3. Telomere length predicts lifespan

For a long time we thought that our cells might be immortal, and that under the right environmental conditions, they would go on replicating forever. But, as discovered in 1961, they don’t: after some 50 to 70 divisions, they stop. A decade later a hypothesis was put forward: telomeres – repeated DNA sequences at the ends of our chromosomes – shorten with every division, and when they get too short, divisions stop and the cells die.

Shorter chromosome ends (telomeres) means shorter lifespan. AJCann/Flickr, CC BY

Since then, there has been increasing evidence that telomere length can be used to predict lifespan, and not just in humans. However, not all researchconfirms this, and it is not yet clear whether shortened telomeres are the cause of ageing or just a symptom. If telomere length does control ageing, then it may be possible to significantly lengthen lifespans by manipulating their length. At the moment we still know too little about telomeres to do this, but watch this space.

3-drug Combo Improves Survival Period for Bowel Cancer Patients

The data suggested that the three-drug combination, encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab, should replace chemotherapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have a BRAF gene flaw.

IANS

Updated:July 7, 2019, 10:25 AM IST

Image for representation. (AFP)

Finding A Job In The USA From India Might Be Easier You Think

usajob

10 Asian Actresses Who Look Like Beauty Queens

brainberries

A targeted three-drug combination therapy resulted in a median overall survival of nine months for patients with advanced bowel cancer compared to 5.4 months for current standard-of-care treatment, showed the results of a phase-3 clinical trial.

The data suggested that the three-drug combination, encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab, should replace chemotherapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have a BRAF gene flaw. Metastatic cancer can spread from one organ to another.

BRAF mutations are estimated to occur in up to 15 per cent of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, with V600E being the most common BRAF mutation and representing a poor prognosis for these patients.

"This study builds on a decade of research into the tumour biology of BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer, and reflects a rationale combination to address the vulnerabilities unique to this tumour," said principal investigator Scott Kopetz, Associate Professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the US.

"We are encouraged to see a meaningful improvement in outcomes with this new regimen for our patients," Kopetz added.

The international study was a multi-institutional collaboration with over 200 centres worldwide.

The clinical trial involved 665 metastatic colorectal cancer patients with BRAF mutation.

The findings were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2019 in Barcelona, Spain.