Publications - Page 5 of 5

‘Next big wave’: Radiation drugs track and kill cancer cells

Posted on February 3, 2022March 19, 2024 by intio

Article: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/next-big-wave-radiation-drugs-track-and-kill-cancer-cells-1.5455187

Targeted radiotherapy is the process of making a drug that can lock onto a cancer cell, and then adding a radioactive atom to that drug. After we inject the material, it locks onto cancer cells, and highly targeted radioactive emissions kill the cancer cells, while sparing healthy tissue. This treatment, which has been available in Europe, Australia and the US, is now coming to clinical trials in Canada, and INITIO is excited to participate in these trials, currently in planning stages for prostate cancer, and slated to begin later this summer.

PET shows potential at detecting neuroedocrine cancer

Posted on January 31, 2022March 19, 2024 by intio

Article: https://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=mol&pag=dis&ItemID=134814

Neuroendocrine cancers are an uncommon form of cancer that arise specifically in neurons which produce hormones. These sorts of neurons are found most often in the digestive system or the adrenal glands. Neuroendocrine tumours are often small and difficult to detect with conventional imaging such as CT or MRI, and it can be tricky to biopsy them, because disturbing the tissue can sometimes cause a large release of hormones. A new PET tracer, uPAR, is able to detect the functional activity of these tumours, allowing them to be more easily diagnosed and therefore referred for better treatment earlier. It can also aid physicians in determining who is at greater risk of disease progression.

PET/CT predicts survival outcomes in immunotherapy patients

Posted on January 17, 2022March 19, 2024 by intio

Article: https://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=mol&pag=dis&itemId=134558

In this study of 51 patients with melanoma on immunotherapy, the results of a PET/CT scan with the radiolabeled sugar molecule FDG, within the first few months after starting the treatment, predicted 3 and 5 year survival rates. Why is this important? If physicians know early that a patient is not responding adequately to immunotherapy, they can augment or change treatment with the goal of improving long term survival.

AI vs Alzheimer’s

Posted on November 26, 2021March 19, 2024 by intio

Article: AI gets $20M infusion to go on the offensive against Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s Disease is, at present, an unstoppable disease which attacks memory, language, and skills. The search for cures has been unsuccessful. The US government is dedicating $20 million toward the creation of a new centre, Massachusetts AI and Technology Center for Connected Care in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease—MassAITC, which will develop and use artificial intelligence tools to deepen our understanding of the disease, relying on data gathered from physicians, patients, families, and other caregivers. One stated goal is to reduce disparities noted in dementia care.

Playing video games may help reduce dementia risk

Posted on November 16, 2021March 19, 2024 by intio

Article: Playing Video Games for 30 Minutes a Day Effective Against Dementia in Older Adults, Study Finds

Dr. Rob’s comment

We are constantly learning what treatments are and are not effective in Alzheimer’s Disease. Up to now, video games have generally had very mediocre results, and this is an interesting finding. It will need to be replicated in larger studies. One thing we can say for sure is there is almost no likelihood of harm from playing complex, fast-paced 3D video games, and if there is a cognitive benefit, that’s a nice bonus. So far, the best dementia strategies are preventive: exercise regularly, maintain your social networks, eliminate smoking, and make sure your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose status are within normal limits. If you or your physician are concerned about cognitive impairment, an FDG PET scan can help pinpoint the cause.

First-in-Humans Study of the SSTR Antagonist 177Lu-DOTA-LM3 for Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in Patients with Metastatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Posted on November 1, 2021March 19, 2024 by intio

Read the paper

Nuclear medicine has entered an era when we are discovering more and more molecules which can precisely target cancer cells.

In this case, the molecule DOTA-LM3 is linked with the radioactive atom lutetium 177, which delivers a very short range beta particle, a high speed electron which acts like a quantum bullet in the cancer cell.

The electron from lutetium interacts with electrons in the water of the cancer cell, causing water molecules to become highly reactive ions. These ions create more and more ions in a massive feed forward reaction, leading to the internal structures and DNA of the cancer cell to become torn apart, triggering cell death.

In this image, on the far left, the patient’s liver is full of metastatic disease, which is cancer spread, from a gastrointestinal cancer. After they start receiving the agent, notice the liver with fewer and fewer dark spots, as the agent destroys the cancer cells while leaving healthy liver tissue unharmed.