During the recent ASCO GI conference, the big news was the release of the results of the Abraxane trials. The data show that the lives of pancreatic cancer patients can be extended by two months when adding Abraxane into the standard gemcitabine treatment regimen.
Sally Church at the PharmaStrategy blog gave a good overview of the conference, and included an interview with Dr. Hedy Lee Kindler who gave us the clinicians perspective on the Abraxane results.
In addition to this Congress signed off on the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act which provides funding for traditionally under funded diseases like Pancreatic Cancer.
News
- Celgene Says Pancreatic Cancer Drug Extends Life by Nearly 2 Months | Fox Business
Celgene Corp. (CELG) said a late-stage trial of its drug Abraxane extended survival by nearly two months in pancreatic cancer patients, offering a potentially significant lifespan advancement for patients suffering from one of the deadliest and least-understood tumors. - A step towards better understanding of pancreatic cancer
An international team of scientists has observed that the well-studied protein Sirtuin-1, known for helping cells live longer, also appears to play an important role in pancreatic cancer. - Article > Merck KGaA/Threshold pancreatic cancer drug in Phase III
Merck KGaA has initiated a late-stage trial of its hypoxia-targeted agent TH-302, developed with the USA’s Threshold Pharmaceuticals, as a potential treatment for pancreatic cancer. - Study finds potential to match tumors with known cancer drugs
When it comes to gene sequencing and personalized medicine for cancer, spotting an aberrant kinase is a home run. The proteins are relatively easy to target with drugs and plenty of kinase inhibitors already exist. Now in a new study, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers assess the complete landscape of a cancer’s “kinome” expression and determine which kinases are acting up in a particular tumor. They go on to show that those particular kinases can be targeted with drugs – potentially combining multiple drugs to target multiple kinases. - Threshold takes pancreatic cancer drug into late-stage trial, nabs $30M payment – San Francisco Business Times
Taking its lead cancer drug into a Phase III trial for pancreatic cancer will net Threshold Pharmaceuticals Inc. a $30 million payment from partner Merck KGaA. - Article++Merck+KGaA/Threshold+pancreatic+cancer+drug+in+Phase+III
Merck KGaA has initiated a late-stage trial of its hypoxia-targeted agent TH-302, developed with the USA’s Threshold Pharmaceuticals, as a potential treatment for pancreatic cancer. - Celgene+Says+Pancreatic+Cancer+Drug+Extends+Life+by+Nearly+2+Months
Celgene Corp. ( CELG ) said a late-stage trial of its drug Abraxane extended survival by nearly two months in pancreatic cancer patients, offering a potentially significant lifespan advancement for patients suffering from one of the deadliest and least-understood tumors. - New molecule to target in pancreatic cancer treatment
Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida have identified a new target to improve treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer, which accounts for more than 95 percent of pancreatic cancer cases. This fast-growing, often lethal cancer is resistant to conventional chemotherapy. - Does Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Have A Blockbuster Drug With MM-398? – Seeking Alpha
- ABRAXANE® Demonstrates Statistically Significant Improvement in Overall Survival for Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer in Phase III Study – Yahoo! Finance
Articles
Here are the latest additions to the Mendeley Pancreatic Cancer Genomics collection.
- Targeted Degradation of KRAS by an Engineered Ubiquitin Ligase Suppresses Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth in vitro and in vivo.
- Interaction of the Sympathetic Nerve with Pancreatic Cancer Cells Promotes Perineural Invasion through the Activation of STAT3 Signaling.
- Survival Is Associated With Genetic Variation in Inflammatory Pathway Genes Among Patients With Resected and Unresected Pancreatic Cancer.
- Paracrine Activation of Chemokine Receptor CCR9 Enhances The Invasiveness of Pancreatic Cancer Cells.
- Oxidative inhibition of Hsp90 disrupts the super-chaperone complex and attenuates pancreatic adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo.
- Activation of Wnt signalling in stroma from pancreatic cancer identified by gene expression profiling.
- Sirtuin-1 regulates acinar to ductal metaplasia and supports cancer cell viability in pancreatic cancer.
- Phosphorylation on Serines 279 and 282 of Connexin43 Regulates Endocytosis and Gap Junction Assembly in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.
- Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 attenuates DNA damage and tumor suppression during development of pancreatic cancer.
- NPTX2 Hypermethylation in Pure Pancreatic Juice Predicts Pancreatic Neoplasms.
- Pancreatic cancer genomes reveal aberrations in axon guidance pathway genes
- FHL1 and Smad4 synergistically inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor expression.
- Retinoid signaling in pancreatic cancer, injury and regeneration.
- A potent lead induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.
- ALCAM (CD166) expression and serum levels in pancreatic cancer.
- YM155 induces EGFR suppression in pancreatic cancer cells.
- Pancreatic cancer susceptibility loci and their role in survival.
- Pathobiological implications of MUC16 expression in pancreatic cancer.
- SMURF1 amplification promotes invasiveness in pancreatic cancer.
- The WSB1 gene is involved in pancreatic cancer progression.
Related articles
- Celgene keeps biotech spotlight with sanguine Abraxane data in pancreatic cancer (fiercebiotech.com)
- Threshold Pharmaceuticals Rises on Hope for Cancer Drug (minyanville.com)
- Merck, Bristol Diabetes Drugs Linked to Pancreatitis Risk – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)