Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Researchers study incidence of heterosis for different characteristics

When two gene pools combine, you might expect the characteristics of the offspring to end up somewhere in the middle between those of its parents. But children often have characteristics that are better or worse than that middle value, sometimes even better than both parents.

9 Dec 2009

Mouse model may help identify unknown mutations that make lung cancer cells resistant to therapy

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide and lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type. Many cases of lung adenocarcinoma are attributed to a mutation in a gene for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

9 Dec 2009

Multiple clinical study results of ABRAXANE to be presented by Abraxis BioScience

Abraxis BioScience, Inc., a fully integrated biotechnology company, today announced that multiple clinical studies of the chemotherapy agent ABRAXANE® for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) will be presented at the 32nd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), being held in San Antonio, Texas from December 9 to December 13.

9 Dec 2009

Transgenomic's SURVEYOR Scan K-RAS mutation detection kit launched

Transgenomic, Inc. announced today the launch of its SURVEYOR Scan K-RAS kit, the first in a family of mutation detection kits the company plans to offer featuring its proprietary SURVEYOR Nuclease and WAVE® HS DHPLC platform. SURVEYOR Scan technology is a novel approach to mutation detection that uses a PCR amplification reaction and hybridization to form heteroduplex DNA molecules in samples with K-RAS mutation.

9 Dec 2009

Multi-institutional study identifies potential treatment target for ovarian cancer

A multi-institutional study has identified a potential personalized treatment target for the most common form of ovarian cancer. In the December 8 issue of Cancer Cell, the research team describes finding that a gene called MAGP2 - not previously associated with any type of cancer - was overexpressed in papillary serous ovarian tumors of patients who died more quickly. They also found evidence suggesting possible mechanisms by which MAGP2 may promote tumor growth.

9 Dec 2009

Xanthohumol compound may aid in preventing prostate cancer

The natural compound xanthohumol blocks the effects of the male hormone testosterone, therefore aiding in the prevention of prostate cancer.

9 Dec 2009

Bird influenza viruses have a variety of strategies to cross the species barrier

The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus used a new strategy to cross from birds into humans, a warning that it has more than one trick up its sleeve to jump the species barrier and become virulent.

9 Dec 2009

New evidence finds link between nutrition, obesity and immune system

Fresh evidence that fatty food is bad for our health has come to light: mice fed a lard-based diet over a long period got worse at fighting bacteria in the blood, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.

8 Dec 2009

Combination of gene and cell therapy improves critical limb ischemia associated with aging or diabetes

Blood vessel blockage, a common condition in old age or diabetes, leads to low blood flow and results in low oxygen, which can kill cells and tissues. Such blockages can require amputation resulting in loss of limbs. Now, using mice as their model, researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed therapies that increase blood flow, improve movement and decrease tissue death and the need for amputation.

8 Dec 2009

MCG receives $1.8M stimulus grant

It's a $1.8 million shot in the arm to the largest grant the Medical College of Georgia has ever received.

8 Dec 2009

CombinatoRx presents encouraging results from its A2A and b2AR agonist programs for B-cell malignancies

CombinatoRx, Incorporated today announced that preclinical data from its Adenosine A2A receptor (A2A) and Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptor (b2AR) Agonist oncology programs demonstrated synergistic anti-cancer activity when combined with standard-of-care therapies in multiple myeloma and other B-cell malignancies.

8 Dec 2009

ASH meeting highlights H1N1 pandemic threat, new trends and treatment options for children with genetic blood disorder

Sickle cell disease, a condition characterized by deformed and dysfunctional red blood cells, is one of the most common genetic blood disorders affecting millions of people around the world, including more than 70,000 Americans (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

8 Dec 2009

Phase III CLL8 trial shows Rituxan plus FC chemotherapy improves patients with CLL

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, and Biogen Idec today announced that three-year follow up of the pivotal Phase III CLL8 trial showed Rituxan plus fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) chemotherapy helped patients in the trial with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) live longer than FC alone.

8 Dec 2009

Gene positions may offer a new method of cancer diagnosis

Certain genes switch their nuclear position in tumor cells, offering a potential new method of diagnosing cancer, say researchers from the National Cancer Institute. The study by Meaburn et al. will be published online December 7, 2009 (www.jcb.org) and in the December 14, 2009 print issue of the Journal of Cell Biology (JCB).

8 Dec 2009

New genetic approach may hold promise for sickle cell disease

A new genetic approach to treating sickle cell disease is showing promising results in mice, report researchers from Children's Hospital Boston. By inactivating a gene they previously discovered to be important in the laboratory, they were able to boost production of a healthy fetal form of hemoglobin in the mice, potentially compensating for the defective adult hemoglobin that causes red blood cells to "sickle" and obstruct blood flow.

8 Dec 2009

Study: Genetic variations in miRNA pathway may be used to predict secondary tumor in head and neck cancer patients

Eighteen single-point genetic variations indicate risk of recurrence for early-stage head and neck cancer patients and their likelihood of developing a second type of cancer, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reported at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference.

8 Dec 2009

Winner of the 2009 Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research

Calling his work "one of the most important findings in breast cancer and health disparities in the last decade," the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has named Charles M. Perou, Ph.D. the 2009 Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure-.

8 Dec 2009

JAK2 inhibitor can control myelofibrosis, report researchers

A first-in-its class oral medication provides significant and durable relief for patients with a rare, debilitating and lethal bone marrow disorder called myelofibrosis, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reported today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

8 Dec 2009

Animal study demonstrates how whole chromosome changes cause cancer

Mayo Clinic researchers have proven the longstanding theory that changes in the number of whole chromosomes -- called aneuploidy -- can cause cancer by eliminating tumor suppressor genes.

8 Dec 2009

Findings shed light on the genetic origins of diabetes

Pediatric researchers have found that a gene already implicated in the development of type 2 diabetes in adults also raises the risk of being overweight during childhood. The finding sheds light on the genetic origins of diabetes and may present an avenue for developing drugs to counteract the disease, which has been on the upswing in childhood and adolescence.

8 Dec 2009

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Researchers study incidence of heterosis for different characteristics

Mouse model may help identify unknown mutations that make lung cancer cells resistant to therapy

Multiple clinical study results of ABRAXANE to be presented by Abraxis BioScience

Transgenomic's SURVEYOR Scan K-RAS mutation detection kit launched

Multi-institutional study identifies potential treatment target for ovarian cancer

Xanthohumol compound may aid in preventing prostate cancer

Bird influenza viruses have a variety of strategies to cross the species barrier

New evidence finds link between nutrition, obesity and immune system

Combination of gene and cell therapy improves critical limb ischemia associated with aging or diabetes

MCG receives $1.8M stimulus grant

CombinatoRx presents encouraging results from its A2A and b2AR agonist programs for B-cell malignancies

ASH meeting highlights H1N1 pandemic threat, new trends and treatment options for children with genetic blood disorder

Phase III CLL8 trial shows Rituxan plus FC chemotherapy improves patients with CLL

Gene positions may offer a new method of cancer diagnosis

New genetic approach may hold promise for sickle cell disease

Study: Genetic variations in miRNA pathway may be used to predict secondary tumor in head and neck cancer patients

Winner of the 2009 Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research

JAK2 inhibitor can control myelofibrosis, report researchers

Animal study demonstrates how whole chromosome changes cause cancer

Findings shed light on the genetic origins of diabetes

eBook: Using iPSCs models for human disease research and drug discovery eBook

Exploring the role of confocal-based high-content imaging in advancing core facilities

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS