Chromosome News and Research

Latest Chromosome News and Research

Ventana Medical receives FDA approval for new breast cancer genetic test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new genetic test that will help health care professionals determine if women with breast cancer are HER2-positive and, therefore, candidates for Herceptin, a commonly used breast cancer treatment.

15 Jun 2011

Research reveals how humans of different ancestry process polyunsaturated fat

Over the past decade, much progress has been made regarding the understanding and promise of personalized medicine. Scientists are just beginning to consider the impact of gene-diet interactions in different populations in regards to disease prevention and treatment.

15 Jun 2011

Researchers investigate the role of PlGF in mice with chronic myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a particular form of leukemia or cancer of the bone marrow, which can be treated with targeted imatinib. However, in some cases this medicine has no effect. Researchers at the VIB Vesalius Research Centre, K.U. Leuven, under the direction of Peter Carmeliet, have investigated the role of placental growth factor (PlGF) in mice with CML.

14 Jun 2011

Positive preliminary results from CytRx bafetinib Phase 2 trial for relapsed B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, today announced that preliminary results from its ENABLE Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial demonstrated that bafetinib, the Company's Bcr-Abl, Lyn and Fyn kinase inhibitor, was clinically active in a group of patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) who have failed several other treatments for their cancer.

13 Jun 2011

Incyte announces additional results from ruxolitinib Phase III trial on myelofibrosis

Incyte Corporation announced today additional symptom improvement and quality of life (QoL) results from COMFORT-I, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase III trial of Incyte's JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, in patients with myelofibrosis (MF).

13 Jun 2011

Scientists pioneer way to find more chromosomal aberrations in tumors

Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project scientists pioneer way to find more chromosomal aberrations in tumors; results likely to advance understanding of cancer.

13 Jun 2011

Autism caused by hundreds of different genetic mutations: Study

New research shows that autism is not caused by one or two gene defects but probably by hundreds of different mutations, many of which arise spontaneously. This comes from the study that has examined the genes of more than 1,000 families.

9 Jun 2011

Single molecule telomerase activator could extend human cell life indefinitely

When expressed (turned on), the gene (hTERT) located on Chromosome number 5p15.33 activates the enzyme telomerase. Human cells can keep living and dividing indefinitely when telomerase is continually present; i.e. the cells become immortal. Telomerase Activation Sciences, Inc. (T.A. Sciences®) announces TA-65® can extend human cell life indefinitely. TA-65® is a single molecule telomerase activator that turns on the Immortality Gene under controlled laboratory conditions.

8 Jun 2011

Mother's blueberry consumption can improve mammary gland health in offspring

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded studies of mammary gland development in laboratory rats fed blueberries or other foods of interest may aid breast cancer research.

8 Jun 2011

Increased blood clotting tendency linked to elevated bowel cancer risk

Back in the mid 19th century, a French doctor, Armand Trousseau, discovered a connection between cancer and thrombosis - the formation of often dangerous blood clots that can lead to venous occlusion.

7 Jun 2011

Incyte seeks FDA marketing approval of ruxolitinib for myelofibrosis

Incyte Corporation announced today that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for its lead investigational compound, ruxolitinib (INCB18424), to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

6 Jun 2011

Researcher finds thyroid cancer gene inhibits spread of malignant cells

A mutant gene long thought to accelerate tumor growth in thyroid cancer patients actually inhibits the spread of malignant cells, showing promise for novel cancer therapies, a Mayo Clinic study has found.

6 Jun 2011

Incyte's ruxolitinib Phase III trial data on myelofibrosis presented at ASCO 2011

Incyte Corporation announced today results from the global, pivotal Phase III clinical program of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

6 Jun 2011

Scientists identify chromosomal mutation responsible for excessive hair growth

Researchers in the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), together with scientists in Beijing, China, have discovered a chromosomal mutation responsible for a very rare condition in which people grow excess hair all over their bodies.

4 Jun 2011

ARIAD's ponatinib initial Phase 1 study data on acute myeloid leukemia to be presented at ASCO 2011

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced initial clinical findings on ponatinib in patients with advanced acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

3 Jun 2011

Study provides insights into evolution and origins of MRSA

A distinctly new type of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that is not detected by traditional genetic screening methods has been discovered in patients in Irish hospitals according to research to be published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

3 Jun 2011

Seaside Therapeutics commences STX209 Phase 3 study in fragile X syndrome

Seaside Therapeutics, Inc. announced today the initiation of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study to evaluate the effects of STX209 on social impairment in adolescents and adults with fragile X syndrome.

2 Jun 2011

SMPX gene mutation causes hereditary hearing impairment

Excessive noise is not the only thing that causes damage to hearing. In many cases, genetic factors are responsible for the loss of hearing at a young age. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin together with colleagues from Nijmegen have discovered a previously unknown genetic cause of progressive hearing impairment: the disease is caused by mutations of the SMPX gene, which is located on the X chromosome.

1 Jun 2011

Study finds novel site within MS4A gene cluster, confirms presence of SNP linked with Alzheimer's

Recently the number of genes known to be associated with Alzheimer's disease has increased from four to eight, including the MS4A gene cluster on chromosome 11.

31 May 2011

Lipidomic profiling can lead to better and earlier prediction of major diseases

Studying the genetic make-up of different varieties of lipids in the blood plasma of an individual can lead to a better and earlier prediction of diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and heart disease, two researchers will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today.

30 May 2011