Study uncovers hard-to-detect cancer mutations Current approaches to genome analysis systematically miss detecting a certain type of complex mutation in cancer patients' tumors, new research shows. Further, a significant percentage of these complex mutations are found in well-known cancer genes that could be targeted by existing drugs, potentially expanding the number of cancer patients who may benefit.
Survival rates for patients with prostate cancer better with surgery versus radiotherapy A rigorous evaluation of survival rates has shown that cancer patients with localised prostate cancer -- the most common form of prostate cancer -- have a better chance of survival if treated by surgery than by radiotherapy. This is the most robust analysis (meta-analysis) to date of published literature comparing surgery and radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer
New model to study, find ways to target rare tumor Angiosarcoma or lymphangiosarcoma, a rare malignant tumor of the blood or lymphatic vessels, has no cure, say cancer researchers. However, through recent study, a team has found a new target that could lead to therapies for this rare type of tumor.
Intelligent gel attacks cancer A new injectable “bio gel” is effective in delivering anti-cancer agents directly into cancerous tumours and killing them. This technology has already been successfully tested in the laboratory. If it works in patients, the therapy could one day revolutionize treatment for many forms of cancer
Personalized drug screening on horizon for multiple myeloma patients A personalized method for testing the effectiveness of drugs that treat multiple myeloma may predict quickly and more accurately the best treatments for individual patients with the bone marrow cancer. The process also may aid patients with leukemia or lymphoma
Bone protein inhibits prostate cancer invasion. A secreted protein predominantly expressed in bone inhibits prostate cancer metastasis to bone, new research shows. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. If detected at early stages the prognosis is quite favorable; however, aggressive forms of metastatic prostate cancer spread primarily to the skeleton
Nondrug interventions improve quality of life for Chinese cancer patients A meta-analysis of dozens of studies of traditional Chinese medicine and other nonpharmacological interventions meant to improve patients' quality of life affirms that these approaches, on the whole, help alleviate depression, fatigue, pain, anxiety, insomnia and gastrointestinal problems in Chinese cancer patients
Nanotech-based sensor developed to measure microRNAs in blood, speed cancer detection A newly developed, simple, ultrasensitive microRNA sensor holds promise for the design of new diagnostic strategies and, potentially, for the prognosis and treatment of pancreatic and other cancers
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.
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.
UV light robots cut C. diff transmissions by 25 percent on cancer patient floors New research from infection control specialists found that ultraviolet robots helped reduce the rates transmission of the common bacterial infection known as Clostridium difficile among cancer inpatients -- mostly blood cancer patients, a group more vulnerable to hospital-acquired infections -- by 25 percent. The interventions also saved about $150,000 in annual direct medical costs.
Malaria vaccine provides hope for a general cure for cancer The hunt for a vaccine against malaria in pregnant women has provided an unexpected side benefit for researchers, namely what appears to be an effective weapon against cancer. The scientists behind the vaccine aim for tests on humans within four years
The dilemma of screening for prostate cancer Primary care providers are put in a difficult position when screening their male patients for prostate cancer -- some guidelines suggest that testing the general population lacks evidence whereas others state that it is appropriate in certain patients. Now a new perspective piece offers some guidance on when to screen patients and how to involve them in decisions about screening and treatment.
More men at risk for prostate cancer as a result of less regular screening The US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation against regular prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer is controversial. While it may reduce the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, the reduction in intermediate and high risk cancer diagnoses raises concern because of the potential for delayed diagnoses of important cancers in men who may benefit from treatment, according to investigators.
Almost one-third of families of children with cancer have unmet basic needs during treatment Almost one-third of families whose children were being treated for cancer faced food, housing or energy insecurity and one-quarter lost more than 40 percent of household income, according to a new American study. The study follows emerging research in pediatric oncology finding that low-income status predicts poor adherence to oral chemotherapy and decreased overall survival.
New nebulizer set to replace the need for jabs A revolutionary nebulizer could one day deliver life-saving cancer drugs and vaccines traditionally given by injection. Cheap, lightweight and portable, the advanced nebuliser delivers precise drug doses to patients with life-threatening or debilitating lung conditions including cancer, tuberculosis, asthma and cystic fibrosis.
New way found to combat brain cancer Scientists have discovered an innovative way that may stop the spread of the most lethal and aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In laboratory studies, scientists demonstrated that activating a specific family of proteins halted cancer cell migration into healthy tissue.
Becoming cyborgs in the battle against prostate cancer Men are surprisingly positive and open to the concept of having cancer-detecting biosensors implanted within their bodies – effectively making them cyborgs .
Increased detection of low-risk tumors driving up thyroid cancer rates, study finds Low-risk cancers that do not have any symptoms and presumably will not cause problems in the future are responsible for the rapid increase in the number of new cases of thyroid cancer diagnosed over the past decade, according to a study. According to the study authors, nearly one-third of these recent cases were diagnosed when clinicians used high-tech imaging even when no symptoms of thyroid disease were present.
New drug-like compounds may improve odds of men battling prostate cancer Researchers have discovered new drug-like compounds that could ultimately be developed into medicines that offer better odds of survival to prostate cancer patients. The new compounds target the human protein P-gp, which causes resistance against a majority of the drugs currently available for treating cancer and HIV/AIDS. The new compounds, discovered via computer-generated models, are good candidates for development into drugs since the compounds have low toxicity to noncancerous cells
Dental research effort aims to stem India's oral cancer problem New work has resulted in innovative techniques that utilize some of the world's most sophisticated lasers to noninvasively probe into mouth lesions to determine the growth of cancerous cells and eradicate them. Now, this focus is on stemming India's oral cancer problem with a portable diagnostic device.
Aspirin could hold key to supercharged cancer immunotherapy Giving cancer patients aspirin at the same time as immunotherapy could dramatically boost the effectiveness of the treatment, according to new research. Aspirin is part of a group of molecules called COX inhibitors, which stop the production of PGE2 and help reawaken the immune system. Combining immunotherapy with aspirin or other COX inhibitors substantially slowed bowel and melanoma skin cancer growth in mice, compared to immunotherapy alone, authors say.
Variations in cell programs control cancer and normal stem cells In the breast, cancer stem cells and normal stem cells can arise from different cell types and tap into distinct yet related stem cell programs, according to researchers. The differences between these stem cell programs may be significant enough to be exploited by future therapeutics.
Toxin from salmonid fish has potential to treat cancer Pathogenic bacteria develop killer machines that work very specifically and highly efficiently. Scientists have solved the molecular mechanism of a fish toxin that could be used in the future as a medication to treat cancer
Prostate cancer not caused by shift work, Shift work is widespread: between approximately one in five and one in six of the working population work shifts. Now new research shows, that in fact, shift workers do not develop prostate cancer more frequently than their colleagues who work during the day.
For prostate cancer patients, risk-specific therapies now more the norm After decades of over treatment for low-risk prostate cancer and inadequate management of its more aggressive forms, patients are now more likely to receive medical care matched to level of risk.
Cancer Driver Gene' reduces metastasis in prostate cancer A gene that is responsible for cancer growth plays a totally unexpected role in prostate cancer. The gene Stat3 is controlled by the immune modulator interleukin 6 and normally supports the growth of cancer cells. The international research team discovered a missing link for an essential role of Stat3 and IL-6 signalling in prostate cancer progression.
New method to halt the advance of liver cancer found Drugs targeting the lymphotoxin-beta receptor may improve liver cancer treatment, a new study suggests. The findings could provide new treatment strategies for the disease, which is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
Two classes of inexpensive generic drugs can reduce breast cancer deaths Two different classes of drugs, aromatase inhibitors and bisphosphonates, can each improve survival prospects for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer, two recent studies indicate. Moreover, the researchers suggest that the two types of drug can be used together, increasing the benefits while also decreasing some side-effects.
Protein implicated in osteosarcoma's spread The investigation of a simple protein has uncovered its uniquely complicated role in the spread of the childhood cancer, osteosarcoma. It turns out the protein, called ezrin, acts like an air traffic controller, coordinating multiple functions within a cancer cell and allowing it to endure stress conditions encountered during metastasis.
Activated T cell therapy for advanced melanoma developed T cells from patients with melanoma can trigger a protective immune response against the disease, according to a new study. These new findings demonstrate that T cells derived from lymph nodes of patients with melanoma can be expanded in number and activated in the laboratory for intravenous administration in the treatment of patients.
Improvement in management of localized prostate cancer After years of overtreatment for patients with low-risk prostate cancer, rates of active surveillance/watchful waiting increased sharply in 2010 through 2013, and high-risk disease was more often treated appropriately with potentially curative local treatment rather than androgen deprivation alone.
Magnetic hyperthermia, an auxiliary tool in cancer treatments Hyperthermia (increase in body temperature) has been used for centuries to combat tumors and reduce their effects. New research aims to use a different system (magnetic nanoparticles) to increase body temperature. These nanoparticles absorb energy from magnetic fields and convert it into heat which is used to raise the temperature in tumors and combat them.
Mesothelioma: Aspirin may delay growth of asbestos-related cancer Aspirin may help mesothelioma patients. The finding could eventually give doctors and patients a potential new tool to fight against this devastating disease, which kills about 3,200 people a year nationwide, and advance knowledge of how to fight other cancers.
Turning fake pills into real treatments A series of fascinating studies showed that many people respond positively to placebo pills -- even when they are told that the pills don't have any active ingredients. Researchers are now testing these "open-label" placebos for the first time among cancer survivors.
New agent developed for prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment An agent called PSMA-617 is capable of attaching specifically to prostate cancer cells. This agent can be labeled with various radioactive substances. When chemically bound to a weakly radioactive diagnostic radionuclide, it can detect prostate tumors and their metastases in PET scans. If labeled with a strongly radioactive therapeutic radionuclide, PSMA-617 can specifically destroy cancer cells.
Study could reduce unnecessary cancer screening Contrary to expectations, a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis does not improve cancer detection in people with unexplained blood clots in their legs and lungs. The results are expected to improve patient care and reduce screening costs around the world.
Discovery may lead to targeted melanoma therapies Melanoma patients with high levels of a protein that controls the expression of pro-growth genes are less likely to survive. The research team found that the protein, called H2A.Z.2, promotes the abnormal growth seen in melanoma cells as they develop into difficult-to-treat tumors. H2A.Z.2 is part of the chromosome structure that packages genes, and has the ability to switch them on off.
New biomarkers might help personalize metastatic colorectal cancer treatment Metastatic colorectal cancer patients tend to live longer when they respond to the first line of chemotherapy their doctors recommend. To better predict how patients will respond to chemotherapy drugs before they begin treatment, researchers conducted a proof-of-principle study with a small group of metastatic colorectal cancer patients. The results revealed two genes that could help physicians make more informed treatment decisions for patients with this disease
Tests to gauge genetic risks for prostate cancer now are feasible Men with an elevated, genetically inherited risk for prostate cancer could be routinely identified with a simple blood or urine test potentially paving the way to better or earlier diagnosis. The study included 7,783 men with prostate cancer and 38,595 without the disease.
Discovery promises new treatments to thwart colon cancer Scientists have discovered how an immune system protein, called AIM2 (Absent in Melanoma 2), plays a role in determining the aggressiveness of colon cancer. They found that AIM2 deficiency causes uncontrolled proliferation of intestinal cells. Surprisingly, they also discovered that AIM2 influences the microbiota -- the population of gut bacteria -- apparently fostering the proliferation of 'good' bacteria that can protect against colon cancer
Benefit of surgery for ductal carcinoma in-situ investigated Breast surgery performed at or shortly after a diagnosis of low-grade ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) did not significantly change patients' survival rate. The team finds that the survival rate for those with intermediate- and high-grade DCIS does improve with surgery, but the work raises concerns about over treatment and the necessity and benefit of surgery for all patients with low-grade DCIS.
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
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
Nanotherapy effective in mice with multiple myeloma A nanoparticle-based therapy is effective in treating mice with multiple myeloma, a cancer of immune cells in the bone marrow. Targeted specifically to the malignant cells, these nanoparticles protect their therapeutic cargo from degradation in the bloodstream and greatly enhance drug delivery into the cancer cells.
Removing mutant p53 significantly regresses tumors, improves cancer survival For two decades cancer researchers have looked unsuccessfully for ways to develop compounds to restore the function of mutant p53 proteins. Now a team of researchers has discovered that eliminating the abnormally stabilized mutant p53 protein in cancer in vivo has positive therapeutic effects, showing that tumors regress significantly and survival increases.
