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Patients treated with chemotherapy sometimes suffer from what is commonly called 'chemo-brain', a group of symptoms related to memory and concentration defects. A study was done with long-term breast cancer survivors who had been treated with a specific chemotherapy regimen (cyclophosphamide… more
One of the major problems with the majority of current cancer treatments is that they affect both normal and cancer cells, leading to many unpleasant or even dangerous side effects. A Norweigian company has developed a technology that can reduce or eliminate this problem. The… more
About one in three breast cancer survivors suffers from fatigue. A recent study shows that yoga may help with this problem. Thirty-one breast cancer survivors were divided into two groups, one group received health education and the other participated in yoga two times per week.… more
Scientists from Florida and Canada have teamed up to develop a new tool for watching how cancer drugs affect their targets. The researchers linked drugs to tiny structures known as quantum dots (Qdots). When the drug-Qdot combination enters the cancer cells, the Qdots give off a reddish… more
A chemical naturally formed from Omega-3 fish oil, ¿12-prostaglandin J3, has been shown to cure mice with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The chemical was first identified as a possible drug by a computer analysis. Researchers gave the drug to mice with CML and the results were… more
The HER2 protein is serves as an receiver/transmitter on the surface of cells. Signals from HER2 cause cells to divide. Some cancers (including breast cancer) can have too much HER2 on their surface. Treatments, like Herceptin®, block some of these cancer cells but not all HER2… more
Some patients treated with chemoatherapy can suffer from a loss of ability to concentrate or remember. This syndrome, informally called 'chemo brain', has been shown to also affect patients treated with radiation. A recent study looked at mental function in women with early stage (stage 0-II… more
Early detection of lung cancer is difficult. A new technology may change that. An international team of researchers has developed sensors that can detect differences in small chemicals released by normal vs lung cancer cells. The cells were grown in the laboratory and the air in… more
Patients taking particular chemotherapy drugs, including paclitaxel (Taxol®), are at risk for developing pain, numbness, burning, and/or tingling in their hands and feet. Also called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), the problem due to nerve damage caused by the drugs.
A… more
A study of almost 5000 women who were followed for about 12 years indicates that those women with higher levels of circulating glucose are at increased risk of developing colon cancer. The women whose levels were in the highest third had about twice the risk of developing colon cancer than… more
The surgery and radiation used to treat breast cancer can damage the lymphatic vessels in the area of treatment, leading to an increased risk for lymphedema, a swelling caused by fluid that leaks out of the lymphatic system into the tissues. The result is swelling, pain, and loss of function… more
For many years, it has been known that cancer cells have a huge appetite for sugar. They need lots of energy to reproduce but many cancer cells lack functioning pathways to get energy from other chemicals. The fact that cancer cells take in large amounts of glucose is even the basis for… more
Most genetic tests used to help physicians choose the best treatments for cancer patients examine a small number of genes. This may not be the case for long. The rapid advances in DNA sequencing technology have driven the cost down from millions of dollars to thousands of dollars per genome.… more
Cancer cells divide in an out of control manner. To constantly make new copies of themselves, they need lots of energy and raw materials. Scientists have shown that one way they get what the need is to digest their own components and recycle them. The process is known as autophagy… more
Two new studies have identified thiopurine drugs as risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer. The drugs are used to treat inflammatory conditions, including Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS). Thiopurines are also used to treat some forms of cancer. They work by… more
A new imaging device (MelaFind®) from Mela Sciences (www.melasciences.com) was recently approved by the FDA for the detection of melanoma skin cancer. The device scans the skin and compares the image to a library of images to determine whether melanoma is likely to be present. If the… more
Men who have sex with men are at risk for transmission of HPV. HPV is known to cause anal cancer. A study was performed to examine the effectiveness of an HPV vaccine (Gardasil®) in preventing the changes that lead up to anal cancer. Prior to the development of cancer, there are… more
About 90% of the deaths caused by cancer are due to cancer that has spread (metastasized) to distant locations in the body. New results show that the blood cell fragments called platelets may play an important role in the spread of cancer. Platelets were shown to secrete a protein (TGF-… more
When people think of vaccines, they usually imagine a shot that prevents a disease. In cancer, some vaccines are used to treat disease that has already developed. NIH researchers have shown that a vaccine can be used to stimulate immune responses to breast and ovarian cancer.
In the… more
New 'targeted' cancer drugs typically work by blocking the activity of specific proteins in cancer cells. The targets are frequently enzymes, and the drugs are designed to fit into the 'active site' of the enzyme like a key in a lock. In this way, the drug prevents the enzyme from… more
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