QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

HPV Self-Testing Proves Effective for Cervical Cancer Screening, New Study Confirms

a month ago

• A new study published in PLOS Medicine demonstrates that self-administered HPV tests accurately identify women with cervical cancer or precancerous cells, with 40% of high-risk group participants requiring treatment. • The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently endorsed self-collection for HPV testing as an option for women over 30, following FDA approval of a self-testing kit in May 2024. • Researchers stratified HPV-positive women into risk groups, finding that high-risk patients should proceed directly to colposcopy, while low-risk individuals (over half of positive cases) can safely wait 12 months for retesting.

High-Dose Vitamin D Delays MS Progression by Over 200 Days in Landmark Clinical Trial

2 months ago

• The D-Lay MS randomized clinical trial demonstrates that high-dose vitamin D supplementation significantly reduces disease activity in patients with early multiple sclerosis, extending time to relapse or new brain lesions by over 200 days. • Patients receiving 100,000 IU oral cholecalciferol every two weeks showed 39% fewer new lesions and 53% fewer contrast-enhancing lesions compared to placebo, though clinical relapse rates were not significantly different. • This first successful vitamin D intervention trial for MS offers a potentially safe adjunct therapy for early disease management, particularly for reducing subclinical disease activity detectable via MRI.

Adverse Events Linked to Better Survival Outcomes in Enfortumab Vedotin Treatment for Urothelial Cancer

3 months ago

• New research reveals patients experiencing neuropathy, skin rash, or hyperglycemia while taking Enfortumab Vedotin showed significantly improved progression-free survival in metastatic urothelial carcinoma treatment. • Study of 83 patients demonstrated extended progression-free survival of up to 15.9 months in those experiencing specific adverse events, compared to 4.5 months in those without these effects. • Findings were presented at the 2025 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, following the FDA's recent approval of Enfortumab Vedotin with Pembrolizumab for advanced urothelial cancer.

Phase 3 FINESSE Trial Launches to Evaluate Finasteride in Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance

3 months ago

• A new Phase 3 trial called FINESSE will evaluate whether finasteride can improve adherence to active surveillance in men with low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer. • The study will enroll 550 men across eight sites, randomizing patients to receive either standard active surveillance alone or with daily finasteride for two years. • The trial aims to address poor long-term compliance with active surveillance, with outcomes tracked for up to 10 years including disease progression, mortality, and quality of life measures.

Novel Minimally Invasive 'Triple T' Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Primary Aldosteronism

3 months ago

• UK researchers have developed Triple T (Targeted Thermal Therapy), a groundbreaking 20-minute minimally invasive procedure that treats primary aldosteronism without removing the adrenal gland. • The FABULAS trial demonstrated Triple T's safety and effectiveness in 28 patients, with most achieving normal hormone levels after six months and many discontinuing blood pressure medications. • This innovative treatment could potentially help millions worldwide, as primary aldosteronism affects 1 in 20 people with high blood pressure but is currently underdiagnosed and undertreated.

PADCEV-KEYTRUDA Combination Shows Sustained Survival Benefit in Advanced Urothelial Cancer Trial

3 months ago

• Phase 3 EV-302 trial demonstrates PADCEV plus KEYTRUDA reduces mortality risk by 49% compared to chemotherapy in advanced urothelial cancer patients, with median overall survival of 33.8 months versus 15.9 months. • The combination therapy showed significant progression-free survival benefit of 12.5 months compared to 6.3 months with chemotherapy, representing a 52% reduction in disease progression risk. • Extended 12-month follow-up data confirms sustained efficacy across all patient subgroups, including both cisplatin eligible and ineligible patients, with no new safety concerns identified.

Novel Trial Launches to Develop Personalized Treatments for Glioblastoma Patients

4 months ago

• Queen Mary University of London researchers have enrolled the first patients in a groundbreaking trial studying gene activation patterns in glioblastoma, aiming to develop personalized treatment approaches for this deadly brain cancer. • Scientists identified key differences in chromatin remodeling between glioblastoma stem cells and healthy brain cells, discovering two potential drug targets - Smox and GABBR2 - that may promote cancer growth. • The trial aims to enroll 200 patients over five years, comparing healthy and cancerous cells to identify unique gene activation patterns that could guide targeted treatment strategies.

Landmark Prevention Trial Launches to Stop Alzheimer's Before Symptoms Begin in Young Adults

4 months ago

• WashU Medicine initiates groundbreaking international trial testing Eli Lilly's remternetug in young adults as young as 18, targeting Alzheimer's prevention up to 25 years before expected symptom onset. • The Primary Prevention Trial will enroll 240 participants from families with genetic mutations, focusing on removing or preventing amyloid beta plaques before cognitive symptoms develop. • The $130 million study represents a collaborative effort between academic institutions, pharmaceutical industry, and foundations, with support from NIH, Alzheimer's Association, and private donors.

AI-TRiPS Clinical Trial Aims to Revolutionize Trauma Care Decision-Making

4 months ago

• A clinical trial, backed by a £1.8 million contract, will evaluate AI-TRiPS, an AI-powered tool for trauma risk prediction, across London's trauma system. • AI-TRiPS assists doctors in assessing risks of life-threatening complications like severe blood loss, providing evidence-based predictions and management guidance. • The AI algorithms integrate trauma research, registry data, and clinical expertise, offering transparent insights to improve decision-making in emergency care. • The trial, beginning in 2025 with results expected in 2027, seeks to validate AI-TRiPS's effectiveness and potentially transform trauma care globally.

Promising Phase III Results for Once-a-Month HIV Treatment

4 months ago

Janssen and ViiV Healthcare have reported positive phase III trial results for their once-monthly injectable HIV treatment, combining cabotegravir and Edurant. This innovative regimen could significantly reduce the treatment burden from daily pills to just 12 injections per year, with comparable efficacy to current oral therapies. The findings, presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, highlight a potential paradigm shift in HIV treatment.

J&J Seeks FDA Approval for TAR-200 in BCG-Unresponsive Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

4 months ago

• Johnson & Johnson has initiated a New Drug Application (NDA) submission to the FDA for TAR-200. • TAR-200 is intended for patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC). • Phase 2b SunRISe-1 study data showed an 83.5% complete response rate with TAR-200 monotherapy. • The FDA is reviewing the application under the Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) program to expedite potential approval.

Durvalumab Immunotherapy Shows Promise in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Treatment

4 months ago

• A Phase 3 clinical trial reveals that durvalumab, combined with chemotherapy and surgery, significantly reduces cancer recurrence in bladder cancer patients. • The study, involving 1,063 patients, found a 32% reduction in disease progression or recurrence with the addition of durvalumab to standard treatment. • Two-year overall survival rates were notably higher in the durvalumab group (82.2%) compared to the chemotherapy and surgery alone group (75.2%). • Experts hope durvalumab will soon become the new standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, pending regulatory approval.

Mineralys Therapeutics' Lorundrostat Advances to Phase 2 for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension

4 months ago

• Mineralys Therapeutics' lorundrostat receives FDA clearance for a Phase 2 trial targeting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in hypertensive patients. • The trial aims to assess lorundrostat's efficacy in reducing upper airway obstruction and nocturnal hypertension in moderate-to-severe OSA. • The Phase 2 study is set to commence in Q1 2025, evaluating 50mg of lorundrostat daily in approximately 40 participants. • Mineralys' Explore-CKD Phase 2 trial, evaluating lorundrostat for hypertension in CKD patients with albuminuria, has completed enrollment.

Merck's Doravirine/Islatravir Combo Shows Promise in Phase 3 HIV-1 Trials

5 months ago

• Merck's doravirine/islatravir (DOR/ISL) regimen demonstrated non-inferiority compared to current antiretroviral therapies in Phase 3 trials for HIV-1. • The DOR/ISL combination met primary efficacy endpoints, maintaining viral suppression in adults with virologically suppressed HIV-1 infection. • Merck plans to submit detailed findings from these trials to regulatory authorities for review and potential approval. • The ongoing Phase 3 trials are also evaluating DOR/ISL in treatment-naïve individuals, expanding its potential application.

Tooth-Regrowing Drug Enters Clinical Trials, Offering Hope for Natural Tooth Replacement

5 months ago

• A novel drug developed by Japanese researchers is undergoing clinical trials to regenerate teeth by targeting the USAG-1 protein. • The drug aims to stimulate the growth of a third set of teeth from dormant buds beneath the gums, offering an alternative to implants. • Initial trials focus on safety in adults, with plans to expand to children with congenital tooth agenesis, potentially available by 2030. • Experts are optimistic about the drug's potential to revolutionize dentistry, particularly for those with limited access to dental care.

Self-Collected HPV Tests Poised to Reshape Cervical Cancer Screening

5 months ago

• New guidelines propose self-collected HPV tests for cervical cancer screening, potentially increasing early detection and access to care. • A new study suggests HPV self-test results can stratify women into risk groups, optimizing follow-up and colposcopy referrals. • Risk stratification using HPV variants and viral load could streamline screening in resource-limited settings, improving efficiency. • Forecasts predict a rise in diagnosed cervical cancer cases due to increased screening, emphasizing the need for thorough data analysis.

Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy Demonstrates Long-Term Survival Benefit in Early-Stage TNBC

6 months ago

• The KEYNOTE-522 trial's long-term data reveal a significant overall survival (OS) benefit with pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). • At a median follow-up of 75.1 months, the 5-year OS rate was 86.6% in the pembrolizumab arm versus 81.7% in the placebo arm (HR, 0.66; _P_ = .00150). • Event-free survival (EFS) was also significantly improved, with a 60-month EFS rate of 81.2% in the pembrolizumab arm compared to 72.2% in the placebo arm (HR, 0.65). • These findings solidify pembrolizumab's role as a standard treatment component for patients with high-risk, early-stage TNBC, according to Dr. Peter Schmid.

Pivotal BEST4 Trial Assesses 'Pill-on-a-Thread' for Oesophageal Cancer Screening

6 months ago

• The BEST4 Screening trial is evaluating Medtronic's Cytosponge-TFF3 for Barrett's oesophagus screening, a precursor to oesophageal cancer. • The trial aims to recruit 120,000 participants taking heartburn medication, utilizing mobile screening vans across England for convenient testing. • The capsule sponge test offers a faster, cheaper, and less invasive alternative to endoscopies, with results available in just ten minutes. • The BEST4 trial is backed by £6.4 million in funding from Cancer Research UK and the NIHR, building on promising results from the BEST3 study.

NHS Seeks 150,000 Volunteers for Cancer Treatment Research Trials

6 months ago

• The NHS DigiTrials initiative aims to recruit 150,000 volunteers for cancer research trials over two years to enhance diagnosis and treatment. • The BEST4 Heartburn Health trial needs 120,000 volunteers to test a new oesophageal cancer screening technique using a swallowable sponge. • MyMelanoma seeks 20,000 volunteers for the largest melanoma study to improve understanding and individualize treatment approaches. • PROTECT-C will recruit 5,000 women for saliva-based genetic tests to assess their risk of developing ovarian, breast, endometrial, and colorectal cancer.

Oncolytic Virus Ad-TD-nsIL12 Shows Promise in Glioblastoma Phase I Trial

6 months ago

• A Phase I trial of Ad-TD-nsIL12, an oncolytic virus, demonstrated safety and efficacy in recurrent glioblastoma patients. • One patient achieved complete remission, and another experienced partial tumor shrinkage, indicating potential therapeutic benefit. • The virus is engineered to deliver a modified, non-secreting version of IL-12, enhancing immune response while limiting toxicity. • Further Phase II trials are planned to assess the treatment's effectiveness in a larger patient cohort.