Cancer Research

Biology remains a wide-open field because it has accomplished a lot but still has a long way to go. The dominant view in cellular behavior, for example, has been that it is largely chemistry-driven but there is increasing recognition that the mechanical aspects are vital to our understanding also. Developing fundamental math and mechanics models to explain life processes like embryo development, cellular migration and growth could open doors to a new frontier in biology, say a group of researchers. "A lot of what the cell does is mechanical. It needs to move things around. It migrates," says…

CALGARY, Canada, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncolytics Biotech Inc. ("Oncolytics") (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) announced today that that it has started patient enrolment in a Phase II clinical trial using intravenous administration of REOLYSIN(R) in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with advanced head and neck cancers. The principal investigator is Dr. Kevin Harrington of The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. This trial is a 14-patient, single arm, open-label, dose-targeted, non-randomized trial of REOLYSIN(R) given intravenously in…

LONDON, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- - With Photo Former England footballer, Geoff Thomas is pressing the Government for urgently needed cash to develop and deliver new leukaemia treatments. Thomas, a leukaemia survivor himself, is leading a presentation to the All Party Cancer Group of MPs at Westminster, at the invitation of MP's Julie Kirkbride and the committee Chairman Dr Ian Gibson on Monday June 9th. He is urging the Government to back his 5 year, GBP20m public/private funding campaign to finance drug and other treatment trials to tackle leukaemia and other blood cancers. The Geoff Thomas…

CALGARY, Canada, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- - Company Achieves Important Milestone in Development of Next Generation Cardiovascular Drug SemBioSys Genetics Inc. (TSX:SBS), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing a portfolio of therapeutic proteins for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, today announced that it has demonstrated that its safflower-produced Apo AI(Milano) (safflower Apo AI(Milano)) is functional in a widely accepted animal model. Working with the laboratory of Dr. Jean Claude Tardif at the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI), the company demonstrated that safflower Apo AI(…

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- - Trial in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Intended to Form Part of Potential Registration Package Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and its development partner ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN) announced today the initiation of a Phase II/III trial of atacicept in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of atacicept for the treatment of patients with SLE. The study is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the U.S. Food and…

Kylie Minogue's breast cancer triggered a surge of over 30 percent in breast imaging of low risk women, says new University of Melbourne study. Use of mammography and breast ultrasound procedures soared among women aged 25-44 in the six months following Minogue's breast cancer diagnosis, says a new study from the University of Melbourne. There was also a sharp rise in the number of women aged 25-34 years who underwent breast biopsies – but this surge in screening activity did not lead to the detection of more cases of breast cancer. Kylie Minogue. Credit: Sunrise Seven, used under creative…

BERLIN, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- - The 4th International Forum on Disability Management Will be Held in Berlin from 22 to 24 September. How can businesses retain employees' capacity for work following sickness and disablement? Experts from throughout the world will address this question at the 4th International Forum on Disability Management (IFDM), which is to be held at the Berlin Congress Centre from 22 to 24 September 2008. The IFDM will be hosted by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), together with the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Over 120 speakers from…

Synthetic molecules designed by two Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have succeeded in reducing and even eliminating the growth of human malignant tissues in mice, while having no toxic effects on normal tissue. The molecules developed by Dr. Arie Dagan and Prof. Shimon Gatt of the Department of Biochemistry of the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School affected the metabolism of various sphingolipids and consequently those of cancer cells. Sphingolipids are a family of complex lipid molecules that are involved in signaling pathways that mediate cell growth, differentiation and…

SAN DIEGO, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- - Acquisition Expected to Accelerate Gen-Probe's Commercial Expansion in Fast-Growing European Market; Add Complementary Products, Technologies and Markers - - Combined Entity Anticipated to be World's Largest Standalone Molecular Diagnostics Company, Providing Broad Range of Innovative Products to Meet Diverse Customer Needs Around the World - Gen-Probe Incorporated (Nasdaq: GPRO), a pioneer and leader in nucleic acid diagnostics for human disease, announced today that it has launched a conditional tender offer to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares,…

LEUVEN, Belgium and LUND, Sweden, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- - Approval Also Received to Start Second Repeat-Dose Phase I Study in Patients With Advanced Cancer ThromboGenics NV (Euronext Brussels: THR) and co-development partner BioInvent International AB (Nordic Exchange: BINV) today reported that the results from the first Phase l study of novel anti-cancer agent TB-403 showed that it is safe and well tolerated, with pharmacokinetic properties enabling it to be developed for the treatment of cancer. The companies also announced that they have received approval from the regulatory authorities…