Patients with high-grade ovarian cancer and uterine serous cancer (USC) often respond well to surgery and chemotherapy. At first.

But these can be highly aggressive tumors that often spread into the space within the abdomen known as the peritoneal cavity. According to a recent study, one rare but aggressive type of uterine cancer is propelling an increase in deaths from the disease in the United States, particularly among Black women.

Moreover, resistance to chemotherapy often develops, and the disease recurs. This results in ovarian cancer causing more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.

For one possible treatment, clinical trials demonstrated the effectiveness of injecting a drug known as epothilone B (EB) into the abdominal cavity, targeting tumor cells that have grown resistant to standard chemotherapy medications. However, the drugs high toxicity when delivered this way causes severe side effects, preventing further use.

Now, thanks in part to research begun more than a decade ago with funding from Womens Health Research at Yale, our colleagues are closing in on a way to deploy effective cancer-fighting medication safely with the help of ultra-tiny non-toxic biodegradable objects known as nanoparticles. Developed by Dr. W. Mark Saltzman, the Goizueta Foundation Professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, these nanoparticles have organic chemicals on their surface that allow them to stick to cells in the abdominal cavity so they are not cleared from the area before they can do their job.

With bioadhesive nanoparticles, we can safely entrap a drug and deliver it so it slowly releases in a high concentration, directly to our target, over a long time, Saltzman said. By localizing the delivery of the drug, we are decreasing toxicity and increasing effectiveness.

With data funded through WHRYs grant, Drs. Saltzman and Alessandro Santin, professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, secured funding from the National Institutes of Health to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of this technique in a model system, publishing their results in 2016.

Saltzman then partnered with Dr. Michael Girardi, Evans Professor of Dermatology, to develop a non-surgical treatment for skin cancer using injections of nanoparticles carrying a chemotherapy agent. In a paper published last year, they demonstrated the capacity for this method to bind to the tumors and kill a significant number of cancer cells. In addition, the treatment involves triggering an immune response to rid the body of cancer cell waste and respond against any remaining cancer cells.

Drs. Saltzman and Girardi founded a company called Stradefy Biosciences, which has licensed patents to this technology from Yale, while continuing to develop these techniques for clinical use.Dr. Nita Ahuja, William H. Carmalt Professor of Surgery and chair of surgery, serves as an advisor for abdominal cancer applications.

We are thrilled that the work we sponsored many years ago continues to produce such varied applications for serious health concerns, said WHRY Director Carolyn M. Mazure, PhD. This is the model for how investing in Yales most innovative and collaborative individuals can produce steady progress that will improve and even save lives.

Dr. Saltzman also used a WHRY grant to create a vaginal ring that provides contraception while protecting against sexually transmitted infections. Yale has filed a patent application on this unique ring design, and Saltzman continues to seek funding to further develop the product and possibly adapt it to treat endometriosis.

The type of funding WHRY provides is critical for the innovation-based work I do, Saltzman said. I could say, We are going to make these particles with this unique property. But to get substantial buy-in from a company or the NIH, you need to have the data to demonstrate that this works. Early funding, particularly for collaborative projects with unproven technologies, is critical.

More:
Using Particles That Are Smaller Than the Head of a Pin to Treat Cancer - Yale School of Medicine

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Stem Cell Assays Market by Type (Viability, Proliferation, Differentiation, Apoptosis), Cell Type (Mesenchymal, iPSCs, HSCs, hESCs), Product & Service (Instrument), Application (Regenerative Medicine, Clinical Research), End User - Global Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The stem cell assay market is projected to reach USD 4.5 Billion by 2027 from USD 1.9 Billion in 2022, at a CAGR of 17.7% during the forecast period.

The growth of the market is projected to be driven by collaborations and agreements among market players for stem cell assay products & services, the launch of new stem cell analysis systems such as flow cytometers, and increase in R&D expenditure by biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

The viability/cytotoxicity assays accounted for the largest share of the type segment in the stem cell assays market in 2021

Cell viability assays help to determine the number of live and dead cells in a culture medium. The viability/cytotoxicity assays include various types such as tetrazolium reduction assays, resazurin cell viability assays, calcein-AM cell viability assays, and other viability/cytotoxicity assays. The cell viability/cytotoxicity market is likely to be driven by rising R&D spending on stem cell research, an increase in demand for stem cell assays in drug discovery, and development of new stem cell therapies..

The adult stem cells segment accounted for the largest share of the cell type segment in the stem cell assays market in 2021.

Adult stem cells account for the largest share of the stem cell assay market. The adult stem cells include mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and neural stem cells. The growth of the adult stems cells segment is driven by the increasing usage of adult stem cells in regenerative medicine and the development of advanced therapies.

Asia Pacific: The fastest-growing region in the stem cell assays market

The Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment of the market, owing to the rising prevalence of cancer & other diseases, increasing R&D spending on biopharmaceutical projects, and focus on developing stem cell-based therapies. In this region, China and Japan are the largest markets.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights

4.1 Stem Cell Assays Market Overview

4.2 North America: Stem Cell Assays Market, by Product & Service and Country (2021)

4.3 Stem Cell Assays Market Share, by Type, 2022 Vs. 2027

4.4 Stem Cell Assays Market Share, by Application, 2021

4.5 Stem Cell Assays Market: Geographic Growth Opportunities

5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Market Dynamics

5.2.1 Drivers

5.2.1.1 Increasing Awareness About Therapeutic Potency of Stem Cells

5.2.1.2 Increasing Funding for Stem Cell Research

5.2.1.3 Rising Demand for Cell-Based Assays in Drug Discovery

5.2.1.4 Collaborations and Agreements Among Market Players for Stem Cell Assay Products & Services

5.2.1.5 Rising Incidence of Cancer

5.2.2 Restraints

5.2.2.1 Issues in Embryonic Stem Cell Research

5.2.2.2 High Cost of Stem Cell Analysis Instruments

5.2.3 Opportunities

5.2.3.1 Emerging Economies

5.2.3.2 Government Initiatives to Boost Stem Cell Research

5.2.4 Challenges

5.2.4.1 Lack of Infrastructure for Stem Cell Research in Emerging Economies

5.2.4.2 Dearth of Trained and Skilled Professionals

5.3 Ranges/Scenarios

5.4 Impact of COVID-19 on Stem Cell Assays Market

5.5 Trends/Disruptions Impacting Customers' Business

5.6 Pricing Analysis

5.6.1 Average Selling Prices of Products Offered by Key Players

5.6.2 Average Selling Price Trend

5.7 Technology Analysis

6 Stem Cell Assays Market, by Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Viability/Cytotoxicity Assays

6.3 Isolation & Purification Assays

6.4 Cell Identification Assays

6.5 Proliferation Assays

6.6 Differentiation Assays

6.7 Function Assays

6.8 Apoptosis Assays

7 Stem Cell Assays Market, by Cell Type

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Adult Stem Cells

7.3 Human Embryonic Stem Cells

8 Stem Cell Assays Market, by Product & Service

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Instruments

8.3 Kits

8.4 Services

9 Stem Cell Assays Market, by Application

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Regenerative Medicine & Therapy Development

9.3 Drug Discovery & Development

9.4 Clinical Research

10 Stem Cell Assays Market, by End-User

11 Stem Cell Assays Market, by Region

12 Competitive Landscape

13 Company Profiles

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hvgp4o

Go here to see the original:
Stem Cell Assays Market Report 2022-2027: Increasing Awareness About Therapeutic Potency of Stem Cells Driving Growth - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

A common plant from west Africa works as a treatment for sickle cell disease, new research has found.

Scientists at Aberystwyth University isolated a chemical in the Alchornea cordifolia plant, also known as the Christmas Bush, which could help relieve the symptoms of the life-threatening and painful disease suffered by 15,000 people in the UK.

In sufferers of sickle cell anaemia, red blood cells change from their usual soft disc shape to a curved "sickle" shape and also become sticky and hard, which means they don't move properly around the body.

Blood is blocked from flowing, particularly to joints, the chest and abdomen, leading to severe pain, swelling of hands and feet, delayed growth and problems with eyesight, among other symptoms. It can lead to stillbirth and is also fatal in some cases.

A genetic disease, it is more common among people of African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent, with over 20m people around the world affected.

In Nigeria around 150,000 children are born with sickle cell anaemia each year. Half of them are likely to die before their 10th birthday.

Juice from the plant, which grows widely across the tropical regions of Africa, has been used in a "blood tonic" as a traditional remedy for generations, but it has never been scientifically proven to work until now.

Dr Olayemi Adeniyi, a researcher at the university who suffers from the condition herself, interviewed traditional healers from south western Nigeria, who said the plant had been used for years as a treatment.

Leaves are crushed manually or blended, and can also be brewed into a tea.

Dr Adeniyi said the research had shown that quercitrin, the active ingredient in the plant, could both prevent and reverse the "sickling" caused by the disease.

She said: "Until now there has been no scientific proof of the plants effectiveness.

The research is particularly important because so many people affected by sickle cell disease live below the poverty line and have no access to medicine. The plant grows in bushes and is relatively easy to grow on fertile land - all you need are seeds.

Its crucial that people in the countries affected, Africa in particular, hear that this plants benefits have now been scientifically proven. Our findings show that this is a treatment that has firm scientific foundations, not just psychological ones.

Existing treatments are expensive, and some involve blood transfusions. It can only be cured with a stem cell or bone marrow transplant, but this is rarely done because of the risks involved.

The finding "could inform efforts directed to the development of an anti-sickling drug", the paper concluded.

The study formed part of an Aberystwyth University project looking at the scientific effectiveness of traditional and herbal remedies, which has also focused on developing new antibiotics to counter the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.

Professor Luis Mur, who led the research, said: "We're running out of drug leads. There is a recognition, especially with diseases, that they are evolving, and they're evolving through misuse of antimicrobials for example, and so we need to look at new sources.

"So let's go back to where traditional practices have actually given a hint that this particular plant or fungus has some efficacy."

The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.

See the article here:
Sickle cell disease could be treated with common plant, study finds - The Telegraph

From left, Vincent Cryns, Mo Chen and Richard A. Anderson. Photo by Tianmu Wen

Two of the most common genetic changes that cause cells to become cancerous, which were previously thought to be separate and regulated by different cellular signals, are working in concert, according to new research from the University of WisconsinMadison.

To date, researchers have focused on finding drugs that block one or the other to treat cancer. Understanding their cooperative effects may lead to more effective treatments.

Cells muster a protein, called p53, which acts inside the cell nucleus to respond to stress, but mutations of the gene that produces p53 are the most frequent genetic abnormalities in cancer. Mutations activating a cellular pathway called PI3K/Akt, located on the surface of cells, are also often implicated in runaway cell growth in cancer.

Outlined in green, this nucleus of a cancerous cell contains DNA in blue and red blobs marking the cells p53 protein binding with parts of the Akt cellular signaling pathway, a partnership that will prevent the cancerous cell from dying as it should and instead prolong its life and lead it to divide into more cancer cells. Image by Mo Chen

Cellular signaling pathways allow cells to accomplish important communications tasks that maintain healthy cell functions. The process is a bit like sending mail, which requires a specific series of steps and appropriate stamps and marks on the envelope to deliver a letter to the correct address.

A team led by UWMadison cancer researchers Richard A. Anderson and Vincent Cryns has discovered a direct link between the p53 and PI3K/Akt pathways. The findings, published today in the journal Nature Cell Biology, identified links in the pathways that make promising targets for new cancer treatments.

We have known for some time that lipid messenger molecules that activate the PI3K/Akt pathway found in membranes are also present in the nucleus of cells, says Anderson, a professor at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. But what they were doing in the nucleus separate from membranes was a mystery.

Mo Chen, an associate scientist and first author of the new study, used chemotherapy drugs to stress cancer cells and damage their DNA as they were replicating, or creating new copies of themselves (which cancer cells do often). She discovered that proteins called enzymes that are part of the PI3K/Akt pathway bind to the mutated p53 protein in the nucleus of the cell and attach lipid messengers to p53, showing the two are directly linked.

Instead of entering apoptosis the proactive process of cell suicide which removes damaged cells the cancer cells repaired their chemotherapy-damaged DNA and went on growing and dividing, promoting cancer growth.

These results also have critical implications for cancer treatment,

Vincent Cryns

Our finding that the PI3K/Akt pathway is anchored on p53 in the nucleus was entirely unexpected, says Cryns, a physician-scientist and professor at UW School of Medicine and Public Health.

The PI3K/Akt pathway was thought to be confined to membranes.

These results also have critical implications for cancer treatment, Cryns says. Current treatments that target PI3K may not work because they operate on a different enzyme than the one in the pathway the research team discovered.

The enzyme in the new pathway is called IPMK and rendering it inactive keeps p53 proteins from binding with and activating the Akt pathway, like correcting the address on an envelope so it doesnt go to the wrong place. This prevents the pathway from benefitting cancer cells, making IPMK a promising new drug target.

The researchers, whose work is supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, have also identified another enzyme, called PIPKIa, that is a key regulator of both p53 and Akt activation in the cell nucleus.

The team had previously shown that PIPKIa stabilizes the p53 protein, allowing it to be active. When PIPKIa was turned off, p53 levels inside the cell fell sharply. In the new study, the team showed that blocking PIPKIa by genetic approaches or a drug triggered cancer cell death by preventing p53 from activating Akt in the cell nucleus.

What this means is that drug inhibitors of PIPKIa will reduce mutant p53 levels and block Akt activation in the nucleus, potentially a very powerful one-two punch against cancer cells, Cryns says. Their team is actively searching for better PIPKIa drug inhibitors that could be used to treat cancers with p53 mutations or abnormally active PI3K/Akt pathway.

In addition to searching for drugs to block the newly discovered cancer pathway, the scientists are investigating whether other proteins in the cell nucleus are targets of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

We know other nuclear proteins are modified by lipid messengers like p53, but we have no idea how broad the landscape is, Anderson says.

However, the evidence suggests that this could be a feature shared among many kinds of cancers, a mechanism we are calling a third messenger pathway, he adds.

This research was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R35GM114386), the Department of Defense (W81XWH-17-1-0258, W81XWH-17-1-0259, W81XWH-21-1-0129) and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Continue reading here:
Unexpected link between most common cancer drivers may yield more effective drugs - University of Wisconsin-Madison