Retinoic acid may improve immune response against melanoma

retinoic acid
Retinoic acid may improve immune response against melanoma — an article from Science Daily.

Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) play an important role in tumor progression. In cancer patients, the presence of MDSCs is associated with low survival rates and tumor recurrence.

MDSCs have a remarkable ability to suppress T-cell responses and to modulate the fate of multiple cells of the innate immune system. MDSCs utilize multiple mechanisms targeting the effector functions of cells involved in both the innate and adaptive immune responses to suppress anti-tumor immunity.

As stated in the article, retinoic acid stimulates MDSC to differentiate into immune-supporting cells. In addition, All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is a potent differentiating agent, stimulating cancer stem cells to differentiate into less aggressive/resistant cells.

In the new study that has just started enrollment, All-trans retinoic acid (brand name – Vesanoid), is being used at a dose of 150 mg/m2 orally for 3 days surrounding each of the first four infusions of pembrolizumab. There are multiple studies that are ongoing, evaluating the combination of ATRA with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, ranging from doses of 20 mg/m2 up to 150 mg/m2.

ATRA is not specific to the treatment of melanoma; it may be used as an adjunct when treating any cancer.

 

August 15th, 2019

Posted In: cancer care

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New Research Finds That Routine Breast Cancer Tests Lead to Unnecessary Mastectomies and Chemotherapy

breast cancer

New Research Finds That Routine Breast Cancer Tests Lead to Unnecessary Mastectomies and Chemotherapy – an article from Cancer News.

This article may temper the celebrity-endorsed enthusiasm for prophylactic mastectomies for those with BRCA mutations. In addition, another study out of Duke Cancer Institute followed women with a BRCA mutation who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, with one group having prophylactic mastectomies, and the other group receiving routine screening (mammograms/MRIs); you can read the article here.

Results: For women diagnosed at any age with BRCA 1 and 2 gene mutations and within the first four years after ovarian cancer diagnosis, prophylactic mastectomy was associated with a negligible gain in survival. For women diagnosed at age 60 or older, regardless of time since ovarian cancer diagnosis, the gain in survival months was also negligible. For women diagnosed at age 40 to 50 with BRCA 1 and 2 mutations and at least five years after an ovarian cancer diagnosis, the procedure was associated with a survival benefit of two to five months.

Bottom line: Although prophylactic mastectomy in BRCA gene mutation carriers has shown to decrease breast cancer incidence, the data does not confirm an increase in survival.

 

June 11th, 2019

Posted In: cancer care, Cancer Prevention

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About the Doctor

Dr. Mark Rosenberg received his doctorate from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1988 and has been involved with drug research since 1991.