turns 64 the following day.

“I never really lost hope and faith that I’d be back on ‘ShoBox’ working with the finest people I know professionally and personally,” Charles said. “The boxing community has been overwhelmingly supportive. Their inspiration has moved me deeply. As important to me though are the fans of ‘ShoBox’ who have expressed to me beyond all expectations their concern and encouragement through a difficult illness.”

During Charles’ absence, Al Bernstein, who pulled double duty while also working as an analyst on “Showtime Championship Boxing,” and Curt Menefee filled in.

“We are thrilled to announce the return of Nick Charles to ‘ShoBox,’” said Showtime’s Ken Hershman, who heads the network’s sports division. “Nick is one of the great guys in our business. His strength and perseverance through this ordeal has inspired all of us. We continue to offer our support and love and we look forward to Jan. 29 when Nick returns to the mic.”

Charles, who was treated at University of Texas M.S. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, has been off “ShoBox” since July 31, although Top Rank hired him to call the international telecast of the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight on Nov. 14….

Besides his work on Showtime, Charles is also known for his tenure in the 1980s and ’90s on CNN, where he won three Cable Ace Awards as the co-host of “Sports Tonight.” He won the Sam Taub Award for excellence in broadcast journalism from the Boxing Writers Association of America in 2008.

via:sports/boxing/news

The purpose of the phase-1B clinical trial was to identify the maximum tolerated dose of Bezielle and to determine the safety and feasibility of the company’s novel, oral, anticancer treatment. A total of 27 women with late stage breast cancer were enrolled to the phase-1B trial. The 27 enrolled women had failed an average of six prior therapies since diagnosis with metastatic breast disease and expected survival pre-trial was 90-120 days. To date, a total of 48 women with advanced breast cancer have been treated with Bezielle in two early phase clinical trials.

“We are encouraged by the results of the Company’s second phase-1 trial in women with advanced breast cancer and feel the oncology community is equally enthusiastic about Bezielle as our manuscript was accepted by the most widely read breast cancer specific peer reviewed journal in two days,” said Mary Tagliaferri, president and chief medical officer of Bionovo. “There are currently over 160,000 women in the United States living with advanced breast cancer who are eagerly awaiting an oral anticancer drug that can extend life without profoundly diminishing quality of life. We believe Bezielle will be an important new anticancer agent because its biological selectivity allows the drug to kill cancer cells without affecting normal cells resulting in dramatically fewer side effects.”

“In the age of sequential monotherapy as the treatment approach for women with metastatic breast cancer, Bezielle is one of the most exciting new therapies under investigation today,” said Banu Arun, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas, Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. “At our center, where over 3,000 women are newly diagnosed with breast cancer each year, there is great patient demand for oral drugs with minimal toxicities for the treatment of any stage breast cancer. Bezielle is the exact type of drug our patients are seeking and the favorable clinical results in Bionovo’s two early stage clinical trials among a heavily pretreated patient population are extremely encouraging.”

“While safety and maximum tolerability were the primary endpoints of this second phase 1 trial, Bezielle demonstrated promising clinical efficacy in both phase 1 trials affording some women with long periods of stable disease without dramatically altering their day to day quality of life, which is a significant advancement,” said Alejandra Perez, director of the Breast Cancer Center at the Memorial Regional Hospital Cancer Institute, Hollywood, Florida….

A phase-2 trial of Bezielle for metastatic breast cancer under the directorship of Dr Banu Arun at the University of Texas, M D Anderson Cancer Center and Dr Alejandra Perez at the Memorial Regional Hospital will commence once funding is secured. The phase-2 study will be conducted at 16 clinical centers in the United States and will enrol 80 women with metastatic breast cancer.

Bezielle is an oral drug designed for the treatment of advanced breast cancer with a novel mechanism of action.

Bionovo is a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of safe and effective treatments for women’s health and cancer, markets with significant unmet needs and billions in potential annual revenue.

Via:pharmabiz.com

Father-of-three John Vry, 55, suffered a “horrific and sustained” attack in an alleyway in Lowestoft in December 2008, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

James Killingback, 23, of Denmark Road, Lowestoft, was sentenced on Thursday to a minimum of 19 years in prison.

Aaron Breffitt, 17, of no fixed address, must serve a minimum of 12 years.

Mr Cry was confronted when he left his family home to buy chips and died in hospital from serious head injuries, prosecutor Karim Khalil told the court.

He had been told during the summer of 2008 he had between three and six months to live because of his illness….

Mr Khalil said Mr Vry, who had undergone surgery and chemotherapy for his cancer, was in no condition to defend himself.

Killingback and Breffitt both denied murdering Mr Vry but were found guilty in October after a trial.

A Section 39 Order banning the naming of Breffitt was lifted by the court upon his conviction.

Via:bbc.com

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) January 15, 2010 –The Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation made a $50,000 donation to University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center. This contribution, as well as all future proceeds, will be used solely to fund clinical research and treatment options for metastatic breast cancer by University Hospitals (UH) Ireland Cancer Center physicians, researchers and care providers.

In addition, future Cleveland fundraising activities for the Mountains of Hope Foundation will be in partnership with the UH Ireland Cancer Center’s “Miracle Fund,” which shares the mission of focusing on new clinical trials and therapies aimed at treating advanced breast cancer and extending lives.

“We’re pleased to join forces with University Hospitals and the Miracle Fund in the fight against advanced breast cancer and look forward to a long relationship,” said Allen J. Gula, chairman of the Mountains of Hope Foundation. “With a team of the nation’s leading oncologists and breast cancer specialists, we’re confident that significant inroads in understanding the causes and treatment of metastatic breast cancer will continue to evolve.”

“The Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation‘s ongoing commitment to University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center and the Miracle Fund, enables us to continue advancing our nationally recognized program for research in metastatic breast cancer as well as patient care and education.” said Stanton L. Gerson, MD, Director of University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center….

In addition to University Hospitals, 100 percent of all funds donated to the Mountains of Hope Foundation have been directly invested in renowned research facilities focused on metastatic breast cancer, including Sloan Kettering in New York, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, and UCSF in San Francisco.

The Foundation – named in honor of Garfield Heights native Marilyn Barry Gula – was established in 2003 and is committed to donating every dollar raised directly to supporting highly-regarded researchers across the nation who study advanced stages of breast cancer, with the hope of making inroads to improve the detection, treatment and management of this deadly disease.

About The Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation
The Mountains of Hope Foundation (501-c3) was established in 2003 by Marilyn Barry Gula, a native of Northeast Ohio, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996. Although controlled by powerful drugs, the cancer continued to recur until the drugs were ineffective and she lost her battle with this insidious disease on July 26, 2006. As a result, the Mountains of Hope Foundation was renamed “The Marilyn B. Gula Mountains of Hope Foundation” to honor her memory and continue the work she began. Based in Phoenix, every dollar donated is applied directly to funding highly-regarded researchers across the nation who study advanced stages of breast cancer, with the hope of making inroads to improve the detection, treatment and management of this deadly disease. For more information, visit www.mountainsofhopefoundation.org

About University Hospitals
University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians. At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women’s health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, ranked second in the nation for the care of critically ill newborns; UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital, Ohio’s only hospital for women; and UH Ireland Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org

via:/news.yahoo.com

The 38-year-old actor said in a media statement that he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a treatable cancer of the lymphatic system. He did not say when the diagnosis was made.

“I feel fortunate to have been diagnosed with an imminently treatable and curable condition, and I thank my doctors and nurses for their expertise and care,” Hall said.

His spokesman Craig Bankey said in the statement reported by People magazine that Hall’s cancer is in remission and the actor will continue treatment as planned…..

Hall plans to go with his wife and “Dexter” co-star Jennifer Carpenter, who plays his sister in the series, to the Golden Globe awards being held in Los Angeles on Sunday where he’s nominated for best dramatic actor and the show as best drama.

Hall also plans to attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards the following weekend where he and the cast are also nominees.

Bankey said Hall planned to make the fifth series of the Showtime drama “Dexter” later this year.

In the show, Hall plays Dexter Morgan, a Miami police analyst who moonlights as a serial killer targeting sociopaths.

via:postchronicle.com

Data presented at the AACR-IASLC Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer have immediate clinical implications. The EGFR-mutation signature will be evaluated as a predictor of response in the BATTLE (Biomarker-integrated Approaches of Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer Elimination) I trial, which will be presented later this year…..

For the current study, the researchers conducted messenger RNA expression profiling on 195 human lung adenocarcinoma samples. They found a 93-gene signature that identified the presence of EGFR mutation and was validated in multiple cohorts of lung cancer patients. Furthermore, the presence of this gene signature was significantly correlated with drug sensitivity to erlotinib and gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.

Saintigny said the EGFR-mutation signature may help guide medical treatment decisions, may provide prognosis information beyond EGFR-mutation status and may give some biological insights in EGFR-mutant tumors.

via:sciencedaily.com