Cancer News
Partial nephrectomy is better for some kidney cancer patients
Younger renal cancer patients with localized disease may benefit more from partial nephrectomy compared with complete removal of the kidney, researchers found.
Lack of physical activity not clearly tied to prostate cancer risk
Sedentary behavior (ie without significant physical activity) does not clearly increase prostate cancer risk, based on a large scale analysis of 170,481 men.
Recommendation against taking beta carotene and vitamin E
Although multivitamins or single or paired nutrients have not been proven to prevent cancer, the recommendation is against taking beta-carotene & vitamin E.
New breast cancer surgical guidelines for better outcomes released
A comprehensive consensus guideline for breast cancer surgery has been released by major societies, aiming to improve the course of treatment and reduce costs.
Oropharyngeal cancer patients suffer from lasting side effects
Oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with combined chemotherapy & radiation therapy suffer from lower voice & speech quality for up to 1 year after treatment.
Reducing head and neck cancer treatment side effects is possible
Limiting radiation to major salivary glands in head and neck cancer patients to reduce side effects was reported as feasible and safe in a medical conference.
Personalized medicine: “the best way to treat cancer”
Researchers have been focusing on personalized medicine and targeted treatments for cancer. A new study claims that case-by-case strategies are the way forward, compared to basing a patient's cancer treatment on commonly disrupted genes and pathways.
Testing for cancer using urine sample is becoming affordable
A team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a test which produces biomarkers in urine and can be used on a paper strip. This could be an important step to make testing simpler and more available.
Personalized treatment promising for invasive lobular carcinoma
Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common type of breast cancer. Latest research shows it may be a good candidate for personalized treatment.
Localized prostate cancer: higher dose radiation improves outcomes
Higher radiotherapy doses reduced the need for follow-up hormone-deprivation therapy for localized prostate cancer patients, in 10 year results of a phase 3 trial. The trial was the largest one of its kind.
Lung cancer treatments may result from protein discovery
A new protein has been identified as playing a key role in cancer and inflammation in lung tissue. This may help the development of new drugs for the disease.
Striking remission achieved for some metastatic melanoma patients
An immune-system based therapy for metastatic melanoma produced lasting remissions (for more than 2 years in some cases), in a phase 1 trial.
Could prostate cancer be predicted by substance found in urine?
Levels of a substance called “Bisphenol A” (BPA) in men’s urine could be a marker of prostate cancer. BPA is a common pollutant with estrogen activity.
Simple blood test may improve neuroblastoma treatment
A simple test may more quickly identify best treatment for children with an aggressive form of neuroblastoma, a cancer that’s particularly hard-to-treat.
Glioblastoma treatment trial disappoints despite high hopes
Bevacizuman (used in this trial, and shown in earlier ones to be an effective drug in recurrent disease) did not prolong survival on newly diagnosed patients.
Breast cancer patients find relief in yoga after radiotherapy
Fatigue is a common side effect of radiation therapy. New research shows yoga helps breast cancer patients regulate stress hormones and overcome it more easily.
Cervical cancer protection through HPV vaccination confirmed
The protection against cervical abnormalities, including cancer, offered by the HPV vaccine was further confirmed by a new research conducted in Australia.
Is palliative chemotherapy always achieving its goals?
Palliative chemotherapy, a treatment to prolong survival and ease symptoms for terminal cancer patients, may have potential drawbacks that should be addressed.
Palliative chemotherapy: harms and benefits often misunderstood
Researchers found that the purpose and consequences of palliative chemotherapy may not be understood in the same way among patients and the medical teams.
Surgery for prostate cancer outperforms watchful waiting
A new study focusing on prostate cancer showed that younger patients who undergo surgery have lower mortality rates compared to those who choose not to.
Low protein intake in middle-aged adults reduces cancer risk
A recent survey confirms that a low protein consumption diet reduces the risk of some diseases, including cancer, especially for middle aged adults.
New test for prostate and bladder cancer licensed
A new licensing agreement will bring to the market a new test for early detection of prostate and bladder cancers. The test is based on the EN2 biomarker.
Cancer risk found lower if protein intake is reduced in middle age
A study found that a high protein diet in ages 50-65 was correlated with 4 times the risk of death from cancer, compared to people with low protein intake.
Early stage prostate cancer is better treated by surgery
Prostatectomy is better for patients with early stage prostate cancer, compared to “watchful waiting”. This topic still attracts much debate among researchers.
Non-melanoma skin cancer survivors at higher risk of other cancers later
Non-melanoma skin cancer survivors were found at higher risk for developing 30 other types of cancer later in their lives, especially those under 25 years old.
Potential vaccine against ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer & mesothelioma
Scientists are building proteins that act on the tumor cell surface, and increase immune function against some tumors. Their work is still in laboratory phase.
Does red and processed meat really increase cancer risk?
While recent reports warn about eating red and processed meat and its impact on cancer risk, a new paper authored by 23 scientists indicates uncertainties.
Breast cancer survival and vitamin D levels may be correlated
Research among more than 4,000 women showed that high levels of a vitamin D related metabolite could be correlated with 50% improved survival rates.
Ovarian cancer detection closer through a biomarker
Ongoing research is devoted to detecting ovarian cancer early on. The latest work identified a substance which can be used as a tool for early cancer detection.
Ovarian cancer falsely diagnosed to be reduced by new test
The most common test for ovarian cancer reports false-positives in 94% of diagnosed cases. A new test will use a method able to cut this number in half.