Latest news with #TheInstituteofCancerResearch
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
AI to help end ‘postcode lottery' for vital prostate cancer drug
AI could bring an end to the "postcode lottery" surrounding a life-extending treatment for advanced prostate cancer, researchers have said. A study has discovered that the technology can identify the patients who will benefit most from a "game changer" drug. Abiraterone, a hormone therapy that blocks testosterone production to prevent the growth of prostate cancer, is approved for NHS use in England for patients with advanced prostate cancer that has spread. However, it is not approved for men newly diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer that has not yet spread, even though it has been available for these patients in Scotland and Wales for the past two years. The new test, developed by Artera, uses AI to detect features invisible to the human eye on images of tumour samples. The study, led by The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and University College London (UCL), ran the test on biopsy images from more than 1,000 men who took part in the Stampede trial. Patients were given a score of either biomarker-positive or biomarker-negative. Researchers found abiraterone reduced the risk of death among biomarker-positive patients from 17 per cent to 9 per cent. In biomarker-negative patients, the drug cut death risk from 7 per cent to 4 per cent, with researchers suggesting this indicates these men would benefit from standard therapy. Nick James, a professor of prostate and bladder cancer research at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and consultant clinical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, is chief investigator of Stampede and co-led the new study. He said: 'This research shows that we can pick out the people who will respond best to abiraterone, and those who will do well from standard treatment alone – hormone therapy and radiotherapy. 'Access to this life-extending drug is currently a postcode lottery – with those living in Scotland and Wales able to receive the treatment for free. 'The NHS in England has previously decided that it would be too expensive to offer the drug. Since the patent expired in 2022, abiraterone costs just £77 per pack – compared with the thousands of pounds that new drugs cost. 'Previous research by my team has shown that preventing cancer relapses for these men would save more money than the drug costs to purchase. 'I truly hope that this new research – showing precisely who needs the drug to live well for longer – will lead to NHS England reviewing their decision not to fund abiraterone for high-risk prostate cancer that has not spread.' Prof James also highlighted that while abiraterone can have 'spectacular' results, it does have side effects. 'Abiraterone has already hugely improved the outlook for hundreds of thousands of men with advanced prostate cancer,' he said. 'We know that for many men with cancer that has not yet spread, it can also have spectacular results. 'But it does come with side effects and requires additional monitoring for potential issues with high blood pressure or liver abnormalities. 'It can also slightly increase the risk of diabetes and heart attacks, so knowing who is most likely to benefit is very valuable.' Experts hope the findings, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, may lead to a change in the availability of abiraterone in England. Prof Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, said the drug has been a 'game changer for treatment of prostate cancer'. 'Alongside our mission to find smarter, kinder treatments, we must ensure we are matching the right drugs to the right patients,' he added. 'This research, using artificial intelligence, provides an innovative route to testing prostate cancer patients to determine their treatment. 'I hope that this can be implemented so that all men with prostate cancer who will benefit from abiraterone can do so.' Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said: 'Prostate Cancer UK has been calling on the UK Government to approve this life-saving, cost-effective drug for over two years. 'These exciting results suggest a way to make this an even more cost-effective approach. 'We therefore echo the researchers' urgent call for abiraterone to be made available to those men whose lives it can save – men who, thanks to this research, we can now identify more precisely than ever before.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Transformational' new breast cancer drug could halt the growth of tumours
A new drug has been shown to halt the growth of certain breast cancer tumours, potentially delaying the need for chemotherapy, according to a new study. The Serena-6 trial found that camizestrant is effective in stopping cancer cells from using hormones to grow. One professor described the drug as representing "a pivotal moment in breast cancer care". Scientists said the trial marked the first global study demonstrating that early detection of cancer resistance through blood tests can significantly benefit patients. The study focused on patients with hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, which accounts for approximately 70 per cent of all cases. The results indicated that patients treated with camizestrant experienced a 56 per cent reduction in cancer progression compared to those receiving standard therapies. Doctors used a blood test to identify changes in the cancer's DNA, which signal the potential failure of current treatments. Upon detecting these signs, some patients were administered camizestrant, while others continued with their standard treatment. Those on camizestrant had their cancer stay the same and not get worse for much longer, 16 months on average, compared with about nine months for the others. The drug was safe for most patients but 1 per cent stopped taking it because of side effects. More than 3,000 patients from 23 countries took part in the study, which was funded by AstraZeneca and co-led by researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research in London. Co-principal investigator Professor Nick Turner, group leader in molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said the drug is 'a pivotal moment in breast cancer care'. Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research said: 'The results of the Serena-6 trial represent more than a clinical milestone, they represent a transformational shift in how we approach precision medicine.' About 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year and 11,500 will die from the disease, The Institute of Cancer Research said. The Serena-6 trial results were to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago on Sunday. Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: 'This study is a clear example of how blood tests are starting to transform cancer treatment. 'By tracking tiny traces of tumour DNA in the blood, researchers were able to spot early signs of treatment resistance and switch therapies before cancer had a chance to grow. 'It shows how circulating tumour DNA, or ctDNA, could help doctors make smarter, more timely treatment decisions. 'This approach could become an important part of how we personalise care for people with advanced breast cancer.'
Irish Examiner
01-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
New drug can help stop certain breast cancer tumours early, trial shows
A new drug can help stop certain breast cancer tumours before they grow, experts say. A trial called Serena-6 shows that camizestrant stops cancer cells from using hormones to grow, which helps patients stay well longer and delays the need for chemotherapy. It is the first worldwide study to show that using blood tests to find early signs of cancer resistance to treatment helps patients, scientists say. The study looked at patients who had hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, which is about 70% of cases. The results of the Serena-6 trial represent more than a clinical milestone, they represent a transformational shift in how we approach precision medicine Results showed patients given camizestrant reduced their chances of cancer progression by 56%, compared with just standard therapies. Doctors used a simple blood test to spot changes in the cancer's DNA that show whether current treatments might soon stop working. When they found these signs, some patients were given camizestrant, while others stayed on their usual treatment. Those on camizestrant had their cancer stay the same and not get worse for much longer, 16 months on average, compared with about nine months for the others. The drug was safe for most patients but 1% stopped taking it because of side effects. More than 3,000 patients from 23 countries took part in the study, which was funded by AstraZeneca and co-led by researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research in London. This study is a clear example of how blood tests are starting to transform cancer treatment Co-principal investigator Professor Nick Turner, group leader in molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said the drug is 'a pivotal moment in breast cancer care'. Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research said: 'The results of the Serena-6 trial represent more than a clinical milestone, they represent a transformational shift in how we approach precision medicine.' The Serena-6 trial results were to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago on Sunday. Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: 'This study is a clear example of how blood tests are starting to transform cancer treatment. 'By tracking tiny traces of tumour DNA in the blood, researchers were able to spot early signs of treatment resistance and switch therapies before cancer had a chance to grow. 'It shows how circulating tumour DNA, or ctDNA, could help doctors make smarter, more timely treatment decisions. 'This approach could become an important part of how we personalise care for people with advanced breast cancer.'
Leader Live
01-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
New drug can help stop certain breast cancer tumours early, trial shows
A trial called Serena-6 shows that camizestrant stops cancer cells from using hormones to grow, which helps patients stay well longer and delays the need for chemotherapy. It is the first worldwide study to show that using blood tests to find early signs of cancer resistance to treatment helps patients, scientists say. The study looked at patients who had hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, which is about 70% of cases. Results showed patients given camizestrant reduced their chances of cancer progression by 56%, compared with just standard therapies. Doctors used a simple blood test to spot changes in the cancer's DNA that show whether current treatments might soon stop working. When they found these signs, some patients were given camizestrant, while others stayed on their usual treatment. Those on camizestrant had their cancer stay the same and not get worse for much longer, 16 months on average, compared with about nine months for the others. The drug was safe for most patients but 1% stopped taking it because of side effects. More than 3,000 patients from 23 countries took part in the study, which was funded by AstraZeneca and co-led by researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research in London. Co-principal investigator Professor Nick Turner, group leader in molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said the drug is 'a pivotal moment in breast cancer care'. Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research said: 'The results of the Serena-6 trial represent more than a clinical milestone, they represent a transformational shift in how we approach precision medicine.' About 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year and 11,500 will die from the disease, The Institute of Cancer Research said. The Serena-6 trial results were to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago on Sunday. Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: 'This study is a clear example of how blood tests are starting to transform cancer treatment. 'By tracking tiny traces of tumour DNA in the blood, researchers were able to spot early signs of treatment resistance and switch therapies before cancer had a chance to grow. 'It shows how circulating tumour DNA, or ctDNA, could help doctors make smarter, more timely treatment decisions. 'This approach could become an important part of how we personalise care for people with advanced breast cancer.'
Scottish Sun
01-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Three-drug treatment combo ‘holds back aggressive breast cancer for a year'
The treatment could benefit thousands of British women Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NEW triple threat drug combination could hold aggressive breast cancer at bay for an extra year, a trial found. Adding the medicine inavolisib to an already used pair of drugs delayed the need for chemotherapy by almost two years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Breast cancer gets harder to treat as cells become resistant to drugs (stock image) Credit: Getty It prevented tumours from growing for an average of 17 months, compared to seven months in patients using the standard drug pairing palbociclib and fulvestrant. An estimated 1,000 British women per year could benefit. The combo works for women with a specific breast cancer type called HR+ HER2- with a PIK3CA mutation, which accounts for about three in 10 cases. Professor Kristian Helin, chief of The Institute of Cancer Research in London, said: 'We need to tackle treatment resistance head-on to continue improving survival rates. 'This triple combination approach effectively shuts down cancer's escape routes, giving people with metastatic breast cancer the opportunity to live well for longer.' The trial included 325 patients with aggressive and advanced breast cancer from 28 countries. Cancers shrank in two thirds of people receiving the triple drug combination, compared to 28 per cent of those on standard treatment. New go-to option for docs Study author Professor Nicholas Turner, of the Royal Marsden NHS hospital in London, said: 'This therapy not only helped patients live longer but it more than doubled the time before their cancer progressed or worsened. 'It also gave them more time before needing chemotherapy which is something that patients really fear and want to delay for as long as possible.' 'These results give us confidence that this treatment could become the new go-to option.' The study was presented at the conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Breast cancer symptoms you should NEVER ignore, with Dr Philippa Kaye
