Cancer News
Melanoma risk higher for some Mediterranean populations due to genetic mutation
A genetic mutation present in 10-20% of people in countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy and Israel may translate to higher skin cancer risk.
Multiple sclerosis patients may have increased cancer risk
Multiple sclerosis patients were shown to have increased risk of developing cancer, especially breast cancer. This contradicts earlier studies and requires additional research.
Cervical cancer screening important in women over 50 too
Women over 50 not screened for cervical cancer have 6 times the risk to be diagnosed in later life.
Metastatic stomach cancer treatment combination improves outcomes
Combining standard 2nd-line chemotherapy with the targeted therapy ramucirumab improves survival, quality of life for patients with metastatic gastric cancer.
Metastatic pancreatic cancer treatment promise offered by vaccines
Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients treated with 2 different anti-cancer vaccines had improved survival compared to treatment with only 1 of them.
Neuroendocrine tumors responded to new chemotherapy combination in trial
Promising interim results of a new chemotherapy combination against with advanced neuroendocrine tumors show promise during a trial, for 95% of patient group.
Two rectal cancer treatments found to have equivalent outcomes
Stage 2 or 3 rectal cancer patients treated with combining pre-operative radiation with either capecitabine or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) had equivalent outcomes.
Colon cancer response to panitumumab treatment predicted by genetics
Genetic RAS mutations can help predict response to second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer with panitumumab, based on a phase 3 clinical trial.
Radiation therapy research could reduce impact on healthy tissue
Progress in radiation therapy technology can reduce its impact on tissue surrounding the tumor, and also lower the total radiation dose.
Hereditary cancer prediction due to Lynch syndrome refined
Lynch syndrome is an inherited disease that increases the risk of various tumors. Researchers refined the prediction methods of colon and endometrial cancers, among others.
Targeted treatments for leukemia may be applicable to other cancers
The mechanism of premature cell aging can help treat cancer. Treatments for acute promyelocytic leukemia cause similar effects which can be used for other cancers as well, according to the latest research on this rare type of blood cancer.
Childhood cancer survivors receive inadequate care as adults
Adults who have survived pediatric cancer need ongoing care, which many internists feel not well-equipped to provide, as shown by a recent study.
New prostate cancers drugs may be missing the tumor's root cause
Some of the latest prostate cancer drugs target a type of cells which may not be driving the tumor's growth, as previously thought.
Breast cancer chemotherapy more effective when started within 1 month of surgery
Chemotherapy after surgery (called adjuvant chemotherapy) for breast cancer should not be delayed for more than 60 days.
New cervical cancer treatments may target a recently identified gene
Latest research on cervical cancer identified a gene as a potential target to stop the tumor's growth. This development may improve future treatment options.
Glioblastoma multiforme advanced surgery techniques under development
Advanced surgery techniques for identifying cancerous brain cells may improve outcomes for glioblastoma multiforme patients, a tumor with usually poor prognosis.
Lung and bladder cancer biomarkers may share genetic disorders
Lung and bladder cancer biomarker analysis have similar genetic abnormalities. This latest research may have diagnostic, prognostic and treatment implications.
Triple negative breast cancer cells effectively targeted in labs
New hope for a potential cure for triple negative breast cancer came from a recent discovery of an engineered virus against these tumor cells.
Childhood cancer diagnoses estimated at 175,000 annually
A pediatric cancer review reports 175,000 annual worldwide diagnoses for children up to 15 years of age. Also, 1 in 285 will receive the diagnosis before the age of 20.
Lung cancer: antioxidants may speed up progression
An alarming finding indicates that antioxidants may speed up lung cancer’s progression, instead of halting it (as shown previously). Antioxidants are chemicals present in some pharmaceuticals, foods and nutritional supplements.
Breast cancer drug shows promise in mid-stage trial
An experimental breast cancer drug by Pfizer significantly delayed progression of symptoms in a mid-stage trial, as tested in post-menopausal women with locally advanced or newly diagnosed disease that had spared to other parts of the body.
Advanced melanoma treatment response to Ipilimumab may be predicted by marker
Higher levels of the protein vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in blood was linked to poor response to ipilimumab immunotherapy skin cancer treatment.
Kidney cancer advances require emphasis on molecular biology and genetics
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) advances require more emphasis on molecular biology and genetics, according to a researcher at the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
Breast cancer hormone receptors discovered may offer new treatment options
Androgen and vitamin D receptors were found as possible targets for breast cancer treatment, beyond estrogens which are the focus of current such treatments.
Prostate cancer biopsy by 3D mapping technology more effective than ultrasound
3D mapping biopsies for prostate cancer were found more effective in location tumors, and a new study reports the locations that ultrasound-guided biopsies miss.
Melanoma among middle-aged adults becomes 8 times more common in 40 years
Between 1970-2009, skin cancer in adults 40-60 years old has become 8 times more common. Women between 40-50 showed the highest increase among any demographic.
Brachytherapy has mixed results as breast cancer treatment
Research after lumpectomy showed that older breast cancer patients were more likely to undergo mastectomy after brachytherapy, compared to radiation therapy. However, they fared better than those who did not receive any radiation.
Ovarian cancer risk reduced by 20% in study via daily aspirin intake
Daily aspirin intake reduced ovarian cancer risk by 20% in a study, raising prevention hopes. Clinical recommendations must be based on further research, though.
Genetic testing in advanced breast cancer can help identify optimal treatments
A study of the entire DNA (whole genome testing) among 400 women with advanced breast cancer may help doctors identify optimal treatments based on genetics.
Advanced soft tissue sarcoma: new and confirmed prognostic factors
An analysis has confirmed the importance of known prognostic factors for the long-term outcome in treatment with pazopanib for metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.