Pages found: 444 PKB signalling protein unravelled First 3D movie of tumour protein gives new drug hope Scientists have created the first complete model of a molecule which captains a key cell signalling network to prevent cancer – and exposed the secret of how a highly selective drug can intervene to control its activity, according to a study pu... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=432 Revision of guidelines for measuring tumour size and progression The first, formal revision of specific guidelines, known as RECIST, used by clinicians to measure tumour size and response to treatment, has been published today in The European Journal of Cancer. The authors say that the revisions will ease the workload involved in running clinical trials, withou... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=431 English cancer patients will receive free drugs prescriptions People being treated for cancer in England will be eligible for free prescriptions from 1st April and can apply for free prescriptions from today. The new scheme, announced by the Prime Minister in September last year, abolishes NHS prescription charges for everyone undergoing treatment for c... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=430 Strong family history increases breast cancer risk 4-fold Women who have a strong family history of breast cancer are over four times more likely to develop the disease than the general population, according to research published in the British Journal of Cancer. This is the first time the risk for women who do not have a faulty BRCA gene but have one f... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=429 DNA repair patterns may predict risk of pancreatic cancer Genetic variations in DNA repair patterns may increase risk of pancreatic cancer by as much as threefold or decrease it by as much as 77 percent, depending on the genes involved, according to a report published in the January 15, 2009, issue of Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American A... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=428 Erlotinib for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer The UK equivalent of the FDA (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence - NICE) has recommended erlotinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, as an alternative to docetaxel as a second-line treatment option for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) provided t... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=427 Lung cancer risk following detection of pulmonary scarring by chest radiography Pulmonary scars as a result of pulmonary fibrosis are frequently found near to the lung cancer at the time of diagnosis. However, the nature of the relationship between pulmonary scarring and lung cancer remains uncertain. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Heal... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=426 Some early breast tumours found to spontaneously regress Norwegian research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests many breast tumours are treated when they would disappear naturally anyway, after studying the natural history of the disease. The introduction of screening mammography has been associated with sustained increases in b... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=425 Broccoli may lower lung cancer risk in smokers The cancer preventive properties of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables appear to work specifically in smokers, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research. Cruciferous veg... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=424 UK Government and industry in drug price deal A new deal reached today between the UK government and the pharmaceutical industry means that more patients will benefit from a wider range of innovative drug treatments at a fair price to the NHS. The flexible pricing scheme agreed will ensure that medicines fairly reflect their value to patie... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=423 Scientists find a trigger to aggressive bowel cancer Scientists have shown how bowel cancer can become aggressive, according to research published in Nature Genetics. The researchers, based in the Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University and at Cancer Research UK’s Beatson Institute in Glasgow found that a tumour suppressor protein calle... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=422 Cancer drug reverses diabetes in mice A drug developed to treat leukaemia has been found to also reverse diabetes in a mouse model of the disease. A new study by Cédric Louvet and colleagues reveals that imatinib (Gleevec) and another tyrosine kinase-inhibiting drug prevented or reversed type 1 diabetes in mice by dampening the a... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=421 Vitamin C surprise findings Vitamin C supplements have been found to reduce the benefit of a wide range of anticancer drugs when tested on mice and lab cells. In pre-clinical studies, vitamin C appears to substantially reduce the effectiveness of anticancer drugs, say researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=420 75 experts in international call for global cancer control An editorial in this month’s Annals of Oncology has called for the world’s growing cancer burden to be addressed. The authors highlight the World Health Organisation’s recent ‘Resolution on Cancer Control’ (WHA58.22) stating that its strong impetus for action must be capitalised by governments wo... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=419 Scientists use old enemy to K.O. cancer Metal ruthenium causes oxidants to attack cancer cells Chemists are pulling cancer onto a sucker punch by getting infected cells to drop their guard – according to research published today. They are using the metal ruthenium as a catalyst to a cancer-busting reaction which calls up an old ce... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=418 Depression hastens decline in cancer patients Depression causes patients with advanced cancer to die sooner than they should, say scientists at the University of Liverpool. In a six-month study patients who were found to be depressed had a 7% increased chance of dying and this percentage increased depending on the severity of the depression.... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=417 Risks identified for skin cancer recurrence The risk of cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma (skin cancer) recurring or spreading around the body is increased when tumour thickness exceeds 6•0 mm or when desmoplastic growth occurs. Location at the ear or immune suppression also increase the risk of the cancer spreading, according to research whi... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=416 Tumour immunotherapy breakthrough Immune system found to induce tumour dormancy instead of kill: New line of attack Researchers from Tubingen University Department of Dermatology writing in Cancer Cell have uncovered an entirely new understanding of how the immune system may control tumour development. Until now it w... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=415 People who participate in clinical research generally wish to know the research results A review of past studies examining whether people who participate in clinical research wish to know the results has found that most people do wish to be told, even if receiving the results might cause distress or anxiety. The review is published in this week's PLoS Medicine. David Shalowitz (... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=414 Exercise benefit for certain women only Physically active women are 25 % less likely to get breast cancer, but certain groups are more likely to see these benefits than others, finds a review of research published online ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The type of activity undertaken, at what time in life an... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=413 Nationwide audit of screening programme reveals failure to be screened at recommended intervals is major risk factor for cervical cancer Failure to be screened for cervical cancer at the recommended time intervals is the major risk factor associated with developing the condition, according to the first nationwide audit of a cervical cancer screening program, which also revealed that it was equally effective for women of all ages. ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=412 Arsenic attacks leukaemia stem cells Unexpected discovery demonstrates key role for Promyelocytic Leukemia (PML) tumour suppressor gene. In both leukaemia and solid tumours, there exists a small subgroup of cancer stem cells, known as either cancer initiating cells (CICs) or leukaemia initiating cells (LICs), which are impervious to... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=411 New cancer gene found Researchers at the Oklahoma University Cancer Institute, US, have identified a new gene that causes cancer. The ground-breaking research appears in cancer journal Oncogene. The gene and its protein, both called RBM3, are vital for cell division in normal cells. In cancers, low oxygen levels in th... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=410 Discovery of gene location that gives rise to neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer Using advanced gene-hunting technology, an international team of researchers has for the first time identified a chromosome region that is the source of genetic events that give rise to neuroblastoma, an often fatal childhood cancer. The investigators found that the presence of common DNA vari... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=409 Herceptin with neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery improves response rates for HER2 positive breast cancer A particularly aggressive form of breast cancer may be tackled better if treated with a combined anthracycline and taxane chemotherapy regimen before surgery, together with trastuzumab (herceptin) before and after surgery, according to results from the largest multi-centre trial so far. Professo... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=407 Acupuncture relieves hot flushes in tamoxifen patients Acupuncture provides effective relief from hot flushes in women who are being treated with the anti-oestrogen tamoxifen following surgery for breast cancer, according to new research presented at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference. Mrs Jill Hervik, a physiotherapist and acupuncturist at... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=406 75 new age limit for mammograms - 3 yearly screening intervals best Breast cancer screening is appropriate and reduces deaths in women up to 75 years old according to new research in over 860,000 women aged 70-75 presented at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference in Berlin. In another study of nearly 100,000 women aged 50-62, also presented at EBCC 6, research... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=405 Standard chemo works better for BRCA1/2 cancer than for sporadic tumours Research to investigate the effects of chemotherapy on metastatic breast cancer in women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation has shown that standard chemotherapy works better in these patients than in women without the BRCA1/2 mutation. The study, the first of its kind, was presented today a... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=404 Lapatinib shrinks primary breast cancer tumours significantly in just six weeks A small scale trial of lapatinib, which targets cell surface receptors to regress tumours, has given remarkable results after just six weeks of use, it was announced at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference in Berlin today. The research has demonstrated for the first time that the tyrosine... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=403 Capecitabine and docetaxel combo ineffective in early breast cancer Adding capecitabine (xeloda) to docetaxel (taxotere) in patients with early breast cancer leads to more toxicities and does not improve the efficacy of treatment, a German scientist told the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference in Berlin today. Previously, such a combination had improved patien... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=402 No link between aromatase inhibitors and cardiovascular problems New evidence has emerged that, contrary to some current fears, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are not associated with an increased risk of heart problems in women who take them to prevent their breast cancer recurring. AIs, such as letrozole, anastrozole and exemestane, work by causing severe oest... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=401 Obese disadvantage in breast cancer treatment and diagnosis Obese women with breast cancer tend to have worse disease outcomes and more advanced disease at first diagnosis, it was revealed at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference, Berlin. Dr. Elisabetta Rapiti and Dr. Evandro de Azambuja presented concurrent findings on both treatment and diagnosi... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=400 Pregnancy should make no difference to treatment for breast cancer Pregnant breast cancer patients should be treated as closely as possible to existing guidelines for non-pregnant patients, a scientist told the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference today. Dr. Sibylle Loibl, Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University of Frankfurt, suggested ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=398 Pre-surgery MRI scans recommended for all breast cancer patients The pre-op use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in women diagnosed with breast cancer often leads to a better adapted surgical approach, a scientist told the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference today. Dr. David Martinez-Cecilia, a surgeon from the General Surgery Service, directed by Prof... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=399 Pre-emptive breast removal: Follow up not warranted New research presented today at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference, Berlin, suggests that the risk of developing breast cancer after a prophylactic mastectomy is much lower than originally thought. Those found to carry the BRCA gene mutation, predisposing them to hereditary breast cance... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=397 Alcohol consumption and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women One of the largest studies of its kind has found that alcohol is a substantial risk factor for development of the most common type of breast cancer - the 70 percent of tumours that are classified as positive for both the oestrogen and progesterone receptors (ER+/PR+). Researchers report that... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=396 Hope for HER2 low-expressing breast cancer Response to preventive HER2/neu peptide (E75) vaccine based on HER2/neu status: A HER2 peptide E75 vaccine reduced mortality in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer by half, according to Texas researchers. In particular, patients with low-expressing HER2 tumors exhibited better response,... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=395 Endoscopic removal of oesophageal surface tumours avoids major surgery The removal through endoscopy of tumours that affect only the superficial layers of the oesophagus can avoid complete removal of this part of the digestive tract. The technique, carried out at the University Hospital of Navarra for the last three years, was presented at the VI International Course... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=392 Standard treatments should not be denied based on a patient's age A breast cancer patient's age alone should not determine whether or not she receives standard breast-conservation treatments, including a lumpectomy and radiation therapy; however, if additional health problems (comorbidities) are present, treatments should be individualised based on age and t... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=394 Arsenic's role in cancer cure discovered Scientists have discovered how arsenic works as an effective treatment for leukaemia - according to a report in Nature Cell Biology today. Patients with a certain kind of leukaemia (acute promyelocytic) can be successfully treated with arsenic, but how the process worked was unknown. Now the... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=393 The European Society for Medical Oncology and the European CanCer Organisation join forces The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European CanCer Organisation (ECCO) have united to host a co-branded biennial multidisciplinary partnership meeting that will provide the best and most up to date scientific data for everyone working in cancer whilst also strengthening initi... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=391 Scientists ‘home in' on lung cancer genes that increase smokers' risk Scientists have pinpointed an area of the genome containing one or more genes that can put smokers at even more risk of developing lung cancer. Their findings are published online today in Nature Genetics. The international team of researchers, jointly led by Professor Richard Houlston at Th... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=390 Potential association of type 2 diabetes genes with prostate cancer Scientists have identified six new genes which play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes, and among the group is the second gene known to also play a role in prostate cancer. The new findings bring the total number of genes or genomic regions implicated in diabetes to 16, said La... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=389 New variants affect colorectal cancer risk Three new variants are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer, according to two studies published online this week in Nature Genetics. The research also uncovers the first population-specific susceptibility allele for the disease. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cance... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=388 MRI has a high false positive rate for women with a hereditary risk of breast cancer Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) falsely detects breast cancer in five out of every six positive scans according to new research into the use of MRI for women with a high, inherited risk of developing the disease. The study, published today in Annals of Oncology also showed that MRI was very good... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=387 ‘Kingpin' gene controls aggressive breast tumours Geneticists have identified a gene that promotes aggressive breast cancer by altering the behaviour of more than 1,000 other genes within tumour cells. They also found that knocking out this ‘boss' gene causes the cancer cells to stop their runaway proliferation. The gene, SATB1, is already known ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=386 High levels of oestrogen associated with breast cancer recurrence Women whose breast cancer came back after treatment had almost twice as much oestrogen in their blood than did women who remained cancer-free – despite treatment with anti-oestrogen drugs in a majority of the women –according to researchers in a study published in the March issue of Cancer Epidemi... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=385 Novel pin point radiotherapy procedure proved success for breast cancer A large scale trial conducted at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan has proved a novel radiotherapy procedure to be a great success both in terms of medical results and cost effectiveness. The study, published today in the peer-reviewed journal ecancermedicalscience, examined th... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=384 European Parliament votes to postpone implementation of the EU Directive on electromagnetic fields The European CanCer Organisation (ECCO) has welcomed the European Parliament's overwhelming vote to postpone for four years the implementation of the EU Directive on electromagnetic fields. The EU Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields) Directive 2004/40/EC was due to be implemented in all m... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=383 Specific genetic mutation found to increase risk of brain tumour Scientists have discovered a mutation in a DNA repair gene which may increase the risk of developing meningioma, a rare type of brain tumour, according to new research published in the latest edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The researchers, based at The Institute of Canc... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=382 Insurance status and ethnic group predict stage of diagnosis for patients with various cancers US patients who are uninsured or have Medicaid insurance, and those from ethnic minorities, are significantly more likely to present with advanced cancer at diagnosis than privately insured patients, according to an article to be published in the March issue of The Lancet Oncology. Importantl... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=380 Family doctors should be involved in long-term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors Family doctors should be involved in the long-term follow-up care of children who survive into adulthood after cancer, according to a Dutch study to be published in the March issue of The Lancet Oncology. 75% of children with cancer survive into adulthood due to improvements in treatment. Th... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=379 Potential use of bacteria in cancer immunotherapy A strain of bacteria able to stimulate only a systemic immune response has been identified by a group at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan (IEO). The study, published in Immunity, may have significant relevance for the use of bacteria in cancer treatment. A group of researchers from ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=378 Breast cancer: Protein identified in resistance to tamoxifen An innovative research approach has identified a previously unsuspected protein as a key player in the resistance to particular forms of breast cancer therapy. The study, published in this month’s Cancer Cell significantly advances the understanding of the molecular response to breast cancer the... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=377 EU approval of capecitabine for metastatic colorectal cancer Many more patients can now benefit from oral chemotherapy that significantly reduces treatment time. It was announced today (4.1.2008) that the European Commission has approved the oral chemotherapy capecitabine (Xeloda) for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with an... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=376 WORLD CANCER DAY - 4th February 2008 The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has announced its 2007 World Cancer Data Update and 2008 Statement of Cancer Challenges. The UN funded organisation collates data from around the globe and suggests trends in cancer and coordinated means of prevention. This is especial... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=375 Vaccine for prostate cancer developed Researchers at the University of Southern California have developed a prostate cancer vaccine that prevented the development of cancer in 90 percent of young mice genetically predestined to develop the disease. In the February issue of Cancer Research, they suggest the same strategy might work for... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=374 Prostate cancer: Simple urine test An experimental biomarker test developed by researchers at the University of Michigan more accurately detects prostate cancer than any other screening method currently in use, according to a study published in the February 1 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=373 Oral contraception protects against ovarian cancer Use of oral contraceptives during a woman’s life-time gives substantial long-term protection against ovarian cancer, and the longer they are used, the greater the reduction in risk, according to an article in The Lancet. Use of oral contraceptives has long been known to reduce the incidence of ov... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=372 Body fat protein key in breast cancer spread Scientists have discovered how low levels of a protein hormone found in body fat, plays a crucial role in tumour growth and spread. Their findings are published in a paper in the British Journal of Cancer today (Tuesday). Postmenopausal women who are overweight are at greater risk of develop... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=370 Ovarian cancer: Alcohol and smoking no effect, caffeine beneficial A new study has found that cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption do not have an effect on ovarian cancer risk, while caffeine intake may lower the risk, particularly in women not using hormones. The study is published in the March issue of Cancer, journal of the American Cancer Socie... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=369 Sorafenib increases hypertension Sorafenib, a new anti-tumour drug used to treat patients with advanced renal-cell cancer (RCC) and hepatocellular cancer, significantly increases the risk of developing hypertension, according to an article to be published in the February issue of The Lancet Oncology. As such, patients given s... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=367 Black women suffer breast cancer two decades earlier than white women Black British women in Hackney, London, are diagnosed with breast cancer 21 years younger than white British women, according to a Cancer Research UK study published online in the British Journal of Cancer. In the first UK study to look at the patterns of breast cancer in black British women, the... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=366 Pioneer of angiogenesis in cancer treatment dies Judah Folkman, M.D. (1933-2008) Judah Folkman, director of the vascular biology program at Children’s Hospital Boston and the Andrus professor of paediatric surgery and professor of cell biology at Harvard Medical School, died suddenly January 14, 2008. He was 74. Internationally renowned as a... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=365 Dentists could check for breast cancer US scientists have found human saliva carries markers of breast cancer and have opened the door to the possibility that one day your doctor, or even your dentist, could do a simple saliva test for the disease. The discovery, published in the January issue of Cancer Investigation, was the work of ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=364 Sun exposure may be better than not Sunbathing is known to have its pros and cons, but the debate over whether the benefits of sun exposure outweigh the risks from skin cancer remains constant. New research by scientists in Norway and the US, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that the benef... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=363 Animal virus to kill cancer cells in humans UK scientists have used the immune system coupled with a virus found in horses and cattle, to hunt and purge cancer cells through the lymphatic system, a study reveals in Nature Medicine. Studying mice, the researchers found that the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), carried by a type of white bl... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=362 Key proteins discovered in tumour spread Scientists have unlocked the secrets of proteins involved in tumour cells creeping away from the original tumour and spreading around the body. Their findings are published in Molecular Cell. The study involves a protein called Tes which appears to block cell growth and prevent tumours from for... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=361 GlaxoSmithKline and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals form strategic alliance to develop cancer stem cell antibody therapeutics GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals (OncoMed) have announced a worldwide strategic alliance to discover, develop and market novel antibody therapeutics to target cancer stem cells which are believed to play a key role in the establishment, metastasis and recurrence of cancer. The... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=360 GSK go ahead for lapatnib in Europe Announcement signals a new way to treat advanced or metastatic ErbB2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced today that Tyverb® (lapatinib) has received a positive opinion recommending a conditional marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). Lap... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=358 Long-term treatment superiority of anastrozole over tamoxifen in early breast cancer “carries over” years after treatment has stopped New data from the landmark ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination*) trial have revealed that the benefits of managing hormone-sensitive early stage breast cancer (ESBC) with anastrozole, a 3rd generation aromatase inhibitor (AI), are maintained for up to 4 years after the end of a 5-ye... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=357 Osteoporosis drug combats side effects of breast cancer drug A common osteoporosis drug can shield women against the loss of bone mineral density – a side effect of the drug anastrozole which is taken to prevent breast cancer in the IBIS-2 study – according to new data presented today at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The data being presented ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=356 New drug developed to outflank cancer resistance The drug has shown promising results against breast and prostate cancer cells and tumours that are resistant to conventional hormone-based treatments, according to research published in the British Journal of Cancer. Cancers such as breast and prostate cancer are often fuelled by sex hormo... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=355 Key protein identified in paclitaxel success Scientists have discovered a protein which could improve the success rate of the tumour shrinking drug paclitaxel, in the treatment of ovarian cancer, a study reveals in Cancer Cell. The researchers found that the loss of a key protein called TGFBI caused paclitaxel to fail. The drug, part o... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=354 Stem cells made from skin cells; now no tumour risk The controversy over embryonic cell harvesting could soon be a thing of the past, after scientists reprogrammed human skin cells to mimic embryonic stem cells. The development promises an abundant source of cells for research into many diseases including cancer. The original study, published in... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=353 New Asian cancer network Cancer researchers from around Asia are planning a landmark regional initiative to coordinate both data sharing and epidemiology. The network would gather data from cancer registries in countries from the Philippines to Turkey, an area that has two-thirds of the world's population and mo... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=352 UK Pharma granted broad US patent for prostate cancer vaccine An immune system boosting anti cancer drug has been successfully patented in the US by a UK biotechnology company. ‘Onyvax-P’ consists of three prostate cancer cell lines, each representative of a different site or stage of prostate cancer. Using a combination of cell lines in this way ens... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=350 UK cancer plan set out Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Health Secretary Alan Johnson today announced a 5 year plan to improve the UK’s tackling of cancer. Despite government spending on cancer services having tripled since the last plan in 2000, the UK has worse survival rates than the USA and many European countrie... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=349 LigaSure not cost effective in breast cancer treatment A recent study at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) has found that for removal of lymph nodes from the armpit, to treat breast cancer, the use of the new surgical device known as LigaSure, is not financially viable. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is an integral part of breast canc... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=348 Gene signatures give best treatment for patients with breast cancer Gene signatures can be used to select the right treatment for patients with breast cancer, with the aim to give patients “tailored therapy” in the future, according to an Article to be published in the December issue of The Lancet Oncology. In the study, about 44% of the patients who received che... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=347 Cervical cancer risk reduces after stopping the pill Women taking the combined oral contraceptive pill are at an increased risk of cervical cancer but this risk starts falling soon after the pill is stopped, according to research published in the Lancet. The Cancer Research UK study shows that by ten years after last using the pill the extra cervic... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=346 Potential for personalised light-activated cancer vaccines Cancer tissue taken directly from patients could be used to produce a light-triggered vaccine to target and treat their own tumours, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be used to treat some types of cancer by activating a light-sen... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=345 Cancer risks for overweight women Half of all cases of womb cancer and a type of oesophageal cancer in women are as a result of being overweight or obese, according to a new report published online in the British Medical Journal. This study provides the first reliable evidence on the relevance of being overweight or obese for... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=344 Study shows survival traits for breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are passed from parents to children Children whose parents had good survival after diagnosis of breast, lung, prostate, or colorectal cancers have better survival rates for cancers at the same site than children whose parents had died from these conditions. These are the conclusions of authors of an Article published in the November i... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=343 Cancer survival not influenced by patient’s emotional status A patient’s positive or negative emotional state has no direct or indirect effect on cancer survival or disease progression, according to a large scale new study. The research, to be published in the December issue of Cancer, found that emotional well-being was not an independent factor aff... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=342 Epstein Barr cancer vaccine: First results Researchers from the University of Birmingham and the Royal Marsden Hospital are using a vaccination for a common virus as a way of stimulating the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. The preliminary results of this trial of vaccination against Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) wer... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=341 GM cold virus kills cancer cells Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a method of using a genetically modified cold virus to target and kill tumour cells. Rather than delivering a drug, the virus acts as a method of delivering proteins that cause cancer cells to die. The technique targets a molecule called ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=340 Conclusive report: Obesity does increase risk of liver cancer Liver cancer, the third most common cause of death from cancer worldwide, has been linked conclusively to obesity by researchers analysing 11 previous studies. The report, from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, is the first meta-analysis of data regarding overweight and obese people i... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=339 Foetal cells responsible for breast cancer risk reduction in mothers It is widely recognised that bearing children reduces the risk of breast cancer, now scientists believe they have identified the source of this benefit. Researchers at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre have identified foetal cells “transplanted” to the mot... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=338 Stem cells key in cancer spread Bone marrow stem cells have been found to promote the spread of breast cancer to other areas, according to scientists working in a number of institutions in Massachusetts. The research, published this month in Nature, found that mesenchymal, or multipurpose, stem cells (MSCs) were influenced b... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=337 Lancet study demonstrates that thalidomide gives newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients 18 month survival advantage Adding thalidomide to standard treatment improves the survival for patients suffering from a blood cancer by 18 months, according to research published in The Lancet today. In the study, 447 newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma, aged 65 to 75 who were ineligible for intensive bone marro... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=336 Smoking ban: Immediate effect on workers' health Staff in pubs, restaurants and bars across England have already benefited from a smokefree workplace, according to new research revealed at the National Cancer Research Institute Conference in Birmingham. Researchers from the Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre in Warwick found that those staf... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=335 New combination of lung cancer targeted drugs works without standard chemotherapy Two new cancer drugs used in combination have been shown to be more effective than chemotherapy on its own, in a recent study carried out at a range of institutions in the US. The first, bevacizumab, is a drug targeted as an antibody to negate a signalling protein which often causes c... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=334 Promising new prostate cancer marker A new indicator of the nature of a prostate tumour could offer improved treatment through greater personalisation of therapy. A study from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) found that a marker known as 2+Edel, a fusion of two certain genes (TMPRSS2 and ERG) which occurs twice, allowed di... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=333 Cervical or testicular cancer increases likelihood of divorce Married couples are more likely to divorce if one spouse develops testicular cancer or cervical cancer, according to new research from Norway. The study, carried out by Mrs Astri Syse, a researcher at the Norwegian Cancer Registry in Oslo was presented at the 14th European Cancer Conference (... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=332 Booze is bad no matter what you drink The type of alcoholic beverage a woman drinks has no bearing on her risk of breast cancer, according to a comprehensive US study. Researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in California found that it makes no difference whether a woman drinks wine, beer or spirits; it is the... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=331 New kidney cancer drug shows promise An experimental drug has shown promise in patients with advanced kidney cancer whose tumours fail to respond to all other therapy. The study, presented by Dr Brian Rini from the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, USA, found that the experimental drug, axitinib, shrank tumours and delay... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=330 EU clinical trials directive hampers research Europe wide legislation is hampering clinical drug research according to research presented by Dr Markus Hartmann, from European Consulting and Contracting in Oncology, Germany. The ‘Clinical Trials Directive’ was put into force in May 2004 to harmonise the framework for research, improve qu... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=329 New class of cancer treatment tackles melanoma A new drug has been found to attack cancer by an innovative, unprecedented method. ‘STA-4783’, developed by Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp., USA, has showed promise in treating advanced melanoma, slowing the progression of the disease and prolonging the lives of patients. Its innovation came in... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=328 Acupuncture does not reduce nausea in radiotherapy patients New research has found acupuncture to be no more effective than a placebo in reducing radiotherapy induced nausea. The study, conducted by a doctoral student at the University of Linköpig, Sweden, evaluated a sample of 215 patients with various types of cancer by giving them either acupuncture... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=327 Ovarian cancer risk greatly increases with specific genetic mutation Portuguese scientists have discovered that a mutation of the COX2 gene seems to play a role in the onset of ovarian cancer, increasing its likelihood by two to three times. The discovery, if backed up by further study, raises the possibility that drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen may be us... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=326 Breast cancer gene important in lung cancer treatment A gene which indicates a greater susceptibility to breast cancer has been found to play a significant role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It may therefore possibly be used, not only to predict outcome for patients with NSCLC, but also in individualising therapy. Speaking at the 14th Euro... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=324 Discovery of widespread tumour growth gene holds promise for cancer treatment A new and promising target for anti-tumour therapy has been found by Italian scientists at the University of Cheiti Foundation (CESI). The team, working under Professor Saverio Alberti, found a widespread mechanism for the stimulation of tumour growth, a discovery which is already leading to the dev... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=317 Genetic analysis set to determine treatment for colon cancer Genetic analysis set to determine treatment for colon cancer Scientists in the Netherlands have developed a method of establishing which colon cancer patients would most benefit from chemotherapy after surgery. The team, led by Professor Rob Tollenaar at Leiden University Medical Centre, an... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=325 Cancer cells in blood give likelihood of breast cancer recurrence Cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream, known as circulating tumour cells (CTCs), have been shown to have potential as a prognostic factor for metastatic breast cancer. A group of scientists from the University of Munich, Germany have shown that they can detect CTCs before and after chemoth... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=323 Call for cancer control for poorer countries The fight against cancer is increasingly becoming an issue for less economically developed countries (LEDCs) according to Professor Peter Boyle, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, speaking at the European Cancer Conference in Barcelona. Long considered only a concern fo... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=322 MRI scans may be halted under EU directive EU legislation on electromagnetic fields, due to be implemented by April 2008, could prevent the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an important tool in cancer diagnosis, treatment and research. Professor Dag Rune Olsen, an experimental radiation therapist at the Norwegian Radiation Hospita... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=321 ‘Political influence hampering cancer treatment’ say oncologists Recent political decisions have had serious consequences for European oncology, it was claimed by Professor John Smyth at this year’s European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14). Professor Smyth, president of the Federation of European Cancer Societies (FECS) said that its replacement – the European Ca... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=320 European cancer research catching up with US A comprehensive survey of how cancer research is funded shows that, contrary to public perception, Europe is a major contributor to the global cancer research effort. The survey, the second of its kind from the European Cancer Research Manager’s Forum (ECRM), looked at the overall €3.2 billi... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=316 Cervical cancer HPV vaccination: The earlier the better A vaccine developed to prevent infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV), the cause of cervical cancer, was found to be ineffective for treating women with pre-existing HPV infections, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, a randomised tri... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=315 Lsh protein key in normal growth, not just cancerous growth Researchers from the National Cancer Institute, US, have found that a protein thought only to influence cell division in cancerous tumours, also plays a key role in mainstream tissue growth. The protein, known as Lsh, has been previously implicated in the switching off, or ‘silencing’ of cer... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=314 UK lags behind Europe in Cancer survival rates Five-year survival rates in lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer were found to be lower in the UK compared with everywhere except eastern Europe. Eurocare, a European collaboration between 83 population-based cancer registries operating in 23 countries, examined the outcome of 2.7m ne... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=313 Inactivated gene may indicate aggressive lung cancer. According to an article published online in Nature, the inactivation of a gene known to have a role in tumour suppression in some cancers, may indicate an aggressive form of lung cancer. Researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, demonstrated using mouse models of three subtypes of non-sm... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=310 Green tea can help prevent cancer Scientists have found that green tea, documented for its healing properties for thousands of years in Asia, can help strengthen metabolic defence against toxins capable of causing cancer. Researchers at the Arizona Cancer Centre, USA, found that concentrated chemicals derived from green tea drama... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=312 Simple cervical screening technique could save hundreds of lives in poorer countries Visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA) is an effective method of screening for cervical cancer in developing countries, and could make women in these countries up to 35% less likely to die from the disease, conclude authors of an article published in The Lancet. Dr Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan,... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=311 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: Pet scans ‘overshadow’ International Prognostic Index PET scans have been found to be much better at early prognosis for advanced-stage Hodgkin's Lymphoma than the more commonly used International Prognostic Index (IPI). Prospective trials carried out in Italian and Dutch hospitals since 2001 compared prognosis by the traditional International Progn... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=309 Obesity in women linked with multiple myeloma An obese person is more likely than a thinner person to develop multiple myeloma, according to researchers from Harvard Medical School. Their findings indicate that Body Mass Index provides an indicator for the risk of developing multiple myeloma * The study, published in the July issue of C... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=308 Cancer vaccine sparks immune system An ovarian cancer vaccine designed to enhance the body's own immune response has shown promise in a phase one clinical trial, researchers report. While most women with advanced stage ovarian cancer respond to first-line chemotherapy, more than 70% of patients die of their recurrent disease within fi... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=307 Drug from sea squirt shows anti tumour activity According to an article published in The Lancet Oncology, a drug derived from the sea squirt, called trabectedin, showed anti tumour activity in more than half of the patients with a specific type of cancer, who were involved in the study. Dr. Federica Grosso, from the Instituto Nazionale Tu... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=299 How cancer cells keep their chromosome ends A report in this week’s Nature Structural and Molecular Biology investigates the mechanism by which cancer cells stop their chromosome ends from becoming shorter. In order to keep their fitness, all cells need to prevent their chromosome ends (telomeres) from reducing with each division. The shor... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=298 Women survive for longer after their breast cancer if they’re physically active and eat lots of vegetables and fruit – regardless of their weight Scientists from the Universities of California, Stanford and Texas have researched into the association of physical activity with diet and the combined effect it has on women survivors of breast cancer. The study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, investigated nearly 1,500 women ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=297 Surveillance mammograms can reduce the risk of older women diagnosed with breast cancer from dying With more than two million breast cancer survivors in the United States today, it is recommended that they are continually observed using an x-ray examination of the breast - a mammography. However, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the effectiveness of observi... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=296 Combining chemotherapy drug with radiation helps cervical cancer patients stay alive for longer An article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, reports on a long term study which followed women with stage two and three cervical cancer. The chemotherapy drug cisplatin was given to women at the same time they received their radiotherapy treatment in their pelvis. This combined ther... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=295 Swedish ‘Snus’ safer than smoking – but doubles the chances of contracting pancreatic cancer Swedish ‘snus’ - an oral, smoke free tobacco, has proven much less harmful to health than conventional smoking tobacco. Snus, causes no increased risk for lung or mouth cancer for people who have never smoked - and could produce a net health benefit to the population if smokers switched to using... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=294 Sentinel lymph node dissection alone causes fewer complications in women with breast cancer A new American, randomised trial found that breast cancer patients who had sentinel lymph node dissection alone compared to sentinel lymph node dissection plus axillary lymph node dissection had fewer complications following surgery. The multicenter study published in the Journal of Clinical... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=293 Receiving two stem-cell transplantations is better than one Results from a study looking at newly diagnosed, younger patients suffering from multiple myeloma, suggests that giving them double the amount of chemotherapy drugs after they’ve had double autologous stem-cell transplantation*(ASCT), significantly prolongs their survival time without relapse – and ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=292 Testosterone cream doesn’t increase sexual drive in women who have had cancer Increasing the testosterone levels of female cancer survivors using testosterone cream, does not improve their libido when compared to a placebo, according to a randomised controlled clinical trial in May 2nd issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Female cancer patients often ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=291 Testosterone cream doesn’t increase sexual drive in women who have had cancer Increasing the testosterone levels of female cancer survivors using testosterone cream, does not improve their libido when compared to a placebo, according to a randomised controlled clinical trial in May 2nd issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Female cancer patients ofte... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=290 Staying out of the sun is more beneficial than using sunscreen Avoiding direct sunlight and wearing clothes which stop harmful UV rays from reaching the skin, rather than sunscreen, are the best ways of avoiding skin cancer and the aging effects of the sun. This advice forms part of a review published early, online and in an upcoming edition of The Lan... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=289 Pancreatic cancer patients survive longer when given two chemotherapy agents Scientists from the National Cancer Institute in Canada have conducted a trial to see if patients with pancreatic cancer had better survival rates if they were given a combination of chemotherapy agents: erlotinib and gemcitabine and compared them to patients who received gemcitabine alone. T... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=288 Abortion is not associated with the increased incidence of breast cancer Scientists from Harvard Medical School in the US, conducted a prospective study using a group of Scandinavian women to see if abortion increased the incidence of breast cancer. The data did not suggest any link between the two. The researchers looked at nearly 106,000 women between the ages of... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=287 Novel online study investigates quality of life for men after their treatment to fight prostate cancer. Researchers used a specially designed web-based data collection system that allowed participants to complete surveys online and conducted a rigorous, long-term study of quality of life in patients who underwent one of the three most common treatments for prostate cancer found that each affected ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=286 One thousand more woman died from ovarian cancer due to HRT in the UK since 1991 A suspected 1000 extra women in the UK have died from ovarian cancer between 1991 and 2005 because they were using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), according to an article published online and in an upcoming edition of The Lancet. There were also around 1300 extra cases of ovarian cancer d... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=285 Certain genes could affect efficacy of chemotherapy drugs Scientists have identified 87 genes which appear to affect the sensitivity of human cancer cells to certain chemotherapy drugs according to research published in Nature. American researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre silenced genes by injecting short strands of RNA... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=284 Cancer vaccine shown to protect against cervical cancer nearly six years into the study The first FDA* approved cancer vaccine - developed to prevent against cervical cancer - has shown to protect against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 at five and a half years into a trial. The results, presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Resea... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=283 One in three women in America are undertreated for ovarian cancer One in three ovarian cancer patients in America fail to receive the recommended comprehensive surgical treatment, according to a study in the May 15, 2007 issue of CANCER. Dr. Barbara Goff, from the University of Washington, Seattle, and co-investigators analysed hospital data from up to nine sta... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=282 A group of four genes encourage the spread of breast cancer Studies of human tumour cells implanted in mice have shown that the abnormal activation of four genes encourage the spread of breast cancer to the lungs. Researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the USA, have revealed that the aberrant genes work together to promote the growth of pr... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=281 Postmenopausal women who eat processed and/ or red meat are at greater risk of breast cancer A study carried out by The University of Leeds reports that postmenopausal women presented the biggest association with breast cancer and eating processed or red meat *. Women who ate a greater amount of processed meat showed the strongest link to breast cancer compared to women to never eat process... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=280 Novel focus needed on treatment of elderly cancer patients A new paper by The International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), published in the Annals of Oncology, identifies several areas where treatment of elderly cancer patients needs to be improved. The research identifies a need for more sophisticated and redesigned systems of care as well as improv... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=279 Alcohol consumption contributes to the global cancer burden The burden of cancer attributable to alcohol consumption is higher than previously thought. "The scientific evidence relating alcohol drinking to an increased risk of cancer continues to grow as does the contribution of alcohol drinking to the global cancer burden. The clear association with incr... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=278 Venlafaxine is better than clonidine at reducing hot flushes in cancer patients Hot flushes can be an unfortunate side effect of breast cancer treatment. Research shows that hot flushes associated with hormone treatment are so distressing for some patients that they even take a break from their therapy. Women being treated for breast cancer, especially endocrine responsive ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=277 Triple negative breast cancers are linked to young African American and Hispanic women “Triple negative” breast cancers, tumours that do not contain any of three significant tumour markers, are aggressive, deadly cancers that affect young, poor minority women, according to a new study. Published in the May 1, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=276 Soy foods decrease the risk of localised prostate cancer - but increases the risk of advanced prostate cancer Soy foods decrease the risk of localised prostate cancer – but increases the risk of advanced prostate cancer The largest study examining the relationship between the traditional soy-rich Japanese diet and development of prostate cancer in Japanese men has come to a seemingly contradictory conc... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=275 Devastating Critique of EU Clinical Trials Directive A grim picture is painted in an article in this months European Journal of Cancer of the awful impact of EU bureaucracy on cancer trials in the UK. Eight top cancer centres were examined to assess the changes, beneficial or detrimental to running trials of a non-commercial nature. In other words... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=257 Switching from Tamoxifen to an aromatase inhibitor could improve survival According to an online article published today in The Lancet, women who switched their treatment from tamoxifen to exemestane – after two to three years, not only reduced their risk of dying from breast cancer but improved their disease-free survival rate. Nearly 5000 post menopausal women with... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=261 Gene may help predict pancreatic cancer progression Cancer of the pancreas mainly occurs in people over 60. The more advanced the cancer the less chance of curing the disease. Scientists have been looking at ways to predict the early spread of pancreatic cancer to improve patient treatment. In the journal Oncogene, scientists looked at Sperm-asso... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=274 Drug may help patients with a rare form of lymphoma A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has looked at the effectiveness of the drug bortezomib in treating patients with a rare type of lymphoma know as Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM). Bortezomib, is currently used to treat patients with multiple myeloma and mantle cell lym... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=273 Women with breast cancer from deprived areas have poorer outcomes Scientists from the University of Leeds investigated the socio-economic background of women and compared it to when they got diagnosed with breast cancer, the way they were treated and their five year survival rate. They found that women who lived in more deprived areas were associated with the incr... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=271 PET scan identifies aggressive form of kidney cancer A non-invasive imaging technique called Positron Emission Tomography (PET), identifies an aggressive form of kidney cancer, potentially avoiding the need for a biopsy, say researchers from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York. According... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=272 Chinese women exposed to cotton dust and fibre are 40% less likely to get lung cancer Women in Shanghai, China are 40% less likely to get lung cancer if they’ve been exposed to high levels of endotoxin for a long time. The reduction in the risk of lung cancer amongst women who worked in the cotton textile industry has been observed by scientists from University of Washington and ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=270 Imaging used to identify cancer viruses and destroy tumours Researchers have found a way to activate Epstein-Barr viruses inside tumours as a way to identify patients whose infection can then be manipulated to destroy their tumours. The Epstein-Barr virus is thought to be responsible for a number of cancers including nasopharyngeal and Burkitt’s lymphoma... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=269 Green tea combination may slow the spread of prostate cancer Drinking a cup of green tea has long been touted for its healthful benefits. Now researchers have found that a component of green tea, combined with low doses of a COX-2 inhibitor, could slow the spread of prostate cancer. In the latest issue of Clinical Cancer Research, American researchers fr... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=268 Men who chew tobacco have a higher death rate Men who switch from smoking cigarettes to chewing tobacco and snuff, have a higher death rate from all causes of lung cancer, coronary heart disease, and stroke, than former cigarette smokers who stop using tobacco entirely. According to a study published online in the February 15 issue of Tob... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=267 Decline in European cancer deaths A recent study has confirmed a decline in overall cancer deaths in the EU, however death from lung cancer in women is on the increase. The study published in the Annals of Oncology analysed available figures from 1980 up until 2002. The study looked at trends in age-standardised mortality from... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=266 New gene discovery that may prevent cancer One of the key areas of cancer research is to identify the exact location of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. These genes can either accelerate cancer development or, when damaged, permit unbridled cell growth. American scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Stanford University h... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=265 Shortening chromosomes cause for earlier cancer onset in families with rare syndrome Shortening chromosomes cause for earlier cancer onset in families with rare syndrome In families with a high incidence of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, the ends of individuals’ chromosomes act somewhat like a lit fuse, according to researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Their findings de... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=264 Suicide risk factors identified for cancer patients A study in the Annals of Oncology found that men with advanced head and neck cancer or myeloma were at the most risk of committing suicide. Patients with cancer are more likely to commit suicide than those without the disease and males generally commit suicide more frequently than females. The r... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=263 Vegetables may protect against lung cancer A recent study published in the Annals of Oncology found that a high intake of fruit and vegetables could protect against lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers. The study looked at the population in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, northeast China, an area with a high base line risk of lung ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=262 Genetic variant in women found to protect against breast cancer A study published online in the current issue of Nature Genetics, provides strong evidence that a common gene called CASP8 offers some protection against breast cancer. The evidence, confirmed by scientists in the report, shows that genetic variants, like CASP8 affect the risk of developing brea... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=260 Europe faces a major increase in the cancer burden because of the ageing population It is estimated that in 2006 there were 3.2 million new cases of cancer up from 2.9 million in 2004 and 1.7 million deaths from cancer in the whole of Europe. Between 2004 and 2006, the number of new cancer cases diagnosed in Europe each year, has increased by 300,000, according to new estima... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=259 Scientists identify pancreatic cancer stem cells Researchers at the University of Michigan Medical Center, have identified human pancreatic cancer stem cells for the first time. Their work indicates that these cells are probably responsible for the aggressive tumour growth, progression, and metastasis that define this deadly cancer. In the Febr... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=258 World Cancer Day, 4 February 2007 It is an amazing statistic: 43 percent of cancer cases can be prevented through healthy lifestyles established in childhood. The World Cancer Campaign – “Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s World” – underscores prevention by sharing knowledge about lifestyle behaviours. The International Union Against C... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=256 New test combination to predict outcome in patients with bladder cancer A new testing approach has been shown to be effective in identifying patients at the highest risk of cancer relapse after surgery for bladder cancer, say researchers in the February issue of The Lancet Oncology. “Bladder cancer recurs in many patients after radical cystectomy [removal of the bladder... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=255 Optimum dose of cancer drug established A phase one trial was carried out in America to establish a safe dose of the chemotherapy drug ixabepilone when treating patients with advanced solid tumours or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The trial, published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology, followed sixty one patients. The drug was administered ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=254 Sun beds offer no positive health benefits The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found that the use of sun-beds; solariums, tanning salons and parlours have no positive health effects at all. It calls for young people to have restricted access to tanning equipment. The IARC assessed the positive and negative effects ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=253 Burning coal in badly ventilated areas causes cancer The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) working group has concluded that indoor emissions from burning coal causes cancer in humans. Millions of people from poorer countries are at risk because of the lack of adequate ventilation in their homes. It is estimated that approximately ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=252 Smoking and cervical cancer virus increases cancer risk Cigarette smoking and infection with high levels of the human papilloma virus associated with cervical cancer can increase cancer risk by as much as 27 times, according to a study published in the November 2006 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. The virus and smoking b... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=251 New vaccine may help patients fight colorectal cancer British researchers have developed a vaccine that stimulates the immune system in colorectal cancer patients to help fight cancerous cells. In a clinical trial of 67 patients, researchers at the University of Nottingham observed that when the vaccines were administered before and after surgery to r... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=250 Nearly half of the women newly diagnosed with breast cancer have unrecognised and under treated psychological needs A study published in the 15th December, 2006 issue of CANCER, reveals that nearly half of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer , are found to have clinically significant emotional distress or symptoms of psychiatric disorders before their treatment has even begun. This includes deep depression a... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=249 Socially connecting with cancer afflicted peers is more beneficial than receiving support from friends and family A new study, published in the December 15th, 2006 issue of CANCER reveals that the population of 15-29 year-old cancer survivors, feel that socially connecting with other cancer-afflicted peers of the same age can be more beneficial than receiving support from family and friends - contrar... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=247 In a pre-clinical study, researchers use new localised treatment to shrink retinoblastoma tumours – avoiding chemotherapy Scientists have used a mouse model to demonstrate a new treatment which can be applied directly onto the eye area where the cancer is. This not only reduces the size of the tumour, but also doesn’t cause any side effects that are linked to chemotherapy treatment. The report is published in the ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=246 Breast cancer does not increase the risk of stroke A Dutch study to be published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology finds that long term breast cancer survivors do not have an increased risk of stroke compared to the general population. The study looked at the number of full blown strokes or transient ischemic attacks (a type of transient stroke... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=245 New long term therapy in the fight against multiple myeloma There is no known cure for multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell. Current treatment involves high-dose chemotherapy followed by repeated treatments when the cancer relapses - known as ‘a watch and wait approach’. A new method of providing patients with continuous therapy to keep the can... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=244 HPV test is better at detecting cervical cancer in older women A large Danish study has found that for women over 40, a test for human papillomavirus (HPV) is a much more effective way to screen for potential cancer than the traditional Pap smear. The study, published in Cancer Research, found that the HPV infection is both frequent and short-lived in younger ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=243 Gene profile test may accurately predict which chemotherapy should be given to cancer patients Scientists have developed new tests that analyse the whole genomic profile of a cancerous tumour. The tests are 80% accurate in predicting which chemotherapy will be the most effective and aggressive in attacking the tumour according to each individual cancer patient. The researchers from Duke Un... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=242 More colorectal cancer patients should receive recommended surgery Only one-third of American patients who had surgery for locally advanced colorectal cancer received a multivisceral resection, a procedure proven to reduce local recurrence and improve survival compared to standard resection. The study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute show... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=241 Statins do not prevent cancer The group of drugs known as statins do not appear to prevent cancer according to a Greek study published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology. Statins are taken by millions of people across the world to treat and prevent heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol. There has been some evidence that... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=240 Grape seed extract may help to treat colorectal cancer Chemicals found in grape seeds significantly prevent the growth of colorectal tumours in both cell cultures and in mice, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research. The research found a 44% reduction of advanced colorectal tumours in the animals, and also discovered the... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=239 New transplantation technique for children with leukaemia Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the USA have designed an improved technique for blood stem cell transplantations in children with the most resistant leukaemia. The results are published in the British Journal of Haematology. The technique allows blood stem cells to come from... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=238 Postponing surgery reduces long term side effects for children with kidney cancer Children given chemotherapy before surgery to treat the most common form of childhood kidney cancer, called Wilms’ tumour, require less treatment and experience fewer long term side effects than if they have immediate surgery. The trial results were revealed yesterday at the NCRI Cancer Conference, ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=237 Bowel cancer trial finds a way to minimise the risk of recurrence of rectal cancer Results presented on Sunday at the National Cancer Conference in Birmingham, reported on a worldwide clinical trial that has found a way to minimise the risk of the tumour recurring in bowel cancer patients to as little as 1% when combined with successful surgery. The Medical Research Council (MRC) ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=236 Multi-targeted cancer therapy demonstrates effectiveness in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumours The drug sunitinib could be of clinical benefit to patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours for whom conventional treatment with the drug imatinib has failed, according to a study published online today by The Lancet. Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are a type of sarcoma ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=235 Obesity independently impacts prostate cancer screening When interpreting prostate cancer screening results, doctors should consider the impact of a patient’s body mass index according to a new study published in CANCER. The American study found that obese men had lower levels of prostate surface antigen (PSA) and free PSA (fPSA) than men with normal bo... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=234 New breast cancer gene identified According to a new study to be published in the November issue of Nature Genetics, scientists from the Institute of Cancer Research, UK, report that women with a mutation in a gene called BRIP1 have double the normal risk of developing breast cancer. Three genes: BRCA1, BRCA2 and TP53 increase the... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=233 Antibiotic treats lymphoma of the eye The common antibiotic doxycycline effectively treats a type of lymphoma associated with chlamydia infection, according to a study in the latest issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Ocular adnexal lymphoma of the MALT-type (OAL) is an uncommon type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that a... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=232 Inequalities in cancer care affects thousands of Europeans each year Cancer is the second biggest killer in Europe. In 2004, two million people from the European Union’s 25 member states were diagnosed with cancer and 1.2 million people were reported to have died from their disease. Yesterday, at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Istanbul, the f... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=231 Large European survery reveals critical gaps in breast cancer patient education and communication Results from a recent survey of European women with early breast cancer, presented for the first time at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) congress, show that the information needs of patients are not being met and that there is an unacceptably low level of patient involvement in pote... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=230 Plant compounds may target cancer related molecules Plant-derived compounds turn up as active prostate cancer agents in a new sophisticated chemical genomic screening test, based on gene expression. The study published in the Journal Cancer Cell found that the genes of interest are responsible for signals which are emitted within prostate cancer cell... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=229 Preventative ovary removal linked to early death in younger women Women younger than 45 years who have both ovaries removed surgically and do not receive adequate hormone replacement therapy are more likely to die from several causes, according to an article in the October issue of The Lancet Oncology. Deaths from hormone-related cancers and diseases of the br... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=228 Immune cells may help predict colorectal cancer prognosis European researchers studying colorectal cancer patients have found that they can better determine the course of the cancer by analysing the immune cells within the tumour rather than conventional tests. The research published in the journal Science looked at the type, density and location of the... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=227 New treatment option for mantle cell lymphoma patients The drug bortezomib, commonly known as Velcade®, could improve survival for patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) that has relapsed or is resistant to therapy according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Mantle cell lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that arises from a malignant ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=226 Breast cancer care improving across Europe A study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that breast cancer survival rates in some European countries have improved since 1970. The study, from the Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, analysed and estimated breast cancer trends in 10 European countri... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=225 African-American women have a greater risk of dying from uterine cancer than Caucasian women According to a review of four clinical trials, published in the 1st November, 2006 issue of CANCER, African-American women with uterine cancer have worse survival rates than Caucasian women. Both races received similar treatment and all the women had similar outcomes or prognosis. The review found s... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=224 Drug combination improves progression free survival for advanced ovarian cancer patients Patients with advanced ovarian cancer who respond well to the drug platinum now have another option that can help prolong progression free survival according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Patients with advanced ovarian cancer that returns six months after initial treatm... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=222 Chemotherapy cuts the risk of rectal tumours returning by half Giving a patient chemotherapy before or after an operation to remove their rectal cancer cuts the risk of the tumour returning in the rectum by half. Unfortunately, it doesn’t increase the patients overall survival - according to a study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine. ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=221 New fake tan could protect against skin cancer Researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston have been studying the skin pigmentation in mice and have come up with a skin treatment that tans skin – without sunbathing. It also mimics the capacity dark skin has to counter the effect of ultraviolet rays and protect against skin canc... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=219 New results for chemo-prevention drug Raloxifene protects postmenopausal women from developing invasive breast cancer whether they are at high or low risk of developing the disease, according to a new study. The study, published in the Clinical Cancer Research, also revealed that the drug appears to reduce risk in women with a family... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=218 New insight into genes could lead to a more accurate diagnosis of cancer Researchers completed a study of 13,000 protein–coding genes in breast and bowel cancer last week. The study was published online by the journal Science, providing a unique glimpse at the process by which genes change (mutate) and cause cancer. It offered new insight into being able to diagnose ca... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=217 Vitamin D may cut pancreatic cancer risk by nearly half Taking Vitamin D tablets was found to cut the risk of pancreatic cancer almost in half, according to a study published in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. The findings point to Vitamin D’s potential to prevent the disease, and is one of the first known studies ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=216 Gene therapy in the lab makes white blood cells turn into tumour-killing-cancer-fighting cells A research team from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) studied 17 patients with advanced skin cancer (MELANOMA) and engineered their white blood cells to recognise and attack cancer cells - resulting in the cancer regressing in two of the groups. The study is published in the online edition of S... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=215 Current treatment can be altered to improve survival for children with brain tumours Radiotherapy that is adapted for the severity of disease and followed by a shortened course of chemotherapy substantially improves the survival of children with a type of brain tumour called medulloblastoma, claim investigators in an article in The Lancet Oncology. “Not only can we now cure abou... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=214 Switching the p53 gene on and off in mice is irrelevant when protecting against cancer A paper published online by Nature this week challenges the standard perception of the protein p53 in its role in protecting against cancer. By switching the function of the protein on and off in mice, researchers have shown that its role in responding to DNA damage is irrelevant to protecting aga... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=213 A breakthrough drug for patients with transfusional iron overload, gains European Union approval The European Commission has granted approval for deferasirox (Exjade®) in all 25 member states of the European Union as a new treatment for patients with too much iron following a blood transfusion. The approval means patients with a wide range of transfusion-dependent anaemia’s will only have t... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=212 New breed of mice copycat a rare form of chronic leukaemia A study led by cancer researchers, reveals a new breed of mice that develop a tumour very similar to an incurable form of chronic leukaemia. These mice offer the first real animal model of a tumour and will no doubt help the development of new drugs in the future for the disease. Introducing t... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=211 Anti-inflammatory drug may prevent liver cancer in ‘at-risk’ liver patients A new study shows that colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug, usually given to patients suffering from gout, may prevent liver cancer in patients suffering from hepatitis virus-related liver disease. The results, to be published in the October 1st issue of CANCER, found that patients with vir... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=210 Obesity leads to more aggressive ovarian cancer A new study provides evidence that obesity leads to more aggressive types of ovarian cancer. In the October issue of the journal CANCER researchers found significant differences in types of epithelial ovarian cancer depending on body mass index (BMI). In women with advanced disease, a hig... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=209 Prostate cancer – high tech and low tech Genes for grading prostate tumours. An article to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) online edition: July 3rd – 7th 2006, reports that researchers have identified a profile of 86 genes that distinguish low - and high-grade prostate tumours in humans. Thus g... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=189 Gene linked to bowel cancer also incriminated in cancer of the prostate Important new information has emerged from the largest study of colorectal cancer families ever studied. The German HNPCC Consortium studied 574 families with a form of hereditary colorectal cancer called Lynch Syndrome. Two genes MLH1 and MSH2 are implicated in this disease, and help to cause cance... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=205 New drug offers alternative to castration therapy for prostate cancer patients Patients with early stage prostate cancer are usually treated with radiotherapy, followed by castration therapy to reduce the levels of testosterone that can trigger cancer. Although castration improves overall survival it can have a detrimental effect on the patient’s quality of life. A new stu... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=208 Bowel cancer drugs turned down by NICE The UK body responsible for deciding which drugs and treatments should be available to patients on the NHS said there was insufficient evidence to recommend bevacizumab (Avastin) and cetuximab (Erbitux)for patients with advanced bowel cancer . The drugs have been shown to extend life expectancy ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=207 New biology in brain cancer Stem cell-like cancer cells derived from the brain share many characteristics with normal stem cells, except that in addition, they propel the lethal growth of brain cancers by promoting tumour blood vessel formation. This newly described attribute may hold the key to treating these deadly cancers, ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=206 Genetic testing may predict if lung cancer will return The latest study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has used genetic testing to accurately identify aggressive, early stage, non- small cell lung cancer. Currently patients with early non-small cell lung cancer, identified as stage 1A, are not given chemotherapy after surgery as... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=204 Improved method for predicting drug toxicity The drug irinotecan is often used in the treatment of bowel (colon) cancer. However it can cause severe side effects in patients such as neutropenia (low white blood cell count leaving them open to infections) and diarrhoea. The latest study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology carried out ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=203 New blood test to diagnose lung cancer A new study in the Journal of Thoracic oncology has shown that a blood test may be able to diagnose non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Lung cancer patients tend to have a poor prognosis as they are often diagnosed with advanced disease. Globally lung cancer kills more people that any other canc... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=202 Exercise may improve bowel cancer patient outcomes Two separate studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology have found that physical activity after patients are diagnosed with bowel cancer may have a protective effect. The studies found that the risk of bowel cancer recurrence and overall mortality decreased by around 55% among patients ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=201 Long term safety results for breast cancer drugs revealed Anastrozole is tolerated better than tamoxifen for the treatment of postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer after surgery, according to research published in the The Lancet Oncology. The researchers explain that, “Use of anastrozole led to a lower occurrence of adverse effects and seriou... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=200 Malignant melanoma cells and embryos share development proteins A study published in the journal Nature Medicine has found that malignant melanoma cells produce Nodal, a protein that is critical to embryo development. The American researchers identified the embryonic growth factor by injecting aggressive melanoma cells into developing zebra fish embryos. The... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=199 Leukaemia drug may cause heart problems A cancer wonder drug, which has transformed the outlook for leukaemia patients may occasionally cause heart failure. The study reported in Nature Medicine found that Imatinib mesylate, marketed under the name of Glivec can kill heart cells and may cause heart failure in some patients. Imatinib m... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=198 Culturally appropriate materials increase cancer screening rates Countries with screening programmes should ensure they have culturally sensitive information to encourage the participation of ethnic minorities. A recent randomised trial published in the journal Cancer, found that low income Chinese-speaking patients in America were six-times more likely to be... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=197 Wealthy, rural children more at risk of cancer A new report by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) has found that children from more affluent, rural families are more at risk of developing cancer. The report analysed the largest set of childhood cancer cases ever compiled anywhere in the world. It looked... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=196 New use for Trastuzumab? The latest research published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology suggests that the drug Trastuzumab (herceptintm) could be used to treat a wider group of breast cancer patients than previously thought. Some of the best examples of targeted therapy in cancer have been related to the Epide... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=194 Marijuana smoking may cause lung cancer A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has found that smoking marijuana may cause changes in lung tissue and increase the risk of lung cancer. The report reviewed nineteen different research studies, all involving patients that smoked marijuana and had their lungs exam... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=193 Poverty increases likelihood of smoking related death Men of lower social class, income, or education have a two-fold increased risk of dying than men in higher strata, and half of this difference is attributable to smoking, reveals a paper published online today by The Lancet. There are substantial social inequalities in adult male mortality in man... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=192 France's health care system comes top for patients France has the most patient friendly healthcare system in Europe, according to the 2006 Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI), that compared all the EU 25 national healthcare systems plus Switzerland from a patient point of view. The index reveals that a shocking number of patients are failed... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=191 Women who had childhood cancer are more likely to go through an early menopause Over 70% of children or teenagers diagnosed with cancer will survive. Yet, female survivors are more likely to go through a premature menopause – before the age of 40. According to a study printed in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the risk factors for premature menopause include... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=190 New strategy more sensitive at detecting cervical cancer than smear test A new strategy could replace conventional smear tests as the initial screening test for cervical cancer in young women, say researchers in the July issue of The Lancet Oncology. The New Technologies for Cervical Cancer group did a randomised controlled trial of more than 11 000 women aged 25–34 y... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=188 New test predicts spread of kidney tumours A simple, inexpensive, and reliable test can identify kidney tumours that are most likely to spread to the rest of the body, according to researchers in the July issue of The Lancet Oncology. The test, which identifies tumours that contain the protein IMP3, “could therefore also be used to effec... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=187 New tumour suppressor identified A protein called HLJ1 may work as a novel tumour suppressor in non–small-cell lung cancer, according to a study in the latest issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Jeremy J.W. Chen, Ph.D., of National Chung-Hsing University, Pan-Chyr Yang, M.D., Ph.D., of National Taiwan Universit... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=186 Radiotherapy after surgery may improve survival for advanced lung cancer patients A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that radiotherapy following surgery increased survival in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer. The study examined information from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Database (SEER), a program in the USA that coll... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=185 Major personality traits do not increase your risk of cancer A new study published in the British Medical Journal found that obvious personality traits had no major impact on the development of cancer or the likelihood of dying from the disease. The population based study looked at around 5,000 men and women aged between 40-65 in Germany. The participants... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=184 The American FDA approve vaccine against cervical cancer The FDA (The US Food and Drug Administration) approved a vaccine that prevents infection by the two types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) responsible for up to 70 % of cervical cancer cases worldwide, HPV 16 and HPV 18, as well as two other HPV types, HPV 6 and HPV 11, that cause benign genital wa... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=183 Type of Hodgkin disease is a major cause of prognosis Regional differences in the survival of Hodgkin disease (HD) can be partially explained by the type of the disease, according to a new population study. Published in the latest issue of Cancer, the study reveals that a type of HD known as nodular sclerosis was much more common in the United States t... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=182 Folic Acid shows promise as a cancer prevention drug Folic acid supplements may stop cancer progression and promote regression of the disease, according to new research. Published in the latest issue of Cancer, the small study found that 31 of 43 patients with a precancerous lesion in the larynx, called leucoplakia, demonstrated 50 % or greater redu... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=181 Lower doses of thalidomide may be effective in treating relapsed or refractory Multiple Myeloma Another study presented at ASCO shows that a lower dose of thalidomide for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (no longer responsive to treatment), multiple myeloma - may be just as effective, and result in fewer side effects than the standard dose of the drug normally given to these patients.... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=166 Imatinib in newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukaemia patients shows 89% survival at five years A five-year follow up of the largest study to evaluate the drug imatinib in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) continues to show high rates of prolonged response to the therapy. The study presented at ASCO showed that, in addition, the rate of disease progression in the m... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=167 Cancer risk reduction with ovary removal varies according to type of BRCA mutation A long-term, multi-centre study has shown that the reduction in breast and ovarian cancer risk resulting from oophorectomy - the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes in women at genetically high risk for these diseases - varies according to the type of genetic mutation present. Specifically, w... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=164 HPV vaccine may also prevent most vaginal and vulva cancers A new study, presented at ASCO 2006, shows that a vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer could also help prevent vaginal and vulva cancers which are associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV). A combined analysis of data from three large international studies found that the vaccine app... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=163 Tamoxifen and Raloxifene are equally effective in preventing invasive breast cancer A study presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) found that tamoxifen (Nolvadex) and raloxifene (Evista) are equally effective in preventing invasive breast cancer in women at high risk of the disease. Although tamoxifen was more effective than raloxif... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=162 Novel biomarkers identified to predict activity of pertuzumab in ovarian cancer patients A new study presented at ASCO has identified biomarkers that could potentially be used to predict whether patients with advanced ovarian cancer may benefit from the new targeted therapy pertuzumab (Omnitarg). These biomarkers, which are associated with the HER2 receptor protein, could provide a fa... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=180 YM155, a novel therapy that targets the anti-apoptotic protein survivin, A new phase I clinical study shows that the novel anticancer agent YM155 was well tolerated and shrank tumours in some patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and hormone-refractory prostate cancer that recurred after conventional chemotherapy. YM155 is the first agent designed to inhibit survivin—a pr... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=179 Yoga can improve quality of life during breast cancer treatment A new study shows that participating in a yoga program while undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer improves many aspects of patients’ quality of life according to research presented at ASCO 2006. “This is the first study to incorporate yoga as part of the treatment plan for cancer p... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=178 Anastrozole increases bone loss in women with invasive breast cancer A long-term study, presented at ASCO 2006, shows that taking the anticancer drug anastrozole for five years to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women with invasive breast cancer increases the rate of bone loss compared with tamoxifen. Women with low bone mineral density upon entry in... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=177 Vitamin D deficiency exacerbates bone loss associated with the drug exemestane Low blood levels of vitamin D may worsen the bone loss associated with exemestane, an aromatase inhibitor commonly given to postmenopausal women with breast cancer to prevent risk of recurrence, researchers from Norway reported at ASCO 2006. “Our findings support the use of vitamin D as well as... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=176 Switching from tamoxifen to exemestane extends survival in women with early breast cancer Researchers from the Intergroup Exemestane Study have shown for the first time that postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer - who switched to the drug exemestane after taking tamoxifen for two to three years following initial treatment, had a 15% lower risk of dying than those who cont... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=175 Lapatinib added to capecitabine improves treatment of patients with A phase III international multi-centre clinical trial has shown for the first time that giving the targeted therapy lapatinib with capecitabine controls cancer growth more effectively than capecitabine alone in women with advanced HER2/neu positive breast cancer that had started to grow despite ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=174 Genetic variations may explain why some childhood cancer A new study shows that variations in genes that control the metabolism of certain cancer drugs may explain why some patients, who received those drugs as children, experience severe cardiac side effects later in life, while others do not. Anthracylines are a class of chemotherapy drugs used ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=173 Adding docetaxel to standard treatment for advanced head and neck cancer reduces risk of death by 30% An international, multi-centre phase III study has shown that patients with advanced head and neck cancer who received initial, or “induction,” chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluororuracil (a combination known as TPF), were 30% less likely to die than patients who received the sta... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=172 Kidney cancer drug shows survival advantage in patients with advanced, high-risk disease An international, multi-centre phase III trial has found that administration of the experimental drug temsirolimus as a first-line treatment for high-risk patients with advanced kidney cancer is more effective than both the standard treatment, interferon-α, and therapy that combined interferon-α... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=171 Lapatinib helps patients with EGFR-expressing advanced kidney cancer live longer Research from A phase III clinical trial presented at ASCO has shown that the investigational drug lapatinib slowed cancer growth and improved survival in a subset of patients with an advanced form of kidney cancer called renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that continued to grow despite standard therapy. ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=170 Phase III trial shows superiority of sunitinib over interferon-α in patients with metastatic kidney cancer The first study to evaluate the new kidney cancer drug sunitinib as a first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma found that sunitinib improved progression-free survival and response rates when compared with standard treatment. The study findings were presented at the 42nd Annual Me... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=169 Addition of thalidomide to standard treatment extends survival for elderly Multiple Myeloma patients A multi-institutional research team in France has shown that giving elderly multiple myeloma patients the drug thalidomide in addition to two standard drugs improved survival compared with either the standard therapy alone or a stem cell transplant. The study was presented at the 42nd Annual Meeti... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=165 New drug combination shows promising results in patients with advanced lung cancer New drug combination shows promising results in patients with advanced lung cancer Data from an early phase I study show that an experimental drug combination increased responses three fold compared to predicted rates in patients with advanced lung cancer. The trial involved patients who had fai... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=161 New research may help predict individuals at risk of skin cancer American researchers have developed a new scientific model to help predict individuals that have an increased risk of developing a type of skin cancer known as melanoma. The number of people developing the disease is rising, and is prevalent in young adults. The risk factors are complex and invol... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=160 Obesity linked to all types of breast cancer According to a new study, women who gain weight in adulthood face a higher lifetime risk of all types of breast cancer. The study published in the journal Cancer is the first to investigate the relationship between weight gain and type of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer is linked to ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=158 The European Commission launches new health portal The European Commission has launched the ‘Health-EU portal’ - a gateway to simple and sound information on 47 health-related topics, including cancer. It is aimed at citizens, patients, healthcare professionals and scientists alike and will be available in all 20 official EU languages by the end of ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=157 Exercise benefits the mind and body of breast cancer survivors Exercise, specifically weight training significantly improves the quality of life in women who have been recently treated for breast cancer. According to a new study to be published in the 1st May 2006 issue of CANCER, weight training twice a week over a period of six months improved patient’s o... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=130 European Cancer Patients issue wake-up call for governments Brussels, 18.05.2006 European cancer patients, gathered at the 3rd Masterclass on Patient Advocacy of the European Cancer Patients Coalition in Milan May 12–14, have called on governments to get serious about tackling cancer – a disease that will affect one in every three Europeans, and will kill... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=154 Novel technique finds a link between everyday chemicals, cell death and cancer Scientists have discovered that the chemicals, naphthalene and para-dichlorobenzene (PDCB), used in mothballs and air fresheners, may cause cancer in humans. The chemicals inhibit the process of apoptosis, the body’s normal process that helps get rid of damaged cells that may develop in to cancer. I... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=151 Adult survivors of childhood cancer are more likely to face unemployment Adults who survived cancer as a child are twice as likely to be unemployed than the general population, according to a new study. Published in the latest issue of Cancer, the report reveals that employment problems differed by cancer type, with survivors of some cancers up to five times more likel... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=155 Exercise may prevent lymphoedema in breast cancer survivors A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology suggests that women who are treated for breast cancer should take part in resistance exercise to prevent the development of lymphoedema – a common condition that causes swelling in the arms. The randomised trial found that a six month pro... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=153 Women diagnosed with breast cancer should have their primary tumour totally removed - even if the cancer has already spread Surgery to remove the primary tumour is generally not advised for patients whose breast cancer has already spread at the point of diagnosis. This is because the disease is considered incurable. However, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology: May 15th 2006, has revealed that wome... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=152 Scientists detect cancer-causing chemicals in nearly half of babies exposed to parent’s cigarette smoke Scientists have detected cancer-causing chemicals which are associated with tobacco smoke in the urine of 47% of babies with smoking parents. Stephen S. Hecht, Ph.D., Professor of Cancer Prevention at The Cancer Centre, University of Minnesota, Philadelphia has said: “Don't smoke around your kids.... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=149 New treatment developed for rare cancer of the bone marrow Recent research from the Flanders Inter-university Institute for Biotechnology, Belgium has discovered that the drug Sorafenib works well on patients with cancer of the bone marrow (Chronic Eosinophilic Leukaemia) that have developed a resistance to the standard treatment. Chronic Eosino... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=148 The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) agree that embryo testing should be considered for breast, ovarian and bowel cancer Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), has released a statement on the use of Preimplanation Genetic Diagnosis (PDD) for inherited cancer susceptibility. “The role of medicine has always been to try to relieve pain and suffering and to try to improve... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=147 New drug may offer alternative treatment for patients with relapsed lung cancer Patients with pre-treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be able to take an oral chemotherapy pill that gives the same results as the current standard intravenous treatment. The randomised phase III trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology was conducted by an internat... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=146 Young men with prostate cancer benefit from radiation therapy Young men with prostate cancer benefit from radiation therapy Men under the age of 55 with localised prostate cancer may benefit from radiation therapy as an alternative to invasive surgery according to a new study. The research, published in the June issue of CANCER, is the first to investigate t... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=145 Chernobyl accident may cause cancer in 40,000 Europeans The Chernobyl accident happened on April 26th in 1986. Up until now it has been difficult to determine how many people have been, or will be affected by the disaster. The latest study carried out by International Agency for the Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluated the human cancer burden in 570 milli... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=139 New biomarker may be able to predict fatigue in breast cancer survivors Up to one third of women treated for breast cancer report fatigue symptoms up to 10 years after diagnosis. Researchers at the University of California have found a biological marker that may indicate those women more likely to suffer from disabling fatigue. The study published in the latest iss... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=144 Children need more information to help them deal with cancer in the family Children whose mother’s have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer need more age appropriate information about the disease to cope better, according to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal. More than a quarter of women in the western world will have children living at hom... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=143 New surgical technique for brain tumours may improve patient survival A novel technique that causes brain tumours to become fluorescent during surgery enables surgeons to remove more of the tumour and improve progression-free survival, report German researchers in The Lancet Oncology. Brain tumours, known as malignant gliomas, have a poor prognosis. This may be be... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=142 Potential new target to prevent the spread of cancer cells Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine, USA have identified a protein vital for the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. The research published in the journal Nature this week may help scientists develop new targeted anti-cancer drugs. Most deaths from cancer ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=141 Cancer cell suppression of DNA may be reversible Scientists have discovered that cancer cells suppress large regions of DNA by a process that may be reversible. The new research published in Nature genetics online will help scientists develop the next stage of drugs that may prevent cancer. Researchers at Australia’s Garvan Institute, in collabo... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=140 New hand held device may make it easier to detect oral cancers A new, simple, handheld device can help dentists detect high-risk precancerous and early cancerous lesions by looking at the colour of a light shone inside the mouth. Developing tumours in the mouth are often easily visible, however determining whether a sore is benign or potentially cancerous h... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=138 Alcohol responsible for a large proportion of cancer deaths New research to be published in the International Journal of Cancer shows that alcohol related cancers are responsible for around 1 in 30 cancer deaths world wide each year. The research highlighted that men in Central and Eastern Europe appeared to be particularly at risk of dying from alcohol rela... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=137 Potential reduction in breast cancer risk associated with vitamin D from sunlight New studies by researchers at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto suggest that vitamin D, the “sunshine” vitamin, may play a significant role in reducing breast cancer risk. The results found the reduction in breast cancer risk was most apparent among subjects exposed to the highest levels of vitami... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=136 Vitamin D intake from food may help prevent breast cancer Increasing doses of dietary Vitamin D may help prevent breast cancer, with the most desirable level of intake more than three times the current average for Americans. The study conducted at the University of California, San Diego examined existing cancer studies to determine if higher Vitamin D... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=135 Targeting leukaemia stem cells Cancer cell stems are thought to initiate and maintain tumours, unfortunately they share similar properties of normal stem cells. This makes it difficult to develop cancer drugs that kill cancer stem cells without killing normal stem cells. Damaging the haematopoietic stem cells (that help formulat... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=134 Pregnancy associated breast cancer may be caused by changes in breast tissue A study by scientists from The University of Colorado Cancer Centre, USA published in Nature Reviews Cancer, has found that pregnancy associated breast cancer may be linked to changes in the breast when the mammary gland regresses to its pre-pregnancy state. As more and more women have their fir... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=133 Kaposi’s sarcoma virus locks on to cell receptor Scientists have discovered a cell-surface "entry receptor" that the Kaposi’s sarcoma virus uses to invade cells according to an article published in Science. Kaposi's sarcoma is cancer of the connective tissue. The life-threatening lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma occur more frequently in immunocompr... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=132 Paclitaxel combined with bevacizumab prolongs progression free survival for patients with metastatic breast cancer Nice, France, Wednesday 22 March 2006 - Results from a large, randomised clinical trial for patients with breast cancer show that those who received bevacizumab (Avastin®) in combination with paclitaxel (Taxol®) survived without the disease getting worse for almost twice as long as patients who rece... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=125 Antidepressants might reduce the risk of colorectal cancer Taking certain antidepressants might reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer, according to researchers reporting in the April issue of The Lancet Oncology. The antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) “might inhibit the growth of colorectal tumours”,... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=129 Serendipity versus planning - Cancer drugs of the future? Nice, France, Friday 24 March 2006 - Delegates at the European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-5) were given two examples of promising new drugs to watch in the future - raloxifene and lapatinib. New anticancer drugs are usually developed specially for the job, but occasionally they are borrowed ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=127 Not all breast cancers’ risk are increased by HRT Nice, France, Thursday 23 March 2006 - Recent research presented today at EBCC-5 from the million women study found that taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) increased the risk of some types of breast cancer, but not others. Scientists analysed the data from the UK study to try and find a li... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=122 The European Breast Cancer Conference Manifesto, Nice Nice, France, Friday 24 March 2006 – Almost 5,000 delegates at the 5th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-5) today attended the presentation of the Nice Manifesto. The manifesto represents a commitment from doctors, nurses, patients and advocates to support breast cancer research and improve pa... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=128 ECPC welcomes MEPs call to make Cancer a Priority Brussels, 22.3.2006 The European Cancer Patients Coalition (ECPC) has welcomed a call for action endorsed by MEPs Against Cancer (MAC) at their first conference held at 22 March 06 in the European Parliament in Brussels, which was attended by EU Commisioner for Health, Markos Kyprianou. The stat... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=126 Age is an independent risk factor in young women with breast cancer Nice, France, Thursday 23 March 2006 – A 30 year old woman diagnosed with breast cancer has the same chance of survival as a 60 year old woman with breast cancer according to the latest findings presented today at the European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-5). Scientists have known for a whil... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=123 Patients want to know results of their clinical trials Nice, France, Wednesday 22 March 2006 - Although an overwhelming 98% of cancer patients wanted to know the results of the clinical trial they took part in, there is currently no standard way of conveying the information. The onus is usually placed on the patient to find out the results from their d... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=121 Breast cancer book for children wins the 2006 Nathwani prize Nice, France, Wednesday 22 March 2006 - The Nathwani prize for an outstanding contribution to improving the relationship between science and the arts was announced today at the European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-5). Catherine Thornton was awarded the prize for her book ‘Why Mum? A Small Child... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=120 Missing breast cancer genes may be soon discovered Researchers are closer to finding the missing 80% of breast cancer genes thanks to the success of the COSMIC database (Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer). Presented at the 5th European Breast Cancer Conference, today, Mike Stratton, creator of COSMIC said “About 5-10% of breast cancer case... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=119 HPV virus may cause skin cancer A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that the beta human papilloma virus (HPV) may cause a common form of skin cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a group of more than 70 different types of virus. They are gi... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=118 Patient treatment decisions may be influenced by media coverage A study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has found that the oral presentation of data from a single study at a national cancer conference changed patient treatment, even before study publication or FDA approval. The authors found that use of chemotherapy drugs called taxanes inc... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=117 Treatment duration may be critical for best results in pre-leukaemia disease According to a new study in the April issue of Cancer, longer courses of a mild form of chemotherapy may help patients with a pre-malignant form of leukaemia called Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). Patients with MDS have been shown to benefit from a new DNA hypo-methylating agent: decitabine. R... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=116 Cancer drug shows promise in treatment of heart disease The cancer drug paclitaxel out performed the current ‘gold standard’ radiation treatment in managing the constriction of coronary arteries and in preventing further clogging. The randomised trial results were announced at the American College of Cardiology's annual scientific meeting and will be p... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=115 Significant reduction in breast cancer deaths due to screening and adjuvant therapy In the run up to the 5th European Breast Cancer Conference in Nice a study from the New England Journal of Medicine has found that the number of breast cancer deaths in America is falling thanks to mammography and adjuvant therapy. Researchers developed different models of breast cancer incidence... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=114 Thalidomide should be added to treatment combination for multiple myeloma Adding thalidomide to the standard combination of drugs used to treat multiple myeloma in elderly patients could improve event-free survival, according to a randomised trial in this week’s issue of The Lancet. Multiple myeloma is a cancer that develops from cells in the bone marrow called plasma ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=112 Lung cancer patients who do not smoke are more likely to have specific gene mutations A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has found that non-smokers with lung cancer are more likely to have mutations in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene exons 19 and 21. About 10% of lung cancer patients are non-smokers. Previous studies have found that non... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=109 Combining HIV therapy and chemotherapy improves survival rates for men and women suffering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Survival rates in HIV patients suffering from aggressive malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma improved when treated with a combination of aggressive HIV therapy and chemotherapy. According to a new study published in CANCER, combining the two therapy treatments benefited HIV patients suffering from ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=108 Exercise does not lower the risk of bowel cancer A study of over 30,000 women in America has found no obvious association between how much physical activity you do and the incidence of bowel cancer. Research led by Brook A. Calton from the University of California, collected information about physical activity and number of bowel cancer case... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=107 Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements does not reduce the risk of bowel cancer Previous evidence had suggested that taking vitamin D and calcium supplements may reduce the risk of bowel cancer. However, new trial results have found that the supplements did not prevent bowel cancer in postmenopausal women. The trial took place over seven years investigating postmenopausal w... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=106 Unexpected high rates of tobacco use among girls worldwide In many regions of the world, the difference in current cigarette smoking between boys and girls is narrower than expected, according to an Article published online today (Friday February 17, 2006) by The Lancet. In the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), Charles Warren (Centers for Disease Contr... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=105 English parliament votes to ban smoking in pubs Last night MPs in the House of Commons voted to ban smoking in English pubs, clubs and restaurants, with effect from summer 2007. MPs voted by a margin of 200 votes to impose a ban on smoking in all enclosed spaces, despite months of proposed amendments to the bill. A call to exclude private clubs... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=104 MRI drug may help chemotherapy kill cancer cells A contrast drug currently used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), called mangafodipir, may increase the ability of some chemotherapy drugs to kill cancer cells while protecting normal cells, according to a study in tomorrow’s issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Many anticancer... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=103 Excisional treatments for pre-cancerous cervical cells could lead to problems in pregnancy Some of the techniques used to treat abnormal cervical cells could increase a woman’s risk of problems in pregnancy, concludes a meta-analysis in this week’s issue of The Lancet. The introduction of cervical screening programmes and treatment of pre-cancerous cells has produced a profound decreas... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=102 Fruit fly reveals a potential connection between dementia and cancer Researchers have demonstrated an intriguing link between neuronal death and proteins previously associated with cancer. The findings were discovered by Harvard Medical School after they expressed a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease in the brain of the fruit fly. The fruit fly (drosophi... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=101 FDA approves new treatment for gastrointestinal and kidney cancer The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US announced the approval of Sunitinib (Sunitinib), a new targeted anti-cancer treatment for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), a rare stomach cancer, and advanced kidney cancer. The decision is the first time the agency has approved ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=100 Chemotherapy given directly into the abdomen improves survival for women with ovarian cancer Results from a trial conducted at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Centre (U.S.A), found that women who received chemotherapy directly into their abdomen lived up to a year and a half longer than women who were given traditional, intravenous chemotherapy. There is still no screening test for ovari... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=98 No free gifts, drug samples or meals to be accepted by doctors from pharmaceutical companies working at Yale School of Medicine It took 12 months to compile and improve; however, in May 2005 new, stricter guidelines for doctors and pharmaceutical companies were approved by the board of Governors of the Yale Medical Group (YMG) and implemented into their faculty. The faculty of Yale School of Medicine and representatives... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=97 More children could survive cancer if they are diagnosed early enough "Too many children are unnecessarily dying each year, since they are never diagnosed or diagnosed too late." Isabel Mortara, Executive Director, International Union Against Cancer (UICC). UICC is to launch a new report on World Cancer Day on Saturday 4th February 2006 that highlights the fact t... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=95 60% of cancer patients live longer than estimated by their oncologists People affected by cancer want to know how long they have to live. Unfortunately, oncologists (cancer doctors), have trouble estimating and talking about their patients' survival. A study published in the British Journal of Cancer investigated the estimations made by oncologists for newly referr... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=94 Skin cancer is a growing problem in Hispanics Scientists have found a significant increase in the occurrence of melanoma among Hispanics, compared to white people living in California. A new study published in the March 1, 2006 issue of CANCER, finds, among other things, that Hispanics have thicker melanoma lesions. Between 1988 and 20... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=93 Protein test four times more effective than conventional test for recurring bladder cancer Doctors can use a new protein test which is four times more effective than the original urine test for patients with a history of bladder cancer to see if it will return. Researchers from the Anderson Cancer Centre, University of Texas, studied 668 patients From September 2001 to February 2002... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=92 Older women are more likely to die from breast cancer than women between the ages of 50 and 69 Women aged between 70 and 84 have a 13% less chance of surviving their breast cancer according to researchers from Sweden who did a population based study from one health care region. The study led by Sonja Eaker from the University of Uppsala, Sweden, compared 9,059 women between the ages of ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=91 People exposed to cadmium have an increased risk of getting cancer People exposed to the metal cadmium in the environment, have an increased cancer risk. Dr. Jan A Staessen who led the study with researchers from the University of Leuven, Belgium said, “Cadmium is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant in industrialised countries.” Researchers took random sample... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=90 New cervical screening technique found to be no better than the Pap smear test A new cervical screening technique – liquid-based cytology, is being introduced in the United Kingdom and United States and is found to be no better than the conventional cervical smear test. Elizabeth Davey, from the University Of Sydney, Australia and her colleagues reviewed 56 studies. They ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=89 Extensive surgery is found to be the best option for advanced-stage ovarian cancer patients. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Centre, Rochester, have found that extensive surgery to remove as much cancer as possible through the stomach is the best option for women with ovarian cancer. Dr. William Cliby a gynaecologic oncologist and who headed the study found that extensive surg... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=87 Smokers with a family history of lung cancer are encouraged to undergo screening test. Researchers have called for current and former smokers who have a strong family history of lung cancer to undergo a screening test to detect any signs of the disease in its early stages. Results, published in an article on familial lung cancer in the first issue for January 2006 of the American J... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=85 Chemotherapy treatment for endometrial cancer is more effective than radiotherapy. A new study has shown that giving two chemotherapy drugs to women with endometrial cancer after surgery, reduces the risk of the cancer coming back by 29% and increases survival by 32% compared with women who received whole abdominal radiotherapy. Between 1992 and 2001, researchers from the... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=84 One third of breast cancer survivors experience problems with fatigue for as long as ten years after diagnosis. More than 30% of breast cancer survivors report problems with fatigue for as long as ten years after they had been diagnosed with the disease. A study conducted by the University of California investigated symptoms of fatigue in 763 long term survivors. About 34% of survivors reported significant ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=83 Families influence breast cancer treatment among older Hispanic women There are significant racial differences in breast cancer management, according to a new study, published in the February 15, 2006 issue of CANCER. Hispanic women, more than any other racial group, rely on their family to make the decisions about their treatment. Women who identified their ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=82 New screening test for bowel cancer could reduce the need for further intrusive examinations People who have been screened and tested positively for bowel cancer could be offered a follow-up sample test instead of a colonoscopy. According to author Dr Callum G Fraser, the new test known as an immunochemical faecal occult blood test (FOBT) “Could decrease substantially the number of fals... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=81 New drug target does not cause ageing In the January issue of Genes & Development, researchers have confirmed that the p53 inhibitor, Mdm2, is a promising target for cancer therapies and does not promote ageing. The tumour suppressor gene p53, normally prevents tumour growth. However alterations in the gene can cause it to malfuncti... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=80 Poverty prevents uptake of cervical cancer screening African-American women who live in communities below the poverty line are less likely to be screened for cervical cancer. Even after taking other social factors into consideration, such as: old age, smoking and education. The study to appear in the February 1, 2006 issue of CANCER demonstrates ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=79 Art therapy can alleviate many symptoms in cancer patients A study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management and conducted at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital found that art therapy reduced symptoms in eight out of nine symptoms relating to cancer. Patients spent an hour working on artistic projects of their choice and were then measur... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=78 Women treated with letrozole compared to tamoxifen are less likely to get cancer again. More than 8000 post-menopausal women with early stage breast cancer from 27 countries (not including the United States) took part in a trial conducted by The Breast International Group (BIG). The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has found that women treated with letrozole a... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=77 Breast cancer treatment may be effected by altered gene A new study has found that Tamoxifen may be less effective in treating women with breast cancer if they have a relatively common genetic variation, according to research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Tamoxifen usually reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence by almost 50% ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=76 Ancient Chinese remedy shows potential in preventing breast cancer A derivative of the sweet wormwood plant used to fight malaria known as artemisinin appears to target and kill cancer cells. In a new study from the journal Cancer Letters, two University of Washington bioengineers found that the substance artemisinin; appeared to prevent the onset of breast can... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=75 Revised ASCO Conflict of Interest Policy ASCO's Board of Directors has approved a revised Conflict of Interest (COI) Policy to safeguard the integrity of the Society's scientific and educational programs and publications. The COI Policy applies to ASCO leaders and volunteers and those who present at ASCO meetings or publish in ASCO journ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=74 Drinking tea can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer Antioxidants found in green and black tea may help protect against ovarian cancer. A population study lead by Susanna Larsson at The Karolinska Institute in Sweden, examined 60,000 women aged 40 – 76 who had had an x-ray examination of their breasts between 1987 and 1990. Over this period, th... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=73 Statins do not help protect against breast cancer Taking statins, the anti-cholesterol drug, does not prevent breast cancer according to a recent meta-analysis of studies, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Statins are a relatively safe group of drugs given to lower cholesterol. They are commonly used in people over 50 years of ag... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=72 Survival rates for colon cancer patients improve More patients with stage III colon cancer are receiving chemotherapy after surgery, improving their five year survival rates according to a study in the December 7 issue of JAMA. However two-thirds of patients, mainly women, blacks and the elderly, are less likely to receive treatment. The Nat... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=71 Chemotherapy improves survival for patients with endometrial cancer A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that chemotherapy improved survival for patients with advanced endometrial cancer when compared to radiation therapy. Endometrial cancer affects the cells in the lining of the uterus. Women who take tamoxifen for breast cancer are ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=70 Trastuzamab (herceptin®) may place a financial burden on government health budgets European governments may need to plan their resources carefully if they are to afford new cancer drugs that can benefit patients. A Belgian study published in the Annals of Oncology looked at the cost implications of prescribing the drug trastuzamab (herceptin®) to breast cancer patients as an a... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=69 New cancer drug shows tumour shrinkage The chemotherapy drug sunitinib has been shown to shrink cancer tumours according to a study published in the latest Journal of Clinical Oncology. The drug is part of a new group of targeted drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. They work by blocking the enzyme needed to form blood vessels ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=68 Chromosome alterations in neuroblastomas may help predict survival New tumour biomarkers may help to identify outcomes for patients with neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer according to a study published in the New England Medical Journal. Neuroblastoma is one of the most common cancers found in babies or young children, with two thirds of cases diagnosed... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=67 Diabetics have a higher risk of bowel cancer Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of bowel cancer according to a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Previous studies have been inconclusive about the link between the two conditions. Bowel cancer is the most common form of cancer in the European U... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=66 Aspartame may cause cancer in rats New research published in the Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives suggests for the first time that aspartame, widely used as an artificial sweetener, may cause cancer in rats. The Italian study conducted by the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center of the European Ramazzini Foundation ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=65 Fewer visits to the clinic could improve cervical screening programmes in developing countries A study published in the New England Medical Journal has found that the most cost effective way of improving cervical cancer survival is to offer once in a lifetime screening visits and improved follow-up testing and treatment. Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among women in de... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=64 Polio vaccines containing a contaminated virus that may cause cancer were used around the world until 1978 A study published in Cancer Research has revealed that contaminated polio vaccines produced from early 1960s to 1978 in Eastern Europe were used throughout the world. It was known that polio vaccines were prepared before 1961 from primary cell cultures derived from monkey kidneys. Studies of tho... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=61 New therapeutic approach for local tumours A new chemotherapy approach has been developed to treat solid tumours. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is the first treatment of its kind to use a new technology to deliver drugs or genes directly into the cell. First of all, the tumour is injected with Cisplatin, then, electric pulses are delivered t... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=60 Fentanyl patch is a safe and effective alternative to oral opioids for children A new study found that using a transdermal patch to deliver the opioid fentanyl is an effective way to control pain in children. Results from an international study to be published in the December 15, 2005 issue of CANCER indicate that the fentanyl patch is safe for children aged 2 to 16 years. ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=59 A new technique is better at clearing indwelling ports and lessening morbidity in cancer patients The use of normal saline solution and a technique that relies on positive pressure is more effective at cleaning indwelling ports than heparinized solution according to a new study presented at The European Cancer Conference. Cancer patients are often fitted with a port which is used to give cont... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=58 Genetic defects common to cancer and birth defects The ‘Quaking’ gene, originally associated with cell mutation in mice that causes rapid tremor movement, is thought to be able to suppress the development of tumours and protect humans from cancer. Scientists from Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin have shown how the gene wo... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=57 The discovery of a specific molecular signature will help treat patients with brain cancer. Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles Jonsson Cancer Centre, have identified key characteristics in certain fatal brian tumours that make them more likely to respond to a specific class of drugs than those tumours where the specific molecular signature is absent. The dis... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=56 Further advances in treatment for prostate cancer patients A number of studies presented at the European Cancer Conference demonstrated advances in the treatment of prostate cancer patients. Prostate cancer affects over 230,000 people in Europe every year and is one of the biggest cancer killers. (1) In the largest hormone therapy trial ever conducted i... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=55 Increased radiotherapy doses may improve prostate cancer survival A Dutch study presented at the European Cancer Conference in Paris has found that treating prostate cancer patients with higher doses of radiotherapy can significantly improve patient outcome over a five year period. The study looked at 669 patients with prostate cancer that had not spread to the... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=54 Nano technology could help in fight against cancer New data from researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in America have revealed that targeted drug delivery is possible using nanoparticle - apatamer conjugates. The results were announced at the European Cancer Conference in Paris earlier today. On... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=53 Possible link between Chlamydia and Lymphoma Infection with bacteria from the Chlamydia family may be linked to the development of a type of lymphoma (OAL) which affects the tissues surrounding the eye, according to results released at the 13th European Cancer Conference in Paris. There are 56,000 new cases of lymphoma in Europe every year... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=52 Discovery of ‘gene fusion’ could lead to more specific diagnostic tests for prostate cancer. Scientists have discovered a recurring pattern of scrambled chromosomes and abnormal gene activity that occurs only in prostate cancer. The study, to be published in the October 28 issue of Science, indicates that these chromosomal rearrangements stimulate specific genes to merge, creating a ge... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=51 Chemotherapy regime may help preserve limbs in 90% of young people with osteosarcoma A new study has found that high doses of chemotherapy may improve a patient’s chance of preserving a limb with osteosarcoma. The joint findings by the Italian and Scandinavian sarcoma groups will be published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cance... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=50 Latest innovation in breast cancer treatment could lead to ‘one stop shop’ Breast cancer patients can expect quicker treatment with fewer side effects following new research from the European Institute of Oncology. A new study entitled ELIOT (Electron Interoperative therapy) indicates that delivering radio therapy directly to the open breast during surgery may be as effect... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=6 Tobacco advertising ban takes effect On 31st July the EU’s Tobacco Advertising Directive comes into effect. Passed by the European Parliament and Council in 2003, the Directive bans tobacco advertising in the print media, on radio and over the internet. It also prohibits tobacco sponsorship of cross-border cultural and sporting events.... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=13 Home test kits for bowel cancer Home testing kits are to be sent out to people in their 60’s in a bowel cancer screening programme for England. The government has announced that by 2009, everyone aged 60-69 will be asked to self-test every two years. Bowel cancer is the second largest cause of cancer death in the UK and Europe. Th... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=14 Blood stem cell transplant from a relative better option for children with Leukaemia Children with very high-risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) benefit if they receive a blood stem cell transplant from a compatible related donor rather than chemotherapy. The results published online today by The Lancet affects children’s treatment when they are in complete remission. ALL is... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=15 Study confirms treatment switch is beneficial for women with early breast cancer Switching treatment to the drug anastrozole after two years of tamoxifen can improve event free survival for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer, concludes a study in this week’s issue of The Lancet. For more than 20 years tamoxifen has been the standard treatment after surgery for post... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=17 Olive oil may prevent the onset of bowel cancer A study published in the latest ‘International Journal of Cancer’ found that adding olive oil to cancer cells in the laboratory had a preventive effect and cut down DNA damage; a pre-requisite to cancer. The incidence of bowel cancer is lower in the Mediterranean, compared to Northern Europe. Oli... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=20 Radiotherapy after surgery best option for prostate cancer patients Giving prostate cancer patients radiotherapy after surgery could help prevent the progression of their disease, concludes an article in this week’s issue of ‘The Lancet’. When cancer is confined to the prostate, removal of the organ can successfully control the disease. However, for patients with... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=21 Tadpoles may soon help in the fight against cancer Researchers from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) have found that tadpoles may hold the key to studying the lymph system. The researchers found that tadpoles make the perfect model system for the study of the lymphatic vessel network. This discovery will help accelerate... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=22 A powerful new tool for decoding gene functions in mammals and Man American and Chinese researchers have found a way of studying the function of genes in mice and man by using a moveable genetic element from moths, according to a report in the latest journal of ‘Cell’. Senior author Tian Xu, Professor of Genetics at Yale University School of Medicine said "We k... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=24 Compound from Asian plant combats pancreatic cancer A compound derived from a South East Asian shrub whose leaves produce a poison ivy-like skin rash halted pancreatic cancer in laboratory animals. The cancer-fighting compound, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, generally known as TPA, is found in an oil drawn from seeds of the croton plant. ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=25 New research could lead to ovarian cancer screening test. Researchers at Pennsylvania’s State College of Medicine have found a signal that could lead to earlier detection and treatment of ovarian cancer. The team of scientists led by Kathleen M. Mulder, (Ph.D.), professor of pharmacology, studied ‘km23’ – a protein that helps direct traffic in the cell... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=26 Obese women under treated for breast cancer Doctors should not reduce chemotherapy doses for obese women with oestrogen-receptor negative* breast cancer, according to a research letter being published online today by The Lancet. Clinicians often reduce chemotherapy doses when treating obese patients because of concerns about altered drug d... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=28 Link found between Euthanasia requests and depression A study from the Netherlands has found that cancer patients who are depressed are four times more likely to request euthanasia. The study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology demonstrates a link between depressed mood and the number of terminally ill cancer patients that request euthanasia.... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=29 Toxicity predicts effective chemotherapy dose Toxicity from chemotherapy in lung cancer patients could help predict treatment efficacy, according to research in the September issue of The Lancet Oncology. Chemotherapy is standard treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, although benefits are modest and toxicity substa... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=30 Researchers find drug that blocks spread of lung cancer in mice American researchers have found a compound that shows promise as a way to block the spread of lung cancer according to a study published in September’s journal of ‘Cancer Research’. The compound, called GRN163L, blocks an enzyme that allows cancer cells to keep dividing. The enzyme (telomerase) k... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=31 Drug can reduce hot flashes for women with breast cancer A drug called gabapentin could reduce the incidence of hot flashes in women with breast cancer by 46%, according to a randomised trial published in this week’s issue of The Lancet. Hot flashes are a collection of symptoms including sweating, palpitations, and anxiety. Hot flashes are the most com... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=32 Sunlight may improve the survival of Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients Vitamin D from sunlight may improve the prognosis of patients with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma according to a report published in the latest British Journal of Cancer. The study looked at the records of all Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer patients in Norway diagnosed between 1964 and 2000. Researchers found tha... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=33 Gene malfunction may explain why more African American Women get breast cancer Researchers in America have found a difference in gene structure between white and black women that may cause breast cancer. Previous research has shown that this malfunction is associated with several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The altered... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=34 A diet enriched in beans, nuts and cereals could help prevent cancer Scientists have discovered a new and potent anti-cancer compound in everyday food such as beans, nuts and cereals. The study led by UCL shows that inositol pentakisphosphate, a compound that inhibits a key enzyme which is involved in tumour growth, offers a new tool for anti-cancer therapy. The e... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=35 Pomegranates show promise as prostate cancer therapy Pomegranate fruit extract appears to both delay and treat prostate cancer in mice, researchers at University of Wisconsin Medical School report. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in European men. The pomegranate fruit contains antioxidant compounds such as tannins and a... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=38 Scientists develop screening method for pancreatic cancer Immediate release: 20 September 2005 Scientists develop screening method for pancreatic cancer Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found a way of identifying families at high risk of pancreatic cancer. The team has developed a new way of testing for pancreatic cancer that will e... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=36 Scientists discover a simple new test to detect mouth cancer A team of Scientists may have discovered a way to use a simple dye litmus test to identify abnormal areas of the mouth that may become cancers. The dye called Toluidine blue accurately predicts which pre-malignant lesions are likely to become cancerous. This process could be developed in to a mass s... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=37 New Phase II trials for CA4P New Phase II trials for CA4P A Phase II clinical trial evaluating CA4P in triple combination therapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel - a widely used chemotherapeutic regimen - for the treatment of relapsed, advanced platinum-resistant ovarian cancer has been announced. The Phase II triple com... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=39 Short-term hormone therapy can improve outlook for men with early prostate cancer Giving men with locally advanced prostate cancer 6 months of androgen deprivation therapy in addition to radiotherapy can substantially improve their outlook, concludes an article published online today (Thursday October 6, 2005) by The Lancet Oncology. Androgen deprivation therapy aims to lower ... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=41 Unfair access to cancer drugs across Europe There are great inequalities in patient access to cancer treatment across Europe according to a report published by Sweden’s Karolinska Institute. The report found big differences in treatment, despite the proven benefits of many modern cancer drugs in boosting survival and reducing hospital sta... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=42 Survival rates of Black women with breast cancer may be affected by other diseases Black breast cancer patients may have shorter survival rates than white patients because of higher rates of other diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension according to a study in the latest issue of JAMA. Although breast cancer survival has improved over the last 30 years, differences in breast... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=43 Folate may help prevent breast cancer in women with a high alcohol intake Women who drink alcohol might be well advised to increase their folate intake to help protect against breast cancer. The study published in the British Medical Journal found that women who have a high alcohol intake should ensure they eat enough fola... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=44 New cell pathway switch is discovered New targeted treatments to fight non-small cell lung cancer, brain tumours and prostate cancer may be a step closer thanks to a new discovery by scientists in America. Research published in the journal Cancer Cell reveals that scientists have discovered the molecular switch that combines cell su... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=45 Cervical cancer has a profound psychosocial impact on men as well as women in relationships. A recent study in the International Journal of Gynaecological Cancer revealed that women with cervical cancer and their male partners had equal levels of concerns in the first year following treatment. The couple’s concerns were broad and included their treatment and other psychosocial issues, inc... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=46 Breakthrough in breast cancer treatment Results from three large international clinical trials of Herceptin in patients with aggressive Her2-positive breast cancer, show that the drug dramatically reduces the chances of recurrence in patients with early stage breast cancer, when prescribed the drug for one year following their standard ch... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=47 Cholesterol levels and use of lipid-lowering drugs are not associated with breast cancer risk Cholesterol levels and use of statins or other lipid-lowering drugs are not associated with breast cancer risk, according to a study in the latest issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Although some evidence suggests that statins (the most commonly used t... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=48 New possibility for bladder cancer test Measuring certain enzyme activity in urine appears useful for detection of bladder cancer in men, according to a study in the October 26 issue of JAMA. The incidence of human bladder cancer has greatly increased over the last few decades, with nearly 120,000 new cases diagnosed in Europe each ye... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=49 Stomach cancer General Stomach cancer begins in the glandular tissue of the stomach and is also known as gastric cancer. The stomach is only one of many organs in the abdomen that can develop cancer. The stomach is a sack-like organ that holds food and mixes it with gastric juice to begin the process of dige... /Stomach_Cancer_Factsheet.aspx Ovarian cancer General Ovarian cancer develops in the cells of the ovary. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and are the main source of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone that both regulate the menstrual cycle and are responsible for female body character... /Ovarian_Cancer_Factsheet.aspx Matt’s story – testicular cancer Matt was 29 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He found a lump near the top of his left testicle whilst washing in the shower. He wasn’t sure what the lump could be and didn’t want to go to the doctors. He hadn’t been since he was a small boy and felt embarrassed at the thought. However t... /Patient_Stories.aspx?patient_id=4 James’ story - prostate cancer James went to his local doctor for his annual medical. He was told that his PSA levels had risen significantly since his last visit. This meant his prostate gland had increased in size since his last check up. James was 60 years old and knew there was a chance he could have prostate cancer. James... /Patient_Stories.aspx?patient_id=3 Anna’s story – lung cancer Anna was 50 years old and had smoked cigarettes for thirty years. After a horrible bout of bronchitis that involved a stay in hospital Anna decided it was time to quit smoking. During the stay in hospital x-rays had been taken of her lungs and nothing unusual was spotted. Anna successfully stopped s... /Patient_Stories.aspx?patient_id=2 John’s story - bowel cancer John was 55 when he started to notice a slight bleeding from his bowel. He was really worried and made an appointment with his doctor. Although there was no history of bowel cancer in the family his father had suffered from a pre cancerous ulcer in the bowel so John had always looked out for any sym... /Patient_Stories.aspx?patient_id=1 3rd ESMO Patient Seminar 30-31 October 2004 Run in conjunction with the ESMO congress the patient seminar promotes communication between cancer patients and doctors. Patients from all over Europe can discuss their needs and experiences with doctors who can contribute to the science behind the cancer. Both parties are wor... /Events_Calendar.aspx?Month=10 29th ESMO Congress 29 October – 2 November 2004 Vienna, Austria ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) was created in 1980 as a European organisation to advance the science and practice of medical oncology. Every two years the Society holds a congress to present the latest developments in cancer research and technology. More than 8,0... /Events_Calendar.aspx?Month=10 Latest innovation in breast cancer treatment could lead to ‘one stop shop’ Breast cancer patients can expect quicker treatment with fewer side effects following new research from the European Institute of Oncology. A new study entitled ELIOT (Electron Interoperative therapy) indicates that delivering radio therapy directly to the open breast during surgery may be as effect... /NewsArticle.aspx?ItemID=8 About: European School of Oncology The European School of Oncology (ESO) is an independent, non profit organisation dedicated to improving patient care and the oncological skills of health professionals. ESO was founded by Umberto Veronesi and Laudomia Del Drago in 1982 to try and reduce deaths from cancer due to late diagnosis and i... /About_Us.aspx Dictionary: Z Zinc sulfate A substance required for cell growth and tissue repair.... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=Z Dictionary: Y Yttrium A rare elemental metal. A radioactive form of yttrium is used in radiation therapy and some types of immunotherapy.... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=Y Dictionary: X X-ray High-energy electromagnetic radiation used to create a 2-D picture of the body.... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=X Dictionary: W White blood cells (leukocytes) They help defend the body against germs, viruses and bacteria. There are different types of white blood cells. Each has a special role to play in protecting the body against infection. The 3 main types of white blood cells are granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes. ... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=W Dictionary: V Venepuncture Puncturing a vein in order to obtain blood samples, to start an intravenous drip, or to give medication. Vesicant A medication or agent that may cause blistering. Virus A tiny infectious agent that is smaller than bacteria. The common cold is caused by a virus. Vitamins Organ... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=V Dictionary: U Ultrasound The use of high frequency sound waves to create a picture of internal organs. Urethra The tube that empties urine from the bladder. Ureterostomy A surgical procedure where the ureters are cut from the bladder and connected to an opening on the abdomen, allowing urine to flow into a ... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=U Dictionary: T Terminal disease A Disease that cannot be cured and will cause death. Testicular self-examination (TSE) A simple manual self-examination of the testes to check for lumps and changes. Thoracentesis (Pleural tap) A procedure to remove fluids from the area between the two layers (pleura) covering... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=T Dictionary: S Sarcoma A type of cancer that forms in the muscles or connective tissue such as bone and cartilage. Scrotum A sac of loose skin that lies directly below the penis and contains the testicles. Secondary A new tumour that has developed distant from the original cancer. Side effects Secondary ... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=S Dictionary: R Radiation therapy/radiotherapy X-ray treatment that uses high energy rays to damage or kill cancer cells. Radiologist/ Radiographer A doctor who specialises in the use of x-rays to diagnose and treat disease. Rectum The lower part of the intestine. Recurrent cancer Cancer that has returne... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=R Dictionary: Q Quadrantectomy Surgical removal of the region of the breast (approximately one quarter) containing cancer Quality of life The overall enjoyment of life. Many clinical trials assess the effects of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life. These studies measure the individual's sense of well... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=Q Dictionary: P Palliative treatment Treatment aimed at the relief of pain and symptoms but not intended to cure the disease. Pap (Papanicolaou) smear A test to detect cancer of the cervix. Paracentesis Removing fluid from the abdomen under local anesthesia with a needle and syringe. Pathological fractu... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=P Dictionary: O ODAC Oncology Drug Advisory Committee. A group in the US made up of patient representatives and cancer professionals that advise the FDA about the success of clinical trials. Oncologist A Cancer Doctor. Oncology The study and treatment of cancer. Oncology nurse A registered nurse who speci... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=O Dictionary: N Nasal cavity The chamber in from the nose where air is moistened and warmed. NCI National Cancer Institute is part of the US National Institutes of Health and is the Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research. NCRI National Cancer Research Institute, a partnership between UK g... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=N Dictionary: M Malignant tumour A tumour made up of cancer cells. Mammogram (Mammography) A low-dose x-ray that forms a picture of the breasts to detect any abnormal growths or cysts. Mastectomy The surgical removal of the breast. Mastectomy – Double Removal of both breasts. Mastectomy – Preventativ... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=M Dictionary: L Laryngectomy The surgical removal of the larynx (voice box). larynx The voice box where the vocal cords are located. Lesion A lump or abscess that may be caused by injury or disease, such as cancer. Leukaemia Cancer of the blood. White blood cells may be produced in excessive amounts and ... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=L Dictionary: K Keloid A thick, irregular scar caused by excessive tissue growth at the site of an incision or wound. Kidney One of a pair of organs in the abdomen. Kidneys remove waste from the blood (as urine), produce erythropoietin (a substance that stimulates red blood cell production), and play a role in r... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=K Dictionary: J Jaundice A condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes become yellow, urine darkens, and the color of stool becomes lighter than normal. Jaundice occurs when the liver is not working properly or when a bile duct is blocked. Junctional nevus A mole found in the junction (border) between... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=J Dictionary: I Ileostomy A surgical opening in the abdomen connected to the small intestine to allow stool to be emptied into a (Ileostomy) bag. Immunity (Immune system) The body's ability to fight infection and disease. Immunosuppression Weakening of the immune system that lowers the body’s ability to figh... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=I Dictionary: H Hematocrit (Hct) The percentage of red blood cells in the blood. A low hematocrit measurement indicates anaemia. Hematologist A doctor who specialises in the problems of blood and bone marrow. Hematology The study of the blood. Hematuria Blood in the urine. Hemoccult test (Also known... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=H Dictionary: G Genomics /Genome The full set of genetic information that an individual inherits from its parents, especially the set of chromosomes and the genes they carry. GIO Medicines Group EU group established to bring together the Commission responsible for consumer protection and health and Director Gene... /Dictionary.aspx?Letter=G