How Corrupt Is Global Healthcare?

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When I first entered the world of cancer, in 2007, I really believed that everyone in the sector was doing the right things. Lovely charities, who might help me. Pharmaceuticals and research all doing their best to find a cure. Plus politicians who must be working against one of the worlds biggest killers, surely? My goodness, was I green and naive. Nothing could’ve been further from the truth, of course. As a businessman I could never understand, how the amount of financial and human resources put into cancer, didn’t produce the relative progress it should.

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But now, 16 years on, it really makes sense. No, I don’t believe the old chestnut about big pharma having the cure for cancer. But I DO believe that the entire sector is corrupt. Everyone earning more, as the world becomes sicker, and more reliant on drug companies. We have a less than transparent charity, cancer Research, running most of our research in the UK. Does that really make sense? Government ‘slipping in to bed,’ with private healthcare wherever they can. The NHS can only offer us the basic treatment in most cases, due to initial cost. Plus the incredible waiting lists, where many of us will die, before we even have the opportunity of treatment. Worst of all we are going backwards now. So here is my analysis about healthcare corruption, and why I believe we are experiencing it in the UK.

Examining Corruption in Healthcare Systems Around the World

Healthcare is a basic human right, but unfortunately corruption remains an insidious issue, plaguing health systems globally. From bribery to fraudulent billing practices, this article analyzes the complex factors that foster corruption in healthcare, and potential solutions.

Defining Corruption in Healthcare

Corruption encompasses an array of unethical practices. This includes bribes for preferential treatment, under-the-table payments for access to medicines or care, procurement fraud, informal payments, absenteeism, and the misappropriation of resources. Corrupt practices siphon off resources meant for patient care and infrastructure.

According to Transparency International, corruption is one of the top obstacles to achieving universal health coverage worldwide. But corruption looks different across contexts, demanding localized solutions.

Hotspots for Healthcare Corruption

Corruption in healthcare rears its head everywhere, but it thrives in particular environments:

Resource Limitations – Where healthcare resources like staff, equipment, and medicines are scarce, corruption often persists as workers exploit shortages for personal gain.

Weak Governance – Lack of accountability and oversight enables graft. Reform is difficult in bureaucratic systems or with political interference.

Low Wages – Underpaid healthcare staff are more tempted towards informal payments and misappropriation to supplement incomes.

High Out-Of-Pocket Costs – When patients pay most costs out-of-pocket, they may resort to bribery to skip long queues or access treatment.

Poverty – Poor populations are most burdened by corruption as they cannot afford bribes or private care.

Drivers and Enablers of Corruption

Complex factors enable corruption to metastasize in healthcare systems. These include:

  • Asymmetric Information – When patients lack medical expertise, providers can exaggerate diagnoses for financial gain.
  • Supplier Monopolies – Sole suppliers of medicines or equipment can charge inflated prices through procurement corruption.
  • Perverse Incentives – Pressures like sales targets for doctors can encourage over-prescription.
  • Deficient Laws – Loopholes regarding bribes, gifts from industry, and procurement processes enable corrupt behaviors.
  • Cultural Acceptance – In some contexts, bribery is normalized as the only way to obtain care. This perpetuates the cycle.
  • Poor Accountability – Absent or ineffective oversight, auditing, and prosecution allows corruption to flourish.

Impact on Patients and Populations

The impacts of corruption in healthcare are wide-ranging:

  • Poor Quality of Care – Patients suffer from incorrect diagnoses, inadequate treatment, long queues, and subpar facilities. Preventable deaths may result.
  • Inequitable Access – The poor struggle to obtain basic care while the wealthy pay bribes to jump queues. This worsens inequality.
  • Inefficiency and Waste – Misused resources, fraud, and bloated bureaucracies inflate costs and deplete budgets.
  • Loss of Public Trust – Corruption erodes faith in healthcare systems. Citizens disengage or resort to self-medication.
  • Public Health Risks – Shortages caused by graft enable outbreaks and epidemics to spread.

Strategies to Curb Corruption

There are no quick fixes, but policies and actions to discourage fraud include:

  • Transparency Initiatives – Open contracting, freedom of information laws, disclosures of gifts and assets, whistleblower protection.
  • Participatory Governance – Patient empowerment through information campaigns, report cards, patient charters, community monitoring.
  • Overhaul Procurement – E-procurement systems, rotation of suppliers, external audits on pricing.
  • Performance Management – Develop key indicators on absenteeism, diagnosis accuracy, infection rates and monitor rigorously.
  • Increase Accountability – Establish anti-corruption authorities, enforce codes of conduct, strengthen prosecution.
  • Improve Pay and Incentives – Ensure health workers receive living wages. Link incentives to ethical patient outcomes.

The Path Forward

Corruption is a universal threat to healthcare, but it manifests in unique ways across different nations and cultures. Sustainable reform requires multiparty efforts, patient engagement, transparency, and system-level changes focused on accountability and incentives. There are no quick fixes, but a multifaceted approach can slowly bend the arc towards more equitable, ethical healthcare worldwide.

You may have seen many of the aspects above, feature very highly in this country. Yes, corruption is a strong word, but seeing what our Government have been doing, it’s not hard to see why I might think like that. A sick world is very profitable for many! As always these are my opinions based on personal experiences. I’m sure many won’t agree with me. So as always, please feel free to share your own views below.

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How a simple blood test can help detect lung cancer earlier

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  • oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.
  • oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>The overall lung cancer five-year survival rate is about 25%, which varies depending on the type of cancer and how early it was detected.
  • oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson cancer Center have developed a Blood test that they say can help predict a person’s risk of dying from lung cancer when combined with a lung cancer risk model.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Lung cancer is considered the leading causeTrusted Source of cancer death worldwide.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Previous Research shows lung cancer causes three times as many deaths in men as prostate cancer and three times as many deaths in women as breast cancer.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>The survival rate for people with lung cancer depends on the type of cancer and how quickly it is diagnosed.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>For example, the overall lung cancer five-year survival rateTrusted Source is about 25%. However, that increases to about 63% if the cancer is detected when only in the lungs. For lung cancer that spreads to other body organs, the five-year survival rate drops to about 8%.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Now, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson cancer Center have developed a Blood test they say can help predict a person’s risk of dying from lung cancer when combined with a lung cancer risk modelTrusted Source.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>This study was recently published in the Journal of Clinical oncology.

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Why are lung cancer mortality risk tests needed? 

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Because lung cancer symptoms may not develop until it is at a later stage, only about 16% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>This is important because the earlier lung cancer is detected, the better a person’s outlook will be.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide,” said Dr. Edwin Ostrin, an assistant professor of general internal medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson cancer Center and co-corresponding author of this study.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“A major reason for this is that small lung cancers usually do not lead to symptoms and around two-thirds of lung cancers are thus diagnosed when they are large and have already started to spread,” Ostrin explained to Medical News Today.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“While we have made tremendous headway in treating both early and late-stage lung cancer, long-term survival is dramatically lower in more advanced lung cancer,” he added. “Any tools to provide early detection of lung cancer, and thus shift the stage at diagnosis to an earlier stage, would save lives.”

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Why a Blood test for lung cancer

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>According to Ostrin, doctors have known since 2011 that for those at the highest risk for lung cancer — those with a significant smoking history — screening using an annual low-dose computerized tomography (CT) scan can reduce death from lung cancer by 20%.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“However, only those with the heaviest smoking history are eligible for CT-based screening,” he said. “Additionally, screening finds lots of indeterminate pulmonary nodulesTrusted Source, the vast majority of which are not cancer but still require follow-up.”

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>For this reason, Ostrin and his colleagues have been working on a four-protein biomarker panel (4MP) for lung cancer early detection for most of the past decade.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“The Blood test is a simple measurement of four proteins measured using immunoassayTrusted Source,” he explained. “Lab tests measuring Blood proteins, including tests like prostate specific antigenTrusted Source or even pregnancy tests are almost universally measured in a similar fashion. Immunoassays are reliable, accurate, and inexpensive, and can be rapidly deployed into a variety of healthcare settings.”

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>The journey to a new lung cancer test 

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Ostrin and his team first publishedTrusted Source their work in JAMA oncology in 2018, where their findings showed the ability to identify those at risk for developing lung cancer when combined with smoking history.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“In 2021, we revealedTrusted Source that the same panel could help to identify which indeterminate findings found on chest CT could be cancers and which were more likely to be benign,” Ostrin noted.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Then in 2022, Ostrin and his team published a Journal of Clinical oncology paperTrusted Source, where, using samples from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) studyTrusted Source, the 4MP improved upon a well-validated clinical lung cancer risk score (PLCOm2012) to identify those at highest risk for cancer.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“The combination of 4MP+PLCOm2012 performed better when it came to identifying those who may benefit from CT-based screening versus the current or previous criteria and thus could be a key tool to improving lung cancer screening, especially if combined with the ability of the 4MP to help sort out indeterminate findings after a CT,” Ostrin said.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Lung cancer Blood test current Research 

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>In this study, Ostrin said his team has now reanalyzed data from the PLCO trial, instead looking at lung cancer death.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“Individuals enrolled in PLCO were meticulously followed for as long as 20 years after enrollment,” he explained. “This allowed us to evaluate how the 4MP performed not only in predicting the development of lung cancer but in predicting those who may develop lethal lung cancer. This emphasizes the potential usefulness of the 4MP in CT-based screening because those at (the) highest risk (of) dying from lung cancer would presumably benefit the most from earlier detection of cancer at an earlier stage when it is more curable.”

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>For this study, researchers analyzed pre-diagnostic Blood samples from more than 2,700 participants in the PLCO cancer screening trial. Of those analyzed, 552 participants later developed lung cancer and slightly more than 2,100 did not.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Of the 552 participants diagnosed with lung cancer during the six-year study period, 70% died from the disease.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Using hazard ratios, scientists evaluated the relationship between the combined risk scores generated by the use of the 4MP Blood test and lung cancer risk model against lung cancer death incidence.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Researchers found the combination risk scores showed improved sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value when compared to the 2013 and 2021 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteriaTrusted Source for predicting lung cancer-specific mortality among individuals who smoked at least 10 pack-years.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Research next steps

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>As for the next steps for the 4MP Blood test, Ostrin said they are actively working to develop it into a clinical-grade test and hope to have it ready within the next few months.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Ostrin said they will also be looking to answer other questions, such as how the 4MP Blood test could be used for early lung cancer detection in people with light or no tobacco use history.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Ostrin’s broader lab group is also taking parallel approaches they used for the 4MP and looking at other cancers, including pancreatic, breast, gastric, and colorectal cancer.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“In the end, we conceive of a situation where these tests could be combined into accurate and inexpensive Blood tests to indicate cancer risk from a variety of cancers,” he said. “Such a test may become part of a yearly assessment of health risk, much the way cholesterol and Blood pressure checks are used to assess risk from cardiovascular disease.”

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Improving assessment of lung cancer

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Medical News Today also spoke with Dr. Manmeet S. Ahluwalia, the deputy director, Fernandez Family Foundation Endowed Chair in cancer Research, chief of medical oncology, and chief scientific officer of Miami cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health, about this study.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Ahluwalia said it is important to be able to predict a person’s lung cancer early as it is often diagnosed at later stages and stage 4 lung cancerTrusted Source is incurable.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“Hence if using effective screening we can diagnose more people at early stages 1 and 2Trusted Source we can cure more people with lung cancer,” Ahluwalia said. “Estimating an individual’s risk of contracting lung cancer can effectively diagnose lung cancer at earlier stages with a screening low-dose CTTrusted Source (LDCT) where treatment modalities offer a more concrete solution.”

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“The proposed model of incorporating biomarker and subject characteristics offers improved means for individualized risk assessment for lung cancer, compared to the current USPSTF criteria,” he added.

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Coping With Life After a Bone Marrow Transplant: A Survivor’s Story

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Lewis Christie is an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor. He is a peer mentor with the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmtLINK) and Imerman Angels, where he assists other people with cancer near his age who are either contemplating a bone marrow transplant or who have already had one. He is also a patient advisor to a company developing artificial intelligence (AI) applications to help people with cancer. He is retired from his work as an information technology professional and is now an avid reader of history books, loves to listen to music, and likes to cook.

My story begins as a 9/11 cancer survivor. I had been in a building at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, and returned there every day afterward for over a year, breathing in the carcinogenic ash that would compromise my immune system. Then, 10 years later, at the age of 71, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

I received my diagnosis after having a bone marrow biopsy, where a needle was inserted in my lower back to remove some fluid. The doctor evaluating the biopsy sample said that my white Blood cell count was way too high, and my red Blood cells were being squeezed out. He immediately sent me to the hospital to receive 2 Blood transfusions. There, I learned that my red Blood cell count was dangerously low.

Receiving my cancer diagnosis was devastating because I had always been in good health. Also, I had no idea what I should do next. The first oncologist I consulted advised me that my prognosis was very bad and that I only had 1 year left to live. My wife and I then scheduled appointments with other oncologists who told me to take a vacation while I could, since they also felt I had 1 year left to live. So far, there was no encouragement or path to take to survive.

Turning to bone marrow transplant for life-saving treatment

Eventually, my wife and I found an oncologist who provided some hope. I started Chemotherapy, which lasted for 14 months. When planning treatment, my oncologist said that I should think about receiving a bone marrow transplant after Chemotherapy because my cancer could come back much worse, and she typically only saw success with the Chemotherapy for about 14 months. She gave me hope that a transplant could save or prolong my life. So, my oncologist searched for a donor through the national bone marrow registry and found a donor who was a match.

In March 2014, I received the transplant. I spent 30 days in the hospital and had relatively few side effects. However, 6 months later, the transplant failed for unknown reasons. My red and white Blood counts dropped to 0. I was then put back on Chemotherapy while my doctor searched for another donor. But, unfortunately, another donor could not be found through the registry.

At that point, my oncologist advised that she had seen transplant success using stem cells from the children of the person with cancer. So, in September 2014, my younger daughter donated her stem cells. She spent a day in the hospital where they took her Blood through a machine. Her stem cells were taken out, and the rest of her Blood was returned to her body. After, I was given a Blood transfusion with her stem cells.

Recovering from my bone marrow transplant

After this transplant, the side effects were completely different from my first transplant. I could hardly walk and experienced rashes, coughing, blurred eyesight, uncontrollable hiccups, loss of appetite, muscle cramping, indigestion, numbness in my feet, and night sweats. But after 30 days, when I could walk again, I was released from the hospital.

Being home was not easy. Our home had to be thoroughly cleaned so that I would not develop an infection, and I had to be very careful of what I ate. There was a list of things I could not eat, including any deli meats, fruits like strawberries and raspberries that could not be properly washed, and any bakery products. My wife cooked all of our meals; we had absolutely no takeout food. I was also generally confined to my home for 1 year. If I went out, I had to wear gloves and a mask. I only went out to doctor visits.

After coming home, I still had low Blood counts, so I went to the cancer center weekly to receive Blood platelets to help stop me from bleeding and an injection to boost my white Blood cell count. It took months before I was feeling much better. I slowly returned to where I could start eating normally, going outside to walk, and seeing friends and relatives. I had to avoid any physical contact with them so that I wouldn’t get an infection.

Life after bone marrow transplant

It has now been nearly 11 years since I first received my leukemia diagnosis. I feel very good and back to an almost normal life. My brother got me started playing golf, and my wife and I walk every day. I used to be a runner, but that is something I am no longer able to do.

However, my cancer story does not end there. After my second transplant, I developed chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a sometimes serious disease that only affects people with cancer who have received a bone marrow transplant using donor cells. With GVHD, the donor cells attack your body. Thankfully, my case of chronic GVHD has not been very bad. The symptoms I have experienced include easily bruising, constant skin peeling, trouble swallowing, hardening and cracking of my toenails and fingernails, dry eyes, reduced lung capacity that makes it hard to breathe at times, tooth decay, and annoying white patches in my mouth. While this may sound terrible, it’s not as bad as it seems. After being through 2 transplants, I can certainly handle all of this because I am still here!

I have found that being positive is probably one key to getting better. What really helped me as I was navigating cancer treatment and survivorship was attending support groups, talking to other people with cancer who had either thought about having a bone marrow transplant or who had received one, and working as a patient advisor to a company that was developing a computer program to relieve stress in people with cancer. Now, I have a lot of good things to look forward to for the rest of my life.

The author has no relevant relationships to disclose.

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Cancer and Older Adult Program | Staff Feature

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cancerCare’s monthly staff feature recognizes the vital contributions of the many client-facing and behind-the-scenes teams that make our free programs and services possible.

This month, we’re excited to highlight cancerCare‘s Older Adult Program and Danielle S., cancerCare‘s Older Adult Program Coordinator. cancerCare‘s Older Adult Program provides information, resources and support to help older adults better cope with cancer. Our older adult resources include the Pen Pal Program and our upcoming Older Adult Book and Movie Clubs.

Name: Danielle S.
Title: Older Adult Program Coordinator
Team: Social Work
Team: Almost 5 years

What do you do at cancerCare?
I am a bilingual oncology social worker providing practical and emotional support to caregivers, patients and the bereaved.

What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite aspect of my job is establishing connections with my clients and fellow social workers. Building relationships with clients, being there for them during their challenging moments and offering support is a meaningful experience. Additionally, the sense of community and shared purpose among my colleagues creates a supportive and nurturing work environment. Being able to contribute to our client’s well-being and witnessing their resilience fills me with a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose.

What sets cancerCare apart from other organizations?
What sets cancerCare apart is its unwavering commitment to addressing the whole spectrum of challenges faced by individuals affected by cancer.

For example, our Sephora Brave Beauty program offers beauty and wellness resources, allowing individuals to feel confident and empowering them throughout their cancer journey. Additionally, our wigs and prosthesis clinics play a crucial role in enhancing their quality of life by providing access to items that may be financially burdensome. In addition, through initiatives like our Back-to-School and Winter Warmth programs, we aim to alleviate practical challenges that our clients frequently encounter.

cancerCare‘s commitment to compassionate support through many different programs shines through these initiatives. We strive to make a positive difference, ensuring our clients and their families feel cared for and supported throughout their cancer journey.

What is an important memory you have at cancerCare?
During the Winter Wonderland client party in 2019, I had the pleasure of connecting with a client on a deeper level, where we spoke about their diagnosis, treatment and the impact of cancerCare during this difficult time.

Over time, this client expressed their desire to seek counseling and specifically requested to work with me. The fact that our bond formed during the holiday party played a significant role in their decision was humbling and gratifying. It speaks to the importance of human connection and its positive effect on a cancer journey.

Moments like these reinforce my passion for my work and the incredible privilege of being a part of cancerCare.

What is something surprising about working at cancerCare?
One surprising aspect of working at a nonprofit is the incredible dedication of the staff in all departments. The passion and commitment displayed by staff members is remarkable. They invest their hearts into their work, demonstrating a deep sense of purpose and belief in the organization’s mission. This level of dedication creates a collaborative and supportive atmosphere where everyone comes together to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve.



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Biomarker To Help Improve Lung Cancer Treatment Identified

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Nonsmokers who develop lung cancer can be treated effectively with new drugs, but their tumors refuse to surrender without a fight. The drugs stop working in the long term because the tumors acquire secondary mutations that allow them to evade the medications’ therapeutic effect.

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>In Research published today in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, investigators from the Weizmann Institute of Science report findings that may lead to relapse-free treatment for a sizeable subgroup of lung cancer patients. In a study in mice, the scientists have identified a biomarker that may help physicians select lung cancer patients who can be treated with a single antibody-based drug that is likely to bring about full remission, without cancer relapse.

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“We have found a potential biomarker that may change the way patients with lung cancer are treated worldwide,” says Prof. Yosef Yarden of Weizmann’s Immunology and Regenerative Biology Department, who led the study. “Similar to how the presence of BRCA mutations predicts how breast and ovarian cancer patients will respond to drugs, the new biomarker might make it possible to match some lung cancer patients with the specific medication most likely to help them.”

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Focusing on the mutations that matter

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Most lung cancers are due to tobacco smoking, but the second-largest fraction of cases affects nonsmokers, and it’s characterized by mutations in a gene called EGFR. The current Research began when Dr. Ilaria Marrocco, then a postdoctoral researcher in Yarden’s lab, reviewed the literature from clinical trials and realized that all patients with EGFR-positive lung cancer were being treated using the same multidrug protocol – regardless of which of the 30 known EGFR mutations were harbored in their individual tumors. These patients eventually developed drug resistance that led to cancer relapse. Marrocco wondered whether, by sorting lung tumors according to specific EGFR mutations, it might be possible to create a more personalized drug protocol and achieve better results.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>”Similar to how the presence of BRCA mutations predicts how breast cancer patients will respond to drugs, the new biomarker might make it possible to match lung cancer patients with a specific medication”

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“Dr. Marrocco’s observation inspired us to search for a biomarker that would predict which patients would respond well to therapy, according to the specific mutations they carry,” says Yarden. The scientists decided to focus on one of the two most common gene variants associated with EGFR in lung cancer: the L858R mutation, in which a single amino acid, out of several hundred, is replaced with another one, at point 858 in EGFR. This mutation occurs in about 40 percent of lung cancer patients whose tumors are characterized by EGFR mutations.

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>The scientists chose to study L858R because, unlike other mutations that affect EGFR, it has a unique impact on EGFR function. “Unlike all other mutations, this mutation requires that receptors pair up in the cancer cell membrane, after which, signals instructing the cell to start replicating are sent to the nucleus,” Yarden explains. “Using a mouse model of lung cancer with the L858R mutation, we discovered that, if this pairing does not occur, it’s like a short-circuit – the signal to initiate cellular replication cannot be sent to the nucleus, and the tumor does not grow.”

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>The researchers then blocked the pairing by treating the mice with an antibody drug called cetuximab, known by its trade name Erbitux, developed on the basis of Research by Yarden and the late Prof. Michael Sela. Erbitux has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of colon and head and neck cancers.

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“After the treatment with Erbitux, the lung tumors of mice shrank and did not reappear, not even after a long while,” Yarden says. “These results indicate that, for the large number of human lung cancer patients who have the L858R mutation, a single drug might offer a path toward full recovery, without the devastating phenomenon of cancer relapse.”

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>The new study also explains why previous attempts to treat EGFR-mutated lung cancer with Erbitux had failed or, at best, produced conflicting results. Explains Yarden: “Since new EGFR inhibitors were approved as lung cancer drugs nearly 10 years ago, all patients now receive these anti-EGFR medications, irrespective of the identity and number of their EGFR mutations. They are highly effective for a while, but they permit the emergence of secondary mutations that accelerate cancer relapse. By the time Erbitux is given, it is usually ineffective because it can work only against certain EGFR mutations. Our study demonstrates the importance of preselecting lung cancer patients who can be effectively treated with Erbitux from the start, based on their mutation profile.”

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>The scientists say that the next step would be to launch a clinical trial to establish the effectiveness of this treatment for human lung cancer patients, something that will be made easier by the fact that Erbitux has already been approved for treating other cancer types. In the meantime, Yarden and Marrocco are excited about the potential for their Research to eventually have an impact on clinical practice. Marrocco: “The L858R biomarker could help save lives by offering physicians a way to provide personalized drug treatment for lung cancer patients who carry the relevant mutation.”

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Reference: Marrocco I, Giri S, Simoni-Nieves A, et al. L858R emerges as a potential biomarker predicting response of lung cancer models to anti-EGFR antibodies: Comparison of osimertinib vs. cetuximab. CR Med. 2023;0(0). doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101142

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Advances in Cancer Surgery



NIBIB grantee Dr. Quyen Nguyen, a head and neck surgeon at UCSD, discusses the development of new molecules that make tumors and nerves glow, making it easier for them to be identified during surgery.

More information – https://oncologyandcancerresearch.blogspot.com/

International Conference on Oncology and Cancer Research:- https://oncology.pencis.com/
Award Nomination link: https://x-i.me/oan
Abstract Submission link: https://x-i.me/srimonco

For Inquiries: oncology@pencis.com

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Cancer: A Chapter in the Story of Resilience



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A promising combination partner in treating hematological malignancies

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CDK9 Inhibitors: A promising combination partner in treating hematological malignancies
PET scan at screening (A), 5 months (B) and 8 months on treatment (C). Credit: Oncotarget (2023). DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28473

A new research perspective titled “CDK9 INHIBITORS: a promising combination partner in the treatment of hematological malignancies” has been published in Oncotarget.

In their new perspective, researchers Daniel Morillo, Gala Vega and Victor Moreno from Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz discuss cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) in hematological malignancies. CDKs belong to a family of serine/threonine kinases that need to form heterodimeric complexes with cyclins to perform their functions. These kinases are involved in multiple processes within cells, including cell cycle, apoptosis, transcription and differentiation. These kinases are often overexpressed in different malignancies, making them potential targets for new drugs.

Most hematological malignancies are characterized by overexpression of certain cancer-promoting genes, such as MYC, MCL1 and cyclin D1. Preclinical studies in animal models have shown that CDK9 inhibitors suppress the transcription of these anti-apoptotic and pro-survival proteins, and suggest their potential synergism with other drugs. In its first in-human trial, enitociclib demonstrated clinical activity in a small cohort of patients with high grade B Lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements, inducing complete responses in 2 of 7 subjects (29%) in monotherapy.






“In summary, most hematological malignancies are characterized by overexpression of certain cancer promoting genes, such as MYC and MCL1. CDK9 inhibitors are relatively new drugs that inhibit transcription of these anti-apoptotic and pro-survival proteins,” the researchers write.

More information:
Daniel Morillo et al, CDK9 INHIBITORS: a promising combination partner in the treatment of hematological malignancies, Oncotarget (2023). DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28473

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Citation:
CDK9 inhibitors: A promising combination partner in treating hematological malignancies (2023, August 9)
retrieved 10 August 2023
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-cdk9-inhibitors-combination-partner-hematological.html

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Cancer is a journey



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Legislation aims to increase research on lung cancer among women, improve screening access

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”> GO2 for Lung cancer praised lawmakers in the House and Senate for introducing a bipartisan bill that would increase Research focus on the impact of lung cancer among women.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>The Women and Lung cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2023 also aims to expand access to screening services and elevate national awareness of the disease, which remains the leading cause of cancer death among women.

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oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>The Women and Lung cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2023 aims to increase Research on women and lung cancer, as well as access to preventive services. Image: Adobe Stock

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“The time is now to transform survivorship for women impacted by lung cancer,” Laurie Fenton Ambrose, president and CEO of GO2 for Lung cancer, said in a press release from the organization. “This has been a core priority of ours for years and we are grateful to these elected leaders who are accelerating lifesaving change for our community.”

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>According to the release, the legislation calls for the secretary of health and human services, secretary of defense and secretary of veterans affairs to evaluate the status of and seek opportunities related to:

  • oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>Improved access to lung cancer preventive services; and
  • oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>A national public awareness and education campaign on lung cancer.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>On average, lung cancer receives $3,580 per death in NIH Research funding, compared with more than $19,050 per death for breast cancer, according to the release.

oncology.pencis.com/” target=”_blank”>“Lung cancer develops differently in women and men,” Ambrose said. “There are sex differences in many facets of the disease, including risk factors, clinical characteristics, progression and length of survival. Yet Research on these differences is far from conclusive — and woefully lacking. The result has limited opportunities to improve preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic practices. Increasing the investment in women’s health Research will reverse this this trend.”

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