Scientists identify receptor in cells that could be key to preventing cancer drug-induced hearing loss
University of Alberta scientists have identified a receptor in cells that could be key to preventing permanent hearing loss in childhood cancer survivors who are being treated with the drug cisplatin. The researchers believe by inhibiting the receptor, they may be able to eliminate toxic side-effects from the drug that cause the hearing loss.
Cisplatin is an incredibly effective chemotherapeutic when it comes to treating solid tumors in children, contributing to an 80 per cent overall survival rate over five years, according to U of A researcher Amit Bhavsar, an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology. The problem has always been with the side-effects. Nearly 100 per cent of patients who receive higher doses of cisplatin show some degree of permanent hearing loss. The ability to prevent this side-effect would dramatically improve the quality of l
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IMAGE: University of Alberta researcher Amit Bhavsar is leading a team that has identified a receptor in cells that could be key to preventing permanent hearing loss in childhood cancer survivors. view more
Credit: William Au
University of Alberta scientists have identified a receptor in cells that could be key to preventing permanent hearing loss in childhood cancer survivors who are being treated with the drug cisplatin. The researchers believe by inhibiting the receptor, they may be able to eliminate toxic side-effects from the drug that cause the hearing loss.
Cisplatin is an incredibly effective chemotherapeutic when it comes to treating solid tumours in children, contributing to an 80 per cent overall survival rate over five years, according to U of A researcher Amit Bhavsar, an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology. The problem has always been with the side-effects. Nearly 100 per cent of patients who receive higher
Micorscope is used by researcher who use her hands holding and adjusting while science research in laboratory
Researchers at University of Alberta have uncovered a link between the expression of the protein galectin-9 (gal-9) and whether a cancer patient will benefit from immunotherapy.
The discovery could help inform physicians about which patients will likely respond to immunotherapy, and lead to better treatment options.
Shokrollah Elahi, a member of the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA), collaborated with oncology professor John Walker on Phase 2 clinical trial that examined 40 patients with virus-associated solid tumours (VASTs) who were put on immunotherapy.
They found there was a direct link between patients with high levels of gal-9 and those who had a poor prognosis and did not respond to immunotherapy. Further, patients with lower levels of gal-9 responded better to treatment.
Gene Editing Expands to New Types of Immune Cells
Gladstone researchers fine-tuned CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to work on human immune cells called monocytes
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SAN FRANCISCO, May 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ In the decade since the advent of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, researchers have used the technology to delete or change genes in a growing number of cell types. Now, researchers at Gladstone Institutes and UC San Francisco (UCSF) have added human monocytes white blood cells that play key roles in the immune system to that list.
A team of scientists at Gladstone Institutes and UC San Francisco led by Alex Marson (left) and Nevan Krogan (right) fine-tuned CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to help understand how the human immune system fights viruses and microbes.
By @TobyChilliShow
May 10, 2021
Jarad Schofer, a math teacher at St. Albans School in Northwest, is trying to walk 3,000 miles from coast to coast to raise money for the Cancer Research Institute.
He began his walk on March 14 of this year in Santa Monica, California, and he has made his way so far through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas with a goal to reach Virginia Beach in about 35 days.
Currently, the 43-year-old teacher is in Oklahoma, was inspired to attempt this feat after recently losing a colleague to pancreatic cancer.
Schofer has received a ton of support from the school he teaches at and even encountered people along the way who have donated to his cause, provided food, and even shelter for a night.