Cancer Research: Three hits to fight lung cancer ♦ Novel RNA delivery system may treat incurable blood cancers ♦ Quickly identifying tumors by using antibodies

New breast cancer drug may be effective against other types of cancer Palbociclib, a new oral drug whose efficacy in combating breast cancer has been demonstrated alone and in combination with endocrine therapy, also has potential to combat other types of cancer, according to a literature review and additional original research.

Quickly identifying tumors by using antibodies Antibodies combat viruses and bacteria. They also attach themselves to cancer cells – in a typical, characteristic way. Scientists are using this property to detect cancer cells in tissue samples. Such rapid tests can already be applied by surgeons during operations – within a few minutes and without expensive equipment.

Three hits to fight lung cancer Cancers with KRAS-related gene mutations might benefit from a triple therapy with two experimental drugs plus radiation therapy, a new study in mice has shown

Novel RNA delivery system may treat incurable blood cancers Mantle Cell Lymphoma is considered the most aggressive known blood cancer, and available therapies are scarce. A new study offers tangible hope of curing the currently incurable cancer -- and others like it.

Cancer Research: Guided ultrasound plus nanoparticle chemotherapy cures tumors in mice ♦ Price of cancer drugs varies by up to 388% between European countries

Guided ultrasound plus nanoparticle chemotherapy cures tumors in mice Thermal ablation with magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) is a noninvasive technique for treating fibroids and cancer.Combining the technique with chemotherapy can allow complete destruction of tumors in mice.

Gene pair plays crucial role in colon cancer Two related genes in the Musashi family are required for colon cancer to develop, researchers have discovered, adding that they may be useful targets for effective treatment.

Price of cancer drugs varies by up to 388% between European countries, Australia, and New Zealand  The price of new cancer drugs varies widely (from 28% to 388%) between high-income countries in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, new research has found. The UK and Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Spain, and Portugal pay the lowest average unit manufacturer prices for a group of 31 originator cancer drugs (new drugs under patent), whereas Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany pay the highest prices.

Researchers identify biomarker of early lung cancer that may increase survival Researchers have identified a biomarker that detects the most common lung cancer in its earliest stage. The discovery could one day change how long lung cancer patients live

Pulmonary Research: Treating pulmonary diseases using Alaska pollock gelatin ♦ White blood cells guards against tumor lung metastasis ♦ New study explores how anxiety can aggravate asthma

A subpopulation of white blood cells guards against tumor lung metastasis Among foot soldiers on the immune front line is a subpopulation of white blood cells called “patrolling monocytes,” whose job is to cruise the bloodstream, cart off cellular debris, and block invasion of a less benign population of inflammatory cells. Now, a study illustrates that patrolling monocytes may also play an anti-cancer role, particularly in the lung.
Lung cancer surgery can be beneficial for high-risk patients with early stage disease

Surgical lung resection, in which part of a lung is removed, can be a safe and effective treatment option for high-risk patients with early stage lung cancer,

New study explores how anxiety can aggravate asthma A new study involved mimicking asthma symptoms to see how anxiety sensitivity affected asthma sufferers. The researchers recruited 101 college undergraduates who reported having asthma. The experiment aimed to mimic asthma symptoms by having study participants breathe in-and-out through a narrow straw, about the width of a coffee-stirrer straw.
Treating pulmonary diseases using Alaska pollock gelatin In recent years, patients with pulmonary emphysema have been increasing mainly among middle-aged and elderly males due to aging and excessive smoking. Emphysema makes brittle lungs, and in severe cases, holes develop in the lung tissue, causing air leakage. Researchers have developed a new sealant to close holes developed in lungs and blood vessels using Alaska pollock gelatin, and have reported that the sealant is about 12 times stronger than conventional sealants.

Cancer Research: Lung cancer specialist brings new treatments, ♦ Increased risk of large bowel cancer for each 1 cm rise in waist circumference

Surgery proving option for more pancreatic cancer patients. Pancreatic cancer has long proved the least survivable of the most common forms of cancer, in part because it tends to spread before symptoms appear. Surgery has offered the longest remissions, but for many people with advanced cancer, an operation wasn’t an option. Now, thanks to improvements in chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, even this most recalcitrant of cancers is starting to budge.

New genetic discovery advances understanding of prostate cancer A new and important genetic discovery, which sheds light on how prostate cancers develop and spread, has been made by an international research team. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men.

Chemical probe to dissect role of potential cancer-causing proteins Scientists have created a highly specific and well-characterized chemical probe which can switch off two important proteins implicated in cancer -- shedding new light on the role these proteins play in driving cancer cell proliferation

Lung cancer specialist brings new treatments, hope to new Mexicans This year, more than 158,000 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer. That’s a staggering number: it’s more than all the deaths expected from breast, prostate, colon, rectum, bladder and skin cancers combined. But this grim statistic only spurs one lung cancer doctor and scientist to work harder toward a cure

Increased risk of large bowel cancer for each 1 cm rise in waist circumference New research shows an increased risk of large bowel cancer for each 1 cm rise in waist circumference. In addition, in men, there is now evidence that increasing waist circumference in middle age is associated with increased bowel cancer risk.

Cancer Research:Researchers disguise drugs as platelets to target cancer ♦ New dual strategy halts cell division ♦ Risk factors for prostate cancer

Researchers disguise drugs as platelets to target cancer Researchers have for the first time developed a technique that coats anticancer drugs in membranes made from a patient's own platelets, allowing the drugs to last longer in the body and attack both primary cancer tumors and the circulating tumor cells that can cause a cancer to metastasize.

Targeted cancer treatment: New dual strategy halts cell division A team of researchers has confirmed in a recent study its new concept for the targeted treatment of ovarian cancer. The concept is intended to better control the development of resistance and improve treatment outcomes. The strategy focuses on halting tumor growth by inhibiting two signal networks instead of just one.

Doctors often over treated with radiation in late-stage lung cancer Almost half of patients with advanced lung cancer receive more than the recommended number of radiation treatments to reduce their pain, according to a new study. Radiation therapy that is palliative, or not intended to cure, can reduce the pain from lung tumors and improve quality of life. But unnecessary treatments add to costs and require needless trips to the hospital -- and can lead to radiation toxicity and difficulty in swallowing.

Sniffing out cancer with improved 'electronic nose' sensors Scientists have been exploring new ways to 'smell' signs of cancer by analyzing what's in patients' breath. In a new study, one team now reports new progress toward this goal. The researchers have developed a small array of flexible sensors, which accurately detect compounds in breath samples that are specific to ovarian cancer

Risk factors for prostate cancer New research suggests that age, race and family history are the biggest risk factors for a man to develop prostate cancer, although high blood pressure, high cholesterol, vitamin D deficiency, inflammation of prostate, and vasectomy also add to the risk. In contrast, obesity, alcohol abuse, and smoking show a negative association with the disease.

Cancer Research: Lung cancer survival rates improve with CT scan follow-up ♦ COPD heightens deadly lung cancer risk in smokers ♦ Genetic screening of brain metastases reveals new treatment

Differences between tumors of younger and older colorectal cancer patients  Tumors in younger colorectal cancer patients may be molecularly distinct from those of older patients, and that these differences are related to the way genes are switched on and off (epigenetics) in the tumors of the younger patients and may lead to better treatment options.

Genetic screening of brain metastases could reveal new targets for treatment Unravelling the genetic sequences of cancer that has spread to the brain could offer unexpected targets for effective treatment

Lung cancer survival rates improve with CT scan follow-up Patients with recurrent lung cancer have better post-surgery survival rates if their management includes a follow-up program based on computer tomography of the chest.

Differences found between smokers and nonsmokers who develop lung cancer Tobacco smoke is known to be the main risk factor for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), although non-smokers can get it too. The incidence among non-smokers is increasing in many countries. Now a group of researchers has found significant differences in clinical particularities and survival between smokers and nonsmokers who develop NSCLC.

COPD heightens deadly lung cancer risk in smokers Smokers who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder may face nearly twice the risk of getting small cell lung cancer -- the deadliest form of lung cancer -- than smokers who don't have COPD.

Pulmonary Research: Nicotine-chomping bacteria ♦ Sulfur dioxide air pollutant still a concern for asthmatics ♦ Missed diagnostic testing found among lung cancer patients

Emissions have declined, but sulfur dioxide air pollutant still a concern for asthmatics Emissions of the air pollutant sulfur dioxide have been dramatically decreased during the past 30 years but for some people even a little inhaled sulfur dioxide may still be too much.

Delay in treatment, missed diagnostic testing found among lung cancer patients Patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer may wait too long to receive treatment, and too many patients skip vital diagnostic steps that are needed to help determine the best possible treatment, researchers report.

On-chip processor the first step in point-of-care asthma and tuberculosis diagnostics A device to mix liquids utilizing ultrasonics is the first and most difficult component in a miniaturized system for low-cost analysis of sputum from patients with pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis and asthma

Nicotine-chomping bacteria may hold key to anti-smoking therapy A new study explores a bacterial enzyme that might be used as a drug candidate to help people quit smoking. The research shows that this enzyme can be recreated in lab settings and possesses a number of promising characteristics for drug development.

Pulmonary Research:So what exactly is in the air that we breathe? ♦ Stem cells might heal damaged lungs ♦ How the lung repairs its wounds

New program using CT technology helping doctors better detect lung cancer Long-time smokers and past smokers now have a more accurate way of detecting whether or not they have lung cancer thanks to a comprehensive lung cancer screening program that uses CT scan technology

So what exactly is in the air that we breathe? We can’t see them, but the air that we breathe contains a wealth of biological particles which could damage our health. Scientists have embarked on a three-year project to find new ways of analyzing air samples more quickly and accurately than ever before. The methods developed from the research will offer guidance for addressing public health or major infection outbreaks.

Stem cells might heal damaged lungs Collectively, such diseases of the airways as emphysema, bronchitis, asthma and cystic fibrosis are the second leading cause of death worldwide. More than 35 million Americans alone suffer from chronic respiratory disease. Scientists have now proposed a new direction that could, in the future, lead to the development of a method for alleviating some of their suffering. The study's findings show how it might be possible to use embryonic stem cells to repair damaged lung tissue.

How the lung repairs its wounds Our lungs are permanently exposed to harmful environmental factors that can damage or even destroy their cells. In a specific regenerative process these injured cells must be replaced as soon as possible. Scientists have now, for the first time, gained detailed insights into the dynamic remodeling of the tissue during lung repair.

Cancer Research: Nanospheres shield chemo drugs ♦ Chemotherapeutic coatings enhance tumor-frying nanoparticles ♦ Cancer discovery links experimental vaccine

Lung cancer patients who stop smoking live longer Tobacco cessation provided significant survival benefit for lung cancer patients who quit smoking shortly before or after diagnosis, despite the severity of the disease.

Chemotherapeutic coatings enhance tumor-frying nanoparticles In a move akin to adding chemical weapons to a firebomb, researchers have devised a method to deposit a thin layer of hydrogels on the surface of nanoshells designed to absorb infrared light and generate heat to destroy tumors. When heated by the nanoshells, these special hydrogels lose their water content and any drugs trapped within, creating a formidable one-two punch.

Cancer discovery links experimental vaccine and biological treatment A new study has linked two seemingly unrelated cancer treatments that are both now being tested in clinical trials. One treatment is a vaccine that targets a structure on the outside of cancer cells, while the other is an altered enzyme that breaks apart RNA and causes the cell to commit suicide. The new understanding could help both approaches.

Cancers caught during screening colonoscopy are more survivable Patients whose colorectal cancer is detected during a screening colonoscopy are likely to survive longer than those who wait until they have symptoms before having the test.

Nanospheres shield chemo drugs, safely release high doses in response to tumor secretions Scientists coated nanospheres of the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel with a peptide shell that shields the drug as it travels through the circulatory system. When the nanosphere reaches a cancerous tumor, enzymes that enable metastasis slice open the shell to release the drug. The targeted delivery allowed them to safely give mice 16 times the maximum tolerated dose of the clinical formulation of paclitaxel and halted the growth of cancerous tumors.

Cancer Research: Blood test for lung cancer a step closer ♦ Researchers define unique group of high-risk lymphoma patient ♦ Breast cancer treatment with fewer potential side effects

Breast cancer treatment with fewer potential side effects has equally good patient outcomes Women diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with a one-week regimen of partial breast radiation after the surgical removal of the tumor, or lumpectomy, saw no increase in cancer recurrence or difference in cosmetic outcomes compared to women who received radiation of the entire breast for a period of up to six weeks after surgery.

Researchers define unique group of high-risk lymphoma patients About 20 percent of follicular lymphoma patients consistently experience their disease coming back within two years of being treated with the latest therapies. New research confirms that patients in this group have very poor survival outcomes; 50 percent die in five years. People who relapse early may have a disease with distinctly different biology and should not be approached the same at diagnosis nor at the time of relapse in terms of therapies

Blood test for lung cancer a step closer Two oncologists and a research scientist are helping pave the way to an easier, more accurate, less invasive way to screen for the most common form of lung cancer. Lung cancer the number one cancer killer in the United States

Treatment with PI3K inhibitors may cause cancers to become more aggressive and metastatic The enzyme PI3K appears to be exploited in almost every type of human cancer, making it the focus of considerable interest as a therapeutic target. However, PI3K inhibitors have only shown modest clinical activity. Now, new research shows that treatment with PI3K inhibitors alone may actually make a patient’s cancer even worse by promoting more aggressive tumor cell behavior and increasing the cancer’s potential of spreading to other organs.

Cancer Research: Gene therapy, surgery could mean eight more months for sickest brain cancer patients ♦ Immunotherapy drug improves survival for common form of lung cancer

Immunotherapy drug improves survival for common form of lung cancer In a head-to-head clinical trial comparing standard chemotherapy with the immunotherapy drug nivolumab, researchers found that people with squamous-non-small cell lung cancer who received nivolumab lived, on average, 3.2 months longer than those receiving chemotherapy

Possible new combination chemotherapy for patients with advanced prostate cancer A role for combination therapy using two or more chemotherapy agents at the same time has not been well studied. This week, however, results of a clinical trial may change the perspective on a role for combination chemotherapy in advanced disease.

Risks of whole brain radiation therapy added to radiosurgery outweigh benefits for patients with limited brain metastases Whole Brain Radiation Therapy is associated with significantly worse cognitive function than radiosurgery, and should no longer be used in the adjuvant setting after radiosurgery to treat cancer patients with brain metastases.

Immunotherapy combo increases progression-free survival in advanced melanoma patients Treating advanced melanoma patients with either a combination of the immunotherapy drugs nivolumab and ipilimumab or nivolumab alone significantly increased progression-free survival over using ipilimumab alone

Gene therapy, surgery could mean eight more months for sickest brain cancer patients As the most malignant of primary brain cancers, glioblastomas are frustratingly difficult to treat. Surgery is often risky and cannot remove all of the tumor, and chemotherapy eventually becomes ineffective for most patients. Median survival is around 15 months for patients with this tumor, and the quality of life in the last five months is often quite poor

Cancer Research: Revealing kidney cancer's secret ♦ Stress relief techniques help cancer patients ♦ Drug extends life of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

New release of Glioblastoma Atlas sheds light on deadly disease  Robust new data added to the Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project changes the scope and impact of this publicly available resource for researchers and clinicians searching for treatments for this most deadly and aggressive of brain cancers, glioblastoma multiforme.

Revealing kidney cancer's secret An international team of scientists showed how renal cell carcinoma (RCC) reprograms its metabolism and evades the immune system. In addition, the study found that cancer grade has a major impact on this reprogramming. These results point to new therapeutic options for this particularly deadly cancer.

Stress relief techniques help cancer patients overcome fear of treatment The benefit of rapid stress management techniques to help cancer patients who experienced 'procedure-related' stress has been revealed by a new study. Patients experiencing distress related to medical procedures were able to achieve a 'calm state' both before and during procedures as a result of the interventions.

Drug extends survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer  A drug developed 50 years ago and abandoned because it was considered to be too toxic has gained a second life in an international clinical trial. Research shows the drug and a potentiating agent lengthened the lives of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, all of whom had exhausted available standard treatments.

Experimental immunotherapy shows high response rate in advanced lung cancer An early phase study testing an anti-PDL1 agent in combination with standard chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer has provided promising early results, prompting multiple phase III studies in lung cancer.

Health Research: Persistence yields progress in AIDS vaccine research ♦ Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy achieves better survival for early lung cancer

Fish and other animals produce their own sunscreen: Copied for potential use in humans

Fish can produce their own sunscreen, scientists have discovered. Following suit, the researchers have copied the method used by fish for potential use in humans.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy achieves better overall survival than surgery for early lung cancer Patients with operable stage I non-small cell lung cancer could achieve better overall survival rates if treated with Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy rather than the current standard of care – invasive surgery – according to research.

Medical marijuana pill may not be effective in treating behavioral symptoms of dementia

Medical marijuana pills may not help treat behavioral symptoms of dementia, such as aggression, pacing and wandering, a new study concludes. However, researchers did find that the drug dosage used in the clinical trial was safe and well-tolerated.

When it comes to testosterone, more isn't always better Increased diabetes risk has been connected to higher levels of testosterone to prostate enlargement. Anthropologists suggests that to muchtestosterone may be a prime culprit. Building on previous research they conducted with the Tsimane, an isolated indigenous population in central Bolivia, researchers examined the prevalence of BPH among a group of approximately 350 adult males.

Persistence yields progress in AIDS vaccine research

After 30 years of working on AIDS research, an American lab has developed new vaccine candidates that appear promising enough to consider advancing into clinical trials within the next two years.

Health Research: Accelerated brain aging in type 1 diabetes ♦ The dark side of cannabis: Panic attacks, nausea ♦ New leads into nerve regeneration

Accelerated brain aging in type 1 diabetes related to cognitive complications The brains of people with type 1 diabetes show signs of accelerated aging that correlate with slower information processing, according to research. The findings indicate that clinicians should consider screening middle-aged patients with type 1 diabetes for cognitive difficulties. If progressive, these changes could influence their ability to manage their diabetes.

The dark side of cannabis: Panic attacks, nausea

Although the use of cannabis as a medical drug is currently booming, we should not forget that leisure time consumption -- for example, smoking weed -- can cause acute and chronic harms. These include panic attacks, impaired coordination of movement, and nausea.

Proteomics provides new leads into nerve regeneration Using proteomics techniques to study injured optic nerves, researchers have identified previously unrecognized proteins and pathways involved in nerve regeneration. Adding back one of these proteins -- the oncogene c-myc -- they achieved unprecedented optic nerve regeneration in mice when combined with two other known strategies.

Profiling approach to enable right lung cancer treatment match A new way to genetically profile lung cancer samples has been developed by researchers, potentially allowing doctors to more easily identify the most appropriate treatment for patients.
Breast cancer vaccines may work better with silicon microparticles The effectiveness of cancer vaccines could be dramatically boosted by first loading the cancer antigens into silicon microparticles, report scientists. Model studies showed that microparticles loaded with an antigen, HER2, not only protected the antigen from premature destruction, but also stimulated the immune system to recognize and relentlessly attack cancer cells overexpressing the HER2 antigen.

Cancer Research: Telomere changes predict cancer ♦ Surgery for terminal cancer patients still common ♦ statin use may lower risk of lung cancer death

Prolonged statin use may lower risk of lung cancer death Lung cancer patients who used statins in the year prior to a lung cancer diagnosis or after a lung cancer diagnosis had a reduction in the risk of death from the disease.

Surgery for terminal cancer patients still common The number of surgeries performed on terminally ill cancer patients has not dropped in recent years, despite more attention to the importance of less invasive care for these patients to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life

Telomere changes predict cancer A distinct pattern in the changing length of blood telomeres, the protective end caps on our DNA strands, can predict cancer many years before actual diagnosis. The pattern, which spanned 13 years before cancer diagnosis, could yield a new biomarker to predict cancer development with a blood test. This is the first reported trajectory of telomere changes over the years in people developing cancer.

Racial differences in male breast cancer outcomes While black and white men under age 65 diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer received similar treatment, blacks had a 76 percent higher risk of death than whites. Male breast cancer is a rare disease, accounting for less than 1% of all cancers in men and approximately 2% of all breast cancers in the United States. Black men have a higher incidence of breast cancer and are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age.

Scientists dramatically improve method for finding common genetic alterations in tumors Scientists have developed a significantly better computer tool for finding genetic alterations that play an important role in many cancers but were difficult to identify with whole-genome sequencing. The tool is an algorithm called CONSERTING.

Cancer Research: Comprehensive look at brain cancer treatments ♦ gastrointestinal tumors at higher risk of other cancer ♦ New potential melanoma drug target discovered

Comprehensive look at brain cancer treatments A comprehensive genetic review of treatment strategies for glioblastoma brain tumors covers how these highly invasive and almost-always-deadly brain cancers may be treated, reviews the continuing challenges faced by researchers and presents the hope for better treatments by harnessing the power of the human genome.

Patients with gastrointestinal tumors at higher risk of other cancers The first population-based study that characterizes the association and temporal relationship between gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and other cancers has been conducted by researchers. The results indicate that one in 5.8 patients with GIST will develop additional malignancies.

New potential melanoma drug target discovered A new treatment for melanoma could be on the horizon, thanks to a recent finding. In the study, authors found high levels of an enzyme in melanoma samples that they believe is a potential drug target.

Link between inherited genetic variations, outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer patients discovered Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Patients diagnosed with NSCLC have a poor prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of only 16 percent. Researchers hope to improve NSCLC patient survival with the results of a study that found that inherited genetic variations in interleukin genes are associated with improved patient survival.

Lifetime intense physical activity may lower risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma Performing vigorous physical activity over one's lifetime may lower risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Because not much is known about what causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, identifying risk factors is particularly important for the prevention and control of this cancer.

Cancer Research: Radiotherapy implants twice as likely cancer free after 5 years ♦ Deadly dance between nerves, cancer cells ♦ Blood clots in post-surgical lung cance

Prostate cancer patients who receive permanent radiotherapy implants twice as likely to be free of cancer after five years Results from a randomised controlled trial to compare the use of permanent radioactive implants (brachytherapy) with dose-escalated external beam radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer show that the men who received brachytherapy were twice as likely to be cancer-free five years later.

Scientists observe deadly dance between nerves, cancer cells In certain types of cancer, nerves and cancer cells enter an often lethal and intricate waltz where cancer cells and nerves move toward one another and eventually engage in such a way that the cancer cells enter the nerves.

New studies examine the significant risk of life-threatening blood clots in post-surgical lung cancer patients Lung cancer surgery patients are at higher risk of developing venous thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), than previously thought, with elevated risks of complications or death. When thromboemboli occur, they may be asymptomatic or attributed to post-surgical pain or complications, and may reflect both the lung cancer itself as well as compromised lung function after surgery.

Diet swap has dramatic effects on colon cancer risk for Americans and Africans Scientists have found dramatic effects on risk factors for colon cancer when American and African volunteers swapped diets for just two weeks

Cancer research: Excessive use of dietary supplements linked to increase cancer risk ♦ Potential new lung cancer therapy ♦ Earlier ovarian cancer detection

Cancer and chemo brain: Cancer diagnosis affects cognitive function Breast cancer patients often display mild cognitive defects even before the initiation of chemotherapy. A new study now attributes the syndrome to post-traumatic stress induced by diagnosis of the disease

Earlier ovarian cancer detection Successful ovarian cancer treatment often relies on catching it early. A study may help point to a new method for women at risk.

Potential new lung cancer therapy New findings about regulation of PD-L1, a protein that allows cancer to evade the immune system, has shown therapeutic promise for several cancers, including the most common form of lung cancer.

Excessive use of dietary supplements linked to increase cancer risk While dietary supplements may be advertised to promote health, new research shows a link between consumption of over-the-counter supplements and increased cancer risk, if the supplements are taken in excess of the recommended dietary amount.

Cell type responsible for scarring, skin-cancer growth identified by scientists A skin cell responsible for scarring, and a molecule that inhibits the cell's activity, have been identified by researchers. The researchers also found that the cell may play a role in the growth of melanoma and in skin damage caused by radiation. A drug that acts in the same way as the inhibitory molecule is already approved for use in humans as a treatment for type-2 diabetes, so it could potentially move quickly into clinical trials for the treatment of scarring and melanoma,

Cancer Research: DNA blood test detects lung cancer mutations ♦ After prostate cancer, start walking ♦ Melanoma drugs benefit some lung cancer patients

Socioeconomic factors affect odds of death after a lung cancer operation People with limited education and low income have higher odds of death within 30 days after undergoing an operation for lung cancer than those who are more educated and financially better off.

After prostate cancer, start walking Walking at an easy pace for about three hours every week may be just enough physical activity to help prostate cancer survivors reduce damaging side effects of their treatment, according to a new study. "Non-vigorous walking for three hours per week seems to improve the fatigue, depression and body weight issues that affect many men post-treatment, If you walk even more briskly, for only 90 minutes a week, you could also see similar benefits in these areas."

DNA blood test detects lung cancer mutations  Cancer DNA circulating in the bloodstream of lung cancer patients can provide doctors with vital mutation information that can help optimize treatment when tumor tissue is not available

Evidence grows that melanoma drugs benefit some lung cancer patients A subset of lung cancer patients can derive important clinical benefits from drugs that are more commonly used to treat melanoma,

Health Research: GMO Salmonella promising as anti-cancer therapy ♦ Inactive tumor suppressor gene discovered in lung cancer ♦ New treatment for Barrett's esophagus

New treatment for common digestive condition Barrett's esophagus New research could transform treatments and diagnosis for a common digestive condition which affects thousands of patients.

How gum disease treatment can prevent heart disease  A new study is helping to shed more light on the important connection between the mouth and heart. According to research, scientists have demonstrated that using an oral topical remedy to reduce inflammation associated with periodontitis, more commonly known as gum disease, also results in the prevention of vascular inflammation and can lower the risk of heart attack.

Wristband that measures rest, activity schedule may help predict response to antidepressants A wristband that records motion throughout a 24-hour cycle may be an inexpensive, safe way to determine which patients with major depressive disorder will respond best to commonly prescribed drugs such as Prozac

Inactive tumor suppressor gene discovered in lung cancer The PARD3 gene has been identified by researchers as a tumor suppressor that is inactivated in lung cancer squamous type. PARD3 gene encodes a protein that regulates cell polarization and cell junctions. When the gene is inactivated, errors occur in this cell orientation and in contact with neighboring cells. "Any change affecting this structure promotes tumor development,"

GMO Salmonella promising as anti-cancer therapy Genetically modified Salmonella can be used to kill cancer cells, scientists report. For years, researchers have known that certain strains of bacteria, including Salmonella enterica, can kill cancer cells. Specifically Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium has been shown to not only colonize solid tumors, but also to exhibit an intrinsic antitumor effect. However, in order to use Salmonella as a weapon against cancer in humans, researchers must find a balance between allowing it to kill the cancer and be safe for the patient. This bacteria, commonly known for causing severe food poisoning