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The enzyme Rad18, with the help of the Cdc7 protein, directs DNA repair machinery to sites of DNA damage. DNA repair is important in healthy cells but this repair can interfere with certain forms of cancer treatment. If cellular DNA is severely damaged, the cell will often die instead of… more
B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia is an aggressive condition where the body over-produces B-cells. A study recently published in Blood has linked this condition, which primarily affects children, with an overabundance of the Fmn2 gene and protein. The sooner abnormal cell activity is detected, the… more
The IDH1 gene is directly involved in a cells' ability to metabolize food. It is also the most commonly mutated metabolic gene in human cancer cells. Scientists at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have now uncovered how this mutation changes the body's chemistry and supports the… more
The Kaposi's Sarcoma Virus been linked with several different types of cancer. The mechanisms that cause cancer to form after infection are still being discovered. A recently published article in the journal Science reveals a new piece of the puzzle. Once the Kaposi's sarcoma virus invades a… more
Macrophages are naturally occurring cells of the immune system, but different types of macrophages have different activities in the presence of cancer cells and the results are not always so good. M1 macrophages work to fight off cancer growth by activating immune cells that target the malignant… more
Viruses have become one of the more surprising combatants against cancer. Although people often think of viruses as agents that make them sick, researchers have been developing viruses that attack cancer cells and spare healthy cells. These viruses are called oncolytic viruses, and the specificity… more
In a recent latest news article, CancerQuest presented research describing the anxiey patients often suffer when presented with a false-positive reading of a mammography. Much of this stress is due to the fact that the patients must then undergo additional screenings, which often include biopsies… more
Cigarette smoking has been linked to at least 18 different types of cancer. Some of the worst cancer-causing agents are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These chemicals bind to DNA, causing mutations that can lead to cancer.
In the first study of its kind, researchers… more
Measles is not typically thought of in positive ways. Even with the availability of a vaccine against the virus, over 100,000 people die from measles infections each year. Researchers at the University of Texas and the Mayo Clinic have shown how proteins on the surface of the… more
Early detection is key in the treatment of cancer, thus it is recommended that women begin having yearly mammograms starting at age 40. It is important to know, however, that a mammography is not a formal diagnosis. There may be false-positives, in which an abnormal mammogram does not, in fact,… more
Protein and steroid hormone growth factors are a key element in the growth of many different types of cancer. For this reason, many therapies work by preventing growth factors from binding to their receptors. Gefitinib (Iressa®) is an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor. It is… more
Traditional cancer researchers investigating the genetics of the disease have focused on protein-coding genes (tumor-suppressors and oncogenes). The majority of our DNA does not encode proteins and the functions of this large amount of material has only recently received a great deal of… more
A new analysis published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute projects that in the year 2020, medical costs associated with cancer will reach 158 billion dollars. The value represents a 27% increase from current costs. The model assumes that the U.S. population ages as currently… more
Cancer patients sometimes have to undergo treatments that may damage healthy tissue and can cause infertility or reproductive problems. Of the roughly 1.5 million people diagnosed with cancer this past year, about 10% were younger than 45 years old, an age group generally able to bear children. For… more
The generally accepted view is that cancer forms in a step-wise progression. Changes (mutations) accumulate gradually over time, making the cells progressively more abnormal. Eventually, cancer cells arise. The process can take years to occur.
Researchers working with new DNA… more
Almost all chemicals taken into the body are modified and broken down during digestion in the stomach and intestines or after absorption. Because of this, experiments on cancer drugs and possible cancer prevention agents that work well in laboratories may not work as well in humans.… more
In order for cancer cells to survive, they hijack processes that naturally occur within the body. Because there are so many things needed for cells to survive, researchers are continuously discovering new ways to combat cancer progression. Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer… more
The 2006 approval of the HPV vaccine for use in the United States was accompanied by a large, public campaign targeted specifically at young women. Certain strains of human papilloma virus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, while other strains may cause genital warts. The pharmaceutical company Merck… more
Chronic irritation can often trigger cellular changes that lead to cancer. This is sometimes the case in patients with repeated acid reflux, a condition in which the esophagus is repeatedly exposed to irritating acid from the stomach. Repeated exposure to this acid can result in an overall… more
The American Cancer Society recommends that all women age 40 and over have a screening mammogram every year. However, according to data presented at the 33rd Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, only about half of eligible women with either employer-provided insurance or… more
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