New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Breakthrough biomarker discovery reveals whether metastatic breast cancer is dormant or deadly

Rich Haridy October 15, 2018

Scientists have discovered a protein than can predict whether a patient’s metastasized breast cancer is dormant or about to turn deadly. The research points to new treatments that may be able to stimulate dormancy in cancer cells before they metastasize.

A specific protein, called NR2F1, could improve treatment of breast cancer and spare patients from unnecessary ...

Science Audio available

Early clinical trials showing promise for new kind of cancer vaccine

Rich Haridy September 30, 2018

Promising early results are in from a phase 1 clinical trial into a new cancer vaccine designed to stimulate the immune system into attacking certain cancers known to overexpress a specific protein.

A new cancer vaccine has passed the first phase of human clinical trials

Wearables

Wearable device promises silent-running breast-pumping

Ben Coxworth September 14, 2018

For nursing mothers who don't wish to be tied down to a non-portable breast pump, there are already wearable versions that can be slipped under a bra. Women's tech company Elvie is taking things a step further, by announcing what it claims is the world's first silent wearable breast pump.

The Elvie Pump works with a smartphone app

Biology

Primary tumors found to "freeze" spread of secondary cancers

Michael Irving August 28, 2018

Finding ways to stop metastasis is a key way to improve survival rates for cancer patients. Now researchers have found that primary tumors have their own mechanism for slowing the growth of secondary cancers – which could be tapped into as a new potential treatment option.

Researchers have discovered that primary tumors can prevent the growth of secondary tumors by sending the ...

Medical

Milestone immunotherapy treatment cures terminal breast cancer patient

Rich Haridy June 4, 2018

A case study from an ongoing clinical trial has revealed an experimental immunotherapy treatment has cured a breast cancer patient. The patient, with advanced breast cancer, was given three months to live before enrolling into the trial. Within weeks her tumors had disappeared.

An early case study from an ongoing clinical trial is reporting a new immunotherapy treatment has ...

Medical

Diagnosing breast cancer with a pill that makes tumors glow

Michael Irving May 2, 2018

Mammograms can miss harmful but treatable cancers, while other patients with benign tumors undergo unnecessary invasive procedures. Now scientists have developed a new diagnostic tool that’s much easier to swallow – a pill that makes tumors glow under infrared light.

Researchers at University of Michigan have developed a pill that can help in the diagnosis of ...

Health & Wellbeing

FDA approves, with reservations, the first home DNA test for genetic breast cancer risk

Rich Haridy March 6, 2018

The FDA has authorized, for the first time, a direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic test to report on three genetic variants found on BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These genetic variants are known to increase a person’s risk for developing primarily breast cancer, but also also ovarian or prostate cancers.

After a rocky road, 23andme has achieved authorization from the FDA to deliver genetic test reports ...

Medical

AI to help identify breast cancer risk and reduce unnecessary surgeries

Rich Haridy October 17, 2017

An AI system that uses machine learning to predict which high-risk breast lesions are most likely to become cancerous is set to help reduce unnecessary and invasive surgeries.

A new machine learning model can identify breast lesions that will go on to become cancerous ...

Medical

New superbug-fighting antibiotics found in human breast milk

Michael Irving August 20, 2017

With the rise of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs,” we need new treatments to keep us from returning to a dark age of medicine. Now, researchers from Vanderbilt University have found a new class of antibiotic hiding in plain sight: human breast milk.

Researchers have found a new antibiotic candidate in human breast milk sugars

Medical

3D-printed plastic bot can take biopsies inside an MRI scanner

Rich Haridy July 4, 2017

Engineers have developed a new biopsy robot made from 3D printed plastic. The robot can operate inside a MRI scanner, enabling accurate biopsies to be taken with real-time visualization of the abnormal tissue.

The plastic, 3D-printed robot can accurately take tissue biopsies from within an MRI scanner