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

Invasive Cancer Incidence and Survival

Two out of 3 people diagnosed with cancer survive five years or more. Approximately 1.5 million new cases of cancer were reported in the United States in 2011 according to national cancer registry data. About 2 of 3 people diagnosed with cancer survived ≥5 years after diagnosis.

Prostate, female breast, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum cancers accounted for half of all cancers diagnosed in 2011. Disparities in cancer incidence still persist, with incidence rates higher among men (508) than women (410), and ranging by state from 374 in New Mexico per 100,000 persons to 509 in the District of Columbia per 100,000 persons.

These data are based on United States Cancer Statistics, the official annual federal government cancer incidence and mortality statistics for the U.S. population and for individual states, available at www.cdc.gov/uscs.

1/19/15 Health News: Lack of exercise responsible early deaths ♦ Are all rattlesnakes created equal? ♦ Health outcomes improve with nurse practitioners ♦ Surviving colon cancer

Lack of exercise responsible for twice as many early deaths as obesity

A brisk 20 minute walk each day could be enough to reduce an individual's risk of early death, according to new research published today. The study of over 334,000 European men and women found that twice as many deaths may be attributable to lack of physical activity compared with the number of deaths attributable to obesity, but that just a modest increase in physical activity could have significant health benefits.Continue Reading

Are all rattlesnakes created equal? No, maybe not

New research by a team of biologists has revealed that creating antivenom is a bit tricky. That's because the type of venom a snake produces can change according to where it lives. Continue Reading

Health outcomes improve in states where nurse practitioners independently provide care

Many states do not allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to perform primary care duties to their full potential; however, researchers say APRNs can help relieve the shortage of healthcare workers and expand access to care for underserved populations. In a recently published study, researchers found that quality of health care is improved in states where APRNs are allowed to practice independently Cobtinue Reading

Patients with advanced colon cancer having less surgery, better survival

The annual rate of primary tumor removal for advanced stage IV colorectal cancer has decreased since 1988 and the trend toward nonsurgical management of the disease noted in 2001 coincides with the availability of newer chemotherapy and biologic treatments, according to a report  Continue Reading