A new method of delivering a dose of radioactive iodine by using a manufactured version of scorpion venom as a carrier targets gliomas without affecting neighboring tissue or body organs.
The first trial in human patients showed the approach to be safe. A larger phase II trial is under way to assess the effectiveness of multiple doses. Dr. Adam N. Mamelak, a neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, led the phase I trial and is first author of an article in the August Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The key ingredient is TM-601, a synthetic version of a peptide found in the venom of the giant yellow Israeli scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus). TM-601 can break through the blood-brain barrier, binding to glioma cells and impeding their growth. If further studies confirm TM-601's properties, it could be used in tandem with standard treatments and allow for reduced doses, the researchers said.
Seven Takeaways from New CT and MRI Guidelines for Ovarian Cancer Staging
January 20th 2025In an update of previous guidelines from the European Society of Urogenital Radiology published in 2010, a 21-expert panel offered consensus recommendations on the utility of CT, MRI and PET-CT in the staging and follow-up imaging for patients with ovarian cancer.