Professor Dame Sally Davies, England’s Chief Medical Officer has called for automatic DNA tests for cancer patients by the NHS within the next five years. This would bring DNA genome screening, (WGS), into line with current standard NHS blood tests and biopsies. Her recommendations follow a recent report by the UK Genetic Testing Network. Doctors…
Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research and clinicians at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London have developed a simple three-in-one blood test that could transform treatment of advanced prostate and other cancers. The test pinpoints those men who will respond to treatment with the PARP inhibitor Olaparib. This orally taken drug marketed by AstraZeneca is…
Harnessing a patient’s immune system to recognize and destroy tumour cells has been the central goal in the past few years of anti-cancer immunotherapy trials. There has been considerable interest in Adopted Cell Transfer, (ACT), where tumour-specific cytotoxic T cells are infused into cancer patients. These recognise, target and destroy cancer cells. ACT is proving…
Image: Tumour Heterogeneity The NHS in UK has finally approved Kadcyla, Roche Pharmaceuticals breast cancer drug, for routine use after a four-year campaign. The drug extends the lives of women with advanced forms of breast cancer by some six months. It was hitherto only available on a case-by-case basis through the Cancer Drugs Fund because…