Saturday, December 10, 2022
Chemo before and after surgery boost survival in pancreatic cancer patients
Image credit University of Colorado news
CANCER DIGEST – Dec. 10, 2022 – A new study of pancreatic cancer treatments showed that patients who received chemotherapy before and after surgery survived longer compared to patients who didn't have the chemo. The findings were published in the Dec. 8, 2022 American Medical Association Association’s JAMA Oncology
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| Image credit University of Colorado news |
CANCER DIGEST – Dec. 10, 2022 – A new study of pancreatic cancer treatments showed that patients who received chemotherapy before and after surgery survived longer compared to patients who didn't have the chemo. The findings were published in the Dec. 8, 2022 American Medical Association Association’s JAMA Oncology
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Common type of starch may reduce certain cancers
Resistant starch as found in unripe bananas may protect against some
types of cancers
CANCER DIGEST – July 30, 2022 – A type of starch found in oats, breakfast cereal, rice, beans and other common foods may reduce the risk of a range of cancers by 60 percent, a new study shows.
Led by researchers at the Universities of Newcastle and Leeds in the the UK, the 20-year study called CAPP2 involved following 1000 people with Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary condition associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer in particular, as well as a broad range of other cancers, including endometrial, ovarian, stomach, liver and brain cancers.
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| Resistant starch as found in unripe bananas may protect against some types of cancers |
Led by researchers at the Universities of Newcastle and Leeds in the the UK, the 20-year study called CAPP2 involved following 1000 people with Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary condition associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer in particular, as well as a broad range of other cancers, including endometrial, ovarian, stomach, liver and brain cancers.
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Blood test can predict liver cancer in NAFLD patients
CANCER DIGEST – June 25, 2022 – Researchers have identified a panel of four proteins that can be used to predict liver cancer risk in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that might be used to track how well medications are working to reduce that risk. The results were published in the June 22, 2022 journal Science Translational Medicine.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. An estimated one-quarter of US adults have NAFLD. Knowing which of their NAFLD patients were mostly likely to develop cancer would help doctors prescribe treatments that could reduce their patients’ risk.
CANCER DIGEST – June 25, 2022 – Researchers have identified a panel of four proteins that can be used to predict liver cancer risk in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that might be used to track how well medications are working to reduce that risk. The results were published in the June 22, 2022 journal Science Translational Medicine.Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. An estimated one-quarter of US adults have NAFLD. Knowing which of their NAFLD patients were mostly likely to develop cancer would help doctors prescribe treatments that could reduce their patients’ risk.
Saturday, January 22, 2022
Immunotherapy before surgery may reduce liver cancer recurrence
CANCER DIGEST – Jan. 22, 2022 – Giving liver cancer patient immunotherapy before surgery substantially reduced liver tumors in a third of those treated, a new study shows.
Researchers at Mount Sinai’s Tisch Cancer Institute in New York reported the results of a small phase 2 trial in the January 2022 journal The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
The results showed that the immunotherapy killed not only more of the tumor but microscopic cancer cells that likely would have been missed by surgery, and would potentially cause the tumor to regrow and spread.
Dr. Thomas Marron, lead author and director of the Early Phase Trials Unit at the Tisch Cancer Institute said the results hold implications for other types of cancers, not just liver cancer in terms of administering immunotherapy before or after surgery.
Researchers at Mount Sinai’s Tisch Cancer Institute in New York reported the results of a small phase 2 trial in the January 2022 journal The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
The results showed that the immunotherapy killed not only more of the tumor but microscopic cancer cells that likely would have been missed by surgery, and would potentially cause the tumor to regrow and spread.
Dr. Thomas Marron, lead author and director of the Early Phase Trials Unit at the Tisch Cancer Institute said the results hold implications for other types of cancers, not just liver cancer in terms of administering immunotherapy before or after surgery.
Dr. Thomas Marron, lead author and director of the Early Phase Trials Unit at the Tisch Cancer Institute said the results hold implications for other types of cancers, not just liver cancer in terms of administering immunotherapy before or after surgery.
Saturday, November 27, 2021
Adding low-dose radiation to immunotherapy may overcome treatment resistance
CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 27, 2021 – Adding radiotherapy to immunotherapy significantly boosted response rates for treatment resistant forms of colorectal and pancreatic cancer with 37 percent of colorectal cancer patients and 29 percent of pancreatic cancer responding in a new early clinical trial under way at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“This is an impressive clinical result given that historically, these cancers respond in the low single digit percentage range,” senior author David T. Ting, MD, said in a press release.
“This is an impressive clinical result given that historically, these cancers respond in the low single digit percentage range,” senior author David T. Ting, MD, said in a press release.
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Can gut bacteria predict colon cancer?
The study suggests that the presence of a certain type
of bacteria called B. fragilis might push gut tissue toward
inflammation rather than protect from it.
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 18, 2021 – Can the presence of certain types of bacteria in the gut predict the formation of colon polyps? That’s the question Dr. William De Paolo, at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle asks.
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| The study suggests that the presence of a certain type of bacteria called B. fragilis might push gut tissue toward inflammation rather than protect from it. |
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 18, 2021 – Can the presence of certain types of bacteria in the gut predict the formation of colon polyps? That’s the question Dr. William De Paolo, at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle asks.
Friday, September 10, 2021
Extended antibiotics use linked to colon cancer
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 7, 2021 – Researchers at Umea University in Sweden have found that both men and women who took antibiotics for over six months ran a 17 percent greater risk of developing cancer of the ascending or upper colon than similar patients who were not prescribed antibiotics. The study was published in the Sept. 1, 2021 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 7, 2021 – Researchers at Umea University in Sweden have found that both men and women who took antibiotics for over six months ran a 17 percent greater risk of developing cancer of the ascending or upper colon than similar patients who were not prescribed antibiotics. The study was published in the Sept. 1, 2021 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Saturday, May 22, 2021
Agency lowers age for beginning colorectal screening to 45
Click to play video
Cancer Digest -- May 21, 2021 -- With the recent rise in colorectal cancer cases in younger people the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), has lowered its recommendation for colorectal cancer screening from age 50 to 45.
The agency published its new guideline in the May 18, 2021 issue of JAMA, re-aligning it with those of the American Cancer Society, which lowered the age for initial screening to 45 years in 2018.
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| Click to play video |
Saturday, February 20, 2021
New drug shows significant boost in liver cancer survival
CANCER DIGEST – Feb. 20, 2021 – People with advanced liver cancer survived six months longer with a new immunotherapy drug given in combination a current treatment compared to those treated with the standard treatment, new data presented at the Digital Liver Cancer Summit Feb. 6 shows.
"These are highly significant findings for the treatment of patients with HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma)," Richard Finn MD of Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center UCLA, and lead author of the study said in a press release. "Many thousands of patients worldwide could benefit from this treatment and it can be considered a major breakthrough - the first improvement in treatment for these types of cases in 13 years and a treatment long awaited by doctors."
"These are highly significant findings for the treatment of patients with HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma)," Richard Finn MD of Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center UCLA, and lead author of the study said in a press release. "Many thousands of patients worldwide could benefit from this treatment and it can be considered a major breakthrough - the first improvement in treatment for these types of cases in 13 years and a treatment long awaited by doctors."
Saturday, February 13, 2021
New drug to treat pancreatic cancer set for clinical trials
Zhi-Ren Liu, Professor Biology
CANCER DIGEST – Feb. 13, 2021 – A new drug that has been shown effective against pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer in mice is set to begin clinical trials later this year.
The drug called ProAgio was developed by Georgia State University biology professor Zhi-Ren Lui and his team. The results of the mouse studies were published Jan. 1, 2021 in the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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| Zhi-Ren Liu, Professor Biology |
The drug called ProAgio was developed by Georgia State University biology professor Zhi-Ren Lui and his team. The results of the mouse studies were published Jan. 1, 2021 in the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Friday, October 9, 2020
Oat bran may reduce intestinal inflammation from radiation therapy
Editor's note: Cancer Digest does not usually present results of animal studies as our focus is on research that is likely to affect cancer therapy in time to potentially be an option for currently diagnosed patients. However this mouse study involves a dietary intervention that does not face the same lengthy regulatory path of a therapeutic intervention.
CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 9, 2020 – A new study challenges the standard advice to avoid high-fiber diet for colorectal cancer patients about to undergo radiation therapy.
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Coffee continues to show benefits for patients with cancer
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 19, 2020 – A cup of coffee a day appears to lengthen survival for patients treated for advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, a new study shows.
In the study researchers at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the MAYO Clinic is based on data from a large observational study nested within a clinical trial. The results align with earlier studies that also showed a link between coffee consumption and improved outcomes in patients with localized colorectal cancer. The findings appear in the Sept. 17, 2020 JAMA Oncology.
In the study researchers at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the MAYO Clinic is based on data from a large observational study nested within a clinical trial. The results align with earlier studies that also showed a link between coffee consumption and improved outcomes in patients with localized colorectal cancer. The findings appear in the Sept. 17, 2020 JAMA Oncology.
Saturday, August 15, 2020
Women who use tobacco less likely to get cancer screenings
CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 14, 2020 – A new study has found a strong link between smoking and lower used of cancer screening services by women, and a link to more advanced disease once cancer is diagnosed. The study appears in the online journal BMJ Open.
The study led by Victor Eng of the Department of Dermatology at Stanford University used data collected from the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-running study that originally started in the 1990s and has been extended several times. This analysis of data collected from questionnaires answered by 89,058 women looked at the odds of women undergoing breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening tests based on smoking status.
The study led by Victor Eng of the Department of Dermatology at Stanford University used data collected from the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-running study that originally started in the 1990s and has been extended several times. This analysis of data collected from questionnaires answered by 89,058 women looked at the odds of women undergoing breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening tests based on smoking status.
Friday, July 24, 2020
Maintaining health of mouth and teeth my reduce cancer risk
CANCER DIGEST – July 24, 2020 – People with history of gum disease appear to have higher risk of developing digestive tract cancers, according to a new study published online July 20, 2020 in the journal GUT.Researchers led by Chun-Han Lo and colleagues at Harvard Medical School examined the history of periodontal disease and tooth loss with the risk of esophageal and stomach cancer in 98,459 women who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study, and 49,685 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Both studies were conducted over a couple of decades beginning1988 for the men and 1992 in women.
Friday, June 12, 2020
Aspirin taken daily for two years still lowers cancer risk 10 years later
CANCER DIGEST – June 12, 2020 – Two aspirin a day for two years reduced the risk of inherited bowel cancer 10 years after stopping the aspirin treatment, an analysis of research data has revealed.
The findings come from results of the international trial called CaPP2, which involved 861 patients with Lynch syndrome from around the world. Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal (colon) cancer. The study appears in the June 12, 2020 The Lancet.
The findings come from results of the international trial called CaPP2, which involved 861 patients with Lynch syndrome from around the world. Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal (colon) cancer. The study appears in the June 12, 2020 The Lancet.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Pancreatic cancer patients with certain mutations benefit from platinum chemo
Image credit Cancer Research UK via Wikipedia
CANCER DIGEST – May 22, 2020 – Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have certain genetic mutations that can be passed on to offspring had better clinical outcomes after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy, compared to patients without such mutations, a new study shows.
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| Image credit Cancer Research UK via Wikipedia |
Friday, April 17, 2020
Study links reductions in digestive tract cancers to regular aspirin use
CANCER DIGEST – April 17, 2020 – Taking aspirin at least once or twice a week cut the risk of digestive tract cancers, such as colorectal cancer, by 22 percent to 38 percent according to findings of the largest, most comprehensive analysis of data to date.
"We found that the risk of cancer was reduced with increased dose," said lead author Dr Cristina Bosetti (PhD), head of the Unit of Cancer Epidemiology at the Mario Negri Department of Oncology, Milan (Italy) in a press release. "An aspirin dose between 75 and 100mg a day was associated with a 10% reduction in a person's risk of developing cancer compared to people not taking aspirin; a dose of 325mg a day was associated with a 35% reduction, and a dose of 500mg a day was associated with a 50% reduction in risk."
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"We found that the risk of cancer was reduced with increased dose," said lead author Dr Cristina Bosetti (PhD), head of the Unit of Cancer Epidemiology at the Mario Negri Department of Oncology, Milan (Italy) in a press release. "An aspirin dose between 75 and 100mg a day was associated with a 10% reduction in a person's risk of developing cancer compared to people not taking aspirin; a dose of 325mg a day was associated with a 35% reduction, and a dose of 500mg a day was associated with a 50% reduction in risk."
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Ulcer bacteria linked to risk of stomach cancer in certain groups
Electron microscopic view of H. pylori bacteria – Credit
Yutaka Tsutsumi, M.D.
CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 16, 2019 – Eliminating the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers from the gastrointestinal tract led to a 75 percent reduction in risk of stomach cancer, researchers have found.
After analyzing nearly 400,000 patient records, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that rates of stomach cancer after detection of H. pylori, the ulcer-causing bacteria, are higher among specific populations, which they suggest would benefit from careful monitoring. The study appeared Nov. 14 online ahead of publication in the journal Gastroenterology.
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| Electron microscopic view of H. pylori bacteria – Credit Yutaka Tsutsumi, M.D. |
After analyzing nearly 400,000 patient records, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that rates of stomach cancer after detection of H. pylori, the ulcer-causing bacteria, are higher among specific populations, which they suggest would benefit from careful monitoring. The study appeared Nov. 14 online ahead of publication in the journal Gastroenterology.
Friday, November 1, 2019
Liver cancer deaths rising dramatically
Rising obesity may be contributing
to a rise in liver cancer rates
Liver cancer death rates have increased by around 50% in the last decade and have tripled since records began, according to the latest calculations* by Cancer Research UK.
There were 3,200 liver cancer deaths in the UK in 2007, and the mortality rate has steadily climbed since then with 5,700 deaths due to the disease in 2017, researchers at Cancer Research UK say.
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| Rising obesity may be contributing to a rise in liver cancer rates |
There were 3,200 liver cancer deaths in the UK in 2007, and the mortality rate has steadily climbed since then with 5,700 deaths due to the disease in 2017, researchers at Cancer Research UK say.
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Combination therapy shows promise for liver cancer
Image of liver – BodyParts3D public domain
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 7, 2019 – A combination therapy may improve survival of liver cancer patients, contrary to an earlier study, according to Taiwanese researchers.
The study involved 2112 people with liver cancer, with 426 treated with a combination of the targeted drug sorafenib (Nexavar®) and a radiological therapy called TACE, for trans arterial chemoembolization, and 1686 in the sorafenib alone group.
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| Image of liver – BodyParts3D public domain |
The study involved 2112 people with liver cancer, with 426 treated with a combination of the targeted drug sorafenib (Nexavar®) and a radiological therapy called TACE, for trans arterial chemoembolization, and 1686 in the sorafenib alone group.
Saturday, June 15, 2019
New combination chemo aims to improve surgery in pancreatic cancer
0 commentsSaturday, October 13, 2018
Stomach ulcer bacteria might also be linked to colorectal cancer
Electron micrograph of H. pylori - copy-
right free image from Wikipedia
CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 13, 2018 – Could a round of antibiotics prevent colorectal cancer? That’s the intriguing question coming out a new Duke University study that links the bacterium H. pylorito an increased risk of of colorectal cancers.
The study analyzed 4,000 colorectal cancer cases and found a significant correlation between colorectal cancer and those infected with a particularly virulent strain of H. pylori that is especially common among African Americans and Asians.
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| Electron micrograph of H. pylori - copy- right free image from Wikipedia |
The study analyzed 4,000 colorectal cancer cases and found a significant correlation between colorectal cancer and those infected with a particularly virulent strain of H. pylori that is especially common among African Americans and Asians.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Treatment for severe heartburn prevents cancer
_CRUK_175.svg/600px-Diagram_showing_oesophageal_cancer_that_has_spread_(M_staging)_CRUK_175.svg.png)
Illustration Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons
CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 25, 2018 – Medication or surgery to treat severe heartburn prevents cancer of the esophagus, say Swedish researchers at the Karolinska Institute.
In the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 940,000 patients treated for acid reflux between 1964 and 2014 in five Scandinavian countries. Of the those with reflux in the study, about 895,000 received medical treatment. A total of 2,370 of those treated (0.3 per cent) developed cancer of the esophagus during the follow-up period. The study findings are published online Aug. 23, 2018 by the journal JAMA Oncology.
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| Illustration Cancer Research UK / Wikimedia Commons |
In the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 940,000 patients treated for acid reflux between 1964 and 2014 in five Scandinavian countries. Of the those with reflux in the study, about 895,000 received medical treatment. A total of 2,370 of those treated (0.3 per cent) developed cancer of the esophagus during the follow-up period. The study findings are published online Aug. 23, 2018 by the journal JAMA Oncology.
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Cyanide drug cuts hearing loss in half in children treated for liver cancer
Photo courtesy of CDC Early Hearing Detection and
Intervention program
CANCER DIGEST – June 21, 2018 – A drug used as an antidote to cyanide poisoning reduces hearing loss by nearly 50 percent in children treated with chemotherapy for liver cancer, researchers say.
The drug is sodium thiosulphate (STS) and has been used for decades primarily as an antidote to cyanide poisoning, and is also used as a chemical to reduce excess chlorine levels in swimming pools. In the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, British researchers led by Dr. Penelope Brock for Cancer Research UK treated children with a rare type of childhood liver cancer called hepatoblastoma.
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| Photo courtesy of CDC Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program |
The drug is sodium thiosulphate (STS) and has been used for decades primarily as an antidote to cyanide poisoning, and is also used as a chemical to reduce excess chlorine levels in swimming pools. In the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, British researchers led by Dr. Penelope Brock for Cancer Research UK treated children with a rare type of childhood liver cancer called hepatoblastoma.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Could fasting help people treated for gastrointestinal cancer?
Intestinal stem cells from mice that fasted for 24 hours,
at right, produced much more substantial intestinal
organoids than stem cells from mice that did not fast,
at left. Photo courtesy MIT taken by Maria Mihaylova
and Chia-Wei Cheng
CANCER DIGEST – May 12, 2018 – In a study in mice, researchers at MIT in Boston have found that fasting caused stem cells in the animals become more regenerative. The researchers also found that they could boost regeneration with a molecule that activates the same metabolic switch.
The study published in the May 3, 2018 issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, showed that fasting causes cells in the intestine to switch from their usual metabolism, which burns carbohydrates such as sugars, to metabolizing fatty acids. This switch occurs through activation of genetic switches called transcription factors.
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| Intestinal stem cells from mice that fasted for 24 hours, at right, produced much more substantial intestinal organoids than stem cells from mice that did not fast, at left. Photo courtesy MIT taken by Maria Mihaylova and Chia-Wei Cheng |
The study published in the May 3, 2018 issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, showed that fasting causes cells in the intestine to switch from their usual metabolism, which burns carbohydrates such as sugars, to metabolizing fatty acids. This switch occurs through activation of genetic switches called transcription factors.
Friday, December 22, 2017
New drug breaks down chemo resistance for some pancreatic tumors
Dr. Sunil Hingorani led a clinical trial of the drug PEGPH
CANCER DIGEST – Dec. 22, 2017 – A new drug that breaks down resistance to chemo in pancreatic cancer tumors has shown promise in making progress in the the highly fatal cancer.
In a phase 2 clinical trial aimed at determining effectiveness, researchers led by Dr. Sunil Hingornai of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, showed the drug PEGPH20 added to treatment with a combination chemotherapy regimen of paclitaxel and gemcitabine increased overall survival by 3 months. The study was published online Dec. 12, 2017 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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| Dr. Sunil Hingorani led a clinical trial of the drug PEGPH |
In a phase 2 clinical trial aimed at determining effectiveness, researchers led by Dr. Sunil Hingornai of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, showed the drug PEGPH20 added to treatment with a combination chemotherapy regimen of paclitaxel and gemcitabine increased overall survival by 3 months. The study was published online Dec. 12, 2017 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
ACA increased colorectal cancer screening
The study’s coauthors are Brett Lissenden, a fifth-year
student in UVA’s economics Ph.D. program, and Aaron
Yao, an assistant professor in the Department of Public
Health Sciences. (Photo by Dan Addison, University
Communications)
CANCER DIGEST – Jan. 21, 2017 – The Affordable Care Act increased cancer screenings, and especially increased colorectal cancer screenings between 2011 and 2013, say researchers at the University of Virginia.
One of the main goals of the law that came to be known as Obamacare was to reduce healthcare costs in part by increasing coverage for prevention care on the theory that treating certain diseases such as cancer is less expensive when caught early when the disease is more treatable.
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| The study’s coauthors are Brett Lissenden, a fifth-year student in UVA’s economics Ph.D. program, and Aaron Yao, an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. (Photo by Dan Addison, University Communications) |
One of the main goals of the law that came to be known as Obamacare was to reduce healthcare costs in part by increasing coverage for prevention care on the theory that treating certain diseases such as cancer is less expensive when caught early when the disease is more treatable.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
New viral therapy shows promise in treating primary liver cancer
Image courtesy Wikipedia
CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 19, 2016 – A virus that causes childhood coughs and colds could help in the fight against primary liver cancer, according to a study published in the journal Gut.
The research team, at Leeds University, Leeds, UK, found that Reovirus was successful in treating both liver cancer cells grown in the laboratory and those taken directly from patients undergoing surgery for primary liver cancer.
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| Image courtesy Wikipedia |
CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 19, 2016 – A virus that causes childhood coughs and colds could help in the fight against primary liver cancer, according to a study published in the journal Gut.
The research team, at Leeds University, Leeds, UK, found that Reovirus was successful in treating both liver cancer cells grown in the laboratory and those taken directly from patients undergoing surgery for primary liver cancer.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
8 more cancers linked to excess weight
Copyright: Kurhan
CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 31, 2016 – An international team of researchers has identified eight additional types of cancer linked to excess weight and obesity: stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, ovary, meningioma (a type of brain tumor), thyroid cancer and the blood cancer multiple myeloma.
The findings are based on a review of more than 1,000 studies of excess weight and cancer risk analyzed by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Cancer on Research (IARC), based in France. The results of the analysis were published Aug. 25 in The New England Journal of Medicine.
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| Copyright: Kurhan |
CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 31, 2016 – An international team of researchers has identified eight additional types of cancer linked to excess weight and obesity: stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, ovary, meningioma (a type of brain tumor), thyroid cancer and the blood cancer multiple myeloma.
The findings are based on a review of more than 1,000 studies of excess weight and cancer risk analyzed by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Cancer on Research (IARC), based in France. The results of the analysis were published Aug. 25 in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Blocking glutamine may starve colorectal cancer cells
A molecular model of L-glutamine. Image courtesy Jynto
via Wikimedia Commons
CANCER DIGEST – July 31, 2016 – A new clinical trial set to get under way later this summer will try to determine if denying certain types of colorectal cancer cells a specific nutrient will starve them to death.
The Case Western Reserve University trial is based on laboratory and mouse studies showing that colorectal cancer cells with a genetic mutation called PIK3CA died when deprived of the nutrient glutamine, which is an amino acid used by cells to make proteins. This mutation is located in a gene critical for cell division and movement, and is found in approximately one third of all colorectal cancers.Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in human blood and is mostly made in muscle tissue.
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| A molecular model of L-glutamine. Image courtesy Jynto via Wikimedia Commons |
CANCER DIGEST – July 31, 2016 – A new clinical trial set to get under way later this summer will try to determine if denying certain types of colorectal cancer cells a specific nutrient will starve them to death.
The Case Western Reserve University trial is based on laboratory and mouse studies showing that colorectal cancer cells with a genetic mutation called PIK3CA died when deprived of the nutrient glutamine, which is an amino acid used by cells to make proteins. This mutation is located in a gene critical for cell division and movement, and is found in approximately one third of all colorectal cancers.Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in human blood and is mostly made in muscle tissue.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Radiation plus chemo reduces recurrence in some pancreatic cancer
Sunday, November 22, 2015
New technology uses sound to kill pancreatic tumors
Ulster University's Professor John Callan
led the team of researchers who made the
pancreatic cancer breakthrough.
CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 22, 2015 – A new approach using sound waves to destroy cancer cells is showing promise for treating pancreatic cancer.
The treatment, called sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is the latest in a long line of approaches for delivering a toxic blow to cancer tumors without harming healthy tissues.
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| Ulster University's Professor John Callan led the team of researchers who made the pancreatic cancer breakthrough. |
CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 22, 2015 – A new approach using sound waves to destroy cancer cells is showing promise for treating pancreatic cancer.
The treatment, called sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is the latest in a long line of approaches for delivering a toxic blow to cancer tumors without harming healthy tissues.
Monday, October 26, 2015
FDA approves new drug for advanced pancreatic cancer
CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 26, 2015 – Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer now have a new FDA approved drug, Onivyde, that increased overall survival rates by two months in an international clinical study conducted in part by researchers at HonorHealth Research Institute and theTranslational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 26, 2015 – Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer now have a new FDA approved drug, Onivyde, that increased overall survival rates by two months in an international clinical study conducted in part by researchers at HonorHealth Research Institute and theTranslational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Monday, September 21, 2015
Pancreatic cancer stem cells could be 'suffocated' by diabetes drug
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 21, 2015 – A new study shows that pancreatic cancer stem cells (PancSCs) are virtually addicted to oxygen–based metabolism, and could be “suffocated” with a drug already used to treat diabetes.
Cancer cells commonly rely on glycolysis, a type of metabolism that does not use molecular oxygen to generate energy. PancSCs can make use of an even more efficient form of metabolism, called oxidative phosphorylation or OXPHOS, which occurs in a part of the cell called mitochondria. Metformin blocks PancSCs from using OXPHOS triggering cell death, or apoptosis.
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 21, 2015 – A new study shows that pancreatic cancer stem cells (PancSCs) are virtually addicted to oxygen–based metabolism, and could be “suffocated” with a drug already used to treat diabetes.
Cancer cells commonly rely on glycolysis, a type of metabolism that does not use molecular oxygen to generate energy. PancSCs can make use of an even more efficient form of metabolism, called oxidative phosphorylation or OXPHOS, which occurs in a part of the cell called mitochondria. Metformin blocks PancSCs from using OXPHOS triggering cell death, or apoptosis.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Drinking coffee may prevent colon cancer recurring after treatment
CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 20, 2015 – Drinking three to four cups of caffeinated coffee a day may help prevent the return of colon cancer after treatment and improve the chances of a cure, according to a new, large study from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston.
CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 20, 2015 – Drinking three to four cups of caffeinated coffee a day may help prevent the return of colon cancer after treatment and improve the chances of a cure, according to a new, large study from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Quality of colonoscopy exam matters
CANCER DIGEST – June 18, 2015 – Patients whose doctors tend to detect more adenomas, or abnormalities in the intestines had a 50 to 60 percent lower lifetime risk of dying of colorectal cancer, a new analysis shows.
The researchers led by Reinier G.S. Meester, M.Sc., of Erasmus Medical Center University Rotterdam, the Netherlands analyzed data from 57,000 patients in the Kaiser Permanente health system who underwent colonoscopies administered by 136 different gastrointestinal specialists. The study was published in the June 16Journal of the American Medical Association.
CANCER DIGEST – June 18, 2015 – Patients whose doctors tend to detect more adenomas, or abnormalities in the intestines had a 50 to 60 percent lower lifetime risk of dying of colorectal cancer, a new analysis shows.
The researchers led by Reinier G.S. Meester, M.Sc., of Erasmus Medical Center University Rotterdam, the Netherlands analyzed data from 57,000 patients in the Kaiser Permanente health system who underwent colonoscopies administered by 136 different gastrointestinal specialists. The study was published in the June 16Journal of the American Medical Association.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Yogurt bacteria developed into urine test for liver tumors
CANCER DIGEST – June 10, 2015 – Researchers have found a new use for bacteria, identifying liver tumors much earlier so treatment can be more effective.
Researchers have long been pursuing the use of bacteria to develop anti-cancer vaccines, engineering bacteria to specifically target and kill cancer cells. Now researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of California at San Diego have engineered a strain of the E. coli
CANCER DIGEST – June 10, 2015 – Researchers have found a new use for bacteria, identifying liver tumors much earlier so treatment can be more effective.
Researchers have long been pursuing the use of bacteria to develop anti-cancer vaccines, engineering bacteria to specifically target and kill cancer cells. Now researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of California at San Diego have engineered a strain of the E. coli
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Drug combination extends survival in advanced colorectal cancer
CANCER DIGEST – May 13, 2015 – A drug developed 50 years ago and abandoned because it was considered to be too toxic, extended survival for colorectal cancer patients whose standard treatments were no longer working.
Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston led the clinical trial involving 800 patients worldwide. Results showed the drug in combination with another agent lengthened the lives of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer by an average of almost two months. All participants had metastatic colorectal cancer that was progressing despite previous treatment.
Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston led the clinical trial involving 800 patients worldwide. Results showed the drug in combination with another agent lengthened the lives of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer by an average of almost two months. All participants had metastatic colorectal cancer that was progressing despite previous treatment.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Chemo nearly doubles survival rate for advanced colorectal cancer
CANCER DIGEST – Jan. 14, 2015 – The survival rate of people with advanced colorectal cancer has nearly doubled since newer chemotherapies were introduced in 2001, a new study shows.
Researchers led by Chung-Yuan Hu, M.P.H., Ph.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, examined patterns of primary tumor resection (surgery) and survival in stage IV colorectal cancer in the United States. Their study appears today in the journal JAMA Surgery.
Researchers led by Chung-Yuan Hu, M.P.H., Ph.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, examined patterns of primary tumor resection (surgery) and survival in stage IV colorectal cancer in the United States. Their study appears today in the journal JAMA Surgery.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Arming anti-cancer virus with immunity protein boosts effectiveness
CANCER DIGEST – Dec. 28, 2014 – A new anti-cancer virus combined with an immune system protein is showing promise as a treatment for pancreatic cancer, a new study shows.
The study done in mice engineered to have form of pancreatic cancer similar to humans uses the relatively new treatment approach, called oncolytic viral therapy, and combines it with the long studied immunotherapy in an effort to make the cancer treatment last longer.
CANCER DIGEST – Dec. 28, 2014 – A new anti-cancer virus combined with an immune system protein is showing promise as a treatment for pancreatic cancer, a new study shows.
The study done in mice engineered to have form of pancreatic cancer similar to humans uses the relatively new treatment approach, called oncolytic viral therapy, and combines it with the long studied immunotherapy in an effort to make the cancer treatment last longer.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Malaria drug may be effective treatment for colorectal cancer
Artemisinin comes from the plant
Artemisia annua - Image courtesy
University of St George's London
CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 20, 2014 – A common malaria drug could reduce recurrence of colorectal cancer providing a inexpensive alternative to current expensive chemotherapy given before surgery.
In an early pilot study, the drug, artesunaten, was given in 14 daily doses to 12 patients prior to surgery for colon cancer. Eleven similar patients were given a placebo before surgery.
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Artemisinin comes from the plant
Artemisia annua - Image courtesy
University of St George's London
|
CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 20, 2014 – A common malaria drug could reduce recurrence of colorectal cancer providing a inexpensive alternative to current expensive chemotherapy given before surgery.
In an early pilot study, the drug, artesunaten, was given in 14 daily doses to 12 patients prior to surgery for colon cancer. Eleven similar patients were given a placebo before surgery.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Colorectal cancer increasing in young adults
Colorectal cancer
rates are lower for
most people, but up
for young adults –
photo: NIH archives
CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 7, 2011 – The number of people aged 20-34 with colorectal cancer increased by nearly 2 percent from 1975 to 2010, but declined overall by a little less than 1 percent.
Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) colorectal cancer registry, researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center analyzed trends in four age ranges of 393,241 patients diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer from 1975 through 2010. The study was published in the current issue of JAMA Surgery.
| Colorectal cancer rates are lower for most people, but up for young adults – photo: NIH archives |
Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) colorectal cancer registry, researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center analyzed trends in four age ranges of 393,241 patients diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer from 1975 through 2010. The study was published in the current issue of JAMA Surgery.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Hormone loss could trigger colon cancer
Guanylin plays a role in replenishing
skin cells lining the gut. (Illustration
from Wikipedia)
CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 10, 2014 – Lack of a hormone may be linked to colon cancer, a laboratory study has shown. If confirmed, it would be the first time a cancer has been linked to hormone loss, which could lead to hormone replacement therapy to prevent colon cancer.
The hormone guanlyn is produced by normal colon cells and activates a receptor called GUCY2C (pronounced "goosy toosy" by researchers). The activation of GUC2YC signaling is critical to helping replenish the skin cells lining the gut and maintaining their overall function. People over 50 years old tend to produce much less of the hormone in their normal colon cells, which could help explain the increase in colon cancer risk in older individuals. The study was published online Oct. 10 in Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Guanylin plays a role in replenishing
skin cells lining the gut. (Illustration from Wikipedia) |
CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 10, 2014 – Lack of a hormone may be linked to colon cancer, a laboratory study has shown. If confirmed, it would be the first time a cancer has been linked to hormone loss, which could lead to hormone replacement therapy to prevent colon cancer.
The hormone guanlyn is produced by normal colon cells and activates a receptor called GUCY2C (pronounced "goosy toosy" by researchers). The activation of GUC2YC signaling is critical to helping replenish the skin cells lining the gut and maintaining their overall function. People over 50 years old tend to produce much less of the hormone in their normal colon cells, which could help explain the increase in colon cancer risk in older individuals. The study was published online Oct. 10 in Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Engineered vitamin D may be key to effective pancreatic cancer treatment
Click for Salk Institute video
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 25, 2014 – A modified form of vitamin D appears to make pancreatic cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy, say researchers at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Ca., which could open the door to this hard-to-treat cancer.
The researcher led by Dr. Ron Evans, director of Salk's Gene Expression Laboratory, developed a synthetic form of vitamin D that deactivates inflamed cells surrounding the cancer cells that form a kind of “shield” that keeps immune cells and chemotherapy from reaching the tumor.
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| Click for Salk Institute video |
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 25, 2014 – A modified form of vitamin D appears to make pancreatic cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy, say researchers at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Ca., which could open the door to this hard-to-treat cancer.
The researcher led by Dr. Ron Evans, director of Salk's Gene Expression Laboratory, developed a synthetic form of vitamin D that deactivates inflamed cells surrounding the cancer cells that form a kind of “shield” that keeps immune cells and chemotherapy from reaching the tumor.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Lilly drug improves survival in colorectal and gastric cancers, not breast cancer
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 19, 2014 – Mixed results for Eli Lilly’s targeted drug CYRAMZA™ (ramucirumab) were published this week in a pair of studies, one showing a significant increase in overall survival for people with gastric (stomach) and colorectal cancers but no significant increase for patients with breast cancer.
Ramucirumab blocks VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial growth factor) a protein important for the formation of blood vessels needed to support tumor growth. A number of these agents are being tested in a variety of solid tumor cancers.
In the unpublished RAISE study of over 1,000 patients with colorectal cancer a Lilly press release reported that adding CYRAMZA to a chemotherapy regimen improved overall survival to 5.2 months compared to 3.8 months for those given the chemo regimen alone.
In the RAINBOW trial of 665 people with stomach cancers, patients receiving CYRAMZA and paclitaxel had an overall survival of 9.6 months compared to 7.4 months in the standard chemo group. It was published online in The Lancet Oncology.
Results in the ROSE/TRIO-12 trial of 1,144 patients with HER2 negative breast cancer published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed no significant improvement in overall or progression free survival. Overall survival was 27.3 months with ramucirumab compared to 27.2 months without it. Progression-free survival for the ramucirumab group was 9.5 months compared to 8.2 months without.
The FDA approved Cyramza™ for advanced or metastatic stomach cancers in April 2014.
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 19, 2014 – Mixed results for Eli Lilly’s targeted drug CYRAMZA™ (ramucirumab) were published this week in a pair of studies, one showing a significant increase in overall survival for people with gastric (stomach) and colorectal cancers but no significant increase for patients with breast cancer.
Ramucirumab blocks VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial growth factor) a protein important for the formation of blood vessels needed to support tumor growth. A number of these agents are being tested in a variety of solid tumor cancers.
In the unpublished RAISE study of over 1,000 patients with colorectal cancer a Lilly press release reported that adding CYRAMZA to a chemotherapy regimen improved overall survival to 5.2 months compared to 3.8 months for those given the chemo regimen alone.
In the RAINBOW trial of 665 people with stomach cancers, patients receiving CYRAMZA and paclitaxel had an overall survival of 9.6 months compared to 7.4 months in the standard chemo group. It was published online in The Lancet Oncology.
Results in the ROSE/TRIO-12 trial of 1,144 patients with HER2 negative breast cancer published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed no significant improvement in overall or progression free survival. Overall survival was 27.3 months with ramucirumab compared to 27.2 months without it. Progression-free survival for the ramucirumab group was 9.5 months compared to 8.2 months without.
The FDA approved Cyramza™ for advanced or metastatic stomach cancers in April 2014.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Wild berry extract may boost effect of pancreatic cancer drug
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 18, 2014 – In a laboratory study, extract of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) appeared to increase the number of cancer cells killed following an application of a common chemotherapy drug used for a number of cancers.
The study used a well-known line of pancreatic cancer cells (AsPC-1) in the laboratory and tested how well the cells grew when treated with either the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine (Gemzar®) or different levels of commercially available chokeberry extract alone, and when treated with a combination of gemcitabine and chokeberry extract.
The researchers at King's College Hospital and the University of Southampton, UK, found that a dose as little as 1 ug/ml (microgram per milliliter) over 48 hours was effective in increasing the cancer cell-killing effectiveness of the gemcitabine. At the same time, the berry extract had no effect on the normal cells lining the blood vessels indicating that, however the extract was spurring cancer cell death, it was not by preventing new blood vessel formation. The researchers published their findings in the online version of the Journal of Clinical Pathology.
"These are very exciting results. The low doses of the extract greatly boosted the effectiveness of gemcitabine when the two were combined,” Lead Researcher Bashir Lwaleed said in press release. “In addition, we found that lower doses of the conventional drug were needed, suggesting either that the compounds work together synergistically, or that the extract exerts a ‘supra-additive’ effect. This could change the way we deal with hard to treat cancers in the future. "
The team believes that clinical trials are now needed to explore the potential of naturally occurring micronutrients in plants, such as those found in chokeberry.
CANCER DIGEST – Sept. 18, 2014 – In a laboratory study, extract of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) appeared to increase the number of cancer cells killed following an application of a common chemotherapy drug used for a number of cancers.
The study used a well-known line of pancreatic cancer cells (AsPC-1) in the laboratory and tested how well the cells grew when treated with either the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine (Gemzar®) or different levels of commercially available chokeberry extract alone, and when treated with a combination of gemcitabine and chokeberry extract.
The researchers at King's College Hospital and the University of Southampton, UK, found that a dose as little as 1 ug/ml (microgram per milliliter) over 48 hours was effective in increasing the cancer cell-killing effectiveness of the gemcitabine. At the same time, the berry extract had no effect on the normal cells lining the blood vessels indicating that, however the extract was spurring cancer cell death, it was not by preventing new blood vessel formation. The researchers published their findings in the online version of the Journal of Clinical Pathology.
"These are very exciting results. The low doses of the extract greatly boosted the effectiveness of gemcitabine when the two were combined,” Lead Researcher Bashir Lwaleed said in press release. “In addition, we found that lower doses of the conventional drug were needed, suggesting either that the compounds work together synergistically, or that the extract exerts a ‘supra-additive’ effect. This could change the way we deal with hard to treat cancers in the future. "
The team believes that clinical trials are now needed to explore the potential of naturally occurring micronutrients in plants, such as those found in chokeberry.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
FDA approves first DNA screening test for colorectal cancer
YouTube by Exact Sciences
CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 12, 2014 –The U.S. FDA today approved Cologuard, the first stool-based DNA colorectal screening test that detects genetic mutations that may indicate colon cancer or precursors to cancer.
Using a stool sample, Cologuard detects blood components and certain mutations associated with colorectal cancer in the DNA of cells shed by advanced adenomas as stool moves through the large intestine and rectum. Patients with positive test results are advised to undergo a diagnostic colonoscopy.
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| YouTube by Exact Sciences |
Using a stool sample, Cologuard detects blood components and certain mutations associated with colorectal cancer in the DNA of cells shed by advanced adenomas as stool moves through the large intestine and rectum. Patients with positive test results are advised to undergo a diagnostic colonoscopy.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Case for daily aspirin grows stronger
copyright Sauligno via Creative Commons
CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 7, 2014 – In the first review of all the available evidence from many studies and clinical trials of preventive aspirin use, researchers found that taking aspirin for 10 years could cut bowel cancer cases by around 35 percent and deaths by 40 percent.
Led by Jack Cuzick, head of Queen Mary University of London’s Centre for Cancer Prevention, the researchers also found the rates of esophageal and stomach cancers were cut by 30 percent and deaths from these cancers by 35-50 percent. The study was published today in the journal Annals of Oncology.
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| copyright Sauligno via Creative Commons |
CANCER DIGEST – Aug. 7, 2014 – In the first review of all the available evidence from many studies and clinical trials of preventive aspirin use, researchers found that taking aspirin for 10 years could cut bowel cancer cases by around 35 percent and deaths by 40 percent.
Led by Jack Cuzick, head of Queen Mary University of London’s Centre for Cancer Prevention, the researchers also found the rates of esophageal and stomach cancers were cut by 30 percent and deaths from these cancers by 35-50 percent. The study was published today in the journal Annals of Oncology.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Killing two birds with one anti-viral stone
Click to visit the Hepatitis B Foundation
CANCER DIGEST – June 9, 2014 – An anti-viral treatment for hepatitis B may turn out to prevent liver cancer according to a new study of 2600 patients treated for the disease. In a first-of-its-kind analysis those treated with antiviral therapy had a significantly lower occurrence of liver cancer during a five-year follow up period. Overall, 3 percent of the patients developed liver cancer during the study period. But patients who received antiviral therapy were 60 percent less likely to develop liver cancer than untreated patients. “The results of this study allow us to reassure our patients that we are not just treating their viral levels, but that antiviral therapy may actually lessen their chance of developing liver cancer,” said the study’s lead investigator, Henry Ford Health System’s Stuart C. Gordon, M.D. The finding was published in the May issue ofClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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| Click to visit the Hepatitis B Foundation |
CANCER DIGEST – June 9, 2014 – An anti-viral treatment for hepatitis B may turn out to prevent liver cancer according to a new study of 2600 patients treated for the disease. In a first-of-its-kind analysis those treated with antiviral therapy had a significantly lower occurrence of liver cancer during a five-year follow up period. Overall, 3 percent of the patients developed liver cancer during the study period. But patients who received antiviral therapy were 60 percent less likely to develop liver cancer than untreated patients. “The results of this study allow us to reassure our patients that we are not just treating their viral levels, but that antiviral therapy may actually lessen their chance of developing liver cancer,” said the study’s lead investigator, Henry Ford Health System’s Stuart C. Gordon, M.D. The finding was published in the May issue ofClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Promising device may detect pancreatic cancer earlier
YouTube courtesy Mayo Clinic Florida
press release
CANCER DIGEST – June 8, 2014 – Scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Florida have developed a promising tool for detecting pancreatic cancer, which could lead to earlier treatment. In a feasibility study published in the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the researchers showed that an optical blood oxygen sensor attached to an endoscope is able to correctly identify pancreatic cancer 92 percent of the time and correctly rule out cancer 86 percent of the time. The device measures changes in blood flow in the tissues close to the pancreas. Tumors tend to increase blood flow in nearby tissues in order to extract oxygen needed to grow. The researchers tested the device in a group of 14 patients already diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 10 patients without cancer. They are now conducting larger studies in the U.S. and Europe to see if their findings are confirmed. Currently 90 percent of pancreatic cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage when there is no effective treatment.
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| YouTube courtesy Mayo Clinic Florida press release |
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Immune cell therapy reaches milestone
NY TIMES – May 8, 2014 – Researchers at the National Cancer Institute reported a first successful use of a long-sought adoptive cell therapy for solid tissue cancer. A 43-year-old Billings, Mont. woman has been given a reprieve from her rare bile duct cancer that had spread to her liver and lungs. The researchers led by Dr. Steven Rosenberg, chief of surgery at the NCI reported the case in the journal Science today. They used genomic techniques to identify cells in her immune system that attacked a specific mutation in her tumor cells. They grew billions of them in the laboratory and infused them back into her blood resulting in significant shrinking of her tumors. Doctors emphasize that she is not cured, but her cancer has remained in check for two years. As this is just one case, it is too early to tell if it will work in others, however it marks a milestone. Immunotherapy has produced similar long-lasting remissions in blood cancers, such as leukemia, and in melanoma, but this is a first for solid tumors.
NY TIMES – May 8, 2014 – Researchers at the National Cancer Institute reported a first successful use of a long-sought adoptive cell therapy for solid tissue cancer. A 43-year-old Billings, Mont. woman has been given a reprieve from her rare bile duct cancer that had spread to her liver and lungs. The researchers led by Dr. Steven Rosenberg, chief of surgery at the NCI reported the case in the journal Science today. They used genomic techniques to identify cells in her immune system that attacked a specific mutation in her tumor cells. They grew billions of them in the laboratory and infused them back into her blood resulting in significant shrinking of her tumors. Doctors emphasize that she is not cured, but her cancer has remained in check for two years. As this is just one case, it is too early to tell if it will work in others, however it marks a milestone. Immunotherapy has produced similar long-lasting remissions in blood cancers, such as leukemia, and in melanoma, but this is a first for solid tumors.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Menthol boosts detection of suspicious polyps with colonoscopy
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| YouTube courtesy National Cancer Institute |
Monday, May 5, 2014
Overall survival for microwave treatment comparable to surgery for liver cancer
YouTube by American Heart Institute
JGH – May 5, 2014 – More liver cancer patients treated with surgery to remove tumors survived 5 years compared to patient treated with microwaves to ablate or eradicate tumors. The study published online ahead of print in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology compared overall survival and disease-free survival of 117 patients treated with microwave ablation to 107 patient treated with surgery for liver cancer. Among the microwave group 61 (52 percent) survived 5 years compared to 64 (60 percent) of those treated with surgery, which were considered comparable rates of overall survival. For the microwave group 18 percent had 5-year disease-free survival compared to 31 percent of those in the surgery group.
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| YouTube by American Heart Institute |
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Smoking and drinking triples esophageal cancer risk
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| YouTube video |
Monday, April 21, 2014
FDA approves Cyramza for stomach cancer
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| Photo courtesy Eli Lilly & Co. |
FDA NEWS RELEASE – April 21, 2014 – The FDA announced today approval of Cyramza (ramucirumab) for treatment of advanced cancers of the stomach and esophagus that continue to progress despite treatment with other chemotherapy. The drug developed by Eli Lilly and Company was granted Orphan Drug Designation, and targets a growth factor involved in tumor blood vessel formation needed to sustain tumor growth. The approval was based on a trial of 355 patients with gastric (stomach) cancers including those that start at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach neck. Two-thirds of the patients received standard chemotherapy and Cyramza and the remaining third received standard chemotherapy and placebo.Those in the Cyramza group had a median overall survival of 5.2 months compared to 3.8 months in participants receiving placebo. Common side effects experienced by Cyramza-treated participants during clinical testing include diarrhea and high blood pressure.
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