MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

First Human Transplant of Sperm-Producing Stem Cells Offers Hope for Childhood Cancer Survivors

2 months ago

• A 26-year-old bone cancer survivor has received the first known transplant of sperm-producing stem cells preserved from his childhood, marking a significant advancement in fertility preservation for pediatric cancer patients. • Approximately one-third of childhood cancer survivors face infertility from treatments, with prepubertal patients having limited options as they cannot bank mature reproductive cells before therapy. • The experimental procedure, developed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, follows successful animal studies and represents a potential breakthrough in oncofertility, though researchers caution results remain uncertain.

Eflornithine Combo Fails to Meet Primary Endpoint in Phase III Brain Cancer Trial

6 months ago

• Orbus Therapeutics' eflornithine combination with lomustine did not meet the primary endpoint of overall survival in the Phase III STELLAR trial for recurrent IDH mutant astrocytoma. • The combination therapy showed clinically meaningful improvements in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to lomustine alone. • The STELLAR trial involved 343 patients and the combination therapy was well-tolerated, with common adverse events related to myelosuppression and hearing impairment. • Eflornithine, which blocks ornithine decarboxylase, previously received FDA orphan drug and breakthrough designations for anaplastic glioma.

UND Research Team to Evaluate VR Therapy for Pediatric Amblyopia in NIH-Funded Clinical Trials

6 months ago

• The University of North Dakota (UND) research team has been approved to conduct clinical trials for the Pediatric Eye Disease Group (PEDIG), focusing on innovative treatments for childhood eye conditions. • The trials will assess the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) headsets as a novel approach to treating amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, in children aged 4 to 12. • These PEDIG studies, funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aim to compare VR therapy with traditional eye patching for amblyopia treatment. • The research could potentially change the standard of care for amblyopia, offering a more engaging and effective alternative to conventional methods.

UAMS Awarded $2.2 Million Grant to Investigate Efferocytosis in Retinopathy

8 months ago

• The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received a $2.2 million grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI). • The grant will fund research into how modulating the immune response through efferocytosis can benefit patients with retinopathy. • Dr. Abdel Fouda's lab will lead the study, exploring methods to enhance myeloid cell-mediated efferocytosis in treating retinopathy. • The research aims to develop new therapies for ischemic and trauma-induced retinopathy by understanding efferocytosis' role.