Health News: Feared salmon virus arrived in BC waters ♦ Higher risk of leukemia linked to low sunlight, vitamin D ♦ .Flu virus hijacking tactics revealed

Feared salmon virus arrived in BC waters The European variant of infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) was said to have arrived in British Columbia almost five years ago, but then the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it was not so after testing two suspect salmon. That was in 2011. But if British Columbia was ISAV-free then, it almost certainly is not now.

.Flu virus hijacking tactics revealed paving way for new treatments Scientists have discovered how flu viruses 'hijack' cell machinery when they infect the body. The findings may pave the way for more effective antiviral treatments for pandemics and for seasonal flu, which infects over 800 million people worldwide every year.

Higher risk of leukemia linked to low sunlight, vitamin D Persons residing at higher latitudes, with lower sunlight/ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure and greater prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, are at least two times at greater risk of developing leukemia than equatorial populations.

Cancer drug shows promise for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy A drug commonly used to treat leukemia is showing potential as a treatment that could slow the progression of the muscle-wasting condition, Duchenne

Cancer Research: Mutations driving leukemia identified ♦Why cancer anemia treatment leads to tumor growth ♦ New test to predict relapse of testicular cancers

Scientists produce clearest-ever images of enzyme that plays key roles in aging, cancer The telomerase enzyme is known to play a significant role in aging and most cancers. Scientists have discovered several major new insights about this enzyme and they are now able to see the complex enzyme's subunits in much sharper resolution than ever before.

New test to predict relapse of testicular cancers Scientists have developed a new test to identify patients who are at risk of suffering a relapse from testicular cancer. Assessing just three features of a common kind of testicular cancer -- called non-seminomatous germ cell tumor -- can identify those at most at risk of relapse even where there is no evidence of tumor spread. The researchers believe the test could be used in the clinic to make decisions about which patients should be given chemotherapy.

Why cancer anemia treatment leads to tumor growth Scientists have shown why a drug widely used to treat chemotherapy-induced anemia in ovarian and breast cancer patients also may shorten survival times in some patients by inadvertently stimulating tumor growth.

Special class of T cells shown to both attack cancer cells and enlist other immune cells New insights about a subset of T cells has been shared by researchers, that suggest that they appear to both inhibit cancer growth and enhance the tumor-killing powers of other immune cells.

Mutations driving leukemia identified An international team of scientists has identified novel genes associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia through the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data.

Cancer Research: Why elephants rarely get cancer ♦ Scientists pave way for diamonds to trace early cancers ♦ Researchers create 'leukemia in a dish' to better study it

Why elephants rarely get cancer A new study could explain why elephants rarely get cancer. The results show that elephants have extra copies of a gene encoding a tumor suppressor, p53. Further, elephants may have a more robust mechanism for killing damaged cells at risk for becoming cancerous. The findings suggest extra p53 could explain elephants' enhanced cancer resistance.

Scientists pave way for diamonds to trace early cancers Physicists have devised a way to use diamonds to identify cancerous tumors before they become life threatening. Their findings reveal how a nanoscale, synthetic version of the precious gem can light up early-stage cancers in non-toxic, non-invasive Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans.

Examining contemporary occupational carcinogen exposure, bladder cancer Despite manufacturing and legislative changes to improve workplace hygiene, the risk of occupational bladder cancer appears to be on the rise in some industries, although the profile of at-risk occupations has changed over time.

Researchers create 'leukemia in a dish' to better study it

Scientists engineered stem cells to better understand the mechanisms behind a form of leukemia caused by changes in a key gene.

Cancer Research:Multi-gene test enables some breast cancer patients to safely avoid chemotherapy ♦ Significant genetic differences between breast cancers that relapse and those that do not:

Primary surgery is linked with survival benefit in patients with advanced throat cancer

Patients with cancers of the mid- and lower throat may have higher survival rates if their initial treatment includes surgery..

Cabozantinib improves survival in patients with advanced kidney cancer Patients with advanced kidney cancer live for nearly twice as long without their disease progressing if they are treated with cabozantinib, a drug that inhibits the action of tyrosine kinases -- enzymes that function as an 'on' or 'off' switch in many cellular processes, including cancer.

Significant genetic differences between breast cancers that relapse and those that do not: Researchers have taken an important step towards understanding why some primary breast cancers return while others do not. The European Cancer Congress will hear that genetic factors driving the cancers that recur are different from those found in the cancers that do not. This discovery could enable doctors to identify patients at high risk of their cancer returning and to target the genes responsible for recurrence when the cancer is first diagnosed in order to prevent its return.

Attacking acute myeloid leukemia A team of researchers has demonstrated that a molecule isolated from sea sponges and later synthesized in the lab, can halt the growth of acute myeloid leukemia cells and could open the door to a new treatment for leukemia.

Multi-gene test enables some breast cancer patients to safely avoid chemotherapy The best evidence to date has been provided that suggests that a 21-gene test done on the tumor can identify breast cancer patients who can safely avoid chemotherapy.

Cancer Research: Artificial intelligence used to improve breast cancert outcomes ♦ Study of leukemias in children living close to heavily used roads

New approach found to tackle breast cancer hormone therapy resistance A new explanation has been found as to why women with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer develop resistance to hormone treatment, and a potential new approach to overcome the problem

Study of leukemias in children living close to heavily used roads The risk of acute leukemia in children living close to heavily used roads has been the focus of recent study. The results of the study show that the incidence of new cases of myeloblastic leukemia (418 of 2,760 cases of leukemia) was 30 percent higher in children in the population whose residence was located within 150 m of heavily used roads, and had a combined length of over 260 m within this radius

Surgical probe seeks out where cancer ends and healthy tissue begins A new surgical tool that uses light to make sure surgeons removing cancerous tumors 'got it all' was found to correlate well with traditional pathologists' diagnoses in a clinical study, showing that the tool could soon enable reliable, real-time guidance for surgeons

Artificial intelligence used to improve breast cancer patient outcomes Researchers are working on a way to use artificial intelligence to predict a patient's response to two common chemotherapy medications used to treat breast cancer -- paclitaxel and gemcitabine. They are hoping to one day remove the guesswork from breast cancer treatment with this technique

Imaging method has potential to stratify head and neck cancer patients A potential new way to predict which patients with head and neck cancer may benefit most from chemotherapy has been identified by researchers. These patients commonly receive pre-treatment induction chemotherapy, before either surgery or radiotherapy, to reduce the risk of disease spread. However the effectiveness of such treatment is reduced in tumors with poor blood flow

Health Research: Smokers at higher risk of losing their teeth ♦ Long sleep and high blood copper levels go hand in hand ♦ Social factors may impact young leukemia patients' survival

Low vitamin D among elderly associated with decline in cognition, dementia Vitamin D insufficiency among the elderly is highly correlated with accelerated cognitive decline and impaired performance, particularly in domains such as memory loss that are associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, researchers have found.

Smokers at higher risk of losing their teeth, Regular smokers have a significantly increased risk of tooth loss, a new study has confirmed. Male smokers are up to 3.6 times more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers, whereas female smokers were found to be 2.5 times more likely.

Long sleep and high blood copper levels go hand in hand People who sleep fewer than 6 hours or more than 10 hours per night suffer from low-grade inflammation more often than people who sleep 7-8 hours per night. Earlier studies have found a relation between reduced sleep and low-grade inflammation, according to one of the study researchers. Furthermore, low-grade inflammation occurs in overweight, depression and diabetes. This new study is the first to analyze the association between sleep duration and serum micronutrient concentrations in a large sample, and it found a link between high serum copper concentration and long sleep duration.

Social factors may impact young leukemia patients' survival A new study reveals that insurance status, marital status, and county-level income may affect the chances of survival in young patients with acute myelogenous leukemia

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Cancer Research: New treatment options for a fatal leukemia ♦ 'Major player' in skin cancer genes identified ♦ Non-genetic cancer mechanism found

Prostate cancer: Why some tumors are resistant to radiotherapy  Scientists believe they have identified how some tiny regulatory molecules in cells can make prostate cancers resistant to radiotherapy. It is hoped that this new development could pave the way for more effective treatments -- allowing a lower dose of radiotherapy to be used while prolonging the lives of thousands of men.

Gene therapy may improve survival of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer Use of gene therapy to deliver a protein that suppresses the development of female reproductive organs may improve the survival of patients with ovarian cancer that has recurred after chemotherapy, which happens 70 percent of the time and is invariably fatal.

New treatment options for a fatal leukemia In industrialized countries, acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common form of cancer in children. An international research consortium has now succeeded in decoding a specific form of this leukemia, which is regarded as incurable, and in obtaining insights for new therapeutic possibilities.

'Major player' in skin cancer genes identified A subgroup of genetic mutations that are present in a significant number of melanoma skin cancer cases has been defined by a multidisciplinary team of researchers. Their findings shed light on an important mutation in this deadly disease, and may lead to more targeted anti-cancer therapies

Non-genetic cancer mechanism found Cancer can be caused solely by protein imbalances within cells, a study of ovarian cancer has found. The discovery is a major breakthrough because, until now, genetic aberrations have been seen as the main cause of almost all cancer.

Cancer Research: Toxin from fish has potential to treat cancer ♦ Leukemia thwarted by cutting off link to environmental support ♦ Prostate cancer not caused by shift work,

Access denied: Leukemia thwarted by cutting off link to environmental support A protein's critical -- and previously unknown -- role in the development and progression of acute myeloid leukemia, a fast-growing and extremely difficult-to-treat blood cancer, has been revealed by researchers.

Researchers decode molecular action of combination therapy for a deadly thyroid cancer In their bid to find the best combination of therapies to treat anaplastic thyroid cancer, researchers have demonstrated that all histone deacetylase inhibitors are not created equal

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 Research:New method to halt the advance of liver cancer found ♦ Cancer Driver Gene' reduces metastasis in prostate cancer ♦ Experimental therapy to treat colon cancer,

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.

Breakthrough experimental therapy to treat colon cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel Disease A groundbreaking experimental therapy has been discovered that has the ability to suppress the development of ulcerative colitis (UC), a disease which causes inflammation in the digestive tract and colon cancer. The treatment utilizes a chemical inhibitor able to block an RNA molecule (microRNA-214) involved in the transmission of genetic information.

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.

Improved outcomes associated with stem cell transplantation for children with serious chronic leukemia Researchers have shown greatly improved outcomes in using stem cell transplantation to treat patients with a serious but very rare form of chronic blood cancer called juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

Cancer Research: Potential new class of cancer drugs developed ♦ Experimental treatment sends deadly leukemia into remission ♦ microRNA may provide therapy against pancreatic cancer

microRNA may provide therapy against pancreatic cancer Cancer researchers have found that a particular microRNA may be a potent therapeutic agent against pancreatic cancer. The need for new therapies for pancreatic cancer patients is great as only 7 percent of people with the disease survive more than 5 years after diagnosis. According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be an estimated 48,960 new cases of pancreatic cancer and 40,560 deaths from the disease in 2015.

E2F4 signature can predict progression of bladder cancer Investigators harnessed genomic data to discover that the previously identified E2F4 signature in breast cancer can be utilized to predict prognosis and response to therapy in bladder cancer.

Experimental treatment sends deadly leukemia into remission An experimental new treatment approach for a rare, deadly leukemia can send the disease into remission even in patients for whom the standard therapy has failed, a pilot study has found. The study is 'proof of principle' the cutting-edge approach could be used to treat many other cancers as well.

Development of new blood vessels not essential to growth of lymph node metastases The growth of metastases in lymph nodes -- the most common site of cancer spread -- does not require the development of new blood vessels, researchers have discovered, potentially explaining why antiangiogenesis drugs have failed to prevent the development of new metastases.

Potential new class of cancer drugs developed A new class of drug developed targets the Warburg effect to cut off cancer's energy supply, and researchers say that it has the potential to stop most kinds of cancer in its tracks.

Food Research: Avocados may hold the answer to beating leukemia ♦ Chocolate for your heart ♦ Adult craze for human breast milk

Chocolate for your heart Eating up to 100g of chocolate every day is linked to lowered heart disease and stroke risk. The calculations showed that compared with those who ate no chocolate higher intake was linked to an 11% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 25% lower risk of associated death

Avocados may hold the answer to beating leukemia Rich, creamy, nutritious and now cancer fighting. New research reveals that molecules derived from avocados could be effective in treating a form of cancer. AML is a devastating disease and proves fatal within five years for 90 per cent of seniors over age 65. This new avocado-derived drug could one day significantly increase life expectancy and quality of life for AML patients

Researchers discover component of cinnamon prevents colorectal cancer in mice Adding cinnamaldehyde, the compound that gives cinnamon its distinctive flavor and smell, to the diet of mice, scientists have discovered that mice were protected against colorectal cancer

Adult craze for human breast milk purchased online poses serious health risks The recent craze for human breast milk amongst certain fitness communities, fetishists and chronic disease sufferers is ill advised say the authors of a new study. Failure of women to sanitize properly when expressing milk, the failure to sterilize equipment properly, and the improper or prolonged storage and transportation of milk can expose consumers to bacterial food-borne illnesses like any other raw milk.

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: More than just picky eating A new commentary by experts reflects on the clinical impact of the diagnosis of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, and the work that remains in terms of treatments and improved outcomes.

Children's Health:Childhood vaccination reduces leukemia risk ♦ Teen sleep patterns linked to alcohol or marijuana use ♦ Smoking marijuana stunts growth in boys

Smoking marijuana may cause early puberty and stunts growth in boys Boys who smoke marijuana go through puberty earlier but grow more slowly than those who have never smoked the drug according to a new study.

New school-based program helps reduce absentee rate for urban minority children with asthma Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children, and it can only be managed, not cured.It is the most common disease-related reason for children missing school. This can have a negative effect on their academic achievement.

Association between teen sleep patterns, alcohol or marijuana use Studying adolescents in Southern California, researchers found that the link between sleep and alcohol/marijuana use was consistent even after controlling for other known risk factors, such as depression. For every 10 minutes later that teens went to bed, there was a 6 percent increased risk of alcohol or marijuana use in the previous month. In addition, teens who reported significant trouble sleeping were 55 percent more likely to have used alcohol in the past month

44 percent of parents struggle to limit cell phone use at playgrounds Cell phone use at playgrounds is a significant source of parental guilt, research shows. The study also noted that caregivers absorbed in their phones ignored children's requests for attention more than half the time.

How early childhood vaccination reduces leukemia risk A team of researchers has discovered how a commonly administered vaccine protects against acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL), the most common type of childhood cancer. The Haemophilus influenzae Type b vaccine not only prevents ear infections and meningitis caused by the Hib bacterium, but also protects against ALL, which accounts for approximately 25 percent of cancer diagnoses among children younger than 15 years.

Cancer Research: Link between bacterial 'biofilms' and colon cancer ♦ Haywire protein connected to breast cancer, leukemia ♦ Treatment strategy to 'checkmate' glioblastoma

Researchers connect haywire protein to breast cancer, leukemia. In the new study, the researchers found that too much of a key protein, called cyclin E, slows down DNA replication and introduces potentially harmful cancer-linked mutations when cells divide

Metabolic link between bacterial 'biofilms' and colon cancer found A team of scientists has uncovered a big clue to how bacteria may promote some colon cancers. The study used novel metabolomic technologies to reveal molecular evidence suggesting a vicious circle in which cancerous changes in colon cells promote the growth of bacterial conglomerations called biofilms, and biofilms in turn promote cancer development

Why almost half of patients opt out of comprehensive cancer testing Some at-risk patients opted out of comprehensive cancer gene screening when presented with the opportunity to be tested for the presence of genes linked to various cancers,. Concern for uncertainty and potential distress were cited among the most common reasons to refuse testing.

Biologist advances cancer research with new data analysis techniques Patience and persistence are beginning to pay off for one researcher whose research about the behavior of cell proteins in childhood cancer was started by identifying a large number of signaling proteins using mass spectrometry.

New combination treatment strategy to 'checkmate' glioblastoma

Therapies that specifically target mutations in a person's cancer have been much-heralded in recent years, yet cancer cells often find a way around them. To address this, researchers identified a promising combinatorial approach to treating glioblastomas, the most common form of primary brain cancer.

Cancer Research: New method detects more breast cancer in screening ♦ Plant-derived compound targets cancer stem cells ♦ Moderate exercise may make cancer treatments more effective

Recurrence of prostate cancer detected earlier with innovative PSMA-ligand PET/CT A recent study compared use of the novel Ga-68-PSMA-ligand PET/CT with other imaging methods and found that it had substantially higher detection rates of prostate-specific membrane antigen in patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Moderate exercise may make cancer treatments more effective  Kinesiology research offers encouraging information for cancer patients: A brisk walk or a slow jog on a regular basis may be the key to improved cancer treatments. Research also has shown that moderate exercise can help cancer patients counteract some of the side effects of treatment -- such as low blood count, fatigue, cachexia and lost muscle mass

Discovery could help reverse glucocorticoid resistance in some young leukemia patients Scientists have identified a mechanism that helps leukemia cells resist glucocorticoids (a class of steroid hormones), a finding that lays the foundation for more effective treatment of cancer and possibly a host of autoimmune diseases.  

Plant-derived compound targets cancer stem cells A compound and an enzyme that occur naturally in cruciferous vegetables--cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts--may help prevent recurrence and spread of some cancers, according to researchers. When they treated human cervical cancer stem cells with phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in a Petri dish, about 75 percent died within 24 hours

New method detects more breast cancer in screening Tomosynthesis (a 3D X-ray technique)  detects 40% more breast cancers than traditional mammography does, according to a major screening study. This is the first large-scale study to compare the screening method with regular mammograms. The 3D X-ray technique is also more comfortable for women.

Cancer Research:Metabolic reprogramming restrains senescent cells from becoming cancerous ♦ synchrotron makes tumors visible ♦ Pancreatic cancer risk linked to weak sunlight:

Protein 'brake' in metabolic reprogramming restrains senescent cells from becoming cancerous Research has shown that cancerous cells have a different metabolism -- essential chemical and nutritional changes needed for supporting the unlimited growth observed in cancer Now, scientists have identified a way that cells can reprogram their metabolism to overcome a tumor-suppressing mechanism known as senescence, solidifying the notion that altered metabolism is a hallmark of cancer progression.

Compact synchrotron makes tumors visible Soft tissue disorders like tumors are very difficult to recognize using normal X-ray machines, as there is hardly any distinction between healthy tissue and tumors. Researchers have now developed a technology using a compact synchrotron source that measures not only X-ray absorption, but also phase shifts and scattering. Tissue that is hardly recognizable using traditional X-ray machines is now visible.

Pre-existing inflammation may promote the spread of cancer Allergic reactions -- or at least the pre-existing inflammation from these reactions -- may set the stage for cancer to spread from one area to another.

Pancreatic cancer risk linked to weak sunlight: Harm may come from low vitamin D Pancreatic cancer rates are highest in countries with the least amount of sunlight. Low sunlight levels in those countries were due to a combination of heavy cloud cover and high latitude

Scientists identify key receptors behind development of acute myeloid leukemia Scientists have discovered that a certain class of receptors that inhibit immune response are crucial for the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common acute leukemia affecting adults

Cancer Research: New potential drug for rare leukemia ♦ New bowel cancer screening ♦ Lethal prostate cancer can spread to other sites

Researchers develop new potential drug for rare leukemia A new drug that shows potential in laboratory studies against a rare type of acute leukemia has been developed by scientists. And additional studies suggest the same compound could play a role in prostate cancer treatment as well, they say.

Early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients with low tumor metabolic activity have longer survival  Low pre-surgery uptake of a labeled glucose analogue, a marker of metabolic activity, in the primary tumor of patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer is associated with increased overall survival and a longer time before tumor recurrence. Patients with high labeled glucose uptake may benefit from additional therapy

Major increase in bowel cancer screening uptake shown with new screening test A large pilot study of a new bowel cancer screening test has demonstrated a major increase in participation rates across population groups. The new test is called a Fecal Immunochemical Test or FIT for short. In addition to being able to detect many more cancers and pre-cancers,

Lethal prostate cancer can spread from other metastatic sites, study affirms A new genomic analysis of tissue from patients with prostate cancer has added more evidence that cells within metastases from such tumors can migrate to other body parts

'Firefly' mechanism makes cancer studies more efficient, less expensive The mechanism that makes fireflies glow through a process called bioluminescence can be used to study tumor response to therapy as well, researchers have found. Bioluminescence has a major role in small animal research, and the technique has been widely applied in tumor models. The multiple tumor approach can also be used for high throughput screening

Cancer Research: Less-toxic cancer drug may work as well as chemotherapy ♦ To stop cancer: Block its messages ♦ Cancer-targeting mechanism under development

Panel predicts whether rare leukemia will respond to treatment Patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia have limited treatment options, and those that exist are effective only in fewer than half of patients. Now, a new study identifies a panel of genetic markers that predicted which tumor samples would likely respond to treatment

Cancer-targeting mechanism under development Researchers are developing molecules that bind to more than 60 types of cancer. Several are being tested in early-stage clinical trials, including one for brain cancer. These custom-made molecules can carry either a "flag" that shines brightly in standard medical scanners or a bit of radiation to kill the targeted cancer cells.

Fasting and less-toxic cancer drug may work as well as chemotherapy Fasting in combination with chemotherapy has already been shown to kill cancer cells, but a pair of new studies in mice suggests that a less-toxic class of drugs combined with fasting may kill breast, colorectal and lung cancer cells equally wel

To stop cancer: Block its messages A potential drug molecule has been discovered that stops cancer cells, but not healthy ones, from getting their 'mail.' The average living cell needs communication skills: It must transmit a constant stream of messages quickly and efficiently from its outer walls to the inner nucleus, where most of the day-to-day decisions are made. But this rapid, long-distance communication system leaves itself open to mutations that can give rise to a "spam attack" that promotes cancer, the researchers say.

Cancer Research: Diabetes linked to advanced stage breast cancer ♦ Promising drug for treating leukemia ♦ Fitness level lower risk of some cancers

Women with diabetes more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer  Diabetes is associated with more advanced stage breast cancer.A new study that confirms a strong link between diabetes and later stage breast cancer. Continue Reading

Promising drug a 'new paradigm' for treating leukemia  A compound that delays leukemia in mice and effectively kills leukemia cells in human tissue samples has been developed by researchers, raising hopes that the drug could lead to improved treatments in people. Continue Reading

Blood test can help some bowel cancer patients avoid unnecessary drug side-effects Researchers have provided early evidence to suggest that a blood test could be used to identify bowel cancer patients that may benefit from more intensive chemotherapy Continue Reading

Fitness level associated with lower risk of some cancers, death in men  Men with a high fitness level in midlife appear to be at lower risk for lung and colorectal cancer, but not prostate cancer, and that higher fitness level also may put them at lower risk of death if they are diagnosed with cancer when they're older. Continue Reading

Cancer Research: Beating deadly hereditary stomach, breast cancers ♦ Evolution of high-risk leukemia ♦ Kidney cancer detected early with urine test + more

Bright new hope for beating deadly hereditary stomach, breast cancers  Deadly familial stomach and lobular breast cancers could be successfully treated at their earliest stages, or even prevented, by existing drugs that have been newly identified by cancer genetics researchers. Continue Reading

Scientists trace genomic evolution of high-risk leukemia  By genomic sequencing of leukemia cells from relapsed patients at different stages, scientists have discovered key details of how acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells mutate to survive chemotherapy.Continue Reading

Kidney cancer detected early with urine test  If kidney cancer is diagnosed early -- before it spreads beyond the kidney -- 80 percent of patients survive. However, finding it early has been among the disease's greatest challenges. Now, researchers have developed a noninvasive method to screen for kidney cancer that involves measuring the presence of proteins in the urine.Continue Reading

Vitamin D may keep low-grade prostate cancer from becoming aggressive  Taking vitamin D supplements could slow or even reverse the progression of less aggressive, or low-grade, prostate tumors without the need for surgery or radiation, scientists say Continue Reading

Regaining normal sexual functioning is 'rare' after prostate operations  Regaining normal erectile function is rare after the most common prostate operation, radical prostatectomy  Continue reading