Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Cancer Research:Higher risk for robotic prostate surgery patients ♦ Revealing breast cancer using nanoscale polymers ♦ RNA splicing machinery offers new drug target

Pactamycin analogs offer new, gentler approach to cancer treatment Researchers are pursuing a new concept in treatment of cancer, by using two promising 'analogs' of an old compound that was once studied as a potent anti-tumor agent, but long ago abandoned because it was too toxic. The idea put cancer cells to sleep - lessening problems with resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, and also the side effects of chemotherapy.
Fee-for-service health care may lead to higher risk for robotic prostate surgery patients A 'perverse disincentive' for hospitals that have invested in expensive technology for robotic surgery may be jeopardizing prostate cancer patients who seek out the procedure.
Nerve involvement explains why some cancers are very painful More than half of all cancer patients experience pain, most often associated with the malignancy type, body location and disease progression. Pain researchers report that the relationship between tumors and nerves drives persistent and breakthrough pain and tumor progression in certain types of cancers
RNA splicing machinery offers new drug target A widespread cancer-causing protein called MYC promotes the growth of tumor cells in part by ensuring that RNA transcripts are properly spliced, according to new research. Drugs that block parts of the cell's splicing machinery may provide a new way to halt the proliferation of MYC-driven cancers.

Revealing breast cancer using nanoscale polymers A biocompatible polymer selectively targets and lights up cancer tumors for a noninvasive imaging system, investigator's report. Generating photoacoustic signals requires an ultrafast laser pulse to irradiate a small area of tissue. By 'listening' to the pressure differences created by the acoustic waves, researchers can reconstruct and visualize the inner structures of complex objects such as the brain and cardiovascular systems. Diagnosing cancer with photoacoustic imaging requires contrast agents that deeply penetrate tissue and selectively bind to malignant cells.

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