If the results are confirmed in humans, the implications for personalized therapies for other cancers could mean fewer radiation treatments, or perhaps, ideally, one single high-dose treatment.
A multidisciplinary team at UT Southwestern Medical Center has found that measuring the oxygenation of tumors can be a valuable tool in guiding radiation therapy, opening the door for personalized therapies that keep tumors in check with oxygen enhancement.
In research examining tissue oxygenation levels and predicting radiation response, UT Southwestern scientists led by Dr. Ralph Mason reported in the June 27 online issue of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine that countering hypoxic and aggressive tumors with an “oxygen challenge” – inhaling oxygen while monitoring tumor response – coincides with a greater delay in tumor growth in an irradiated animal model.
Over the past several years, the research of Dr. Mason, professor of radiology and the paper’s senior author, and his colleagues has been building on findings that show lack of oxygen actually stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in tumors and leads to metastasis and genetic instability in cancer. The theory follows that breathing oxygen or enriching the oxygen content of hypoxic (low in oxygen) cancer tissues improves therapy.
In the current study, supported by the National Cancer Institute, smaller tumors based on magnetic resonance imaging were found to be significantly better oxygenated than larger ones. This confirmed previous investigations that show a range of hypoxic environments depending on the size of the tumor.
“The next step is clinical trials to assess tumor response to radiation therapy,” said Dr. Mason, director of the cancer imaging program at the medical center. “Tumors determined to be hypoxic can be evaluated and made responsive through mild and easy-to-administer interventions, such as breathing more oxygen or taking a vasoactive drug. Monitoring the response to oxygen breathing tells us which tumors will benefit.”
If the results are confirmed in humans, the implications for personalized therapies for other cancers could mean fewer radiation treatments, or perhaps, ideally, one single high-dose treatment. Lung cancer, for instance, is a form of the disease whose tumors are poorly oxygenated despite being located in the principle organ charged with oxygenating the blood.
“The ability to stratify tumors based on hypoxia offers new opportunities to tailor therapy to tumor characteristics, potentially enhancing success through personalized medicine,” Dr. Mason said.
Together with Dr. Robert Timmerman, professor of radiation oncology at the Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, and Dr. Ivan Pedrosa, professor of radiology and the Advanced Imaging Research Center, Dr. Mason is starting clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of oxygenation during treatment with stereotactic body radiation in humans – work that is supported by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) through one of its Multi-Investigator Research Awards.
With CPRIT support, Dr. Mason’s team has worked to understand how low oxygen concentration can cause radiation resistance in tumors. In some cases, the simple addition of oxygen to stereotactic body radiation greatly improves response. The key is to identify those patients who will benefit.
The Latest Bing News on:
Personalized cancer therapies
- Final Trial Begins for World's First Skin Cancer Vaccine, Giving Hope to Those Affectedon April 26, 2024 at 7:59 pm
As this personalized mRNA vaccine enters its final trial phase, it brings promising prospects for individuals battling melanoma.
- UK Patients Testing World’s First Personalized mRNA Cancer Vaccine For Melanomaon April 26, 2024 at 1:26 pm
British patients are currently undergoing trials for a groundbreaking mRNA cancer vaccine tailored specifically for melanoma, with potential applications for lung, bladder, and kidney cancers as well.
- U.K. Tests World-First Personalized Skin Cancer Vaccineon April 26, 2024 at 9:08 am
Customized with genetic information from a patient’s own tumor, vaccines like this could one day be used against lung, kidney, bladder and colon cancer.
- World’s 1st skin cancer vaccine enters final trial, offers personalized cureon April 26, 2024 at 8:07 am
Scientists are testing the world's first skin cancer vaccine, which has entered global trial. They aim for personalized treatment.
- Ricoh and SimBioSys Partner on AI-Powered 3D Models for Personalized Breast Cancer Treatmenton April 26, 2024 at 6:59 am
By joining forces, these two companies are committed to pushing back the boundaries of medical innovation by combining SimBioSys’ cutting-edge artificial intelligence with Ricoh’s 3D printing know-how ...
- Revolutionary cancer cure? Personalized mRNA vaccine trials for melanoma underwayon April 26, 2024 at 6:07 am
Results from a phase 2 trial indicated a substantial decrease in the risk of melanoma recurrence for those who were vaccinated. A comprehensive phase 3 trial is now underway, conducted by the ...
- New Clinical Study Identifies Personalized Treatment Options for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Plasma Proteome Testingon April 25, 2024 at 7:40 am
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) medical oncologist and hematologist Ernesto Bustinza-Linares, MD is co-author of a recent abstract published in the American Society of ...
- Using AI to predict cancer treatment responseon April 20, 2024 at 3:00 pm
A team of researchers at Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys have designed a new AI system that could help cancer specialists d | Technology ...
- How AI can help cancer patients receive personalized and precise treatment fasteron April 16, 2024 at 1:35 pm
Providence and Microsoft are developing research prototype AI tools to sort through growing mountains of patient data.
- Q&A: When will patients see personalized cancer vaccines?on April 16, 2024 at 10:43 am
Catherine Wu has been a pioneer in a promising approach to fight cancer: vaccines that target specific immune-stimulating molecules, known as immunogenic peptides, generated by the distinct genetic ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Personalized cancer therapies
[google_news title=”” keyword=”personalized cancer therapies” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Personalized medicine
- 'Despite promise, personalized medicine for head and neck cancers facing hurdles'on April 26, 2024 at 3:45 am
Improved efficacy: By identifying specific mutations driving tumour growth, personalized medicine allows for targeted therapies that have a higher success rate compared to ‘one-size-fits-all’ ...
- Personalized Medicine – Webinars and Online Eventson April 24, 2024 at 5:05 am
Driving biomarker discovery is key as proteomics emerges as the next frontier in precision medicine. In this webinar ... non-invasive proteomic biomarkers are pivotal for personalized treatment and ...
- AI could predict whether cancer treatments will work, experts say: ‘Exciting time in medicine'on April 23, 2024 at 3:00 am
A chemotherapy alternative called immunotherapy is showing promise in treating cancer — and a new artificial intelligence tool could help ensure that patients have the best possible experience.
- Personalized Medicine in Oncologyon April 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Current advances in the biology of cancer and emergence of new tools for genome analysis have opened clinical perspectives in oncology, generally termed as 'personalized medicine'. This broad term ...
- How AI can help cancer patients receive personalized and precise treatment fasteron April 16, 2024 at 1:35 pm
Providence and Microsoft are developing research prototype AI tools to sort through growing mountains of patient data.
- Readers respond to OTC antidepressants, personalized medicine, restoring trust in public health, and moreon April 12, 2024 at 5:00 pm
This essay supports my assertion that the fiscal issues that might hinder the usefulness of personalized medicine need to be dealt with at the same time as we continue our progress towards large-scale ...
- Predictive & Personalized Medicine Market to Grow at CAGR of 8.2% by 2032on April 11, 2024 at 5:00 pm
According to a recent report by Market.us, the Global Predictive & Personalized Medicine Market size is expected to be worth around USD 692.0 Billion by 2032 from USD 347.2 Billion in 2023, growing at ...
- Personalized medicine: We’re not there yeton April 4, 2024 at 5:00 pm
He predicted that in 10 years personalized medicine would allow physicians to employ “predictive genetic tests … so that each of us can learn of our individual risks for future illness and ...
- 5 Emerging trends in personalized medicineon February 29, 2024 at 3:15 am
Advances in personalization are already having a big effect on healthcare. From diagnostic and drug delivery to patient care, personalized medicine is set to change the entire healthcare landscape.
- Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicineon November 10, 2023 at 7:42 am
With personalized medicine, physicians may be able to use genetic profiles to make treatment choices. Aa Aa Aa Personalized medicine is based on using an individual's genetic profile to make the ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Personalized medicine
[google_news title=”” keyword=”personalized medicine” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]