QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

Urine tests show promise in detecting various cancers, with ongoing research focusing on improving accuracy and expanding detection options, including for lung, ovarian, pancreatic, colorectal, prostate, bladder, and head and neck cancers.

David Hone discusses T. rex's evolution, speed, and potential survival if not for the asteroid impact, emphasizing their similarity to mammals and birds.

Genetic data disproportionately from people with European ancestry fails to capture full human genetic diversity, affecting precision medicine. Latin America, especially Indigenous groups, lacks robust genetic data, impacting medical treatments. A study highlights genetic differences in drug responses between Andean and Amazonian populations in Peru. Efforts like the Peruvian Genome Project and Mexican Biobank aim to collect more diverse genetic data for better precision medicine globally.

A study by University College London and Queen Mary University of London reveals repeat expansion disorders are more common than thought, affecting 1 in 283 people, suggesting underdiagnosis. These disorders include fragile X syndrome, ALS, and Huntington’s disease, caused by DNA sequence expansions. The study used whole genome sequencing data from 82,176 participants in the 100,000 Genomes Project, indicating a higher prevalence than current estimates of 1 in 3000. The findings suggest a need for reevaluation in genetic testing and counseling.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London presented findings at the ESMO Congress 2024, showing that chemotherapy-immunotherapy combinations improve survival in triple-negative breast cancer and muscle-invasive bladder cancer, becoming new standards of care.

Queen Mary University of London researchers presented breakthrough results at the ESMO Congress 2024, showing innovative chemotherapy-immunotherapy combinations improve survival in triple-negative breast cancer and muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London presented findings at the ESMO Congress 2024, showing that chemotherapy-immunotherapy combinations improve survival in triple-negative breast cancer and muscle-invasive bladder cancer, becoming the new standard of care.

Dr. Bernadett E. Szabados discussed circulating vs. tissue-based biomarkers for urothelial and renal cell carcinomas at the 2024 ESMO meeting, highlighting established (FGFR3, PD-L1, ctDNA, HER2) and experimental biomarkers. FGFR3 expression varies by tumor stage, with erdafitinib targeting FGFR-positive metastatic urothelial carcinoma. PD-L1 testing shows mixed outcomes, while ctDNA correlates with disease burden and prognosis. For renal cell carcinoma, experimental biomarkers like PD-L1 and RNA-based molecular subtypes are under evaluation. Circulating biomarkers, particularly KIM-1, show promise in RCC.

The Duffy-null phenotype causes lower blood neutrophil levels due to their presence in other tissues. Clinical trials often exclude Duffy-null patients, even with normal neutrophil counts, leading to potential health inequity. Researchers recommend testing for the phenotype and adjusting trial criteria to include these patients.

Clinical trials of new cancer drugs may unfairly exclude people with Duffy-null phenotype, predominantly found in African/Middle Eastern descent, due to lower blood neutrophil levels. This exclusion could lead to less effective doses for these individuals, highlighting a need to re-evaluate neutrophil count criteria in trials.