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New Experimental Pill Offers Hope For People With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer 

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A new novel pill is reportedly helping people with advanced pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest, live longer, according to new research recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

“While not curing the cancer, it is a very large step forward,” said Dr. Zev Wainberg of the University of California, Los Angeles, who helped lead the study. 

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The new drug is called daraxonrasib, and it works by blocking a mutated protein that fuels tumor growth in over 90% of pancreatic cancer cases. Pancreatic cancer is also known for being very deadly with very little viable treatment options. 

The pills are meant to be taken daily and have shown to nearly double one’s survival time with fewer side effects in a study that randomly assigned the experimental drug or more chemotherapy to 500 patients with metastatic cancer that have stopped responding to other treatments, according to reports from AP. 

The research showed that those who took daraxonrasib lived for an average of 13.2 months compared with 6.7 months for chemotherapy recipients. Dr. Wainberg said while this may seem like a small improvement, it marks the first drug to show a substantial advantage over chemotherapy. 

“Having treated pancreatic cancer for 16 years, I actually started crying when first seeing the study results,” Dr. Rachna Shroff of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, said at the ASCO meeting. 

“[I was struck by how] patients stayed on this treatment because it was providing a durable and meaningful benefit to them.”

The pills’ effects eventually decrease but those taking it for significantly longer than the chemotherapy group reported less pain and a better quality of life. Many continued to use the medications after the data was analyzed. Dr. Wainberg stated this means the survival gap may widen as researchers continue to track them. 

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Dr. Brian Wolpin, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, presented the findings and said “the drug should become a new standard of care” for previously treated metastatic pancreatic cancer. Researchers also will explore its use earlier in the disease, including to see if tumor shrinkage might let more patients qualify for surgery,” AP reported. 

He also said the side effects most likely to impact the treatment course were a rash that can become severe and mouth sores. 

The Food and Drug Administration is planning to expedite their review of the drug because of its success. It was developed thanks to funding from Maker Revolution Medicines. The agency is granting “expanded access” to the drug for patients who meet the criteria. 

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms due to the fact that it’s hard to detect before it starts spreading throughout the body. The American Cancer Society estimates around 67,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the US this year with more than 52,000 people dying from the disease. 

Pancreatic cancer is also harder to treat and doesn’t respond to chemotherapy the same way other cancers do. This drug is leaving a lot of experts very optimistic about the future of treating this deadly disease, as well as other cancers.

Paralympic Medalist Danelle Umstead On Redefining Strength Through Battling MS And Blindness 

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“MS has taught me to redefine my strength.” Paralympic Skier and medal winner Danelle Umstead is talking about her life and the challenges she’s overcome to make the most out of the opportunities she’s been given.

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Nick Jonas On Always Being Open About His Diabetes And Helping Others

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Being open about parts of his personal life and health is nothing new to Nick Jonal, as he always wanted to be candid with his fans about his type 1 diabetes since he first received his diagnosis at 13.

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Google DeepMind Unveils AI Tool To Help Scientists Identify Genetic Drivers Of Disease 

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Google DeepMind has recently launched their newest artificial intelligence tool that they’re claiming will help scientists identify the genetic drivers of disease to ideally create new treatments.

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DeepMind is a “team of scientists, engineers, ethicists, and more working to build the next generation of AI systems safely and responsibly, By solving some of the hardest scientific and engineering challenges of our time” the company is “working to create breakthrough technologies that could advance science, transform work, service diverse communities – and improve billions of people’s lives.” 

The newest tool is known as AlphaGenome and it predicts how mutations interfere with the way genes are controlled, changing when they are switched on in which cells of the body, and whether their biological volume controls are set to high or low, according to reports from the Guardian. 

AlphaGenome could potentially be a game changer for treating a multitude of different diseases and disorders. Heart disease, autoimmune disorders, cancers, and mental health issues all are linked to mutations impacting gene regulation, but it’s difficult for experts to specifically identify which genetic mutations are responsible. 

In a press briefing regarding the new research and tool, DeepMind researcher Natasha Latysheva stated: 

“We see AlphaGenome as a tool for understanding what the functional elements in the genome do, which we hope will accelerate our fundamental understanding of the code of life.”

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The researchers trained AlphaGenome using public databases of both human and mouse genetics. This allowed the tool to learn connections between mutations in specific tissues, as well as their impact on gene regulation. 

The human genome has about 3 billion pairs of letters that comprise the DNA code. The AI can analyze up to 1 million letters of DNA code at once to predict how mutations will affect different biological processes, reports state. 

The team behind DeepMind believes that the tool will be able to help scientists map out which specific strands of genetic code are the most essential for the development of particular tissues, and pinpoint the most important mutations for driving cancer and other diseases. 

Carl de Boer, a researcher who was not involved in the work, said: 

“AlphaGenome can identify whether mutations affect genome regulation, which genes are impacted and how, and in what cell types. A drug could then be developed to counteract this effect.”

“Ultimately, our goal is to have models that are so good we don’t have to do an experiment to confirm their predictions. While AlphaGenome represents a significant innovation, achieving this goal will require continued work from the scientific community.”

New Simple Blood Test Can Predict Which Breast Cancer Treatment Would Work Best For Patients

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According to a new study, scientists have developed a simple DNA blood test that can predict how well certain breast cancer treatments will work for patients, offering up the most effective options to boost the individual’s chances of beating the disease.

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New Study Finds That Exercise Could Be As Effective As Medication In Treating Depression 

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According to results of a new study, exercise and moving your body could help relieve symptoms of depression at an equal level as medication.

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Scientists Say They Have Fully Reversed Alzheimer’s In Mice 

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Alzheimer’s disease impacts more than seven million Americans, devastating their cognitive ability and overall identity. It’s a highly researched disease that even the biggest minds in science and healthcare are continuing to learn more about. 

Now, a team of American scientists are claiming that they’ve “cured” lab mice suffering from the disease, a monumental step towards the future of fighting Alzheimer’s and, potentially, other cognitive diseases. 

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According to a new paper in the journal Cell Reports Medicine. Scientists from Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), University Hospitals, and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, researchers administered rodents with the compound P7C3-A20 leading to the reversal of Alzheimer’s. 

“The key takeaway is a message of hope — the effects of Alzheimer’s disease may not be inevitably permanent. The damaged brain can, under some conditions, repair itself and regain function.” said Andrew A. Pieper, the study’s principal investigator in a statement. 

This research is a part of a much larger wave of new lab studies that are working to help treat, and even cure, Alzheimer’s and other neurological issues. 

University of Edinburgh neuroscience professor Tara Spires-Jones, who wasn’t part of this study, told the BBC “scientists are closer than ever to a truly life-changing treatment — in as little as five to 10 years; instead of a slow death where people lose themselves. New tests will detect the condition early and innovative treatments will really make your life normal.”

Scientists have been moving closer and closer to understand the causes of Alzheimer’s, looking at factors such as genetics, environment, and other stressors. 

According to Sharon Adaro of Futurism Magazine, “In the P7C3-A20 study, the scientists focused on the impact of the crucial molecule NAD+, a coenzyme important for driving cellular metabolism and which decreases as we age. 

Patients with Alzheimer’s suffer from a significant decrease of NAD+ in the brain, and hence their brain cells have trouble maintaining normal functionality, staving off inflammation, and canceling other physical hallmarks of the disease,” Adaro wrote. 

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In this study, the team looked at two types of lab mice that were genetically bred to be predisposed to Alzheimer’s. The groups were differentiated based on which specific proteins they had that contained mutations causing them to be predisposed. The team injected P7C3-A20 into both groups when they were two months old. 

As the mice aged, they didn’t develop the disease. Additionally, the team injected the compound into a batch of lab mice who were six months old and suffering from an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s. 

After that group received their injections, they completely recovered their cognitive ability as well as NAD+ levels were completely restored to normal levels. 

“We were very excited and encouraged by our results,” said Pieper in the statement. 

“Restoring the brain’s energy balance achieved pathological and functional recovery in both lines of mice with advanced Alzheimer’s. Seeing this effect in two very different animal models, each driven by different genetic causes, strengthens the new idea that recovery from advanced disease might be possible in people with AD when the brain’s NAD+ balance is restored.”

“What’s also good about this study is that P7C3-A20 offers an alternative pathway to boosting NAD+ levels versus taking over-the-counter chemical precursors for NAD+, which can raise NAD+ to such toxic levels that people could develop cancer,” Pieper said.

NHS Hospitals Will Test AI Tools To Diagnose And Treat Prostate Cancer 

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A new tool that uses artificial intelligence is being tested in NHS hospitals. The tool is meant to help diagnose men with prostate cancer and guide decisions regarding their specific treatment course. 

Prostate Cancer UK provided £1,900,000 ($2,474,550.50) to the Vanguard Path study which is being led by University of Oxford researchers. The study, according to reports, is expected to last for three years and will test a new AI tool called the ArteraAI Prostate Biopsy Assay. 

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The researchers are planning to take biopsies from over 4,000 men. The tool is meant to analyze digitized biopsy images to format a personalized risk score for each patient to determine if they have a high-risk for prostate cancer. This score will also determine who can benefit from the drug aburaterone. 

The tool has already been utilized in clinical trials, one of which took place in the US that suggests it can also be used for less aggressive forms of prostate cancer to predict which men are most likely to benefit from having hormone therapy and radiotherapy. 

Even further, the tool can likely help identify which patients don’t need immediate treatment and can instead be closely monitored. 

“If and when this gets implemented, you could use one tool irrespective of where you are on the aggressiveness scale, to make a very clinically and life-enhancingly important decision for each of those men,” said director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, Dr. Matthew Hobbs. 

Dr. Hobbs also mentioned that the tool is already being widely used in the US.  

In the new study within NHS hospitals, prostate biopsy samples from men already diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer will be used. These samples also come from men with suitable follow-up data, so researchers can further analyse the success of the tool when applied further to patients in the UK. 

North Bristol NHS trust, Oxford University hospitals NHS foundation trust, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be testing the tool. 

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“Biopsies will be analyzed, the treatment choices will be made, and the man will start treatment. But at the same time, the NHS clinicians will be given a readout from this tool and asked: ‘If you had this, would you have recommended the same treatment or not?’” said Hobbs.

“A good outcome from this is that this tool is implemented in the NHS. However, for that to happen, it has to be shown to be scientifically valid, cost-effective, and make a difference to treatment decisions,” he said. 

Professor Gerhardt Attard, from the University College London who was not part of the trial but involved in the study around abiraterone, said this research is important based on the existent results. 

“When you take that to the real NHS world, there are a number of challenges and differences that would inevitably arise and that’s what this study will address,” he said.

Ashley Dalton, the minister for public health and prevention, said:

“This groundbreaking research could be a huge step forward, demonstrating the power of technology to potentially transform lives and improve cancer outcomes.”

“This is exactly why we’re investing in a digital NHS. By harnessing AI and moving beyond outdated systems, we can transform cancer care – diagnosing earlier, treating more effectively, and improving patient experience.”

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Long Covid Symptoms Comparable To Parkinson’s And Stroke, According To New Study 

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The World Health Organization defines long Covid as symptoms that are lasting at least three months after initial infection. The illness has become an ongoing battle for many individuals around the world from the pandemic, and while health experts and scientists have learned more about it in the past four years, there’s still a lot unknown regarding the intricacies of long Covid. 

A lot of the research surrounding long Covid has been focused around the symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog. Now, a new study from Australia published in the Australian Journal of Primary Health showed how limited individuals suffering from long Covid are in their daily life. 

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Long Covid impacts about 6% of people who have been infected with Covid-19. There have been more than 200 symptoms recorded. For some people, it lasts a few months, for others known as “long haulers” it can stretch into years. 

Past studies have shown that long Covid reduces quality of life to levels that parallel chronic fatigue syndrome, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and Parkinson’s disease. 

This new study specifically surveyed 121 adults across Australia that are living with long Covid and initially were infected with Covid-19 between February 2020 and June 2022. Most of the individuals were aged 36 to 50 and were never hospitalized and able to manage their illness at home. 

Researchers asked the participants to complete two surveys that are used in health research to measure disability and quality of life known as the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule and the Short Form Health Survey. 

Both of the surveys work to paint a full picture of people’s lived experiences to show researchers what it truly means to live with these symptoms and how they impact their everyday life. 

The people who were surveyed with long Covid reported worse disability than 98% of the general population in Australia. 86% of the individuals with long Covid met the criteria for serious disability compared to 9% of Australians overall. 

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Reports show that people, on average, have trouble with daily activities about 27 days a month and are unable to function for about 18 days. While those surveyed said they could meet some basic needs, they didn’t have the ability to contribute to their homes, workplaces, and communities. 

Overall quality of life scores were 23% lower than the general population. 

Another study that surveyed people across 13 countries found similar levels of disability, and found that women have higher disability scores than men. 

Long Covid has no specific diagnostic test, and individuals suffering with it are often met with skepticism by their health professionals when it comes to their symptoms and its daily impact. 

There are some advancements being made to take long Covid more seriously, but so many are still suffering in the meantime. A 2023 parliamentary long Covid inquiry estimated hundreds of thousands of Australians are living with long Covid, and around the world the numbers are much higher. 

The researchers are stating that there needs to be developed services that are based on real peoples lived experiences. There needs to be accessible tools for people to manage fatigue, brain fog, and the ways in which long Covid impacts everyday life. 

Medical Cannabis

Medical Cannabis Shows It Can Not Only Treat Cancer Symptoms, But The Disease Itself 

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In the largest study ever published investigating medical cannabis as a treatment for cancer, researchers found a large amount of scientific support for cannabis’s potential to treat both cancer symptoms and the course of the disease’s progression as well. The study was published this week in Frontiers in Oncology.

“The intention of the analysis was to solidify agreement on cannabis’s potential as a cancer treatment,” said Ryan Castle, research director at the Whole Health Oncology Institute and lead author of the study. 

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“Our goal was to determine the scientific consensus on the topic of medical cannabis, a field that has long been dominated by a war between cherrypicked studies,” Castle said to the Guardian.

The study itself received funding by Cancer Playbook, an organization that works with the Whole House Oncology Institute to collect, analyse, and share data. 

In the past, it’s been difficult for scientists to pursue researching cannabis and how it can help cancer and other diseases since it’s considered a Schedule 1 narcotic, which means its not currently accepted for medical use and has a high potential for abuse, according to the DEA. 

“In order to move beyond bias – conscious or not – it was essential to use a large-scale, radically inclusive methodology based on mathematical reasoning,” Castle said.

“We wanted to analyze not just a handful, but nearly every major medical cannabis study to find the actual points of scientific agreement.”

Castle discussed that his study looked at 10,000 other studies on cannabis and cancer. 

“[It was] 10 times the sample size of the next largest study, which we believe helps make it a more conclusive review of the scientific consensus.”

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Castle and his team utilized artificial intelligence to help researchers see how many studies had positive, neutral, or negative views on cannabis’s ability to treat cancer symptoms and the disease itself. One of the biggest symptoms that cannabis helps with is the lack of appetite cancer patients have from their treatments. 

The study also showed an “overwhelming” support that cannabis can be used as a treatment for inflammation, appetite loss, and nausea associated with cancer. It also showed that cannabis can be used to fight the cancer cells themselves. 

“That’s a shocking degree of consensus in public health research, and certainly more than we were anticipating for a topic as controversial as medical cannabis,” Castle said.

Looking towards the future, Castle is hoping that his analysis of 10,000 studies and the outcomes he’s receiving will encourage the US DEA to complete the process of reclassifying cannabis so it is no longer federally illegal. This way, Castle and researchers like him can do more in depth analysis on how cannabis can be utilized to treat cancer, and even other diseases. 

“We are not arguing that the standards for adopting new cancer treatments should be lower. We are arguing that medical cannabis meets or exceeds those standards, often to a greater extent than current pharmaceutical treatments.”