Cancer of the rectum is the disease characterized by the development of malignant cells in the lining or epithelium of the rectum. Malignant cells have changed such that they lose normal control mechanisms governing growth. These cells may invade surrounding local tissue or they may spread throughout the body and invade other organ systems.
Activation of Biomarker Appears Associated With Improved Survival Among Obese Patients With Colorectal Cancer – Among obese patients, activation of the protein biomarker CTNNB1 was associated with better colorectal cancer-specific survival and overall survival, whereas post-diagnosis physical activity was associated with better colorectal cancer-specific survival among patients negative for CTNNB1.
Stanford research moves nanomedicine one step closer to reality – A class of engineered nanoparticles — gold-centered spheres smaller than viruses — has been shown safe when administered by two alternative routes in a mouse study led by investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Breakthrough in cancer vaccine research — New research could lead to improved vaccines for cancerous tumors – Researchers at the University of Cambridge hope to revolutionise cancer therapy after discovering one of the reasons why many previous attempts to harness the immune system to treat cancerous tumours have failed.
New test measures DNA methylation levels to predict colon cancer – An investigational DNA methylation test could alter the screening landscape for colorectal cancer, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research special conference on Colorectal Cancer: Biology to Therapy, held here Oct. 27-30, 2010.
Rectal cancer rates are rising in young individuals – A new analysis has found that while colon cancer rates have remained steady over the past several decades among people under the age of 40, rectal cancer rates are increasing in this population across races and in both sexes.
Cancer deaths continue to drop in USA – The continued drop in overall cancer mortality rates over the last 20 years has averted more than three-quarters of a million (767,000) cancer deaths according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.
New figures on cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality but big variations — Large variations in mortality exist between countries and between men and women – New figures on deaths from cancer in Europe show a steady decline in mortality between the periods 1990-1994 and 2000-2004. Deaths from all cancers in the European Union (EU) between these two periods fell by nine percent in men and eight percent in women, with a large drop among the middle-aged population.
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Receives Complete Response Letter from FDA for FUSILEV(R) in Advanced Metastatic Colorectal Cancer – A Complete Response letter is issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for FUSILEV (levoleucovorin) for injection for treatment of patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer.
Women fare better than men with metastatic colorectal cancer — are hormones helping? – Younger women with metastatic colorectal cancer lived longer than younger men, revealed by researchers in a new US study. However, this survival advantage disappeared with age, suggesting a benefit from estrogen or other hormones.
Trial of new treatment for advanced melanoma shows rapid shrinking of tumors – Researchers have made significant advances in the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma ? one of the most difficult cancers to treat successfully once it has started to spread.
New blood tests promise simple, cost-effective diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers – Promising results from a new blood test that can aid in the early identification of patients with colon cancer will be presented at Europe’s largest cancer congress, in Berlin today.
Cost-effectiveness of cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer – From a health-care system perspective, it may be more efficient to use the drug cetuximab only in colorectal cancer patients whose tumors have a wild-type KRAS gene, according to a study published online August 7 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
