Cancer is not just one disease, but a large group of almost one hundred diseases. Its two main characteristics are uncontrolled growth of the cells in the human body and the ability of these cells to migrate from the original site and spread to distant sites. If the spread is not controlled, cancer can result in death.
Pitt cancer researchers find key oncoprotein in Merkel cell carcinoma – Knocking out a viral protein called “small tumor protein,” or sT, stopped the cancer cells from replicating, revealed by researchers in a recent study.
Urine test shows prostate cancer risk, U-M study finds — Test for gene fusion can assist in the early detection of prostate cancer – A new urine test can help aid early detection of and treatment decisions about prostate cancer. Examining the urine sample for TMPRSS2:ERG and PCA3 and stratified patient into low, intermediate and high score, indicating their risk of cancer can help.
RNZCGP welcomes prostate cancer inquiry results – Encouraging men to seek up-to-date evidenced-based information from their GPs about screening and treatment of prostate cancer disease and screening for prostate cancer is recommended. The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) has welcomed the release of the results of the Health Select Committee’s inquiry into the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.
Therapy appears to reduce rate of chemotherapy-induced early menopause for women with breast cancer – Temporarily suppressing ovarian function with use of the hormone analogue triptorelin reduced the occurrence of early menopause induced by chemotherapy among women with breast cancer, according to a study in the July_20 issue of JAMA.
Cancer mortality rates are higher in men than women – Overall cancer mortality rates are higher for men than women in the United States. Men are more likely to die from cancer than women. For many cancers, men have poorer survival than women but the differences are slight, and this is due to the greater frequency of cancer diagnosis, rather than poorer survival once the cancer occurs.
Lung cancer screening trial shows screening with CT scans reduces lung cancer deaths – Scientists have found a 20 percent reduction in deaths from lung cancer among current or former heavy smokers who were screened with low-dose helical computed tomography (CT) versus those screened by chest X-ray. The primary research results from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Breast Cancer Patients and Families Decry FDA Panel Vote to Remove Life Saving Drug From Approved List – The Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, FDA, USA disapproved the Avastin which cited a lack of survival benefit. Now as two more trials have been analyzed — neither showing a survival benefit — the FDA stated that in the balance, the benefit did not outweigh the harm.
Nearly half of women with advanced breast cancer in the US not receiving life-saving treatment – UT MD Anderson research finds use of post-mastectomy radiation therapy static despite evidence-based guidelines of its benefits – Forty-five percent of women with advanced breast cancer in the U.S. did not receive postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) despite the publication of evidence-based guidelines outlining PMRT as a potentially lifesaving treatment, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The study, published in the July issue of Cancer, found that PMRT use rates for women with advanced breast cancer have remained static since 1999.
Shanghai CDC and Hutchinson Center establish Shanghai Breast Health Resource Center — First ‘learning laboratory’ of the Hutchinson Center-based Breast Health Global Initiative in China – The prevention, early detection and multidisciplinary treatment of breast cancer are important strategies for promoting health and extending a healthy life span. The Shanghai Breast Health Resource Center is an important step in effectively addressing breast cancer, especially to improving breast cancer screening and early detection, which are considered to be the most effective and affordable ways for a rapid reduction of breast cancer disease burden in developing countries like China.
Smoking may increase risk of prostate cancer recurrence, death – Researchers found that men with prostate cancer who were current smokers had a 61% increased risk of dying from prostate cancer, and a 61% higher risk of recurrence compared with men who never smoked. This new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and University of California, San Francisco, researchers suggests that men with prostate cancer who smoke increase their risk of prostate cancer recurrence and of dying from the disease.
FDA approves new test to help determine if breast cancer patients are candidates for Herceptin treatment – Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women. About 20 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer are HER2-positive. The Inform Dual ISH test allows lab personnel to count the number of copies of HER2 genes on chromosome 17 in a small sample of the breast tumor. Copies of the HER2 gene appear black and copies of chromosome 17 appear red. Patients with more than the normal number of copies of the HER2 gene are considered candidates for Herceptin therapy.
Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets may reduce both tumor growth rates and cancer risk – Eating a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet may reduce the risk of cancer and slow the growth of tumors already present, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. The study was conducted in mice, but the scientists involved agree that the strong biological findings are definitive enough that an effect in humans can be considered.
