Join Promaxo in Celebrating World Cancer Research Day
In 2016, 10 of the world’s preeminent cancer-related organizations made the decision to band together to raise awareness for one of the industry’s most important causes. With groups like the Spanish Association Against Cancer, American Association for Cancer Research and the National Cancer Institute leading the charge, World Cancer Research Day was born. Those organizations (and supporters like Promaxo) have celebrated the event on September 24 each year in an attempt to amplify the value of cancer research.
In doing our part to honor the movement, we’ve scoured the cancer landscape to identify a few of what we consider to be the top discoveries of 2021. Given our affinity for innovation that supports prostate cancer prevention and treatment, don’t be surprised if you see the prostate cancer world well represented below.
Cancer-targeting viruses are on the horizon
Dr. Paul Fisher is a National Foundation for Cancer Research fellow who has dedicated his entire career to fighting the spread of cancer within the body. In June, Dr. Fisher took a monumental step toward achieving that goal when he published a study that involves a theranostic approach.
This novel strategy uses an engineered cancer therapeutic virus that is designed to kill cancer cells. After identifying the cancerous cells, the virus replicates itself until the bad cells die—all without causing any damage to healthy cells. As the National Foundation for Cancer Research writes, one of the most astounding aspects of Dr. Fisher’s work is that his team is now using an imaging gene to locate where the cancer resides.
The other part of Dr. Fisher’s work that the Promaxo team was especially excited to read was that this innovation offers great promise for prostate cancer management. If all goes as planned, imaging scans of the prostate should be able to confirm whether the therapeutic virus is shrinking the cancerous cells, providing peace of mind for the patient.
Treatment for halting acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia, also known as AML, is one of the most rapidly advancing cancers. In fact, this blood cancer that causes bone marrow to produce abnormal myeloid blood cells has proven fatal in just weeks if left untreated. But one new research study out of the U.K. may have found an answer to slow it down.
Prof. Tony Kouzarides of the Milner Therapeutics Institute and the Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge told Medical News Today that he and a team of researchers identified a drug-like molecule “that can inhibit the action of a key enzyme involved in the development and maintenance of AML.”
Kouzarides later explained that the team believes their drug can block the resulting cancerous effect that occurs due to overexpression of the METTL3 enzyme.
Physical activity is key for reducing the effects of “chemobrain”
Exercise has long been the recommendation of physicians counseling their patients on how to live a healthier lifestyle. But now comes word that exercise could also provide mental clarity for patients whose bodies are currently staving off the physical effects of cancer. Back in August, the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Currents blog reported on new research that studied the cognitive experiences of people undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.
The results, which were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that those who “met the minimum national physical activity guidelines before and during chemotherapy had better cognitive function immediately and six months after chemotherapy than people who did not meet the guidelines.”
The term “chemobrain” is typically used to describe the fogginess that often accompanies patients undergoing chemotherapy. However, this research indicates that exercise can be nearly as instrumental in keeping cancer patients as mentally fit as it can physically fit.
New options a possibility for advanced prostate cancer
Thanks to cancer research, there may be a new option to address one of the most advanced and hardest-to-treat forms of the disease. A research study from June found that treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer using Lu-PSMA-617 resulted in patients living longer than those who received standard therapies.
Lu-PSMA-617 is one of many new therapies called radiopharmaceuticals that consist of a trio of a radioactive molecule, a targeting molecule, and a link to connect the two. According to the study’s lead investigator, these results suggest making Lu-PSMA-617 a “new treatment option for this patient population.” Not only did the study show that the treatment could extend the lives of patients, but the modality was generally well-tolerated among participants.
Promaxo supports cancer research and World Cancer Research Day
The official World Cancer Research Day motto is: “For the future of cancer research, don’t stand still. We won’t...Make your move.” At Promaxo, we understand the importance of cancer research and how we must continue to push forward with innovative new ways to identify and treat cancer.
Our company is committed to improving men’s lives and prostate health with a seamless and patient-friendly process that confirms a prostate cancer diagnosis. We’re excited about not only the future of our company but what’s in store for cancer research (especially prostate cancer research), and we’re proud to support World Cancer Research Day.
You can join us in that support by signing the World Declaration for Cancer Research as we all move forward toward a tomorrow without cancer.
