Physician-scientist recognized for groundbreaking research on how the microbiome influences cancer treatment response HOUSTON ― Jennifer Wargo, M.D., professor of Surgical Oncology and Genomic Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) for her contributions to the understanding of melanoma treatment response and resistance to cancer therapies, including groundbreaking discoveries that reveal how the gut microbiome influences responses to immunotherapy. Established originally as the Institute of Medicine in 1970 by the National Academy of […]
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Antiviral T Cells Safe And Effective For Treating Debilitating Complication Common After Stem Cell Transplants
Cell therapy may provide off-the-shelf treatment for cancer patients with BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis A Phase II trial led by researchers at found that BK virus (BKV)-specific T cells from healthy donors were safe and effective as an off-the-shelf therapy for BKV-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV-HC), a painful complication common after allogeneic stem cell transplants for patients with leukemia or lymphoma. The study was published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Infusion of T cells targeting BKV resulted in rapid responses, […]
Combination therapy significantly improves survival outcomes for patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Adding targeted therapy to chemotherapy in Phase III trial is safe, results in 66% complete remission rate A combination regimen of venetoclax and azacitidine was safe and improved overall survival (OS) over azacitidine alone in certain patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to the Phase III VIALE-A trial led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The results were presented in the virtual 25th European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Congress and were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. The […]
Adoptive T-cell therapy ADP-A2M4 targeting MAGE-A4 shows early activity in patients with advanced solid tumors
MD Anderson-led Phase I trial of Adaptimmune T-cell receptor therapy sees confirmed responses in multiple cancer types HOUSTON ― The adoptive T-cell therapy ADP-A2M4, which is engineered to express a T-cell receptor (TCR) directed against the MAGE-A4 cancer antigen, achieved responses in patients with multiple solid tumor types, including synovial sarcoma, head and neck cancer and lung cancer, according to results from a Phase I clinical trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Among […]
Combination therapy well-tolerated and highly effective for patients with IDH1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Findings suggest AML treatments may be tailored to individual molecular profiles HOUSTON – A combination therapy of ivosenidib (IVO) plus venetoclax (VEN) with or without azacitidine (AZA) was found to be effective against a specific genetic subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a Phase Ib/II trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The results of this trial may support a novel course of action for patients with AML harboring an IDH1 […]
Residual cancer burden after neoadjuvant therapy can accurately predict breast cancer survival
Abstract: GS5-01 SAN ANTONIO ― Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today reported results from a pooled analysis of more than 5,100 breast cancer patients that found residual cancer burden (RCB) continuous index and classification were independently and strongly prognostic for all breast cancer phenotypes. The study’s results were presented by W. Fraser Symmans, M.D., professor of Pathology, during the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. “This meta-analysis indicates that continuous RCB index is an accurate and […]
Study of tagraxofusp reports 90 percent response rate for deadly blood cancer with no prior available therapies
HOUSTON ― An open-label, multi-cohort Phase II trial, led by investigators at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, reports that treatment with the drug tagraxofusp resulted in high response rates in patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), a rare but highly aggressive – and often fatal bone marrow and blood disorder – for which there are no existing approved therapies. Study findings were published in this week’s online issue of the New England […]
Patrick Carter, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.F.P. New Board Member of American Heart Association Houston Division Board
HOUSTON (March 18, 2019) – The American Heart Association’s mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives – and it starts with solid leadership. Patrick Carter, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.F.P., Chief of Family Medicine and Medical Director of Care Coordination and Quality Improvement at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, began a two-year term as a board member of the American Heart Association Houston Board in November 2018. Dr. Carter joins a robust team of […]
Liquid biopsy as effective as tissue biopsy for non-small cell lung cancer according to MD Anderson study
Test more accurately identifies four mutations for which FDA-approved drugs exist and offers faster turn-around time between initial testing and commencement of therapy A multi-center study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center revealed that a liquid biopsy test called Guardant360®, is comparable to standard tissue biopsies in detection of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), has a faster turn-around time, and has the potential to more specifically pinpoint biomarkers crucial for molecular therapy. […]
MD Anderson notes passing of Waun Ki Hong – innovator, mentor, colleague
Former Cancer Medicine leader leaves a high-impact legacy for cancer patients, physicians HOUSTON – Waun Ki Hong, M.D., a trail-blazing physician-scientist and mentor whose clinical research innovations led to successful organ-sparing cancer treatment, advanced the field of targeted therapy and launched chemoprevention, died Wednesday at his home in California. Hong, 76, retired from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center as head of the Division of Cancer Medicine in 2014. He remained as a […]