Cancer Category
Top NEWS Post 11-24-2008
Here is our Top News Post for today, brought to you by MedReader:
- Targeted Nanoparticles Boost Platinum-Based Anti-Cancer Therapy
A research team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)-Harvard Center for Nanotechnology Excellence has custom-designed nanoparticles that can deliver the anticancer drug cisplatin specifically to prostate cancer cells.
Top NEWS Post 11-3-2008
Here is our Top News Post for today, brought to you by MedReader:
- World’s First Early Stage Diagnostic Test For Ovarian Cancer
There is new hope for women around the world, with the launch of an early detection test for ovarian cancer. The test, developed in Melbourne by HealthLinx scientists in collaboration with ARL Pathology, is called the OvPlex™ Panel and works by identifying whether five biomarkers (proteins) are present in a blood sample. Two Victorian women have become the first test recipients
Top NEWS Post 10-23-2008
Here is our Top News Post for today, brought to you by MedReader:
- New Way Of Inhibiting The Cell Cycle Shows Promise in Cancer Patients In A Phase I Clinical Trial
Cancer patients who have failed to respond to other treatments have responded to a new anti-cancer compound that works by blocking a part of the cell’s machinery that is crucial for cell division. Having passed the Phase I of the clinical trials, the drug BI 6727 is now headed for a Phase II clinical program where the compound will be tested in combination with other anti-cancer drugs to see whether combined therapies could be even more effective than treatment with BI 6727 alone.
Results so far indicate that BI 6727 is well-tolerated without serious side-effects and encouraging anti-tumor activity. BI 6727 works by inhibiting the action of a protein called Polo-like kinase (Plk1) of which high levels are found in cancerous tumors. The main side-effects are neutropenia and/or thrombocytopenia – both treatable and reversible events.
Safety Review: Vytorin and Increased Risk of All-Types Cancer
An early communication was released from the U.S. Food and Drug (FDA) administration regarding a study of the safety of Vytorin ( a combination of simvastin and ezetimibe). Vytorin is used to decrease LDL cholesterol – each by a different mechanism and affecting different pathways of cholesterol absorption and metabolism. FDA is currently investigating the report from the SEAS trial (Simvastin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis) to see if there is a possible association between the use of Vytorin and increased incidences of cancer.
Recent Statements From the American Institute for Cancer Research How to Avoid Cancer!
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is the cancer group that encourages research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management as it relates to cancer risk. They interpret scientific literature and report it to the public. AICR has recently published two landmark reports that interpret the scientific literature and is providing a wide range of educational programs to translate the results of the literature to help Americans learn to make dietary changes for lower cancer risk.
Preventive Task Force Recommends that Men Age 75 and Older Not be Screened for Prostate Cancer
New preventive recommendations appear in the August 5 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine regarding evidence summaries on the preventive recommendations for having the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test done. The new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Task Forces state that men age 75 and older need not be screened for prostate cancer and younger men should discuss the benefits and harms of the PSA before being tested.
Researchers Caution Against Use of Antioxidants in Cancer Therapy
Health Day(5/27) reported that
excessive doses of antioxidants may sabotage the effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatments and should be avoided referring to a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. A total of 16 randomized controlled studies were evaluated in this study, but the findings weren’t conclusive. While some of the studies reviewed showed that side-effects of cancer therapy were reduced with antioxidant therapy other studies showed lowered tumor control and one study showed that a patient on high doses of antioxidants died during therapy for the tumor.
Low Blood Levels of Vitamin D Associated with Increased Risk of Mortality from Breast Cancer
We’ve heard a lot about vitamin D lately. Now a recent research study released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology suggests that supplementation might improve the odds of beating breast cancer. The Canadian study flat out stated that women diagnosed with breast cancer are nearly twice as likely to have cancer metastasize and are 73 percent more likely to die from their cancer if they have low levels of vitamin D.
Neutropenic Diet Treatment During Cancer Treatment, Evidence Based?
There is absolutely no evidence that following a neutropenic diet during cancer treatment works, prevents infections or improves immunity. It just makes common sense. During cancer treatment the immune system is often compromised. You need to do everything possible to keep the infections at bay. A neutropenic diet limits certain types of food in order to limit exposure to bacteria. They are designed to reduce the risk of food-borne illness (food poisoning) in individuals whose immunity is low due to low white blood cell counts.
