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: First successful study of virus attack on cancer ♦ Removing more tissue during breast cancer surgery reduces the need for second procedure

First successful study of virus attack on cancer It's a new weapon in the arsenal of cancer fighting treatments: utilizing genetically modified viruses to invade cancer cells and destroy them from the inside. Now scientists have found that stage IIIb to IV melanoma patients treated with a modified cold sore (herpes) virus had improved survival.

Regenerating lost taste buds: Key steps discovered Researchers have discovered a key molecular pathway that aids in the renewal of taste buds, a finding that may help cancer patients suffering from an altered sense of taste during treatment.

Practice-changing study offers new option for tough breast cancer cases A new phase 3 study in some of the most difficult-to-treat patients, women with endocrine-resistant disease, showed that the newly approved drug, palbociclib, more than doubled the time to cancer recurrence for women with hormone-receptor positive metastatic breast cancer.

Removing more tissue during breast cancer surgery reduces by half the need for second procedure Removing more tissue during a partial mastectomy could spare thousands of breast cancer patients a second surgery, according to a Yale Cancer Center study.

Discovery could improve radiotherapy for wide range of cancers Scientists have discovered how giving a class of drugs called AKT inhibitors in combination with radiotherapy might boost its effectiveness across a wide range of cancers, according to a new study

Cancer Research: Scientists turn cancer cells into normal cells ♦ Breaking breast cancer resistance ♦ Radiotherapy after prostate cancer surgery declining

Cancer-inflammation 'vicious cycle' detailed in new study New findings hidden within the complex machinery behind the chronic inflammation-cancer feedback loop have been discerned.

New drug combination shows promise for breaking breast cancer resistance A new combination of drugs has been developed that may overcome treatment resistance and relapse in breast cancer. While most women initially respond well to hormonal treatment with drugs such as tamoxifen, many go on to develop resistance and relapse. There is evidence that this is often due to activation of  a gene involved which fuels the growth of the tumor.

Pancreatic cancer loses viral defenses when talking with supporting cells  Researchers have unlocked a way to make pancreatic cancer cells more vulnerable to cancer-killing viruses, known as oncolytic viruses. The scientists have discovered how they can exploit the communication, or cross-talk, between pancreatic cancer and a specific cell type that supports the tumor. This cross-talk weakens the ability of both cell types to fight off cancer-fighting viruses.

Pancreatic cancer breakthrough: Scientists turn cancer cells into normal cells  A new research study has shown that pancreatic cancer cells can be coaxed to revert back toward normal cells by introducing a protein called E47. E47 binds to specific DNA sequences and controls genes involved in growth and differentiation.

Use of radiotherapy after prostate cancer surgery declining, despite evidence of benefit Despite strong evidence and guidelines supporting its use, post-surgical radiation therapy for prostate cancer patients at risk of recurrence is declining in the United States. This study finds fewer than 10 percent of patients at risk of recurrence received postoperative radiotherapy