Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have developed a way to study gestational disease thanks to a breakthrough that mimics pregnancy using miniature organ models made up of human cells embedded onto silicon surfaces.   The team, led by Dr. Ramkumar Menon, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, used these devices to successfully test drugs for conditions like preterm birth and pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. This breakthrough in preclinical research is...

Everybody could use a third arm sometimes, but for some, it would be particularly helpful. Mechanical engineers at the University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering have built a handy extra limb able to grasp objects and go, powered only by compressed air. It’s one of several ideas they’ve implemented with a textile-based energy harvesting system.   The proof-of-principle robotic devices designed and built by Daniel Preston, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, lead authors Rachel...

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Radiopharm Theranostics announced the launch of Radiopharm Ventures, LLC, a joint venture created to develop novel radiopharmaceutical therapeutic products for cancer.   Radiopharm Ventures brings together MD Anderson’s innovative and proprietary technologies in antigen discovery and molecular imaging with Radiopharm’s expertise in developing radiopharmaceutical products. The joint venture will focus initially on developing at least four therapeutic products based on MD Anderson intellectual property.   “Radiopharmaceuticals continue to...

Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) have limited therapeutic options and a poor prognosis. Alkylating-based chemotherapy — which causes DNA damage to prevent cell division — initially improves survival in SCLC but has toxic side effects and cancers eventually develop resistance. Newer platinum-based chemotherapy has lower toxicity, but cancers still become resistant. In a new study, Pawel Mazur, Ph.D., and colleagues performed pharmacologic and proteomics screens to identify the protein methyltransferase SMYD3 and its new substrate RNF113A as previously unrecognized mediators...

Advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) often metastasizes in the peritoneal cavity, and peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) treatments are mostly ineffective. Understanding the molecular signaling pathways that affect immune response in the tumor microenvironment could help improve therapeutic strategies. SOX9, a highly expressed gene in GAC and PC, is a known downstream target of oncogenic signaling pathways, but its influence on the immune system has been poorly understood. Researchers led by Shumei Song, M.D., Ph.D., used bulk RNA sequencing as well...

Current colorectal cancer (CRC) guidelines recommend surveillance colonoscopies at one year and 48 months after surgical resection, but these guidelines do not account for age at diagnosis. As the incidence of young-onset (diagnosed at or before age 50) CRC has risen worldwide, researchers have hypothesized that patients with spontaneous (non-hereditary) young-onset CRC could have an elevated risk for multiple, independent malignancies, known as metachronous colorectal pathology. This retrospective, single-institution study, led by Oliver Peacock, B.M.B.S.,...

In a study, researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch and collaborative institutions suggest an mRNA vaccine approach that can provide broad protection against existing and future COVID-19 variants.   Emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants has posed constant challenges to the current COVID-19 vaccines. But by developing a vaccine that targets two viral proteins rather than one, scientists at UTMB may have found a way to combat the variants.   “Our data showed that dual spike...

Researchers from Rice University and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered potential new drugs that work in concert with other drugs to deliver a deadly one-two punch to leukemia.   The potential drugs are still years away from being tested in cancer patients, but there are innovative methods that led to their discovery.   In previous studies, the research groups of Rice biochemist Natasha Kirienko and MD Anderson physician-scientist Marina Konopleva screened some 45,000...

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumors generally display specific genetic alterations that cause cancer cells to increase the metabolism of glutamine. Dual targeting of glucose and glutamine metabolism by the mTOR inhibitor everolimus, plus the glutaminase inhibitor telaglenastat, showed preclinical synergistic anticancer effects. The Phase II ENTRATA study, led by Nizar Tannir, M.D., enrolled 69 patients with a median of three prior lines of therapy for advanced metastatic disease, including 100% with two or more prior...

During DNA replication, topoisomerase proteins (TOPs) play a critical role in making temporary DNA-strand breaks so they can be untangled and made accessible to the replication machinery. Some chemotherapies, such as camptothecin work by trapping TOPs on the DNA, causing sustained breaks and cell death. The TDP1 protein can help repair this damage, but it is not clear what other players may be involved in this process. A new study led by Huimin Zhang, Ph.D.,...