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The targeted cancer treatment trastuzmab (Herceptin®) is used to treat breast cancer with elevated levels of a growth factor receptor, ErbB2. A major problem with Herceptin® treatment is the development of drug resistanct. New research has identified a major culprit in the development… more
The majority of cancer-related deaths are caused by metastasis, a process in which cancer cells leave the primary tumor site and grow in other parts of the body. The bloodstream functions like a highway for many metastases, and physicians face the difficult task of monitoring the spread of the… more
Cancer drug candidates may be obtained from one of two sources: naturally occurring compounds or synthetically produced compounds. Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute have utilized the positive effects of both approaches to create dozens of new compounds that may potentially aid in… more
Triptolide has long been used as an ingredient in Chinese herbal therapy. The source of the chemical, a plant commonly referred to as lei gong teng or “thunder god vine,” has proven to work both as an anti-inflammatory and as an anti-tumor drug. Precisely how triptolide functions, was unknown, but… more
The effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs is often limited by their capacity to penetrate their target cells. Unfortunately, tumor cells do not always make this process easy. Many have layers of thick oligosaccharide mucin chains, and these provide a physical barrier to the drugs. A recent study… more
When cancer metastasizes, or spreads from its original site to other parts of the body, the chances of fatality increase dramatically. Physicians keep this fact in mind when advising patients on the best treatment options. Most head and neck cancer can be treated without operating on the lymph… more
Many anti-cancer therapies work by using the body's own pathways to trigger programmed cell death (apoptosis). Many cancers, however, become resistant to anti-cancer drugs by modifying downstream events. Researchers of an article presented in Cancer Gene Therapy, however, have created a genetically… more
During development, the intestinal tract needs to grow asymmetrically. If it cannot, an infant is born with an intestinal birth defect. While studying this phenomenon, researchers at North Carolina State University discovered the compound heterotaxin, which not only causes intestinal birth defects… more
Oncogenes are genes that have undergone a mutation that allows cells to survive and proliferate beyond the normal restrictions the body has in place. MYC and RAS are two oncogenes common in many types of cancer, but these genes alone are usually not enough to promote the development of cancer. This… more
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and causes the most deaths. It is especially important to catch the cancer early to ensure effective treatment. Tissue biopsies, which involve the removal of unusual moles and other skin abnormalities, are today's standard method of detection. Out… more
In order to get good information on who gets cancer and to advance research, it is important that accurate and timely records be kept by physicians. This action ensures accurate dates of diagnosis and referrals, and it is integral for separating accurate diagnoses from false ones. A study in the… more
The use of information stored in our genes is tightly controlled. The active use of a gene (called gene expression) is involves the production of RNA based on the DNA code (transcription) into messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA is then 'read' and used to produce proteins via a four-step… more
A phase II study of advanced cancer patients showed that administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) lead to improvements in the patients' senses of smell and taste. The treated patients also had increased appetites and reported feeling more relaxed. THC is the active component… more
Epgenetic changes are alterations of DNA and the DNA packaging proteins (histones) that can alter the way our genes are used without directly changing the DNA sequence itself. A common epigenetic change is the addition of a small chemical group (methyl group or CH3) to cytosine bases (the C in our… more
A Dutch study of 562 melanoma skin cancer survivors showed that women are more significantly affected by having had the disease. Women reported more extreme impacts, both positive and negative. They were also more likely to be worried about exposure to UV radiation and were more likely… more
The human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is a human retrovirus that causes leukemia. New research has helped to define exactly how the virus is able to take over normal cells. The virus produces a protein (p30) that binds with several key cell regulators (ATM and REGγ). ATM… more
A study of 59 breast cancer survivors showed that they were more likely suffer falls than women who had not had breast cancer. The researchers tested the women and found that they had altered balance and some changes to their visual perception. The differences are likely to be due to… more
Genetic damage is critical in the development of cancer. A new review suggests that there is more than one way that damaged DNA can cause problems. The first is when altered DNA is 'read' (transcribed) correctly but actually encodes the wrong thing. It would be as if the word 'CAT… more
The spread (metastasis) of cancer to distant locations is responsible for about 9 out of 10 cancer deaths. It is very important that we understand how and why a cancer spreads to particular locations. New research shows that tumors can prepare a site for metastasizing cells before the… more
Cancer treatments can cause fertility problems, a particular concern for young patients. A new study with monkeys (Rhesus macaques) showed that pre-treatment of females with chemicals that prevent cell death can prevent the infertility caused by radiation. The monkeys were given sphingosine-1… more
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