Medical research news covering clinical trials, drug development, treatment breakthroughs, and advances in medical science.
Kanazawa University researchers developed Panregza, a blood test combining a 56-gene immune cell panel with the CA19-9 marker, detecting 90% of early-stage pancreatic cancers. The standard CA19-9 test alone detected only 10%.
Scientists identified KCL-286, which repairs DNA damage and reduces inflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The drug has completed Phase I human safety trials and is ready for testing in Alzheimer's patients, pending funding. It activates retinoic acid receptor-beta to enhance DNA repair and boosts BRCA1 protein levels.
New research suggests excess weight may account for more than one in 10 cancers, nearly double previous estimates. The study of 458,543 UK Biobank participants found waist-to-hip ratio more informative than BMI for cancer risk.
A study in the European Heart Journal found smokers had significantly higher levels of micro- and nanoplastics in coronary blood. Every smoker with high air pollution exposure had detectable plastics, versus 12.5% of non-smokers without high pollution. The findings suggest smoking may facilitate plastic particle entry into the bloodstream.
A study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology on July 15 found that semaglutide may reduce liver scarring in patients with advanced MASH, including early-stage cirrhosis. The Phase II trial showed statistically significant improvement without worsening inflammation.
Johns Hopkins-led research found that the toxin BFT from Bacteroides fragilis must bind to claudin-4 protein on colon cells to cause cancer. A molecular decoy mimicking claudin-4 showed therapeutic potential in animal studies. The findings were published in Nature.
A WHO-commissioned study found no association between mobile phone use and brain cancer, regardless of duration or frequency. The analysis also found no link between radio or television transmission and childhood leukaemia, addressing long-standing public concerns.
A new study from Imperial College London published in European Urology confirms that minimally-invasive focal therapy for prostate cancer is as effective as surgery or radiotherapy, with a five-fold lower risk of severe side effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
This commentary argues that studying individuals with Laron syndrome in Ecuador, who have a lower incidence of cancer and diabetes, could lead to new preventive treatments. It highlights the potential of replicating the syndrome's protective effects through drugs or diet, framing the community's genetic condition as a valuable scientific resource.
GSK will not develop camlipixant for refractory chronic cough after it failed a late-stage trial. The 50 mg dose reduced cough frequency at 12 weeks but lost significance at 24 weeks. GSK acquired the drug through its $2 billion Bellus Health acquisition in 2023. Shares fell 3.7%.