https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. A Mayo Clinic study is providing new insights into how treatment sequence can affect survival in patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer, suggesting that many patients may benefit from receiving chemotherapy before surgery. The findings, published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, were based on more than 1,400 patients treated across Mayo Clinic's campuses in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-chemotherapy-surgery-survival-early-stage.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:09:49 EST news689861342 Senolytics—a class of drugs that reduce chronic inflammation and tissue damage in aging cells—are shown to eliminate 30% to 70% of "zombie" cells in the body. These zombie cells, known as senescent cells, stop dividing and don't die, ultimately contributing to a host of diseases of aging, including cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-preclinical-senolytics-zombie-cells.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:25:16 EST news689855042 Overcoming tumor resistance to chemotherapy drugs has long been a challenge for oncology clinicians and researchers. Now, a new study suggests that blocking a key protein, p300, may force damaged cancer cells into a state of uncontrolled transcriptional activity, thereby creating a novel form of cellular stress that can make even chemo-resistant tumors sensitive again to treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-chemo-resistant-cancer-cells-resensitized.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:20:08 EST news689608103 A new study in mice hints at the potential to use tiny particles made with RNA molecules to deliver chemotherapy drugs and other therapies directly to tumors, killing cancer cells without generating an immune response or toxicity-related side effects. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-rna-therapeutics-metastasized-lung-tumors.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 09:54:51 EST news689594041 Patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma had impressive response rates when treated with a novel combination of therapies—brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab combined with chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin and dacarbazine—according to a study published in Blood. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-therapy-combination-yields-high-remission.html Sun, 25 Jan 2026 08:20:01 EST news688375254 A University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center study shows that a targeted form of radiation therapy can be safely delivered alongside high-dose chemotherapy and systemic therapy without requiring patients to pause their cancer treatment. The study is published in the journal Cureus. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-therapy-safely-combined-chemotherapy.html Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:05:43 EST news688392301 For patients with previously untreated, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive, locally advanced unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), sacituzumab govitecan plus pembrolizumab yields significantly longer progression-free survival than chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab, according to a study published in the Jan. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-free-survival-prolonged-sacituzumab-govitecan.html Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:50:01 EST news688311818 Chemotherapy commonly damages the intestinal lining, a well-known side effect. But this injury does not remain confined to the gut. It reshapes nutrient availability for intestinal bacteria, forcing the microbiota to adapt. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-chemotherapy-rewires-gut-bacteria-curb.html Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:03 EST news688207501 For patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2-positive) metastatic or locally advanced unresected gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (mGEA), zanidatamab and chemotherapy, with or without tislelizumab, may prolong survival compared with trastuzumab + chemotherapy, according to a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, held from Jan. 8 to 10 in San Francisco. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-trial-zanidatamab-chemo-beneficial-her2.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:30:01 EST news687453606 Using machine learning and a large volume of data on genes and existing drugs, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have identified a combination of statins and phenothiazines that is particularly promising in the treatment of the aggressive form of neuroblastoma. The results from experimental trials showed slowing of tumor growth and higher survival rates. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-machine-statin-phenothiazine-combo-neuroblastoma.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:10:04 EST news686216381 Just a few months ago, Ragnhild Vigdis Langli (70) was planning her own funeral. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-longer-tailored-chemotherapy-incurable-cancer.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:30:19 EST news685279801 Research by University of Sydney scientists has uncovered a mechanism that may explain why glioblastoma returns after treatment, offering new clues for future therapies which they will now investigate as part of an Australian industry collaboration. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-fertility-gene-glioblastoma-tumors-survive.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:01 EST news684756542 Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is notoriously difficult to treat due to its aggressive nature and limited prognostic tools. While the traditional staging systems, such as the TNM classification, focus on anatomical factors, they fall short in providing a comprehensive prognosis. The Tianjin Grading System addresses this gap by integrating anatomical, biological, and patient condition factors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-anatomy-biology-pancreatic-cancer-prognosis.html Sat, 13 Dec 2025 04:00:02 EST news684770209 Patients with stage 1 or 2, hormone receptor (HR)-negative breast cancer had similar five-year rates of locoregional recurrence whether or not they underwent preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to diagnostic mammography to determine the extent of their cancer, according to results from the Phase III Alliance A011104/ACRIN 6694 clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9–12, 2025. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-breast-mri-safely-omitted-diagnostic.html Thu, 11 Dec 2025 08:21:22 EST news684663662 Patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancers had similar progression-free survival (PFS) whether they were treated with sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy) or standard-of-care chemotherapy as the first treatment after endocrine therapy, according to results from a Phase III ASCENT-07 clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9–12, 2025. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-sacituzumab-govitecan-hziy-similar-free.html Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:22:47 EST news684577322 Most patients with a rare and aggressive form of large B-cell lymphoma can safely receive a less toxic treatment than the intensive chemotherapy often used, according to new research from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-milder-chemotherapy-effective-rare-aggressive.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 14:50:01 EST news684158161 In a new trial, patients newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) fared significantly better with a combined regimen of azacitidine and venetoclax compared with conventional induction chemotherapy. The azacitidine–venetoclax combination (known as aza-ven) is the standard of care for older adults who are not fit enough for intensive chemotherapy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-azaven-combination-outperforms-standard-aml.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:37:23 EST news684398221 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Imfinzi (durvalumab) in combination with standard-of-care FLOT chemotherapy (fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel) for treating adult patients with resectable, early-stage, and locally advanced (stages II, III, IVA) gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-fda-imfinzi-early-gastric-gastroesophageal.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 22:00:02 EST news683989962 In a major step forward for cancer care, researchers at ChristianaCare's Gene Editing Institute have shown that disabling the NRF2 gene with CRISPR technology can reverse chemotherapy resistance in lung cancer. The approach restores drug sensitivity and slows tumor growth. The findings are published in the journal Molecular Therapy Oncology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-crispr-breakthrough-reverses-chemotherapy-resistance.html Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:32:03 EST news682601521 Every second, millions of blood cells are produced in the human body, and about 90% of the cells replaced daily are blood cells. These include red blood cells essential for oxygen transport, platelets for blood clotting, and immune cells that protect us from infections. Because these cells are short-lived, they must be continuously replenished. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-blood-stem-cell-diversification-revealed.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:40:02 EST news682090463 Irreversible nerve damage to the lower limbs is a common side effect of chemotherapy, yet up to 50% of patients are missing out on vital foot care that could significantly ease their symptoms, according to new research from the University of South Australia. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-foot-chemo-podiatry.html Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:45:04 EST news682076702 Currently incurable, peripheral neuropathies are common neurological complications of chemotherapy, causing persistent pain, tingling and burning sensations in the feet and hands, sometimes even after treatment has ended. In the hope of offering a therapeutic option to affected patients, a research team led by a CNRS researcher has identified a molecule capable of preventing the onset of such side effects. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-molecule-chemotherapy-neuropathies.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:01:06 EDT news681051664 Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered how a specific transcription factor promotes genetic reprogramming and chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer cells, findings that may inform new targeted treatment approaches that inhibit this process and improve patient outcomes, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-transcription-factor-chemotherapy-resistance-ovarian.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 12:04:03 EDT news681044641 Scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in collaboration with researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, have made a breakthrough in understanding why many cancer patients develop nerve damage after chemotherapy. Their new study reveals that a stress response inside certain immune cells can trigger this debilitating side effect. This discovery could open the door to new ways to prevent or treat nerve damage in cancer patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-chemotherapy-nerve-linked-immune-cell.html Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:20:03 EDT news680972655 Sometimes the unintended consequences of a treatment can seem worse than the disease. That's certainly the case for patients who develop chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity—a severe side-effect that can lead to heart failure and the discontinuation of anti-cancer treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-cancer-patients-heart-chemotherapy-dont.html Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:21:04 EDT news680786461 Scientists have made significant progress in developing cancer therapies that help patients across cancer types. However, they face limitations in determining the results of drug effectiveness, as well as ensuring even distribution among all cancer cells because of the highly compact nature of tumors. Researchers are working to change that by giving chemotherapy drugs a kind of chemical "signal" that allows them to be tracked inside of cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-technique-involving-metal-carbonyl-track.html Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:40:01 EDT news680365953 Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)—genetic material shed from tumors into the bloodstream—may help risk-stratify patients with Stage 3 colon cancer by tailoring chemotherapy options after surgery based on risk of cancer recurrence, according to new research co-led by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-colon-cancer-dna-tailored-surgery.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:32:17 EDT news680189532 The oral targeted therapy sevabertinib led to tumor reduction and manageable side effects in patients with HER2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to data from a trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-oral-drug-anti-tumor-patients.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 10:33:03 EDT news680175181 Patients with an aggressive form of breast cancer who are not candidates for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy showed significantly improved progression-free survival when treated with the antibody drug conjugate sacituzumab govitecan compared to standard chemotherapy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-adc-outcomes-advanced-triple-negative.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:09:03 EDT news680162941 A University of Alberta research team has uncovered a new role for a genetic mutation previously known to be linked to developmental disorders—and it could hold the key to more effective treatments and improved outcomes for cancer patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-newly-function-protein-key-chemo.html Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:16:04 EDT news679666562