Tumors require a blood supply to grow, but how they acquire their network of blood vessels is poorly understood. A new study here shows that tumor blood vessels can develop from precancerous stem cells, a recently discovered type of cell that can either remain benign or become malignant.

A new gene therapy approach that attracts and “trains” immune system cells to destroy deadly brain cancer cells also provides long-term immunity, produces no significant adverse effects and — in the process of destroying the tumor — promotes the return of normal brain function and behavioral skills, according to a study conducted by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Board of Governors Gene Therapeutics Research Institute.

Diabetes is often characterized by a failure of insulin production by pancreatic Beta-cells to properly regulate glucose homeostasis. Insulin resistance can lead to β-cell failure, and our studies have focused on elucidating the mechanisms involved in this postnatal failure. This week in the open-access journal PLoS Biology, Katsuya Tanabe, James Woodgett, and M.

A new study of the burden of cholera in three impoverished regions of the world, published February 20 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, found that young children bear the brunt of the disease. The study also found that out of the three study sites- Jakarta (Indonesia), Kolkata (India), and Beira (Mozambique)-the African site had the highest incidence of cholera.

UCB and sanofi-aventis announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a New Drug Application (NDA) for XYZAL® (levocetirizine dihydrochloride) 0.5 mg/mL oral solution, a prescription antihistamine indicated for the relief of symptoms associated with indoor and outdoor allergies, as well as the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Inverseon, Inc. announces the publication of a rapid communication of groundbreaking research led by Professor Richard Bond of the University of Houston, Inverseon’s Scientific Founder. In the March article by Nguyen, et. al.

Gene expression technologies show “considerable potential for improving prognostic and therapeutic prediction” in early-stage breast cancer concludes a systematic review, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, of the three currently available commercial assays. “But more needs to be learned about the extent of that improvement….. and how they are best incorporated into decision making about current breast cancer treatment,” write the study’s authors Steven N.

If you are in the hospital and have cardiac arrest at night or on theweekend, you have a significantly lower chance of survival to dischargethan if you had the arrest during day or evening times on weekdays,according to Mary Ann Peberdy of Virginia CommonwealthUniversity in Richmond, VA and colleagues. The results oftheir study are published in The Journal of the AmericanMedical Association (JAMA).

Can-Fite BioPharma (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, is making progress in the development of its second pipeline drug, CF102, for the treatment of liver diseases and in particular liver cancer. The first dose cohort of a phase I clinical trial was successfully completed. Initiation of this phase I trial was enabled by a recently approved FDA IND application submitted by the Company.

PLx Pharma Inc. announced that is has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of PL 2100, also known as Aspirin-PC, its oral drug candidate for equivalent label claims for aspirin under a 505(b)(2) regulatory path. There are two active Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for PL 2100, for prescription and non-prescription uses, with this trial designed to address the regulatory requirements of both.