Monday, 29 January, 2024
January Publications Update from the UCD Cancer Trials Cluster
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The publication of peer-reviewed articles is an important step in the research process. Not only does it communicate new findings in cancer research, it allows research to be subjected to independent expert review.
2024 has just begun but our researchers and collaborators have been busy publishing their research. Below we summarise just three of the seven publications that have been released this year so far.
If you would like to read more of the research produced by the UCD Cancer Trials Cluster's researchers and trial units, you can find our publication list on our 'what we do' page here.
1. Marital status, living arrangement, and survival among individuals with advanced prostate cancer in the International Registry for Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer
(opens in a new window)Link to article
Previous research has suggested that people with cancer have an increased level of survival when they have higher levels of social support. To explore whether this relationship exists in men with advanced prostate cancer, the researchers examined data collected as part of the IRONMAN registry study.
From this registry, 2,119 men were included in the current study. The study found that men who were married or in a civil partnership were more likely survive. Men who lived alone had lower survival rates.
Further research is needed to understand why marital status may act as a protective factor in advanced prostate cancer. Additionally, unmarried men with prostate cancer may be in need of additional supportive interventions.
2. Evaluation of ABT-751, a novel anti-mitotic agent able to overcome multi-drug resistance, in melanoma cells.
(opens in a new window)Link to article
Metastatic melanoma is a type of skin cancer that comes with a poor chance of survival. While immunotherapy is the standard of care, not all patients with metastatic melanoma are suitable for immunotherapy. Those individuals rely on chemotherapy which has limited effectiveness.
A type of chemotherapy, called taxanes, has shown promise in reducing cancer cell growth in the lab but has had limited effectiveness in clinical trials. This may be due to the cancer cells ‘pumping’ the drugs out of the cell, making the drug less effective.
The researchers in this study examined a compound called ABT-751 to see if it would reduce the cell’s pumping action.
The addition of ABT-751 to taxane (chemotherapy) treatment reduced cell growth and the pumping action that may make cancer cells resistant to treatment. The researchers suggest that ABT-751 deserves further research as a treatment for melanoma.
3. Tisotumab vedotin in combination with carboplatin, pembrolizumab, or bevacizumab in recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer: results from the innovaTV 205/GOG-3024/ENGOT-cx8 study.
(opens in a new window)Link to article
Treatment for recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer is not always effective, highlighting the need for further treatment options. The ENGOT trial aimed to find out if treatment with tisotumab vedotin (TV) can be safely and effectively combined with other anticancer therapies in cervical cancer to improve treatment outcomes in patients with advanced cervical cancer.
142 patients were enrolled on this phase 2 clinical trial. The primary goals of a phase 2 clinical trial is to assess safety, side effects, dosage, and an initial examination of how effective it is.
Findings of the ENGOT trial indicate that the new treatment combination is tolerated well by patients, was safe, and demonstrated initial evidence of being effective. However, further evidence is required before this treatment can be accepted.