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It has been known for a long time that smokers are at higher risk of many different cancers (and cardiovascular disease. New research shows that, at least for colon cancer, smokers also are more likely to die from the disease. Ex-smokers also had a slightly higher risk of dying from their… more
New results are in for a trial examining the effectiveness of the anti-estrogen drugs tamoxifen and anastrozole for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence. After 10 years, the results demonstrate that anastrozole (Armidex®) causes fewer side-effects and is better at preventing cancer… more
Results of a study from Johns Hopkins shows that many men with low-risk prostate cancer do very well without any medical intervention other than being closely monitored. The results are important because at present, many men witht this type of cancer have surgery and/or radiation treatments… more
Prostate cancer screening with tests for prostate specific antigen (PSA) is controversial because the test is not very specific, resulting in unnecessary biopsies and fear. A team of researchers from Germany and Sweden has developed a new test that may avoid these problems.
The new test… more
Targeted cancer drugs are supposed to be the 'smart bombs' of oncology. Unfortunately, many patients with the correct 'target' don't seem to respond well to the treatments Evidence is accumulating that one reason for the poor results is that there are decoy targets present that are… more
A new report from in the UK looking at leukemia in children less than 5 yrs old shows that merely living near a nuclear power plant does NOT raise the risk of leukemia. The study evaluates information collected over the thirty-five year period between 1969 and 2004.
Patients treated with chemotherapy have long described cognitive/memory problems associated with the drugs. A new study of patients treated with chemotherapy and transplants with blood cell precursors has shown that the problems can last a long time. The study showed that while the… more
A large Swedishs study has shown that coffee consumption reduces the risk of estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer in post-menopausal women. The study showed that many other factors influence breast cancer risk, including age at menopause, exercise levels and weight.
Breast cancer development can be accelerated by horomones found in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatments. In a rat model of breast cancer, researchers have found that apigenin, a chemical found in parsley, carrots and other vegetables, can prevent the acclerated growth caused by the… more
Results of a survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology shows that young women are still putting themselves at risk for skin cancer, including melanoma, by using indoor tanning beds. The team surveyed 3,800 young women, aged 14-22. The results indicate that many tanning bed… more
An evaluation of over 30,000 Medicare claims shows that even though colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings are covered by Medicare, Hispanic and black individuals are not getting tested as much as whites. Because early detection is critical in reducing deaths due to cancer, additional ressearch… more
Doctors and patients are always looking to identify ways to tell if cancer treatments are working. A new study sugggests that in patients with advanced kidney (renal) cancer who are taking the kinase inhibitor sunitinib (Nexavar®), their blood pressure may be a good marker. The… more
In early stage prostate cancer, some patients do not receive surgery, instead, they are followed by 'watchful-waiting', a close monitoring of their disease. A long-term study by Swedish researchers has shown that surgery is beneficial, even for early stage cancer. Men who had surgery had a… more
About 90 percent of cancer deaths are due to the spread (metastasis) of the cancer from its original site to distant locations in the body. The movement of cancer cells is assisted by foot-like projects called invadopodia. These cell extensions have destructive enzymes on their surface… more
Globally, cervical cancer is a leading causes of cancer death, killing almost 300,000 women yearly. New research shows that a commonly used HIV/AIDS drug, lopinavir, can kill cervical cancer cells and non-cancerous HPV immortalized cells. The identification of an approved drug that can… more
Due to better cancer detection, diagnsosis and treatment, the number of cancer survivors in the U.S. continues to increase. As of 2007, there were approximately 11.7 million cancer survivors in the U.S. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "As of… more
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common form of primary brain cancer. Every year, approximately 19,000 people are diagnosed with brain cancer. GBM is particularly difficult because it is resistant to many standard treatments, which include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. The Food and… more
Correctly staging cancer is key to making the right treatment decisions. Unfortunately, there is always some variation introduced by human interpretation of tissue samples. Scientists in Canada have developed a new way to help stage breast cancer that uses fractal geometry and computer… more
A study from researchers at the Fox Chase Cancer Center has produced some of the strongest evidence yet that aspirin can impact the development/recurrence of cancer. In the study, the researchers followed about 2000 prostate cancer patients for 10 years after their treatment. Those… more
Mesothelioma, a cancer frequently associated with exposure to asbestos, is difficult to treat. The cancer often resists traditional chemotherapy and radiation. A new study has shown that a drug targeted at the mTOR kinase, temsirolimus (Toricel), has good activity againt mesothelioma.… more
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