Health hot news

Scientists in the US examining how human melanoma , a deadly form of skin cancer, spreads in mice specially bred to be vulnerable to cancer, found that there was a higher proportion of tumor causing cells in cancerous tissue than had previously been assumed, overturning the “stem-cell” theory of cancer which proposes that a only a handful of specialized rogue cells is responsible for causing new tumors.

A team led by Stanford researchers has developed a prototype blood scanner that can find cancer markers in the bloodstream in early stages of the disease, potentially allowing for earlier treatment and dramatically improved chances of survival. The system based on MagArray biodetection chips can find cancer-associated proteins in a blood serum sample in less than an hour, and with much greater sensitivity than existing commercial devices.

According to a study conducted by radiation oncologists at the Cleveland Clinic, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) performed on recurring brain tumors proved effective at extending the survival of the patient and controlling the tumor. The study is based on the research team’s analysis of 111 patients who initially were treated with whole-brain-radiation-therapy (WBRT) then received SRS to treat the tumor recurrence.

Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today is introducing a new product that makes it easier for clinicians to store, manage and view images generated during cancer treatments. Varian will showcase its new OncoView™ image management and storage solution at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting in Chicago, November 30 - December 4, 2008.

NovoCure Ltd. presented results evaluating the Novo-TTF device in vitro and in a pilot clinical trial that showed the device enhanced the efficacy of standard chemotherapy (temozolomide) treatment in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients.

Veridex, LLC announced today that the technology used in the CellSearch® System to measure circulating tumor cells (CTCs) was ranked as the top medical innovation for 2009 by the Cleveland Clinic, a leading multispecialty academic medical center. The ranking is based on technologies likely to have a significant impact on health care next year.

DxS, a personalised medicine company and market leaders in the provision of companion diagnostics are pleased to announce the addition of a PI3K Mutation Detection Kit to their portfolio of oncogene mutation products. PI3K is a biomarker assessed during the evaluation of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the EGFR pathway. The PI3K-AKT pathway is activated in a variety of tumour types resulting in cell growth and proliferation.

DxS Ltd, a personalised medicine company and leader in the provision of companion diagnostics, have today announced an agreement with US-based Oncology diagnostic and biopharmaceutical services company AltheaDx, Inc., which will provide US study centres with access to DxS’ K-RAS mutation detection assays. The deal will see AltheaDx use DxS’s K-RAS Mutation Test Kit to support clinical research where cancer patients are assessed for their K-RAS mutation status.

Optimata Ltd., developer of the proprietary Optimata Virtual Patient® technology to navigate drug development, announced today that a scientific paper based on research carried out by company scientists will be published in the prestigious “Cancer Research” Journal 2008; edition 68: (21), on November, 1st 2008.

Children who are diagnosed with cancer could benefit from better diagnosis and treatment in the future thanks to a new research project involving clinicians and scientists at The University of Nottingham. Experts at the University are part of the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group which has just secured £2.5 million pounds from Cancer Research UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.