Photographs Of UV Exposure Can Impact Sunburns In Preteens

Researchers have found that among preteens, the use of photographs to measure ultraviolet (UV) exposure, could motivate them to improve sun protection practices and limit number of sunburns.
Full article >>

Drug Therapy Reduces Neuroblastoma Tumor Growth In Pre-clinical Investigation

Researchers have discovered a new drug combination that significantly hinders tumor growth in neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer.
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Dramatic Growth In Cancer Rates Among US Elderly, Minorities Predicted

Over the next 20 years, the number of new cancer cases diagnosed annually in the United States will increase by 45 percent, from 1.6 million in 2010 to 2.3 million in 2030, with a dramatic spike in incidence predicted in the elderly and minority populations, according to new research.
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Certain Ecologic Factors Associated With Greater Risk Of Bladder Cancer

Persons drinking well water (as opposed to public supply) may be at an increased risk of bladder cancer, according to new research. Researchers have examined data about the relationship between bladder cancer and certain ecologic factors including water source and UV radiation levels.
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Men Treated For Localized Prostate Cancer Could Benefit From Pomegranate Juice Consumption

Pomegranate juice may slow the progression of post-treatment prostate cancer recurrence, according to new long-term research. Researchers found that men who have undergone treatment for localized prostate cancer could benefit from drinking pomegranate juice.
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First Large-scale Computer Simulation Of Gene Therapy

Scientists have completed the first comprehensive, molecular-level numerical study of gene therapy. Their work should help other scientists design new experimental gene therapies and possibly solve some of the problems associated with this promising technique.
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New Study Argues For CT Colonography As Primary Colon Cancer Screening Test

CT colonography allows radiologists to predict, with a high degree of confidence, whether or not a polyp needs to be evaluated through colonoscopy or removed through polypectomy, according to a study performed at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wis.
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Statins Alter Prostate Cancer Patients' PSA Levels

Beyond lowering cholesterol, statin medications have been found to have numerous other health benefits, including lowering a healthy man's risk of developing advanced prostate cancer, as well as lowering his prostate-specific antigen levels. But a new study finds that statins also can lower PSA levels in men with prostate cancer, potentially altering the results of a patient's PSA test and masking his risk for prostate cancer.
Full article >>

Arm-Hand Swelling Linked To Number Of Lymph Nodes Removed During Breast Cancer Surgery

In older breast cancer survivors, the number of lymph nodes removed during surgery and the presence of cancer in the lymph nodes were the two factors most directly linked to the development of lymphedema, swelling of the arm and hand, according to a new study.
Full article >>

Scientists Discover How To Improve Immune Response To Cancer

Scientists have discovered how to trigger an improved immune response to cancer that could be included in new clinical trials that use a patient's own cells to destroy tumors.
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Women 10 times more likely to do breast self-exams correctly with intervention

A brief intervention program - consisting of one counseling session and two follow-up phone calls - boosted by tenfold the number of women correctly performing breast self- exams. These are the findings of a Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research study in the American Journal of Health Promotion.
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Potential lung disease biomarkers yield clues to COX-2 inhibitor side effects

In searching for a simple way to identify individuals with smoking-related lung injury, scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College have stumbled upon a potential explanation for why the class of pain-relievers known as COX-2 inhibitors increases the risk of heart problems among users.
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Study predicts dramatic growth in cancer rates among US elderly, minorities

Over the next 20 years, the number of new cancer cases diagnosed annually in the United States will increase by 45 percent, from 1.6 million in 2010 to 2.3 million in 2030, with a dramatic spike in incidence predicted in the elderly and minority populations, according to research from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
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Mother-daughter breast density study points way to earlier cancer risk assessment

A unique mother-daughter study that used magnetic resonance to measure breast density in younger women shows that percent of breast water could be linked to the risk of breast cancer in middle age and older.
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NASA's ENose can sense brain cancer cells

(PhysOrg.com) -- An unlikely multidisciplinary scientific collaboration has discovered that an electronic nose developed for air quality monitoring on Space Shuttle Endeavour can also be used to detect odour differences in normal and cancerous brain cells. The results of the pilot study open up new possibilities for neurosurgeons in the fight against brain cancer.
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Type of connection procedure after pancreatic surgery influenced rate of pancreatic fistula

After surgery to remove the head of the pancreas, invagination of the pancreas into the small intestine resulted in a lower rate of pancreatic fistula, according to researchers at the Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center. The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. It was performed as a randomized trial - the gold standard for studies.
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Study validates means to measure possible leukemia marker

A study led by cancer researchers at The Ohio State University has validated a method for reliably measuring variations in certain proteins that may make good biomarkers in chronic leukemia patients.
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Predicting Patient Response To Gleevec In Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Researchers have uncovered a genetic pattern that may help predict how gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients respond to the targeted therapy imatinib mesylate. Moreover, their findings point to genes that could be suppressed in order to make these tumors respond more readily to imatinib.
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Test For Hormones In Blood Not Reflective Of Hormones In Breast Tissue; Breast Cancer Risk

Many studies determine hormone levels in the blood as a marker of breast cancer risk. But it hasn't been known whether these blood tests reflect what is happening in the breast tissue, where certain hormones fuel cancer. Researchers have now found that measuring the levels of four hormones in blood known to be linked to breast cancer doesn't necessarily reflect the levels of these hormones in the breast tissue itself.
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Experimental Drug Shows Promise Against Head And Neck Cancer

A laboratory study suggests that an anti-cancer compound studied for treating blood cancers may also help in treating cancers of the head and neck.
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Major Statin Study Reveals Several Important Findings For Reducing Prostate Cancer And Disease

Statins, drugs widely prescribed to lower cholesterol, may have protective effects on prostate health.
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Topical Cream Studied As Way To Treat Skin Cancer Without The Knife

Researchers have found that a topical drug shows promise in treating some types of skin cancer, potentially reducing the area needing surgery, managing the cancer and minimizing its recurrence.
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Upside-down World: DNA Protecting Protein Helps Cancer Drug To Kill Cells

Some DNA repair enzymes can become double-edged swords -- If they work too slowly, they can block necessary cell maintenance and contribute to cell death. This could explain the success of the cancer drug 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and help clinicians to predict patient's response to chemotherapy. The work reports that 5FU keeps the DNA-repair enzyme TDG too busy to perform properly in cancer cells, thereby promoting tumor death.
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Vitamin K With Sorafenib Showed Anti-tumor Effects In Pancreas Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma

A combination of sorafenib and vitamin K had an effect in vitro on both human pancreas cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, according to researchers.
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Statins Alter Prostate Cancer Patients' PSA Levels

Beyond lowering cholesterol, statin medications have been found to have numerous other health benefits, including lowering a healthy man's risk of developing advanced prostate cancer, as well as lowering his prostate-specific antigen levels. But a new study finds that statins also can lower PSA levels in men with prostate cancer, potentially altering the results of a patient's PSA test and masking his risk for prostate cancer.
Full article >>

Protein effects of hormone replacement therapy uncovered

An in-depth proteomic analysis of the sera of 50 participants from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) hormone replacement therapy trial provides some explanations for the trial's clinical results. The study, published in Biomed Central's open access journal Genome Medicine, shows that estrogen upregulates proteins involved in several major body processes.
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Prostate cancer immunotherapy significantly prolongs survival in men with advanced prostate cancer

Sipuleucel-T (Provenge), an experimental immunotherapy improved survival in men with metastatic disease, according to new results to be presented April 28 at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago. These data from the Phase 3 Immunotherapy for Prostate AdenoCarcinoma Treatment (IMPACT) study were presented during the meeting's Late Breaking Science Forum.
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Finding will improve accuracy of cancer diagnosis

Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) investigators working in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic researchers have determined that two types of kidney tumors previously thought to be different diseases are actually variations of the same disease. This finding will help doctors to more accurately diagnose the disease in patients, and demonstrates the importance of using molecular data to diagnose cancer in general.
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Does A Person's Insurance Coverage Affect Their Access To Quality Cancer Care?

Does a person's insurance coverage affect their access to quality cancer care? Insurance coverage may not only affect a patient's access to health care, but also the quality of care they receive.
Full article >>

Antibody Targeting The Protein FGFR3 Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth

Several forms of cancer are associated with either overexpression or perpetual activation of the protein FGFR3. A new paper now provides evidence that FGFR3 might be a good therapeutic target for these cancers and describes the development of an FGFR3-targeted antibody that had potent antitumor activity in mice transplanted with human tumor cells expressing either too much or overactive FGFR3.
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New Treatment Shows Promise Against Recurrent Gynecologic Cancers

Recurrent and metastatic endometrial and ovarian cancers can be notoriously difficult to treat: They have spread to other organs and typically have developed resistance to chemotherapy; and patients already heavily treated with chemotherapy may not be able to endure more chemo. Now, physicians have shown that a combination of two chemotherapy drugs not only produced clinical benefit for such patients but were also well tolerated.
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Radiation Device In The Breast Reduces Complications For Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients

A new study shows that the SAVI applicator, a small, expandable device inserted inside the breast to deliver partial breast irradiation, carries a low infection risk, a potential complication of such devices.
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Scientists Discover How To Improve Immune Response To Cancer

Scientists have discovered how to trigger an improved immune response to cancer that could be included in new clinical trials that use a patient's own cells to destroy tumors.
Full article >>

A longer lasting tumor blocker

On the heels of dismaying reports that a promising antitumor drug could, in theory, shorten patients' long-term survival, comes a promising study by a Japanese team of researchers that suggests a potentially better option. The study appears in the May 11 issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine (online April 27).
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Prostate cancer vaccine extends survival in study

(AP) -- An experimental treatment added four months to the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer, doctors reported Tuesday in a study that tested an entirely new approach to fighting the disease.
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Factors Associated With Early Detection Of Melanoma In Older Men Identified

Older men whose melanoma is detected by a physician are more likely to have thinner and therefore more treatable tumors at diagnosis, according to a new article. A second analysis of the same survey data finds that physician detection of thin melanoma is more common in those who are 65 or older, have cancers on their backs or who have a history of atypical moles.
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How Plants Protect Us From Disease

Everyday foods, beverages, and spices contain healthful compounds that help us fight harmful inflammation. And, in doing that, these phytochemicals—the resveratrol in red wine or the catechins in green, white and black teas, for instance—may also reduce our risk of diseases associated with chronic inflammation, including cancer and diabetes.
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Statins May Exert Influence On Prostate Cancer Growth By Reducing Inflammation

Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may reduce inflammation in prostate tumors, possibly hindering cancer growth, according to a new study.
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How An Antibody Helps The Immune System Reject Cancer

Researchers have shown that an engineered antibody called DTA-1 led to rejection of 50 to 60 percent of tumors in a mouse model of melanoma. The antibody allows the immune system to overcome its natural reluctance to attack tumor cells, the researchers say, and might serve to boost the effectiveness of cancer vaccines.
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New MR Technique May Help Save Women From Unnecessary Breast Biopsies

A new MR procedure that uses diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to determine whether or not a breast lesion is malignant or benign may help reduce unnecessary breast biopsies, according to a study performed at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md. DWI is a method that produces images detecting the exchange of water molecules between tissue compartments (diffusion).
Full article >>

Hormone Therapy Offers Potential Protective Effect Against Colon Cancer In Older Women

Scientists have observed that self-reported use of hormone therapy was associated with a significantly lower colorectal cancer risk. However, the mechanisms for the apparent protective association are still unclear.
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Prostate cancer therapy increases risk of fractures and cardiovascular-related death

Prostate cancer patients who undergo therapy to decrease testosterone levels increase their risk of developing bone- and heart-related side effects compared to patients who do not take these medications, according to a new analysis. Published in the June 1, 2009 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study indicates that preventive measures and careful scrutiny of patients' health can keep men from experiencing these potentially serious consequences.
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Doctors urge baseline test for prostate cancer

(AP) -- An influential doctors group is backing off its call for annual tests after age 50 to screen for prostate cancer.
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Instead Of Fighting Breast Cancer, Immune Cell Promotes Its Spread

Researchers have new evidence that a type of immune system cell thought to be part of the first line of defense against breast cancer may also help promote its spread. They have found that when these cells, known as lymphocytes, make an inflammatory protein called RANKL (RANK ligand), breast cancer is more likely to spread to the lungs.
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Ultrasound Can Help Low-risk Patients Avoid Invasive Thyroid Biopsy

The prevalence of benign thyroid nodules is high and there are certain ultrasound features, suggesting malignancy, that can help radiologists determine whether or not a biopsy is needed, according to a study performed at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, Calif.
Full article >>

Drug That Inhibits Acute Leukemia Cell Growth Discovered

Researchers have discovered how to turn off a certain receptor that promotes the growth of leukemia cells.
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Novel Cancer Drug Reduces Neuroblastoma Growth By 75 Percent

Researchers have found a new drug that restricts the growth of neuroblastoma, a childhood brain cancer.
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Early-stage Lung Cancer Identified Using Computer-aided System

A computer-aided detection method may help radiologists identify cancerous lung nodules at an early stage, according to a study performed at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Md.
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Does a person's insurance coverage affect their access to quality cancer care?

Does a person's insurance coverage affect their access to quality cancer care? According to researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center, insurance coverage may not only affect a patient's access to health care, but also the quality of care they receive. Research findings, presented today at the American Urological Association's Annual Meeting, may have implications for a national debate on healthcare reform.
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Robotic approach to urothelial cancer of the kidney proves to be beneficial for patients

Robotic trained surgeons at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia presented a new and novel approach to surgically treat urothelial cancer (in the lining of the bladder or kidney) today at the American Urological Association's Annual Meeting. Using da Vinci(R) robot-assisted technology, urologic cancer surgeons perform complicated urologic cases using minimally invasive surgery.
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Vitamin E, selenium and soy in combination does not prevent prostate cancer

The combination therapy of vitamin E, selenium and soy does not prevent the progression from high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) to prostate cancer, according to the new research presented at the 104th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). The study confirms the findings of the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) and expands knowledge of the affect soy has on prostate cancer.
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Scientists discover how to improve immune response to cancer

A team of scientists at The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research (CFIBCR) at Princess Margaret Hospital and international collaborators have discovered how to trigger an improved immune response to cancer that could be included in new clinical trials that use a patient's own cells to destroy tumours.
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Addition Of Dasatinib To Standard Chemo Cocktail May Enhance Effect In Certain Ovarian Cancers

The addition of a chemotherapeutic drug for leukemia to a standard regimen of two other chemotherapy drugs appears to enhance the response of certain ovarian cancers to treatment, according to a new study.
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High Levels Of PEA-15 Shrink Breast Cancer Tumors

Overexpression of PEA-15, which binds and drags an oncoprotein out of the cell nucleus where it fuels cancer growth, steeply reduced breast cancer tumors in a preclinical experiment, researchers have found.
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'Smart Bomb' Drug Delivery May Increase Effectiveness

Researchers may have found a way to combine imaging with chemotherapy in a single agent for the treatment of prostate cancer, according to new data.
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Pregnancy Hormone HCG Protects Against Breast Cancer Even In Short-term Treatments

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone is what enables a full-term pregnancy to protect against breast cancer. Researchers have previously shown in rat models that hCG, when given during a 21-day period (the average period of rat gestation), can prevent breast cancer. Their current studies find an even shorter hCG regimen can prevent breast cancer in rats.
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Americans May Be Missing Direct Route To Head And Neck Cancer Care, Survey Shows

Tens of thousands of Americans are diagnosed annually with head and neck cancers, but many adults are unaware of doctors who specialize in treating these conditions, according to a recent survey.
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Targeted Agent Shows Promise In Biliary Cancer Study

An experimental agent has shown promising results in people with advanced biliary cancer, according new research. The agent, known as AZD6244, blocks enzymes cancer cells need to proliferate and survive.
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Cholesterol Appears To Promote Tamoxifen Resistance In Some Breast Cancer Cells

Breast cancer cells in the laboratory that don't respond to tamoxifen may be producing high amounts of cholesterol in order to provide a kind of shield against the drug, say researchers.
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Naturally Occurring Compounds Selectively Deplete Mutant P53 In Tumor Cells

Researchers have demonstrated that naturally-occurring compounds can selectively deplete mutant p53 and restore "wild type" function to p53 in a variety of tumor cells.
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Light Scattering Technology May Hold Promise For Quickly Determining Chemotherapy's Effectiveness

By examining the patterns in which light bounces off cell surfaces, researchers may be able to assess chemotherapy's success in inducing cancer cell death, according to a new study.
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Radiation Exposure Associated With More Aggressive Thyroid Cancer, Worse Outcomes

Patients with thyroid cancer who have previously been exposed to radiation -- for example, in the workplace, through environmental exposure or for treatment of acne or another condition -- appear to have more aggressive disease and tend to have worse outcomes in the long term, according to a new article.
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Robot-assisted Surgery Appears Useful For Removal Of Some Head And Neck Tumors

Robot-assisted surgery appears feasible for treatment of selected head and neck cancers, according to a new article.
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Grapefruit Juice Boosts Drug's Anti-cancer Effects, Study Suggests

Results from a small, early clinical trial show that combining grapefruit juice with the drug rapamycin can be effective in treating various types of cancer. The grapefruit juice increases drug levels, allowing lower doses of the drug to be given.
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New Women's Imaging Technique Allows For A More Accurate Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer

Breast elastography allows physicians to give a more accurate diagnosis of breast cancer, according to a study performed at Singapore General Hospital in Singapore. Breast elastography is a new technique which looks at the mechanical properties of tissues (relative stiffness) as opposed to conventional ultrasound which looks at the backscatter of transmitted ultrasound waves through tissues.
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Developmental Drug Helps Protect Against Radiation Damage

A drug currently under development protects cells from the damaging effects of radiation exposure, a new study suggests. JP4-039 targets the mitochondria, the energy-producing areas of all cells. For this study, cells treated immediately after irradiation with JP4-039 demonstrated significant radioprotection.
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Human Lung Tumors Destroy Anti-cancer Hormone Vitamin D

Human lung tumors have the ability to eliminate vitamin D, a hormone with anti-cancer activity, a new study suggests.
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Drinking Wine May Increase Survival Among Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Patients

Pre-diagnostic wine consumption may reduce the risk of death and relapse among non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, according to an epidemiology study.
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Should cervical screening stop at age 50?

It is not consistent to stop screening women after age 50 because the risk of cervical cancer - even after several negative smear results - is similar to that at younger ages, concludes a study published on bmj.com today.
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3-D research model tackles prostate cancer spread

Shirly Sieh, a PhD student at IHBI, is studying the way cancer cells escape from the prostate through the bloodstream to form tumour colonies, most often in the spine and long bones.
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Survival rates for cancer rise across Ireland

Survival rates for cancer are continuing to rise even though the number of cases being diagnosed is increasing, an all-Ireland report launched today reveals.
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Researchers find drug that inhibits acute leukemia cell growth

Researchers from the Children's Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered how to turn off a certain receptor that promotes the growth of leukemia cells. The pre-clinical study was presented today in a platform session at the 22nd annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO).
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German doctors: 40-pound tumor removed from woman

(AP) -- A German doctor said Friday that surgeons have successfully removed a 40-pound (18 kilogram) malignant bone tumor from a Saudi Arabian woman.
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Genetic Variations In MiRNA Processing Pathway And Binding Sites Help Predict Ovarian Cancer Risk

Genetic variations in the micro-RNA processing pathway genes and miRNA binding sites predict a woman's risk for developing ovarian cancer and her prospects for survival, researchers report.
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Gene Variants Associated With The Most Common Adult Leukemia Confirmed

Researchers have found that patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia are more likely to have similar DNA changes or variants in up to six genes, compared to people who do not have the cancer.
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New Imaging Analysis Predicts Brain Tumor Survival

As early as one week after beginning treatment for brain tumors, a new imaging analysis method was able to predict which patients would live longer, researchers have found.
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Treatment Combination Lethal To Pancreatic Cancer Cells Formulated

A combination of two targeted therapies packs a powerful punch to kill pancreatic cancer cells in the laboratory, researchers report. With further testing of these drugs that are from classes of pharmaceuticals already used in patients, the research may lead to new treatment opportunities for patients with pancreatic cancer, which is extremely difficult to treat.
Full article >>

First Noninvasive Technique To Accurately Predict Mutations In Human Brain Tumors

Neurosurgery professors were able to accurately predict the specific genetic mutation that caused brain cancer in a group of patients studied using magnetic resonance imaging.
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Agent Orange Exposure Increases Veterans' Risk Of Aggressive Recurrence Of Prostate Cancer

Veterans exposed to Agent Orange are at increased risk of aggressive recurrence of prostate cancer, researchers report.
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Genetic Variants Predict Recurrence Of Bladder Cancer, Patient Survival

Scientists have discovered genetic variations in the inflammation pathway that reduce the likelihood of recurrence and increase survival of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer who are treated with mainstream therapy.
Full article >>

Study finds photographs of UV exposure can impact sunburns in preteens

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that among preteens, the use of photographs to measure ultraviolet (UV) exposure, could motivate them to improve sun protection practices and limit number of sunburns. These findings appear in the April 2009 issue of the Journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association.
Full article >>

Ultrasound can help low-risk patients avoid invasive thyroid biopsy

The prevalence of benign thyroid nodules is high and there are certain ultrasound features, suggesting malignancy, that can help radiologists determine whether or not a biopsy is needed, according to a study performed at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, CA.
Full article >>

Study links arm/hand swelling to number of lymph nodes removed during breast cancer surgery

In older breast cancer survivors, the number of lymph nodes removed during surgery and the presence of cancer in the lymph nodes were the two factors most directly linked to the development of lymphedema, swelling of the arm and hand, according to a study from the Medical College of Wisconsin's Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Full article >>

New MR technique may help save women from unnecessary breast biopsies

A new MR procedure that uses diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to determine whether or not a breast lesion is malignant or benign may help reduce unnecessary breast biopsies, according to a study performed at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD. DWI is a method that produces images detecting the exchange of water molecules between tissue compartments (diffusion).
Full article >>

Survey shows Americans may be missing direct route to head and neck cancer care

Tens of thousands of Americans are diagnosed annually with head and neck cancers, but many adults are unaware of doctors who specialize in treating these conditions, according to a recent survey by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), the association representing America's ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors.
Full article >>

Newly Discovered Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Active In Human Pancreatic Cancers

Finally some promising news about pancreatic cancer, one of the most fatal cancers, due to the difficulties of early detection and the lack of effective therapies: Scientists have identified an epidermal growth factor receptor aberrantly active in approximately a third of the 250 human pancreatic cancers studied.
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Brain Metastases Hijack Neuron-supporting Cells To Resist Chemotherapy

Cancer that spreads to other organs finds a sanctuary against treatment in the brain. New research shows that astrocytes are subverted to support metastases and that en bloc removal of tumors reduces the likelihood the cancer will spread irretrievably to spinal fluid.
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Walnuts May Prevent Breast Cancer

Walnut consumption may provide the body with essential omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytosterols that reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to a new study.
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Personalized Medicine Helps Cancer Patients Survive

Cancer patients can survive longer under treatments based on their individual genetic profiles, according to a nationwide study. The study shows that molecular profiling of patients can identify specific treatments for individuals, helping keep their cancer in check for significantly longer periods and in some cases even shrinking tumors.
Full article >>

Charred Meat May Increase Risk Of Pancreatic Cancer

Meat cooked at high temperatures to the point of burning and charring may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a new report.
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New Drug To Target Tumor Cells And Blood Vessels

Researchers have identified a new drug compound that appears to target tumor cells and surrounding blood vessels without the negative side effects typically associated with Cox-2 inhibitors.
Full article >>

How P53 Mutations Link To High-grade Breast Cancer, Poor Outcomes

In what is believed to be the largest study of its kind in the US, researchers have found that almost 26 percent of women studied who have breast cancer have mutations in a gene important in controlling cell growth and death, and that patients with mutations in this gene -- known as p53 -- had poorer outcomes including a significantly increased risk of death from the cancer.
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New Way To Distinguish Cancerous From Normal Cells

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown feature that distinguishes cancer from normal cells: the difference in cell surface properties.
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Natural Protein May Halt Colorectal Cancer's Spread

A protein, CXCL12, that normally controls intestinal cell movement, has the potential to halt colorectal cancer spreading. The finding represents a potential mechanism by which CXL12 may slow cancer spreading. Controlling this process could lead to new biological therapies for colorectal cancers.
Full article >>

New Biomarker May Predict Leukemia Aggressiveness

Scientists have evidence of a potential new biomarker to predict the aggressiveness of an often difficult-to-treat form of leukemia. They found that high levels of a particular enzyme in the blood are an indicator that chronic lymphocytic leukemia -- the most common form of adult leukemia -- will be aggressive and in need of immediate treatment.
Full article >>

Spain allows embryo selection to screen for cancer genes

Health authorities in Spain said Wednesday they had authorised the genetic screening of pre-implantation embryos to ensure they do not carry genes that might cause cancer.
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New Therapeutic Target For Melanoma Identified

A protein called Mcl-1 plays a critical role in melanoma cell resistance to a form of apoptosis called anoikis, according to new research.
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Genetic Source Of Rare Childhood Cancer Found; Gene Is Implicated In Other Cancers

The search for the cause of an inherited form of a rare, aggressive childhood lung cancer has uncovered important information about how the cancer develops and potentially sheds light on the development of other cancers. The finding adds the final link to the chain connecting the gene DICER1 to cancer development.
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Fat Droplet Nanoparticle Delivers Tumor Suppressor Gene To Tumor And Metastatic Cells

The first systemic, nonviral, tumor-targeted, nanoparticle method designed to restore normal gene function to tumor cells while completely bypassing normal tissue has been developed. The nanoparticle is able to locate primary and hidden metastatic tumor cells and deliver its payload: a fully functioning copy of the P53 tumor suppressor gene.
Full article >>

Colorectal Cancer Risks Quantified

Although the presenting features of colorectal cancer are well known, the risks they confer are less well defined. New research describes the exact risks posed by eight clinical features for the development of colorectal cancer in a large group of patients.
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First Broad-spectrum Anti-microbial Paint To Kill 'Superbugs'

Scientists have developed the first broad-spectrum antimicrobial paint, a material that can simultaneously kill not just disease-causing bacteria but mold, fungi, and viruses. Designed to both decorate and disinfect homes, businesses, and health-care settings, the paint is the most powerful to date, according to their new study.
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Potential genetic prostate cancer variation found

Scientists have linked a common genetic variation to the development of prostate cancer, according to a study published Monday.
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Emotional health affects exercise patterns in breast cancer patients

The first study to monitor physical activity in breast cancer patients for five years suggests that patients with greater depressive symptoms and a lower emotional quality of life are less likely to exercise as part of their recovery than are patients reporting less distress.
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Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy beneficial for recurrent low-grade glioma

Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy was well-tolerated and improved symptoms in patients with recurrent low-grade glioma, according to researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson. The data were presented at the AACR 100th Annual Meeting 2009.
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Natural protein may halt colorectal cancer's spread

Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center researchers in Milwaukee have learned that a protein, CXCL12, that normally controls intestinal cell movement, has the potential to halt colorectal cancer spreading. These studies represent a potential mechanism by which CXL12 may slow cancer spreading. Controlling this process could lead to new biological therapies for colorectal cancers.
Full article >>

Biodegradable Gel Being Studied As Treatment For Esophageal Cancer

Gastroenterologists are studying the safety and efficacy of a new system for delivering chemotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer, a rare, but deadly disease that attacks the throat. The unique drug therapy delivers a highly concentrated dose of chemotherapy injected directly on to the hard-to-reach tumors in the esophagus nonsurgically. Researchers are trying to determine if the gel treatment can reduce the size of the cancerous tumors.
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New Drug Achieves Pancreatic Cancer Tumor Remission And Prevents Recurrence, Study Suggests

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, but researchers may have found a combination therapy to reduce cancer stem cells and stop pancreatic cancer growth. Treatment with gemcitabine and tigatuzumab resulted in the reduction of pancreatic cancer stem cells, caused tumor remission, and significantly increased time-to-tumor progression in 50 percent of treated cases from a median of 54 days to 103 days.
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Urine Test May Determine If A Smoker Is At Risk For Lung Cancer

Researchers may have uncovered why lung cancer afflicts some smokers and not others.
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Herbal Extract Inhibits Development Of Pancreatic Cancer

An herb recently found to kill pancreatic cancer cells also appears to inhibit development of pancreatic cancer as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties, according to new research.
Full article >>

Possible Way To Block The Spread Of Deadly Brain Tumors Discovered

Researchers may have found a way to stop the often-rapid spread of deadly brain tumors. A gene with the playful-sounding name NHERF-1 may be a serious target for drugs that could prevent malignant tumors from rapidly multiplying and invading other parts of the brain, according to a new article.
Full article >>

Personalized medicine helps cancer patients survive

Cancer patients can survive longer under treatments based on their individual genetic profiles, according to a nationwide study released jointly today by Phoenix-area healthcare organizations.
Full article >>

Researchers develop new drug to target tumor cells and blood vessels

Researchers at the University of Southern California have identified a new drug compound that appears to target tumor cells and surrounding blood vessels without the negative side effects typically associated with Cox-2 inhibitors.
Full article >>

Researchers Formulate Treatment Combination Lethal To Pancreatic Cancer Cells (w/Video)

A combination of two targeted therapies packs a powerful punch to kill pancreatic cancer cells in the laboratory, Mayo Clinic cancer researchers report. With further testing of these drugs that are from classes of pharmaceuticals already used in patients, the Mayo research may lead to new treatment opportunities for patients with pancreatic cancer, which is extremely difficult to treat.
Full article >>

A potent and selective anti-tumor agent on human gastric adenocarcinoma

Previous studies on shikonin, a chemical derived from the Chinese medicinal herb had anti-tumor effects although it was found to be toxic. However, an acetyl derivative, acetylshikonin had less toxicity and prevented the growth of sarcomas. However, knowledge of the effect of acetylshikonin on gastric cancer in vitro and especially in vivo is unknown.
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Agent Orange exposure increases veterans' risk of aggressive recurrence of prostate cancer

Veterans exposed to Agent Orange are at increased risk of aggressive recurrence of prostate cancer, researchers report.
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Genetic variants predict recurrence of bladder cancer, patient survival

Scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered genetic variations in the inflammation pathway that reduce the likelihood of recurrence and increase survival of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who are treated with mainstream therapy.
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New Anti-asthmatic And Anti-inflammatory Drugs Without Adverse Side Effects, Suggests Study

Antedrug design is a new approach to creating safer drugs that attack a problem such as inflammation then quickly become inactive before they can cause damage. In a new study researchers synthesize a group of corticosteroids that have anti-asthmatic and anti-inflammatory properties but without adverse side effects.
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Nanoparticles Harnessed To Track Cancer-cell Changes

A new imaging technology could give scientists the ability to simultaneously measure as many as 100 or more distinct features in or on a single cell. In a disease such as cancer, that capability would provide a much better picture of what's going on in individual tumor cells.
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Trouble Sleeping Leads To Increased Ratings Of Pain In Cancer Patients, Study Suggests

A new study suggests that sleep problems lead to increased pain and fatigue in cancer patients. The results indicate that interventions aimed at trouble sleeping would be expected to improve both pain and fatigue in this patient population.
Full article >>

Using PET/CT Imaging, Researchers Can Now Tell After Single Treatment If Chemotherapy Is Working

Oncologists often have to wait months before they can determine whether a treatment is working. Now, using a non-invasive method, researchers have shown that they can determine after a single cycle of chemotherapy whether the toxic drugs are killing the cancer or not.
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Addition of dasatinib to standard chemo cocktail may enhance effect in certain ovarian cancers

The addition of a chemotherapeutic drug for leukemia to a standard regimen of two other chemotherapy drugs appears to enhance the response of certain ovarian cancers to treatment, according to a pre-clinical study led by researchers in the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.
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New imaging analysis predicts brain tumor survival

As early as one week after beginning treatment for brain tumors, a new imaging analysis method was able to predict which patients would live longer, researchers from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have found.
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Autopsy Study Links Prostate Cancer To Single Rogue Cell

One cell ... one initial set of genetic changes -- that's all it takes to begin a series of events that lead to metastatic cancer. Now, experts have tracked how the cancer process began in 33 men with prostate cancer who died of the disease.
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When Cancer Cells Can't Let Go

Like a climber scaling a rock face, a migrating cancer cell has to keep a tight grip on the surface but also let go at the right moment to move ahead. Researchers reveal that the focal adhesion kinase coordinates these processes to permit forward movement.
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More Intense Bladder Cancer Treatment Does Not Improve Survival, Study Finds

Despite enduring more invasive tests and medical procedures, patients who were treated aggressively for early stage bladder cancer had no better survival than patients who were treated less aggressively, according to a new study.
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High-dose Radiation Improves Lung Cancer Survival, Study Finds

Higher doses of radiation combined with chemotherapy improve survival in patients with stage III lung cancer, according to a new study.
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Scorpion Venom With Nanoparticles Slows Spread Of Brain Cancer

By combining nanoparticles with a scorpion venom compound already being investigated for treating brain cancer, researchers found they could cut the spread of cancerous cells by 98 percent, compared to 45 percent for the scorpion venom alone.
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New Method For Detection Of Phosphoproteins Reveals Regulator Of Melanoma Invasion

Scientists have developed a new approach for surveying phosphorylation, a process that is regulated by critical cell signaling pathways and regulates several key cellular signaling events. The research describes the regulation of a previously uncharacterized protein and demonstrates that it plays an important role in cancer cell invasion.
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Colorectal cancer risks quantified

Although the presenting features of colorectal cancer are well known, the risks they confer are less well defined. New research published in the open access journal BMC Medicine describes the exact risks posed by eight clinical features for the development of colorectal cancer in a large group of patients.
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Researchers find possible way to block the spread of deadly brain tumors

Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) may have found a way to stop the often-rapid spread of deadly brain tumors.
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Homeopathic Medicines: Can They Help Relieve Side-Effects Of Cancer Therapy?

Drugs and radiotherapy given for cancer can cause unpleasant side effects such as nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, dermatitis, and menopausal symptoms. Around a third of patients with cancer use complementary therapies, including homeopathic medicines, to try to reduce these side effects. In a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, researchers examined recent evidence for the safety and effectiveness of homeopathic medicines used in this way.
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Gene Fusion Discovery May Lead To Improved Prostate Cancer Test

A newly discovered gene fusion is highly expressed in a subset of prostate cancers, according to a new study. The findings may lead to more accurate tests for prostate cancer. The gene fusion biomarker may also represent an entirely new mechanism that cancer cells use to outgrow their healthy neighbors.
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Veterinary Oncologists Advance Cancer Drugs For Humans And Pets

As more pet owners are choosing to treat their pets' cancers through advanced medicine, veterinarians gain valuable knowledge about the progression and treatment of cancers in humans through pet trials of new drugs. To help organize nationwide trials in tumor-bearing dogs using cancer drugs.
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Specific Lung Cancer Susceptibility Gene Identified

Cancer cell biologists have identified a distinct gene linked to increased lung cancer susceptibility and development. They say this gene -- known as RGS17 -- could result in a genetic predisposition to develop lung cancer for people with a strong family history of the disease.
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HIV Pays A Price For Invisibility

Mutations that help HIV hide from the immune system undermine the virus's ability to replicate, according to new research.
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New Minimally Invasive Surgery Option For Patients With Stomach Cancer

A novel, minimally invasive surgical approach to treat stomach cancer has been shown to have advantages that may make it a preferable treatment for some patients.
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New therapeutic target for melanoma identified

A protein called Mcl-1 plays a critical role in melanoma cell resistance to a form of apoptosis called anoikis, according to research published this week in Molecular Cancer Research.
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Compendium Of Pancreatic Cancer Biomarkers Established As Strategic Approach To Early-detection

A cancer scientist has convinced an international group of scientists to delay their race to find new cancer biomarkers and instead begin a 7,000-hour slog through a compendium of 50,000 scientific articles already published to assemble, decode and analyze the molecules that might herald the furtive presence of pancreatic cancer.
Full article >>

Experimental Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Reduced Pancreatic Cancer Growth

Researchers are testing a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the activity of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2) and appears to reduce pancreatic cancer cells in early testing, according to a new article.
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Mimicry At Molecular Level Protects Genome Integrity

Mimicry is common in nature, where it is used as a key survival mechanism. Now scientists have discovered molecular mimicry in a genetic integrity pathway, which is implicated in many human diseases, from cancer to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.
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Mechanism Of Cell Type-specific Signaling In Tumor Development Discovered

Researchers have discovered the mechanisms behind two key checkpoints in cell growth and development -- factors that may ultimately allow investigators to benchmark progression of tumor cells or stop them from further development.
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Another Anti-cancer Effect Of The 'Longevity' Protein SIRT1 Identified

Scientists have identified another anti-cancer effect of the "longevity" protein SIRT1. By speeding the destruction of the tumor promoter c-Myc, SIRT1 curbs cell division.
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Study suggests that trouble sleeping leads to increased ratings of pain in cancer patients

A study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine suggests that sleep problems lead to increased pain and fatigue in cancer patients. The results indicate that interventions aimed at trouble sleeping would be expected to improve both pain and fatigue in this patient population.
Full article >>

Researchers identify specific lung cancer susceptibility gene

University of Cincinnati (UC) cancer cell biologists have identified a distinct gene linked to increased lung cancer susceptibility and development. They say this gene -known as RGS17 -could result in a genetic predisposition to develop lung cancer for people with a strong family history of the disease.
Full article >>

Researchers Increase Efficiency Of Photocatalysts Used In Cancer Treatments

Researchers in Spain have found porous polymeric materials that increase the efficiency of traditional photocatalysts in the treatment of cancer. Photodynamic therapy consists of introducing photocatalysts into tumour cells in such a way that when radiation (in the form of light) is applied, the photocatalysts destroy these cells as a result of the production of a reactive agent known as singlet oxygen.
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Vitamin D Deficiency Related To Increased Inflammation In Healthy Women

A nutritional sciences researcher found that vitamin D deficiency is associated with inflammation, a negative response of the immune system, in healthy women.
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Biomarker Associated With Poor Outcome In Aggressive Childhood Cancer

Results from a new study identify a biomarker that may be useful for predicting the outcome of treatment for neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in young children. The research also provides new information about the molecular signals that are involved in the progression of this often devastating pediatric cancer.
Full article >>

Potential New Target For Treatment Of Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer

A new study identifies a protein that modifies the androgen receptor and influences its ability to regulate target genes linked with the progression of prostate cancer. The research may also drive creation of new strategies for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to traditional anti-hormone therapies.
Full article >>

Key Gene That Protects Against Leukemia Identified

Researchers have identified a gene that controls the rapid production and differentiation of the stem cells that produce all blood cell types -- a discovery that could eventually open the door to more streamlined treatments for leukemia and other blood cancers, in which blood cells proliferate out of control.
Full article >>

Colon Cancer Shuts Down Receptor That Could Shut It Down

Though a high-fiber diet has long been considered good for you and beneficial in staving off colon cancer, researchers have discovered a reason why: roughage activates a receptor with cancer-killing potential.
Full article >>

Avastin Effective At Delaying Brain Tumor Progression In Recurrent Disease

The use of Avastin alone to treat a subgroup of recurrent Grade 3 brain tumors showed it was safe and effective at delaying tumor progression, according to a retrospective study of 22 patients.
Full article >>

New Alternative To Biopsy Detects Subtle Changes In Cancer Cells, Study Shows

A drop of blood or a chunk of tissue smaller than the period at the end of this sentence may one day be all that is necessary to diagnose cancers and assess their response to treatment, say researchers.
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For Cancer Cells, Genetics Alone Is Poor Indicator For Drug Response

Researchers have discovered that the genetic identity of a tumor cell is an incomplete predictor for how it will respond to certain treatments. In the case of one particular new and highly touted cancer treatment, genetically identical cancer cells responded differently. These variations resulted from random cell-to-cell differences, such as how many protein copies each cell had at the time of treatment. What's more, these non-genetic characteristics were passed on to subsequent generations of cells, establishing a transient heritability.
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New ultrasound-guided biopsy method allows improved diagnosis of endometrial disease

A procedure used in conjunction with a vaginal ultrasound might make it easier to visualize and diagnose diseases in the lining of the uterus, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.
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Reversing effects of altered enzyme may fight brain tumor growth

An international team of scientists from the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, the University of North Carolina and several institutions in China have explained how a gene alteration can lead to the development of a type of brain cancer, and they have identified a compound that could staunch the cancer's growth.
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Experimental insulin-like growth factor receptor inhibitor reduced pancreatic cancer growth

Researchers at Amgen are testing a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the activity of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2) and appears to reduce pancreatic cancer cells in early testing, according to a report in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
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Sharp Increase In HPV-positive Tonsil Cancer Found

The number of cases of tonsil cancer continues to increase, according to a new Swedish study with diagnoses tripling since 1970. The results of the study, which mainly cover the Swedish capital of Stockholm, show that this increase is directly linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV).
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Mass Spec Technique Analyzes Defensive Chemicals On Seaweed Surfaces For Potential Drugs

A new analytical technique is helping scientists learn how organisms as simple as seaweed can mount complex chemical defenses to protect themselves from microbial threats such as fungus. The technique for the first time allows researchers to study unique chemical activity taking place on the surfaces of these organisms.
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Gene Helps Protect Tumor Suppressor In Breast Cancer

Scientists have discovered a gene that protects PTEN, a major tumor-suppressor that is reduced but rarely mutated in about half of all breast cancers.
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Bioterrorism: Fast And Sensitive Way To Detect Ricin

Scientists have developed a simple, accurate, and highly sensitive test to detect and quantify ricin, an extremely potent toxin with potential use as a bioterrorism agent.
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Drug Shows Activity In Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer

A new multi-center study shows that an experimental drug lowers prostate specific antigen levels -- a marker for tumor growth -- in men with advanced prostate cancer for whom traditional treatment options have failed.
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Study Of Neighborhoods Points To Modifiable Factors, Not Race, In Cancer Disparities

While cities have shown considerable racial disparities in cancer survival, those racial disparities virtually disappear among smaller populations, such as neighborhoods within that city, according to a new analysis.
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Harnessing Immune Cells To Target Skin Cancer

One subset of immune cells known to contribute to the immune response that targets tumors is the NK cell subset. Although this suggests that NK cell--based therapeutics have anticancer potential, more information is needed about the interactions between NK cells and human tumor cells if this promise is to be realized.
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When cancer cells can't let go

Like a climber scaling a rock face, a migrating cancer cell has to keep a tight grip on the surface but also let go at the right moment to move ahead. Chan et al. reveal that the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) coordinates these processes to permit forward movement. The study will be published online April 13 and will appear in the April 20 print issue of the Journal of Cell Biology.
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Racial disparities persist in the treatment of lung cancer

Black patients suffering from lung cancer are less likely to receive recommended chemotherapy and surgery than white lung cancer patients, a disparity that shows no signs of lessening. That is the conclusion of a new study published in the May 15, 2009 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study's findings indicate that efforts are needed to provide appropriate treatments for black patients and to educate them about the value of those treatments.
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Study of neighborhoods points to modifiable factors, not race, in cancer disparities

While cities have shown considerable racial disparities in cancer survival, those racial disparities virtually disappear among smaller populations, such as neighborhoods within that city. The finding comes from a new analysis published in the May 15, 2009 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study examined breast and prostate cancer survival rates at different geographic levels, and the results suggest that there are significant societal factors at the root of cancer-related racial disparities.
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Colon cancer shuts down receptor that could shut it down

Though a high-fiber diet has long been considered good for you and beneficial in staving off colon cancer, Medical College of Georgia researchers have discovered a reason why: roughage activates a receptor with cancer-killing potential.
Full article >>

Marker For Severity In Adult Brain Cancer Identified

Researchers have identified a new biological indicator that may help identify which brain-cancer patients have the most aggressive forms of the disease.
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Some Radiation Therapy Treatments Can Decrease Fertility

In female cancer patients of reproductive age, radiation treatment directly to the ovaries should be avoided because there is a direct relationship between certain types of radiation therapy and fertility problems, according to a new review.
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How Tumor Cells Move

If cancer cells lack a certain protein, it could be much easier for them to penetrate healthy body tissue, the first step towards forming metastases. Scientists have discovered the previously unknown cell signal factor SCAI (suppressor of cancer cell invasion).
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New Drug Shows Promise In Treating Drug-resistant Prostate Cancer

A new therapy for metastatic prostate cancer has shown considerable promise in early clinical trials involving patients whose disease has become resistant to current drugs. Chemists and biologists have created a new drug to treat a particularly lethal form of prostate cancer: castration resistant prostate cancer.
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Study Examines Power Of Exercise To Prevent Breast Cancer

A new study aims to learn whether women at high risk of breast cancer can use exercise to reduce their risk of getting the disease. Building on evidence that reducing estrogen in the body reduces cancer risk, and that elite female athletes experience a drop in estrogen levels that often cause them to stop ovulating and menstruating, the WISER Sister trial will investigate two different levels of regular exercise as a possible intervention for breast cancer risk reduction.
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Pre-surgical Stress Management Improves Mood, Quality Of Life

Brief stress management sessions prior to and immediately after surgery may have both short- and long-term benefit for men undergoing a radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer, according to new research.
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Procedure Improves Health Of Cancer Patients

A novel hemodialysis procedure helps restore kidney function and increases lifespan in patients with multiple myeloma, according to a new study.
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Lower Educational Outcomes Found For Survivors Of Childhood Cancer

Childhood cancer survivors may suffer from poor educational achievement and learning difficulties.
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Increase In P53 Mutation Linked To Advanced Colorectal Cancer In African Americans

Researchers have identified a possible genetic cause for increased risk for a more advanced form of colorectal cancer in African Americans that leads to shorter survival, according to new data.
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More Women With Early-stage Breast Cancer Choosing Double Mastectomies

A cancer surgeon and researcher has found a dramatic increase in the number of women diagnosed with the earliest stage of breast cancer choosing to have both breasts surgically removed.
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Chemical Compound May Stop Deadly Brain Tumors

Researchers have identified a compound that could be modified to treat one of the most deadly types of cancer, and discovered how a particular gene mutation contributes to tumor growth.
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Wristbands Ease Nausea With Cancer Treatment

Cancer patients who wore acupressure wristbands had much less nausea while receiving radiation treatment, making the bands a safe, low-cost addition to anti-nausea medication, according to a new study.
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Cancer Survival: Pretreatment Alcohol, Tobacco, Fruit, Exercise Habits Linked To Head And Neck Cancer Survival

Head and neck cancer patients who smoked, drank, didn't exercise or didn't eat enough fruit when they were diagnosed had worse survival outcomes than those with better health habits, according to a new study.
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Researchers reveal how immune cells can be harnessed to target melanoma

Researchers at the Babraham Institute and the University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Italy, co-ordinating an international network of scientists and clinicians from Europe, the USA and Japan, have identified new mechanisms through which the immune system recognises and responds to tumours like melanomas. This discovery may offer therapeutic approaches for tackling metastatic melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer responsible for around 2,000 deaths in the UK each year.
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Omega-3 fatty acids may benefit cancer patients undergoing major operations

New research from Trinity College Dublin published in this month's Annals of Surgery points to a potentially significant advance in the treatment of patients undergoing major cancer surgery. The study was carried out by the oesophageal research group at Trinity College Dublin and St James's Hospital. A randomised controlled trial showed omega-3 fatty acids given as part of an oral nutritional supplement resulted in the preservation of muscle mass in patients undergoing surgery for oesopahageal cancer, a procedure normally associated with significant weight loss and quality of life issues.
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Nuclear Hormone Receptors, MicroRNAs Form Developmental Switch

A particular nuclear hormone receptor called DAF-12 and molecules called microRNAs in the let-7 family form a molecular switch that encourages cells in the larvae of a model worm to shift to a more developed state.
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Protein That May Help Breast Cancer Spread, Beat Cancer Drugs, Identified

New research shows that a protein called Muc4 may be the essential ingredient that allows breast cancer to spread to other organs and resist therapeutic treatment.
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Perfluorinated Chemicals Not Associated With Cancer In General Population, Study Suggests

Perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate plasma concentrations are not associated with the risk of prostate, bladder, pancreatic, or liver cancer. according to new research.
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Common Virus Kills Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer researcher have shown that a common virus can infect and kill breast cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are difficult to kill as they respond poorly to chemotherapy and radiation.
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Active Component Of Marijuana Has Anti-cancer Effects, Study Suggests

Cannabinoids such as the main active component of marijuana have anticancer effects on human brain cancer cells, according to new research.
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Fluorescent Cancer Cells To Guide Brain Surgeons

Malignant brain tumors grow with fine extensions which make them hard to distinguish from healthy brain tissue during surgery. Scientists have developed a staining method that makes tumor cells glow in yellow-green. Thus, borders between tumor tissue and normal tissue become visible during the entire operation, which makes resection easier for brain surgeons.
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More women with early-stage breast cancer choosing double mastectomies

A University of Minnesota cancer surgeon and researcher has found a dramatic increase in the number of women diagnosed with the earliest stage of breast cancer choosing to have both breasts surgically removed.
Full article >>

Scientists identify chemical compound that may stop deadly brain tumors

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have identified a compound that could be modified to treat one of the most deadly types of cancer, and discovered how a particular gene mutation contributes to tumor growth.
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Mouse Models Of Leukemia That Predict Response To Chemotherapy Developed

Researchers have designed new mouse models of human acute myeloid leukemia that accurately predict chemotherapy response in patients. The models precisely recapitulate genetic associations that have been linked to favorable or adverse treatment responses in patients and help identify genes promoting resistance or sensitivity to any cancer drug. The models are also an effective test system for new drugs and treatment strategies for AML.
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Eye Cells Believed To Be Retinal Stem Cells Are Misidentified

Cells isolated from the eye that many scientists believed were retinal stem cells are, in fact, normal adult cells, investigators have found.
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Light Reveals Breast Tumor Oxygen Status

Light directed at a breast tumor through a needle can provide pathologists with biological specifics of the tumor and help oncologists choose treatment options that would be most effective for that individual patient.
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Skin cancer now top cancer among young women in UK

(AP) -- Melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, is now the most common cancer in young British women, the country's leading cancer organization said Wednesday. Skin cancer has overtaken cervical cancer as the top cancer striking women in their 20s, according to the latest data from Cancer Research United Kingdom.
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Soy may aid in treating canine cancers

Researchers at North Carolina State University are looking to soy as a way to make traditional canine cancer therapy more effective, less stressful for the dog and less costly for the owners.
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High-dose radiation improves lung cancer survival

Higher doses of radiation combined with chemotherapy improve survival in patients with stage III lung cancer, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Full article >>

Wristbands ease nausea with cancer treatment

Cancer patients who wore acupressure wristbands had much less nausea while receiving radiation treatment, making the bands a safe, low-cost addition to anti-nausea medication, according to a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management by University of Rochester Medical Center researchers.
Full article >>

Scientists identify key gene that protects against leukemia

Researchers have identified a gene that controls the rapid production and differentiation of the stem cells that produce all blood cell types -- a discovery that could eventually open the door to more streamlined treatments for leukemia and other blood cancers, in which blood cells proliferate out of control.
Full article >>

New Link In Liver Cancer

Liver damage can be triggered by various insults, including hepatitis infection or alcohol-induced cirrhosis. In severe cases, this damage can lead to cancer. A new study reveals how one protein helps decide the fate of damaged livers in mice.
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Angiogenesis Inhibitor Improves Brain Tumor Survival By Reducing Edema

The beneficial effects of anti-angiogenesis drugs in the treatment of the deadly brain tumors called glioblastomas appear to result primarily from reduction of edema -- the swelling of brain tissue -- and not from any direct anti-tumor effect. A new report describes how treatment with the experimental drug cediranib reduced edema and improved survival in three mouse models of glioblastoma.
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Potential New HIV Drug May Help Patients Not Responding To Treatment

A potential treatment for HIV may one day help people who are not responding to anti-retroviral therapy. Scientists looking at monkeys with the simian form of HIV were able to reduce the virus levels in the blood to undetectable levels, by treating the monkeys with a molecule called D-1mT alongside anti-retroviral therapy.
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Compendium of pancreatic cancer biomarkers established as strategic approach to early-detection

A cancer scientist from Johns Hopkins has convinced an international group of colleagues to delay their race to find new cancer biomarkers and instead begin a 7,000-hour slog through a compendium of 50,000 scientific articles already published to assemble, decode and analyze the molecules that might herald the furtive presence of pancreatic cancer.
Full article >>

Brit officials wrestle with cost of cancer drugs

(AP) -- In October, Rocky Fernandez was told he might not live to Christmas.
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Dendritic Cell Lineage Defined

Dendritic cells were discovered more than 30 years ago, but their pedigree has never been fully charted. They were known to be key immune system cells born in bone marrow, but their adolescence remained a mystery, their path to infection-fighting adulthood confused. Now, in experiments published in Science, researchers have identified these special cells' rites of passage: They have shown the developmental point when dendritic cells part ways with closely related immune cells known as monocytes, at least in mice. The findings could have important implications for research on dendritic cell-based vaccines all over the world.
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Cellular Target May Prove Useful In Treating Deadly Brain Tumors

Researchers have identified a receptor on the surface of cells that may give them another avenue of attack against glioblastoma, the most common and most deadly type of brain cancer.
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Naturally Fluorescent Molecules May Serve As Cancer Biomarker

Excess amounts of a naturally fluorescent molecule found in all living cells could serve as a natural biomarker for cancer, according to bioengineers.
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Yeast Infections Worsening: Rapidly Mutating Yeast Causing More Infections

During the recent years yeasts have been causing more and more infections in humans. One of them can mutate surprisingly quickly by reorganizing its chromosomes. This enables this yeast to tolerate higher doses of anti-fungal medicine.
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Cancer Mutations In The Heart Of Gene Regulation

Researchers have identified a new cancer gene -- one that is common to many cancers and affects the most basic regulation of our genes. The new example -- a gene on the X chromosome called UTX -- is found in 10 percent of cases of multiple myeloma and eight percent of esophageal cancers. When "tumor suppressor genes" such as this are inactivated, other genes can run riot.
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Broccoli Sprouts May Prevent Stomach Cancer By Defeating Helicobacter Pylori

A small, pilot study in 50 people in Japan suggests that eating two and a half ounces of broccoli sprouts daily for two months may confer some protection against a rampant stomach bug that causes gastritis, ulcers and even stomach cancer.
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Enzyme And Vitamin Define The Yin And Yang Of Asthma

The allergen breathed in by a person with asthma triggers a proteinase or enzyme called MMP7 that activates a cascade of events to prompt an allergic reaction. In particular, MMP7 activates interleukin 25, a key mediator of the allergic response in the lung. Researchers have identified a form of vitamin A made in the lung that is critical for dampening the inflammatory effect.
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Gutsy germs succumb to baby broccoli (w/Videos)

(PhysOrg.com) -- A small, pilot study in 50 people in Japan suggests that eating two and a half ounces of broccoli sprouts daily for two months may confer some protection against a rampant stomach bug that causes gastritis, ulcers and even stomach cancer.
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Gene helps protect tumor suppressor in breast cancer

Scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a gene that protects PTEN, a major tumor-suppressor that is reduced but rarely mutated in about half of all breast cancers.
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Novel lung cancer vaccine shows promise in fighting early-stage lung cancer

An experimental vaccine that triggers the patient's immune system to identify and attack specific tumor cells is showing new promise for the treatment of early lung cancer. Thoracic surgeons at Rush University Medical Center are researching the vaccine called MAGE-A3 Antigen-Specific Cancer Immunotherapeutic, which is designed to kill cancer cells without harming normal cells. Rush is one of only five hospitals in Illinois offering the vaccine.
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Biomarker associated with poor outcome in aggressive childhood cancer

Results from a new study identify a biomarker that may be useful for predicting the outcome of treatment for neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in young children. The research, published by Cell Press in the April 7th issue of the journal Cancer Cell, also provides new information about the molecular signals that are involved in the progression of this often devastating pediatric cancer.
Full article >>

A potential new target for treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer

A new study identifies a protein that modifies the androgen receptor (AR) and influences its ability to regulate target genes linked with the progression of prostate cancer. The research, published by Cell Press in the April 7th issue of the journal Cancer Cell, may also drive creation of new strategies for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to traditional anti-hormone therapies.
Full article >>

Avastin effective at delaying brain tumor progression in recurrent disease

The use of Avastin alone to treat a subgroup of recurrent Grade 3 brain tumors showed it was safe and effective at delaying tumor progression, according to a retrospective study of 22 patients conducted by a researcher at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
Full article >>

Cancer Stem Cells Generated By Cancer Outgrowth

Scientists have discovered that growing mouse skin cells in spheres can lead to generation of cells with properties of cancer stem cells, even without genetic manipulation of stem cell genes. This unexpected finding provides a potential pathway for generation of cancer stem cells from differentiated cells and may even eventually lead to safer strategies for creation of induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative therapies.
Full article >>

Omega-3 Kills Cancer Cells

Docosahexanoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oils, has been shown to reduce the size of tumors and enhance the positive effects of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, while limiting its harmful side effects. The rat experiments provide some support for the plethora of health benefits often ascribed to omega-3 acids.
Full article >>

Health Benefits, Consequences Of Folic Acid Dependent On Circumstances

For the past several decades, evidence has shown that greater dietary intake of the B-vitamin, folate, offers protection against the development of certain common cancers and reduces neural tube defects in newborns, opening new avenues for public health interventions that have a great impact on health. However, folate's central role as an essential factor in DNA synthesis also means that abundant availability of the vitamin can enhance the development of pre-cancerous and cancerous tumors.
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Breast Cancer: To Screen Or Not To Screen?

Women are often told that mammography saves lives. But rarely is the question asked, "how often?" Researchers set out to examine how often this life-saving event occurs.
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Lead In The Blood Increases Women's Mortality

Lead concentrations in the blood are associated with an increased risk of death from coronary heart diseases. A study of 533 American women has shown that those with blood lead concentrations above a certain amount were three times more likely to die of coronary heart diseases.
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Risk Of Aggressive Breast Cancer Subtype Three Times Higher For African-American Women

Lifestyle, age and weight have all been considered as risk factors for breast cancer. A new study has found that even taking these factors into consideration, African-American women face three times the risk of developing an aggressive "triple negative tumor" compared to women of other racial backgrounds.
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Light-activated 'Lock' Can Control Blood Clotting, Drug Delivery

Scientists have shed new light -- literally -- on a possible way to starve cancer tumors or prevent side effects from a wide range of drugs.
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Transmission Of Drug Resistant HIV-1

Drug-resistant forms of HIV can be spread between individuals who have not received anti-retroviral treatment, according to new research.
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Blood Protein May Hold Key To Stopping Tumor Growth In Cancer Patients

A recent discovery could clear the way for a new drug that inhibits tumor growth in cancer patients and could potentially help in the healing of wounds.
Full article >>

Omega-3 Kills Cancer Cells

Docosahexanoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oils, has been shown to reduce the size of tumors and enhance the positive effects of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, while limiting its harmful side effects. The rat experiments provide some support for the plethora of health benefits often ascribed to omega-3 acids.
Full article >>

Young women warned of lung cancer risks

Seventeen people are still dying from lung cancer each week in Northern Ireland despite a small improvement in survival rates for the disease.
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Researcher takes aim at deadly brain tumors

Natalie Ciaccio, a fourth-year graduate student researcher in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Kansas, is investigating what might be an ideal target for anti-cancer drug therapy, and she is focusing her work on brain tumors specifically.
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A miR boost enables acute leukemia cells to mature

A new study by Ohio State University cancer researchers shows that boosting the level of a molecule called miR-29b in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells can reverse gene changes that trap the cells in an immature, fast growing state of development.
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Fluorescent cancer cells to guide brain surgeons

Gliomas are malignant brain tumors that arise from glial (supporting) cells of the brain. Gliomas are often resistant to chemotherapy. These tumors grow fine extensions that infiltrate normal brain tissue and, in addition, individual tumor cells can form satellites in surrounding tissue. Therefore, it is almost impossible to remove the tumor tissue completely by surgery.
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Computer based model helps radiologists diagnose breast cancer

Radiologists have developed a computer based model that aids them in discriminating between benign and malignant breast lesions, according to a study performed at the University Of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, WI. The model was developed by a multidisciplinary group, including radiologists and industrial engineers, led by Elizabeth S. Burnside, MD, Oguzhan Alagoz, PhD, and Jagpreet Chhatwal, PhD.
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