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What We're Reading: Biden Will Announce Launch of Open-Access Cancer Database
What we're reading, June 6, 2016: Vice President Joe Biden will announce the launch of an open-access cancer research database, and a new bill in Congress would allow companies to repurpose existing drugs for rare diseases.
An open-access cancer database for researchers will contain raw genomic and clinical data for 12,000 patients, initially. According to The Washington Post, the Genomic Data Commons will continue to add records as researchers contribute to it and will include data on the molecular makeup of cancers, which treatments were used and how the patients responded. Vice President Joe Biden, head of the Obama administration’s cancer moonshot initiative, has warned that research silos slow progress and that open access to data is critical.
A new bill in Congress would allow companies to repurpose existing drugs for rare diseases, which will be quicker and more economical that starting from scratch. The OPEN ACT (Orphan Product Extensions Now Accelerating Cures and Treatments) could potentially double the number of treatment options available to the 30 million Americans affected by 7000 rare diseases, according to an opinion piece published in The Seattle Times. With FDA oversight, the legislation would make therapies safely available to people who need them instead of prescribing therapies “off-label.”
Unmet Needs Remain in Secondary AML Following Treatment With HMAs
January 18th 2025The study demonstrated a poor prognosis overall for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who were previously treated with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) for myeloid neoplasms such as myelodysplastic syndromes.
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High HSP60 Expression Signals Poor Prognosis, Aggressive Tumors in Ovarian Cancer
January 16th 2025High heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) expression in patients with ovarian cancer is associated with larger tumors, advanced stages, and worse survival outcomes, highlighting its potential as a prognostic biomarker.
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