FDA OKs First Cellular Therapy for Melanoma
The FDA approved the cellular therapy lifileucel (Amtagvi) for the treatment of patients with previously treated unresectable or metastatic melanoma, the agency announced Friday. Lifileucel, a cellular therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), was approved through the accelerated approval pathway, and is the first FDA-approved tumor-derived T-cell immunotherapy, the FDA noted. “Unresectable or metastatic melanoma is […]
Nutrients direct intestinal stem cell function and affect aging
The capacity of intestinal stem cells to maintain cellular balance in the gut decreases upon ageing. Researchers at the University of Helsinki have discovered a new mechanism of action between the nutrient adaptation of intestinal stem cells and ageing. The finding may make a difference when seeking ways to maintain the functional capacity of the […]
Nutrients drive cellular reprogramming in the intestine
Researchers have unveiled an intriguing phenomenon of cellular reprogramming in mature adult organs, shedding light on a novel mechanism of adaptive growth. The study, which was conducted on fruit flies (Drosophila), provides further insights into dedifferentiation — where specialized cells that have specific functions transform into less specialized, undifferentiated cells like stem cells. Until now, […]
Flip-flop genome
Our DNA acts like a blueprint for the cellular machinery that lets cells, organs, and whole organisms function. Mutations in the DNA can result in genetic diseases. Such genetic variation can include point mutations at a single site, as well as deletions, duplications, and inversions. The term ‘inversion’ describes a piece of DNA flipping its […]
Cellular therapy improves signs and symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Clinical trial results promising for people with the debilitating disorder
A clinical trial at UC Davis Health and six other sites showed that a cellular therapy offers promise for patients with late-stage Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disorder causing muscle loss and physical impairments in young people. The therapy appears to be safe and effective in stopping the deterioration of upper limb and […]
Abnormal response to cellular stress is associated with Huntington’s disease
A new University of California, Irvine-led study finds that the persistence of a marker of chronic cellular stress, previously associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), also takes place in the brains of Huntington’s disease (HD) patients. Chronic cellular stress results in the abnormal accumulation of stress granules […]