Biopsy News and Research

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Biopsy is the removal of cells or tissues for examination by a pathologist. The pathologist may study the tissue under a microscope or perform other tests on the cells or tissue. There are many different types of biopsy procedures. The most common types include: (1) incisional biopsy, in which only a sample of tissue is removed; (2) excisional biopsy, in which an entire lump or suspicious area is removed; and (3) needle biopsy, in which a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle. When a wide needle is used, the procedure is called a core biopsy. When a thin needle is used, the procedure is called a fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Liquid biopsy provides physicians with up-to-date information about patient's cancer

A team of researchers, including scientists from the Translational Genomics Research Institute, has reported that analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can track how a patient's cancer evolves and responds to treatment.

5 Nov 2015

Tumour DNA in the blood can accurately monitor cancer in real time

Scientists have shown for the first time that tumour DNA shed into the bloodstream can be used to track cancers in real time as they evolve and respond to treatment, according to a new Cancer Research UK study published in the journal Nature Communications today (Wednesday).

4 Nov 2015

UCSD researchers suggest that cancer-related mutations common in patients with low blood counts

Patients with unexplained low blood counts and abnormally mutated cells who do not fit the diagnostic criteria for recognized blood cancers should be described as having clonal cytopenias of undetermined significance (CCUS), suggest University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers in a recent paper published in the journal Blood.

4 Nov 2015

Alnylam presents positive ongoing phase 2 open-label extension data for Patisiran and Revusiran

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced new results from its ongoing Phase 2 open-label extension (OLE) studies with patisiran and revusiran, investigational RNAi therapeutics targeting transthyretin (TTR) for the treatment of TTR-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis).

3 Nov 2015

Common heart drug may halt progression of angiosarcoma

A common heart drug may stop the progression of angiosarcoma, a cancer of the inner lining of blood vessels, according to a study by researchers at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.

3 Nov 2015

Cancer DNA in patient's bloodstream could help deliver personalized treatment for liver cancer

Fragments of cancer DNA circulating in a patient's bloodstream could help doctors deliver more personalized treatment for liver cancer, Japanese researchers report.

2 Nov 2015

RNA profiles of tumor-educated platelets may diagnose cancer, identify potential therapeutic approaches

Analysis of tumor RNA carried in platelets - blood components best known for their role in clotting - may prove to be more useful than other "liquid biopsy" technologies for diagnosing cancer and determining its primary location and potential therapeutic approaches.

31 Oct 2015

Revolutionary prostate biopsy approach more accurate at diagnosing prostate cancer

A revolutionary prostate biopsy approach uses fewer needles and is more accurate for diagnosing prostate cancer. It is done during a real time MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan that clearly shows suspicious sites. When done by an expert radiologist using a highly powerful magnet, only a minimum number of needles are used to sample suspicious abnormalities.

26 Oct 2015

IPF-PRO Registry data sheds light on characteristics of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceutical, Inc. today announced initial results of the first 49 people enrolled in the IPF-PRO Registry, which shed light on characteristics of people with IPF at the time of diagnosis.

23 Oct 2015

Michelson Diagnostics’ VivoSight OCT scanner provides accurate diagnosis of early-stage BCC, reduces skin biopsies by 36%

Michelson Diagnostics, a medical device company focused on applications of multi-beam Optical Coherence Tomography technology, today announces data showing that use of its VivoSight OCT scanner significantly improves diagnosis of basal-cell carcinoma at an earlier stage and reduces diagnostic biopsies by 36%.

22 Oct 2015

Bioengineers develop continuously tunable method to find and quantify DNA, RNA biomarkers

A Rice University laboratory has developed a continuously tunable method to find and quantify DNA and RNA biomarkers.

20 Oct 2015

APBI brachytherapy improves overall survival in selected patients with early stage breast cancer

The Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (GEC-ESTRO) today announced results from a prospective, randomized, multicenter phase III study comparing accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) with interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy to whole breast irradiation (WBI).

20 Oct 2015

Sequenom enters into clinical collaboration with CU School of Medicine

Sequenom, Inc., a life sciences company committed to enabling healthier lives through the development of innovative products and services, today announced that it has entered into a clinical collaboration with the University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine.

19 Oct 2015

Antibiotic resistance potentially threatens the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures and immunosuppression therapies

This week The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal published the strongest evidence to date that increasing antibiotic resistance could have disastrous consequences for patients undergoing surgery or cancer chemotherapy. Based on a review of published literature, researchers predict that a 30% reduction in the efficacy of the prophylactic antibiotics routinely given when these procedures are performed could result in 120,000 more infections and 6300 infection-related deaths every year in the USA alone.

16 Oct 2015

EKF’s PointMan™ used in cancer biopsy research

EKF, announces results from a study involving EKF Molecular’s PointMan™ DNA enrichment technology have been published in Clinical Cancer Research.

From EKF Diagnostics 15 Oct 2015

New ATA guidelines for managing adult patients with thyroid nodules and DTC published in Thyroid journal

New, evidence-based recommendations from the American Thyroid Association will help guide clinicians in managing patients with thyroid nodules, a common disorder that requires evaluation to distinguish benign nodules from malignancy, interpret biopsy results and molecular marker studies, and initiate risk assessment and cancer screening.

15 Oct 2015

ATA announces research grants to support projects proposed by young researchers

The American Thyroid Association is pleased to announce that grants have been awarded to support projects proposed by leading young researchers. Three of these projects involve the genetic analysis of thyroid tumors carrying the BRAFV600E mutation, which is associated with the development of some forms of thyroid cancer and increased risk for distant metastases, more advanced disease, and higher mortality.

13 Oct 2015

MiNDERA closes $1 million Seed financing round

MiNDERA Corp., a leader in non-invasive molecular diagnostics for dermatology and skin-related cancers, announced today the close of its $1 million Seed financing round. Scientific Health Development and other individual investors are among MiNDERA's new investors. This financing round will enable MINDERA to further validate its proprietary micro-needle technology and prepare for the launch of its first research products.

12 Oct 2015

Physicists use diamonds to detect early-stage cancerous tumours

Physicists from the University of Sydney have devised a way to use diamonds to identify cancerous tumours before they become life threatening.