Two studies published back to back in Nature have looked at the accumulation of mutations in blood-forming stem cells with age, gaining new insights into how the overall landscape of such cells changes across the lifespan.
Detecting the spread of cancer is a high priority for most health systems, but the U.K. National Health Service currently has a limited range of options when it comes to detecting breast metastases. That may change soon thanks to a review by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which may endorse the use of the Sentimag system with Magtrace.
Getinge AB is acquiring 100% of the equity in fluorescence imaging company Fluoptics SAS, a company using the technology as an aid to surgery. Getinge will, through its subsidiary Getinge Infection Control SAS, acquire all outstanding shares in Fluoptics and will pay around $27 million in cash on closing the deal.
As the American Urological Association (AUA) annual meeting prepares to kick off on May 12, newly published prostate cancer guidelines recommend two tests to help clinicians and patients determine the best path forward for treatment—or waiting. The latest AUA guidelines incorporated Exact Sciences Corp.’s Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) test for risk-stratification of localized prostate cancer, while the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) added Cleveland Diagnostics Inc.’s Isopsa test to help identify high-grade early prostate cancer before a biopsy or after a negative biopsy result.
The short-term future is a little clearer for Israeli precision oncology startup Oncohost Ltd. now that it has closed a $35 million series C fundraising round. The new infusion more than doubled the previous amount raised, bringing total investment to more than $50 million. The company plans to use the funds to expand its PROPHETIC trial of the company’s machine learning-based host response profiling platform, Prophet, to additional locations worldwide and new indications.
With cancer treatment success rates rising, the field of precision oncology is poised to grow as clinicians aim to move treatment from a one size fits all approach to personalized treatment regimens. Israeli startups including Oncohost Ltd., Nucleai Ltd. and Gina Life Diagnostics Ltd. are part of an emerging wave of companies utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques to personalize the future of cancer diagnostics.
Isono Health Inc. received FDA clearance for its Automated Three-dimensional Ultrasound with Artificial intelligence (ATUSA) system for breast imaging, a wearable, compact automated whole breast ultrasound system that can acquire high-quality images without requiring a skilled operator. The ultrasound scan takes two minutes to scan the entire breast volume and offers 3D visualization of the breast tissue.
Researchers have uncovered a new pathway via which cancer cells evade the effects of radiation by deploying self-inflicted – but reversible – DNA breaks to stop the cell cycle and ensure their survival. The lesions are caused by caspase-activated DNase (CAD), an enzyme involved in DNA fragmentation during cell death. In response to radiation, tumor cells activate CAD, causing genome-wide DNA breaks at sites involved in DNA repair.
Canada’s federally-funded Digital Technology Supercluster is joining with industry to invest CA$17.8 million (US$13.9 million) in an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technologies program to advance personalized treatment for patients with cancer.
The Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, has just been awarded funding from the European Research Council to establish proof of concept for new type of flat-plate positron emission tomography scanner (PET) that can be attached to the patient’s body to accurately monitor cancer proton therapy results in real time.