Women's Health: Timing of first childbirth influences women's health at age 40 ♦ Use aspirin to prevent preeclampsia ♦ Active and passive smoking linked to infertility

Timing of first childbirth influences women's health at age 40 A new study finds some surprising ways in which women's health at midlife is connected to when they had their first child and to their marital history.

Research offers recommendations for use of aspirin to prevent preeclampsia To prevent preeclampsia, new research suggests that low-dose aspirin should be given prophylactically to all women at high risk (those with diabetes or chronic hypertension) and any woman with two or more moderate risk factors (including obesity, multiple gestation and advanced maternal age).

Active and passive smoking linked to infertility and earlier menopause Active and passive smoking are linked to infertility problems and a hastening of the natural menopause before the age of 50.

Increased number of IVF cycles can be beneficial, findings suggest Although in vitro fertilization (IVF) is often limited to three or four treatment cycles, new research shows the effectiveness of extending the number of IVF cycles beyond this number.

Cancer Research: Nanotech drug delivery shows promise for improved melanoma treatment ♦ Aspirin use may lower breast tissue density allowing for earlier detection

Obesity contributes to metastasis in ovarian cancer patients An increased body mass index is associated with a greater risk for ovarian cancer with worse overall survival, a large number of studies have shown. However, the influence of obesity on ovarian cancer metastasis had not been evaluated. Researchers set out to determine are tumor cells better able to successfully metastasize when the "host" is obese versus lean?

Older Breast Cancer Patients Defy Survival Models Older women with early-stage, invasive breast cancer had better survival rates than what was estimated by a popular online tool for predicting survival.

Aspirin use does not improve outcomes for cancer patients, but may lower breast tissue density, allowing for earlier detection Whether aspirin may help prevent or reduce the risk of breast cancer remains a hotly debated research question. While past studies have indicated a potential benefit, most recently in hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, one new study suggests otherwise. Aspirin does not appear to be protective or associated with improved clinical outcomes or survival among breast cancer patients with aggressive disease However, another study suggests aspirin may in fact help reduce breast tissue density, which could lead to earlier detection.

Nanotech drug delivery shows promise for improved melanoma treatment A new three-drug delivery system for cancer treatment, especially metastatic melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has been developed by researchers. The work has demonstrated that the system may have particular value with cancers like this that often spread through the lymphatic system. It may offer a novel therapeutic option for more effective cancer treatment.

Cancer Research: Post diagnosis aspirin improves survival in all gastrointestinal cancers ♦Drug combination improves progression-free survival in melanoma patients

Fungi may lead to cheaper cancer treatment, Cheaper anti-cancer drugs for humans might ultimately stem from a new study. Scientists have developed a kind of microbial 'bandage' that protects yew trees from disease-causing fungi. The researchers found that naturally occurring fungi in the yew's vascular system act like an immune system to swarm a wound site and protect against invading pathogens.

Drug combination improves progression-free survival in melanoma patients Patients with advanced melanoma skin cancer survive for longer without their disease progressing if they have been treated with a combination of two drugs, nivolumab and ipilimumab, than with either of these drugs alone. New results show that these patients also do better regardless of their age, stage of disease and whether or not they have a cancer-driving mutation in the BRAF gene.

Hormonal therapy may prevent ovarian failure and preserve fertility in breast cancer Young women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer may be more likely to remain fertile if they also receive hormonal treatment.

Combining 2 targeted therapies results in melanoma patients living significantly longer Latest results from a trial of a combination of two targeted therapies (dabrafenib and trametinib) to treat advanced melanoma have shown that patients are living significantly longer on the combined therapy than patients treated with another drug, vemurafenib, when used alone.

Post diagnosis aspirin improves survival in all gastrointestinal cancers, Aspirin improves survival in patients with tumors situated throughout the gastrointestinal tract, results from a large study show.

Cancer Research:Aspirin could hold key to supercharged cancer immunotherapy ♦ Variations in cell programs control cancer ♦Low-risk prostate cancer not likely to succumb to the disease

Some with low-risk prostate cancer not likely to succumb to the disease Men with relatively unaggressive prostate tumors and whose disease is carefully monitored by urologists are unlikely to develop metastatic prostate cancer or die of their cancers, according to results of a study that analyzed survival statistics up to 15 years.

Researchers develop a likely new combo treatment for the deadliest form of brain cancer Scientists have developed a potentially promising new combination therapy for glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer. Glioblastoma, also known as grade IV glioma, is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in humans. Approximately 23,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) every year.

Targeting newly discovered pathway sensitizes tumors to radiation and chemotherapy In some patients, aggressive cancers can become resistant to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. In a new paper, researchers identified a pathway that causes the resistance and a new therapeutic drug that targets this pathway

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.

Cancer Research:Magnetic nanoparticles a tool in cancer treatments ♦ Activated T cell therapy for advanced melanoma developed ♦ Improvement in management of localized prostate cancer

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.

Pulmonary Research: Electronic cigarette flavorings alter lung function ♦ Aspirin use may slow progression of early emphysema ♦New combination of drugs treat cystic fibrosis

Regular aspirin use may slow progression of early emphysema Regular use of aspirin may help slow the progression of early emphysema, a study shows

Shorter stature appears to lead to higher mortality rates, longer waiting times for lung transplantation Lung transplant candidates who are about 5’3” or shorter have longer waiting times than taller candidates and are more likely to die within a year while waiting for a lung transplan

Promising research trials find new combination of drugs treat underlying cause of most common form of cystic fibrosis Results from clinical trials show that a new combination of medications can successfully treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis for patients 12 and older with two copies of the F508del gene mutation -- the most common form of the life-threatening, genetic disease found in over half of the CF population.

Electronic cigarette flavorings alter lung function at the cellular level Certain flavorings used in electronic cigarette liquid may alter important cellular functions in lung tissue, according to new research. These changes in cell viability, cell proliferation, and calcium signaling are flavor-dependent. Coupling these results with chemicals identified in each flavor could prove useful in identifying flavors or chemical constituents that produce adverse effects in users.

Revising guidelines for testosterone testing could more accurately diagnose deficiency Some men suffering from testosterone deficiency may be missed under current clinical guidelines while others are misdiagnosed with testosterone deficiencys. The researchers call for a revision of the clinical guidelines to ensure that men are receiving the best possible care.

Cancer Research: Aspirin fights colorectal cancer and cervical cancer ♦ Researchers solve a lingering mystery of cancer cell biology ♦ Bowel cancer patient exercise to achieve health benefits

Two-thirds of bowel cancer patients aren't advised to exercise despite health benefits More than two-thirds of bowel cancer patients say they weren't advised to exercise regularly after their diagnosis – despite evidence that brisk physical activity is linked to better survival in bowel cancer.

Frequent aspirin use reduces risk of cervical cancer by nearly half Long-term and frequent use of aspirin is associated with significantly decreased risk of cervical cancer, according to a study.12,900 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed and 4,100 women will die from the disease in 2015.

Settling an old debate: Researchers solve a lingering mystery of cancer cell biology German biologist Theodor Boveri observed early in the last century that cancer cells often harbor multiple copies of a subcellular structure that he had previously named the centrosome. He was also the first to suggest that the extra centrosomes drive cancer. Biologists have since learned a great deal about the structure and many functions of Boveri’s “special organ of cell division.” But why cancer cells harbor multiple copies of this organelle has remained unanswered. So has the question of whether healthy human cells even require centrosomes to divide. Now, 101 years after Boveri aired his suspicions, a paper may have some answers.

How aspirin fights colorectal cancer Taking aspirin reduces a person's risk of colorectal cancer, but the molecular mechanisms involved have remained unknown until a recent discovery. found that aspirin might exert its chemopreventive activity against colorectal cancer, at least partially, by normalizing the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in gastrointestinal precancerous lesions. EGFR is overexpressed in about 80 percent of cases involving colorectal cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

Aspirin May Reduce Ovarian Cancer Risk

More than 20,000 women nationwide are expected to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014, and at least 14,000 will likely die from the disease. If caught early, ovarian cancer can often be successfully treated. However, its symptoms can mimic more common conditions, such as digestive and bladder disorders, so it’s usually not diagnosed until advanced stages. Late-stage ovarian cancer leaves women with limited treatment options and poor prognoses, making prevention particularly important.

Chronic or persistent inflammation is known to raise the risk for cancer and other diseases. Studies suggest that reducing inflammation with drugs such as aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may reduce overall cancer risk. However, studies of whether these drugs influence ovarian cancer risk have been inconclusive.

A team led by Drs. Britton Trabert and Nicolas Wentzensen of NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) investigated associations between ovarian cancer and aspirin, non-aspirin NSAIDs, or acetaminophen use. The researchers analyzed data from 12 large studies that together included nearly 8,000 women with ovarian cancer and 12,000 without.

Overall, 18% of the women reported using aspirin regularly (at least once per week), 24% used non-aspirin NSAIDs regularly, and 16% used acetaminophen. Women who reported daily aspirin use had a 20% lower risk of ovarian cancer than those who used aspirin less than once per week. Results for non-aspirin NSAID use, which include a wide variety of drugs, were less clear. The scientists observed a 10% lower ovarian cancer risk among women who used NSAIDs at least once per week compared with those who used NSAIDs less frequently.  However, the finding was not statistically significant—it may be due to chance. Acetaminophen, which relieves pain but doesn’t reduce inflammation, wasn’t associated with reduced ovarian cancer risk.

These findings add ovarian cancer to a growing list of cancers that might be prevented by aspirin use. “Our study suggests that aspirin regimens, proven to protect against heart attack, may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer as well,” Trabert says. “However intriguing our results are, they should not influence current clinical practice. Additional studies are needed to explore the delicate balance of risk-benefit for this potential chemopreventive agent, as well as studies to identify the mechanism by which aspirin may reduce ovarian cancer risk.”

The scientists caution that, despite the potential benefits of a daily aspirin regimen, it should only be undertaken with a doctor’s approval. Side effects of daily aspirin use include gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke.

Regular Aspirin Use May Reduce Ovarian Cancer Risk

Women who take aspirin daily may reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by 20 percent, according to a study by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. However, further research is needed before clinical recommendations can be made.

It is estimated that over 20,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer asprin in 2014, and more than 14,000 will die from the disease. Early stage ovarian cancer may be successfully treated. However, symptoms associated with this disease can mimic more common conditions, such as digestive and bladder disorders, so for this reason and others, it is often not diagnosed until it has reached advanced stages. Late stage ovarian cancer leaves women with limited treatment options and poor prognoses, making preventive strategies potentially important for controlling this disease.

Chronic or persistent inflammation has been shown to increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. Previous studies have suggested that the anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin and non-aspirin NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), may reduce cancer risk overall. However, studies examining whether use of these agents may influence ovarian cancer risk have been largely inconclusive. This is the largest study to date to assess the relationship between these drugs and ovarian cancer risk.

Britton Trabert, Ph.D., and Nicolas Wentzensen, M.D., Ph.D., of NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, and their colleagues, analyzed data pooled from 12 large epidemiological studies to investigate whether women who used aspirin, non-aspirin NSAIDs, or acetaminophen have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. These 12 studies (nine from the United States) were part of the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium. The scientists evaluated the benefit of these drugs in nearly 8,000 women with ovarian cancer and close to 12,000 women who did not have the disease.

Among study participants who reported whether or not they used aspirin regularly: 18 percent used aspirin, 24 percent used non-aspirin NSAIDs, and 16 percent used acetaminophen. The researchers determined that participants who reported daily aspirin use had a 20 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer than those who used aspirin less than once per week. For non-aspirin NSAIDs, which include a wide variety of drugs, the picture was less clear: the scientists observed a 10 percent lower ovarian cancer risk among women who used NSAIDs at least once per week compared with those who used NSAIDs less frequently. However, this finding did not fall in a range that was significant statistically. In contrast to the findings for aspirin and NSAIDs, use of acetaminophen, which is not an anti-inflammatory agent, was not associated with reduced ovarian cancer risk.

This study adds to a growing list of malignancies, such as colorectal and other cancers, that appear to be potentially preventable by aspirin usage. “Our study suggests that aspirin regimens, proven to protect against heart attack, may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer as well. However intriguing our results are, they should not influence current clinical practice. Additional studies are needed to explore the delicate balance of risk-benefit for this potential chemopreventive agent, as well as studies to identify the mechanism by which aspirin may reduce ovarian cancer risk,” said Trabert.

Adverse side effects of daily aspirin use include upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. Therefore, a daily aspirin regimen should only be undertaken with a doctor’s approval, caution the scientists.