University of Tokyo

Novel PVA-Enhanced Boron Drug Shows Promise in Advancing Cancer Treatment

4 months ago

Japanese researchers have developed an innovative cancer therapy by combining polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with a boron-based drug, potentially revolutionizing boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Led by Dr. Takahiro Nomoto at the University of Tokyo, the study demonstrates enhanced tumor-targeting capabilities that could expand BNCT's applications beyond current treatments for head and neck cancers.

Radiomics in Rectal Cancer: A Powerful Tool for Diagnosis, Treatment Response Evaluation, and Prognosis Prediction

4 months ago

• Radiomics, an advanced computational approach that extracts quantitative features from medical images, is revolutionizing rectal cancer management by providing more accurate tumor staging and treatment response prediction than conventional imaging methods. • Recent studies demonstrate radiomics' effectiveness in predicting lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and pathological complete response to neoadjuvant therapy, with multimodal approaches combining CT, MRI, and ultrasound showing the highest predictive accuracy. • The integration of radiomics with deep learning algorithms and molecular markers represents the future direction of research, potentially enabling more personalized treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes in rectal cancer care.

Real-World Leqembi Use Shows Comparable Safety to Clinical Trials

6 months ago

• Real-world data from the U.S. shows lecanemab's ARIA rates are consistent with clinical trials, despite a broader patient population with more comorbidities. • In Japan, lecanemab use is growing rapidly, with ARIA rates half those observed in the U.S., mirroring findings from the Phase 3 Clarity trial. • Excluding APOE4 homozygotes from lecanemab treatment may improve cognitive outcomes and reduce ARIA risk, influencing EMA's recommendation for approval. • Monitoring protocols and multidisciplinary care are crucial for managing lecanemab treatment, ensuring appropriate MRI monitoring and patient safety.

Aspirin and Heparin Combination Significantly Improves Live Birth Rates in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

8 months ago

• A Kobe University-led study reveals that low-dose aspirin or heparin treatment significantly increases live birth rates in women with recurrent pregnancy loss who test positive for specific self-targeting antibodies. • The research indicates that treatment with aspirin or heparin led to an 87% live birth rate, compared to 50% in untreated women, showcasing a substantial improvement in pregnancy outcomes. • The study also found that the treatment reduced pregnancy complications from 50% to 6% among live births, highlighting the potential of these drugs to improve maternal and fetal health. • Women with only the newly discovered antibodies who received the treatment had a 93% live birth rate with no pregnancy complications, suggesting a targeted and highly effective approach.