Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/cancer-oncology/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156392.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156392.php UCSF researchers have identified a new "feed-forward" pathway linking estrogen receptors in the membrane of the uterus to a process that increases local estrogen levels and promotes cell growth. The research is significant in helping determine why tamoxifen and other synthetic estrogens are linked to increased rates of endometriosis and uterine cancer, and identifies a pathway that could be targeted in drug therapies for those diseases, researchers say. Women's Health / Gynecology Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156398.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156398.php Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have discovered that gene mutations that once helped humans survive may increase the possibility for diseases, including cancer. The findings were recently the cover story in the journal Genome Research. Cancer / Oncology Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156369.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156369.php Several statistical and biological issues need to be addressed in order to improve biomarker identification for early detection of cancer, according to a commentary published online July 2 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The biomarker pipeline to develop and evaluate cancer screening tests includes the identification of promising biomarkers to detect cancers early and the initial and definitive evaluation of biomarkers for cancer screening. Cancer / Oncology Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156372.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156372.php Certain mutations in the DNA of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are associated with the development of liver cancer and may help predict which patients with HBV infections are at increased risk of the disease, according to a large meta-analysis in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published online July 2. HBV infection is a known cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156337.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156337.php Women with breast cancer who receive chemotherapy appear more likely than those treated with radiation therapy to experience a major change in work status, according to a study published in the journal Cancer, Reuters reports. For the study, Breast Cancer Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156236.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156236.php A molecule called telomerase, best known for enabling unlimited cell division of stem cells and cancer cells, has a surprising additional role in the expression of genes in an important stem cell regulatory pathway, say researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The unexpected finding may lead to new anticancer therapies and a greater understanding of how adult and embryonic stem cells divide and specialize. Cancer / Oncology Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156264.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156264.php Lixte Biotechnology Holdings (OTC Bulletin Board: LIXT) announced that investigators of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health and Lixte reported that its novel compound, LB-1.2, enhances the effectiveness of two standard chemotherapy drugs in mouse models of human cancers. This research is being conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between NINDS and Lixte. Cancer / Oncology Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156224.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156224.php The American Dietetic Association has released an updated position paper on vegetarian diets that concludes such diets, if well-planned, are healthful and nutritious for adults, infants, children and adolescents and can help prevent and treat chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes. Nutrition / Diet Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156226.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156226.php Deleting two genes in mice responsible for repairing DNA strands damaged by oxidation leads to several types of tumors, providing additional evidence that such stress contributes to the development of cancer. That's the conclusion of a recent study* in DNA Repair by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and the New York University School of Medicine (NYUSM). Cancer / Oncology Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156175.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156175.php Johnson & Johnson has announced that Axel Ullrich, Ph.D., director of the Department of Molecular Biology at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany, whose discoveries have led to novel cancer therapies including Herceptin® (trastuzumab) , is the winner of the 2009 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research. An independent committee of world-renowned scientists selected Dr. Ullrich, who on September 8 will receive a $100,000 prize during a ceremony in Beerse, Belgium. Cancer / Oncology Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156179.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156179.php Janet Davison Rowley, MD, a founder in the field of cancer cytogenetics and a renowned leader in molecular oncology, will receive the 2009 Genetics Prize of The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation. She is being honored with the prestigious international award for discoveries of recurrent chromosomal abnormalities in leukemias and lymphomas - discoveries that have revolutionized how cancer is understood and treated. Lymphoma / Leukemia Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156110.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156110.php AstraZeneca announced that it has received a licence by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for its oral targeted anti-cancer drug, gefitinib, for EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase) activating mutation positive patients with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer and accounts for 80% of all lung cancer cases. Lung Cancer Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156099.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156099.php The University of Manchester and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) have launched a major new e-science resource for biologists which could accelerate research into treatments for H1N1 flu and cancer. Biocatalogue. Cancer / Oncology Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156102.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156102.php Survivors of childhood cancer run particular risks when pregnant and should be closely monitored, the 25th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology heard today (Wednesday 1 July). Dr. Cancer / Oncology Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156066.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156066.php Doctors have reaffirmed their opposition to assisted suicide following a debate at the BMA's Annual Conference in Liverpool yesterday. Doctors rejected calls from Thameside doctor, Kailash Chand to change legislation to allow the choice of an assisted death by patients who are terminally ill and who have mental capacity. Palliative Care / Hospice Care Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156070.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156070.php The search is on for fifty cancer patients undergoing chemo or radiotherapy to trial an innovative, natural cosmetic product, Evonail, aimed at reversing the damage done to cracked or broken nails during anti-cancer treatments. Evolife's full range of support care products, including Evonail, are regularly used in France and in over 16 countries in the world, but they have only recently been launched in the UK through the Cancer / Oncology Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156079.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156079.php Pfizer Inc announced the discontinuation of the SUN 1122 Phase 3 trial that evaluated Sutent® (sunitinib malate) plus FOLFIRI (irinotecan plus infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin) versus FOLFIRI alone for the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Colorectal Cancer Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156085.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156085.php Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM) today announced that it has been awarded a European patent for a novel device and methods for linking biological agents to labels for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The technology, which is known as In-Line labeling, was developed for the production of radiolabeled anti-cancer antibodies, but is applicable to other agents as well. Neurology / Neuroscience Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156057.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156057.php A just published Review in the publication "Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs", Volume 18, Issue 7 2009, confirms the previous published information on PROSTVAC(TM). This is the most comprehensive and updated Review on PROSTVAC(TM) so far. Prostate / Prostate Cancer Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156062.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156062.php Previously, only a few genes had been associated with the formation of metastases in colorectal cancer. Now, researchers of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch and Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Germany, have identified 115 genes that are disregulated both in the primary tumor and in its metastases. In the future, their findings may help identify patients with aggressive tumors at an earlier stage (Gastroenterology 2009, doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2009. Colorectal Cancer Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155949.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155949.php The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation named 4 new Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators at its April 2009 Clinical Investigator Award Committee review. The recipients of this prestigious, three-year award are outstanding early career physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented cancer research at major research centers under the mentorship of the nation's leading scientists and clinicians. Each will receive $450,000 to support the development of his cancer research program. Cancer / Oncology Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155972.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155972.php "Crunching data from published studies, the authors found that treating a lung-cancer patient with Erbitux, a drug that costs $80,000 for an 18-week regimen, prolongs survival by only 1.2 months," the Wall Street Journal reports. Cancer / Oncology Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155924.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155924.php Summer is in full swing, and barbeques are a perfect way to relax, spend time with family and friends, and celebrate the July 4th holiday. To help you better prepare for this popular activity, nutrition experts at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center offer advice on how to barbeque the healthy way. M. D. Anderson dietitian, Vicki Piper, R.D., L.D., encourages cookout fans to grill plenty of fruits and vegetables, and less meat. Cancer / Oncology Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155965.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155965.php A 12-year study that followed over 60,000 Britons, half of whom were vegetarian, suggests that vegetarians had a lower risk of developing cancer than meat-eaters. However, more studies are needed before we can use this evidence as sufficient reason to ask people to change their diets, say the researchers and other experts. Cancer / Oncology Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155902.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155902.php A new computer model developed at MIT can help solve a problem that has plagued drug companies trying to develop promising new treatments made of antibodies: Such drugs have a relatively short shelf life because they tend to clump together, rendering them ineffective. Antibodies are the most rapidly growing class of human drugs, with the potential to treat cancer, arthritis and other chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases. Cancer / Oncology