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Ohio State University researchers are using supercomputers to help find cures for cancer. In particular, the researchers are looking at blocking the activity of a naturally occuring protein, interleukin 6 (IL-6). This protein is normally produced by cells of the immune system but in… more
Researchers at Penn State University have developed a chemical that seems to be able to prevent melanoma development. Starting with a natural chemical (isothiocyanate), the researchers modified the structure to make it more potent. They then tested the chemical in two different model systems… more
In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two new anti-melanoma therapies: ipilimumab and peginterferon alfa-2b.
Ipilimumab (Yervoy®) is an injection used to treat melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable) or melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body (… more
Because most people are non-smokers or former smokers, a study of non-smoking individuals was performed to see how they fared in relation to cancer and other disorders. A fourteen year follow-up of almost 112,000 participants in a cancer prevention study showed that those individuals who… more
Women with mutations in the BRCA genes, which encode proteins that repair DNA damage, are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. For this reason, it is necessary to very carefully monitor these women, to detect cancer at its earliest stages. A recent article in the Journal of Clinical… more
Tumors need blood in order to survive; blood provides nutrients critical for growth and proliferation. For this reason many cancer treatments have been developed to target blood vessel growth (angiogenesis). Unfortunately, the available drugs are only partially effective.
Researchers from… more
Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is a known risk factor for a type of cancer called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). The ways that inflammation help cause PDA have only recently begun to be identified. The inflammatory mediator Stat3, a protein that works to increase… more
Over the years, as new information has been acquired, the public perception of cholesterol has changed. In the past, many people viewed all cholesterol as 'bad'. Then there arose the idea of "good cholesterol" and "bad cholesterol." The former describes high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and the… more
The p53 protein is a well known and studied tumor suppressor. The gene is mutated in over 50% of cancers, highlighting its importance in cancer prevention. A new study has demonstrated a role for p53 in the suppresion of metastasis.
When a group of Israeli researchers inactivated CKIα… more
A report from the American Assocation of Cancer Research details the effectivenes of the experimental skin cancer drug vismodegib. The drug targets a pathway known as 'Hedgehog'. This processes controlled by Hedgehog are important in development and the inhibitor is targeted at… more
Hypericin is a chemical found in St. John's Wort, the common medicinal herb. Hypericin has been shown to have anti-viral activity and been investigated for its potential use as a treatment for HIV-infected individuals.
A clinical trial of hypericin in recurrent brain cancer showed that the… more
Omega-3 fish oil was shown to boost the effectiveness of tamoxifen in a rat model of breast cancer. The oil seemed to boost the activity of gene associated with cell differentiation, a sign of decreased aggressiveness for cancer cells. The oil also increased the expression of genes… more
The use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests to screen men for prostate cancer is controversial. In large part this is because the test can yield indicate that patients have cancer when they do not. This result is called a false positive. Also, the cancers that are detected by… more
Using carbon to build 'forests' inside extremely small nanoparticles, scientists from Harvard and MIT, have constructed devices that can specifically bind and trap cells, bacteria and viruses. Devices based on the technology could be used to detect cancer cells circulating in the blood.… more
Blocking blood vessel development (angiogenesis) is an attractive way to treat cancer. Because the cancer cells themselves are not being targeted, there is less genetic instability in the targets. Despite this, drug resistance to anti-angiogenesis treatments is common. Researchers have… more
CQChemicals derived from soy beans have been shown to have numerous biological affects. New research from Wayne State University has shown that soy compounds can increase the killing of lung cancer cells caused by radiation. An increase of this type is called 'radiosensitization'.… more
Eat your fruits and vegetables. This rule of thumb has been passed down for ages, and now concerned parents have yet another helper. In a recent presentation at the 102nd annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Ohio State University researchers revealed results… more
When pancreatic cancer cells to grow, they require the break down of cellular organelles and macromolecules via a process called autophagy. Targeting this process may offer an additional approach to improving the treatment of pancreatic cancer. When autophagy is inhibited, the body produces more… more
Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women. A new sugical method of reducing cervical cancer risk has been tested in a primate animal system (rhesus macaques). The technique involved removal of the epithelial cells coating the ovaries with detergent. This portion… more
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNET) are among the rarest forms of pancreatic cancer, accounting for only about 2% of reported cases. In general, the prognosis for pancreatic cancer is poor, but new research out of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center indicates that the drug… more
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