Latest news with #prostateCancer
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Chris and Sarra Hoy awarded freedom of the City of London
British Olympic cyclist legend Chris Hoy and his wife, Sarra Hoy, have been honoured with the freedom of the City of London. The pair have been recognised for their charitable work raising awareness for cancer and neonatal care, alongside Hoy's contribution to sport as a six-time Olympic gold medallist. Hoy said 'London will always have a very special place in my heart' and bearing the flag at the 2012 Olympic Games was 'an experience that will stay with me forever'. In a statement released after the ceremony, he said: 'Every Olympics is special, but nothing quite beats a home Games, and watching the city come together and creating memories in front of such amazing support at what would be my last is something I will never forget. 'It is a great honour to receive the freedom of the City, thank you.' The couple, who were married in 2010, attended a joint ceremony at the Lord Mayor's official residence, Mansion House, on Thursday. The freedom of the City of London recognises individuals for significant contributions to London or public life more generally, as well as outstanding achievements. Hoy, 49, revealed in October 2024 he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer and was told by doctors he had between two and four years to live. The Edinburgh-born cyclist retired from competitive racing in 2013 after winning 11 world championships and 34 World Cup titles throughout his career. He was knighted in the 2008 new Year honours list after winning three gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. The couple were nominated for the Freedom by Alastair King, lord mayor of London, and Caroline Haines, the chair of the City of London Corporation's Epping Forest and commons committee. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Their son, Callum, was born at 29 weeks weighing just 2lbs 2oz in 2014. Lady Hoy, a solicitor from Edinburgh, is an ambassador for Bliss, a UK charity for sick and premature babies. Last year, she revealed she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. 'I feel very privileged that Chris and I were awarded Freedom of the City at the same time,' she said. 'Watching him compete at London 2012 in front of a home crowd that included our family and friends was so momentous. London will always remain a precious place for both of us.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MetasTx Secures NCI Grant to Enable the Advancement of Dual-Track Strategy Against Metastatic Prostate Cancer
PITTSBURGH, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MetasTx, LLC, a biotechnology company focused on preventing the metastasis of solid tumor cancers – like prostate, breast and skin, announced today it has received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award supports the company's development of a diagnostic tool to predict metastatic potential in early-stage prostate cancer (PCa). The award reflects confidence in MetasTx's multichannel strategy to detect and interrupt cancer metastasis. Combining pharmacologic and diagnostic innovation, MetasTx aims to transform how clinicians identify and treat patients at risk of metastatic disease - beginning with PCa. 'This federal grant affirms our approach to addressing one of oncology's most complex challenges,' said Harvey D. Homan, CEO of MetasTx. 'Our companion diagnostic program has the potential to deliver earlier, more precise insights to clinicians and ultimately improve patient outcomes.' About the NCI-Funded Diagnostic Program The funded project - 'Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Signature Markers (EMTsm) with Machine Learning-Based Analysis as a Predictor of Metastatic Prostate Cancer'— proposes to identify the relevant signature biomarkers, and the development of methods for their early detection for diagnostic purposes. This proof of principle project is expected to be completed by Q2 2026. Success with this would lead to development of a Companion Diagnostic that will be used to identify patients with PCa who are likely to need aggressive treatment to prevent metastasis, and could streamline enrollment into future clinical trials, to reduce costs and significantly speed up bringing our new drugs to FDA for approval. Parallel Pharmacologic Development The MetasTx drug development program is focused on novel molecules that were designed and synthesized in the laboratory of Dr. David Crich, PhD. Patent applications have been filed by the University of Georgia Research Foundation from whom MetasTx plans to license the I P for these molecules. The two best compounds are being tested and analyzed through a cascade of biochemical and cellular assays for efficacy and safety, under the direction of MetasTx, with plans in place for studies that will support a New Drug Application and likely progression to the First-In-Human (Phase 1/2a) clinical study by late 2027. Generative AI will be employed to discover improved next generation compounds. This integrated diagnostic-therapeutic approach positions MetasTx for clinical and commercial impact. The initial clinical focus is on the more than 3 million men in the U.S with PCa, of which approximately 2 million are under active surveillance for early PCa — representing a potential $11.5 billion market opportunity. Capital Efficiency and Investor Opportunity MetasTx's business model emphasizes capital efficiency, strategic outsourcing, and a clear path to acquisition. MetasTx currently is seeking to raise $500,000 in a pre-seed convertible note financing round to support ongoing operations and continuation of the drug development program, with a $2 million seed equity financing round to follow shortly. About MetasTx MetasTx, LLC is a clinical-stage company developing a platform to detect and block the spread of cancer from solid tumors. Backed by a seasoned leadership team and scientific advisors, MetasTx integrates molecular diagnostics and drug discovery to address metastasis at its root. For more information, visit or contact HarveyDHoman@ Media Contact:Cindi SuteraCindiS@ & CommunicationsMetasTx, LLCSign in to access your portfolio
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Sir Ian McGeechan: Cancer treatment has worked
Sir Ian McGeechan has given a positive update on his cancer diagnosis, saying 'the treatment has worked'. The British and Irish Lions legend revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in an interview with Telegraph Sport last month. The Scot, who was Lions head coach for four tours, said then that he had undergone six weeks of radiotherapy treatment, and would have to wait another six weeks to discover whether it had been successful. Speaking to fellow Telegraph columnist Will Greenwood during Sky Sports' coverage of the opening Lions game against Argentina, McGeechan revealed he had since received good news about the condition. Asked about his health, McGeechan answered: 'All good, thank you, the treatment has worked. Fine.' Host Alex Payne added: 'So glad to hear that Geech has had the all clear'. McGeechan is perhaps the ultimate Lions legend after his unparalleled career both as a player and coach. The 78-year-old was inundated with messages after his Telegraph interview, with the game of rugby uniting to wish him well. McGeechan has been coaching at Doncaster Knights as he maintains his illustrious career in the game, some 51 years after he first went on a Lions tour as a player in 1974, before being selected again in 1977. McGeechan was then head coach in 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2009, as well as coach of the midweek side in 2005. When revealing his cancer diagnosis, McGeechan said he hoped his honesty would inspire others to get tested. 'I don't want to make a big thing of it, but it is important to get the message out about urging people to get tested,' he said. 'I said that to our players here. I said to them that they make sure they get themselves tested. If you are younger, it is more important. 'Hopefully this interview can be educational. What I would say to people is don't back off it. It is a blood test, it is not what you always think. Just get it done. I have good people looking after me. It is the very good side of the NHS. The staff of the Bexley Cancer Wing at St James's Hospital in Leeds have been brilliant. 'When I had my last treatment, from the receptionist to the radiographer, they all said: 'Well done, good luck, have a happy time.' Everyone. They all knew. When they are looking up your details and you are going on to your next step, it says which number of treatment is it, and it is what they say to every person when they get to their last treatment, which I think is great. That support and the environment is so positive. What will be, will be.'
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Angle PLC - EACR 2025: Innovation in AR Expression Profiling
ANGLE presents new data at EACR 2025 Highlighting Innovation in Androgen Receptor EXPRESSION profiling Poster presentation highlights development of a novel CTC-based assay GUILDFORD, SURREY / / June 17, 2025 / ANGLE plc (AIM:AGL)(OTCQX:ANPCY), a world-leading liquid biopsy company with innovative circulating tumour cell (CTC) solutions for use in research, drug development and clinical oncology, is pleased to announce the presentation of a poster at the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) Congress, taking place in Lisbon, Portugal from 16-19 June 2025. The poster entitled 'Combined microfluidic isolation and immunofluorescence staining of circulating tumour cells for the assessment of Androgen Receptor expression in metastatic prostate cancer blood samples', is being presented during the Biomarkers in Tissue and Blood session on Tuesday 17 June 2025. This assay addresses a significant unmet need in prostate cancer. The androgen receptor (AR) plays a central role in driving disease growth and progression, and changes in AR can lead to resistance to current treatments and the development of advanced incurable disease known as metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). With at least 130 ongoing clinical studies and a projected AR inhibitor market value of US $9.8 billion by 2032, there is growing demand for assays that can monitor AR activity1. ANGLE has developed a new approach for repeatable assessment of AR expression in prostate cancer patients using the Parsortix system and ANGLE's AR immunofluorescence assay. The assay was tested on blood spiked with prostate cancer cells exposed to increasing AR drug concentrations. The results showed a clear, statistically significant reduction in AR expression as AR-drug concentration increased, from over 80% AR-positive cells in untreated samples to under 20% at the highest drug level. This demonstrates the assay's high sensitivity and highlights its potential utility for pharmacodynamic assessment, enabling customers to monitor treatment response in real-time. The assay was then validated in blood samples from 20 patients with mCRPC. 50% of patients were CTC-positive and all CTC-positive patients had AR-positive CTCs enabling the assessment of AR expression levels. CTC clusters, which are known to be up to 100 times more metastatic, were observed in 80% of CTC-positive patients. All CTCs detected were mesenchymal or undergoing EMT, highlighting the importance of using the marker-independent Parsortix system in this patient cohort. This work demonstrates how ANGLE's Portrait AR workflow enables sensitive, real-time monitoring of AR expression from a simple blood draw. The assay is now available as part of ANGLE's assay menu to support pharma customers with longitudinal biomarker assessment in AR-targeted clinical trials. The poster will be available on ANGLE's website from 20:00 on Tuesday 17 June: ANGLE Chief Scientific Officer, Karen Miller, commented:"This work underscores the value of ANGLE's Parsortix system for enabling detailed protein analysis directly in intact CTCs. The androgen receptor assay development programme has successfully been completed, and we are excited by its potential to repeatably monitor drug response and resistance in prostate cancer trials. Sharing this data at EACR reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing precision oncology with innovative, real-world solutions." 1. For further information: ANGLE plc +44 (0) 1483 343434 Andrew Newland, Chief Executive Ian Griffiths, Finance Director Berenberg (NOMAD and Broker) Toby Flaux, Ciaran Walsh, Milo Bonser +44 (0) 20 3207 7800 FTI Consulting Simon Conway, Ciara Martin Matthew Ventimiglia (US) +44 (0) 203 727 1000 +1 (212) 850 5624 For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. For Frequently Used Terms, please see the Company's website on Notes for editors About ANGLE plc ANGLE is a world-leading liquid biopsy company with innovative circulating tumour cell (CTC) solutions for use in research, drug development and clinical oncology using a simple blood sample. ANGLE's FDA cleared and patent protected CTC harvesting technology known as the Parsortix® PC1 System enables complete downstream analysis of the sample including whole cell imaging and proteomic analysis and full genomic and transcriptomic molecular analysis. ANGLE's commercial businesses are focusing on clinical services and diagnostic products. The clinical services business is offered through ANGLE's GCLP-compliant laboratories. Services include custom made assay development and clinical trial testing for pharma. Products include the Parsortix system, associated consumables and assays. Over 100 peer-reviewed publications have demonstrated the performance of the Parsortix system. For more information, visit Any reference to regulatory authorisations such as FDA clearance, CE marking or UK MHRA registration shall be read in conjunction with the full intended use of the product: The Parsortix® PC1 system is an in vitro diagnostic device intended to enrich circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from peripheral blood collected in K2EDTA tubes from patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. The system employs a microfluidic chamber (a Parsortix cell separation cassette) to capture cells of a certain size and deformability from the population of cells present in blood. The cells retained in the cassette are harvested by the Parsortix PC1 system for use in subsequent downstream assays. The end user is responsible for the validation of any downstream assay. The standalone device, as indicated, does not identify, enumerate or characterize CTCs and cannot be used to make any diagnostic/prognostic claims for CTCs, including monitoring indications or as an aid in any disease management and/or treatment decisions. This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ or visit SOURCE: ANGLE plc View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
ABC News
10-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Mailbag: More complexity in prostate cancer testing
Norman Swan: So let's go to the mailbag now. Preeya Alexander: Yes, so I was not here, I was off gallivanting last week, but you've done a story… Norman Swan: Feel free to criticise what we did. We wouldn't have been so crap if you'd been there. Preeya Alexander: That's not at all what I was suggesting. Norman Swan: Olivia was fantastic… Preeya Alexander: She's always fantastic. Norman Swan: So a GP has written in about our story on prostate cancer diagnosis and screening, although we didn't use that word. We had Jeremy Grummet on the show talking about the guidelines, because he took umbrage, because…this did involve you, because when you and I were talking about these guidelines that came out when they first came out, I was quite forceful in saying that the PSA blood test was crap. And Jeremy, who's been on the Health Report several times before, took umbrage at this and saying it's not crap with the new guidelines. So anyway, he came on to talk about the prostate cancer guidelines and to correct my image that the PSA was crap. And this GP who's written in says, 'I found Jeremy's comments to be the untypical, unrealistic comments that urban centric, non-GP specialists are prone to make.' And our correspondent is in fact a general practitioner. So he says, 'It takes a few seconds to tick the PSA request on a form, and that's the easy bit. The Herculean task is then to obtain access to a urologist and a prostate magnetic resonance imaging machine for a rural or regional patient. And let's not forget city dwellers without private insurance who are facing exactly the same problem.' Preeya Alexander: That's the thing. The blood test, the PSA, is often the easy part, I have to agree with this, and I work in a metropolitan region, but often it's the next steps, it's what do you do with the result, how likely is it to actually cause a problem, and how does the patient access the ongoing either urology input or scanning that they need, because it can be very costly. Norman Swan: And to be fair to Jeremy, he did talk about this disparity between city and country and this evidence. And Paul also writes in, 'I know this is anecdote, and I've no idea if it's evidence based,' but when he was a GP…we've obviously got more GPs listening to the program now that you're on because they want to check you out here, whether you're sullying the profession. 'I've had a few isolated patients with an extremely low PSA (in other words, under one) which slowly rose to be around about four.' And just to put this in perspective, I don't know if you know this, Preeya, but the original studies that were done I think it was at Stanford University by a urologist there, on PSA, he was suggesting you had a high risk of cancer at a PSA of 25. Preeya Alexander: I remember you saying this when we did the show several weeks ago… Norman Swan: And it's crept down. And what Paul's talking about is that this change in PSAs are really important, even at a low level. Preeya Alexander: Paul's saying the idea of having a baseline, perhaps. But I have to say, are you potentially detecting cancers which were never going to cause any problems? Because that's the whole debate with prostate cancer, isn't it; you might detect cancers that someone might live with and die with the cancer, as opposed to die of it. And so this attaining a baseline and routine testing, gosh, it's filled with conundrums, and you need to have a big chat to the patient beforehand. Norman Swan: And some people can have prostate cancer with a normal PSA. But what Jeremy would say, if I was channelling Jeremy Grummet here, is that that's what MRI is for, is to sort this out for you. And if there's nothing much there, then you can relax. Preeya Alexander: But it's not always easy to access, either the MRI or the urologist. As we've just said, it's a little bit of a conundrum I think still. Norman Swan: It is. Preeya Alexander: Yep, but we love hearing from you. So if you want to write in with any topic suggestions or comments or questions, it's healthreport@ Norman Swan: And you don't have to be a GP to write in. Preeya Alexander: No, you don't, please, ideally everybody, all community dwellers. Norman Swan: And don't forget our companion podcast, What's That Rash? , and this week we're going to be talking about concurrent workout regimes. Should you combine cardio with strength exercises? Interesting question, I'm sure it's dominated your life for a long time. Tune in to What's That Rash? to find out. We'll see you next week. Preeya Alexander: We will.
