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Study finds consistent link between Parkinson's disease and melanoma

An analysis of several studies shows that people with Parkinson's disease have a significantly higher risk of melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer and the leading cause of death from skin diseases.

7 Jun 2011

Faults in p53 gene could help predict beneficial drug combination for ovarian cancer

FAULTS in a gene commonly inactivated in many different types of cancer could be used to predict which drug combination ovarian cancer patients are most likely to benefit from, according to results presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology.

7 Jun 2011

Survivors of childhood cancer at increased risk of developing subsequent primary neoplasms

In a study that included nearly 18,000 children who had cancer, with follow-up of about 25 years, the greatest excess risk associated with a subsequent primary neoplasm (a new tumor) at older than age 40 years was for digestive and genitourinary neoplasms (related to the genital or urinary tract organs), according to a study in the June 8 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on cancer.

7 Jun 2011

Silencing two microRNAs may help treat age-related macular degeneration

Blocking two tiny molecules of RNA - a chemical cousin of DNA - appears to suppress the abnormal growth of blood vessels that occurs in degenerative eye disorders, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found.

7 Jun 2011

Senescent melanoma cells express an inflammatory secretome

Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive and notoriously chemoresistant form of cancer. In this paper, Ohanna et al. reveal that anti-melanoma drugs may, paradoxically, induce a senescence-associated secretory profile ("secretome") that can ultimately promote metastasis and contribute to melanoma relapse.

6 Jun 2011

Cancer risk assessment in Lynch syndrome

Among various genetic mutations for individuals with Lynch syndrome, a hereditary cancer syndrome that carries a high risk of colon cancer and an above-normal risk of other cancers, researchers have identified mutations associated with a lower cancer risk and mutations associated with an increased risk for ovarian and endometrial cancer, according to a study in the June 8 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on cancer.

6 Jun 2011

Global gene therapy market to reach $300 million by 2015

The global gene therapy market is expected to grow to over $300 million by 2015, according to a new report available on companiesandmarkets.com. The gene therapy market will grow further driven by the human genome project, the increasing incidence of cancer and other critical diseases.

6 Jun 2011

New study shows Bisphenol A exposure through diet has been underestimated

A new University of Missouri study shows that the exposure to the controversial chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) through diet has been underestimated by previous lab tests.

6 Jun 2011

Researcher finds thyroid cancer gene inhibits spread of malignant cells

A mutant gene long thought to accelerate tumor growth in thyroid cancer patients actually inhibits the spread of malignant cells, showing promise for novel cancer therapies, a Mayo Clinic study has found.

6 Jun 2011

Weight loss following bariatric surgery may reduce risk of Alzheimer's

Obesity is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, but weight loss due to bariatric surgery may reduce the risk of this common dementia, a new study suggests. The results will be presented Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.

6 Jun 2011

New skin cancer drug brings hope

A new drug for the dreaded cancer melanoma is in the horizon. It is called Vemurafenib. This is a class of drug that cancer researchers are applauding today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago.

5 Jun 2011

E coli outbreak linked to tainted bean sprouts

It has been announced by German officials late Sunday that domestically grown bean sprouts may be the source of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) outbreak that has killed 22 people and sickened at least 1,600. All but one of the deaths occurred in Germany, the source of the entero haemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) outbreak that has affected 12 countries. The other victim died in Sweden.

5 Jun 2011

New E. coli outbreak alarms Europe

An Escherichia coli (E. coli) outbreak of disease in Germany has left 22 people dead and it is alarming populations across Europe.

5 Jun 2011

Customizing targeted therapies to each tumor's molecular characteristics may effectively treat cancer

Customizing targeted therapies to each tumor's molecular characteristics, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach by tumor type, may be more effective for some types of cancer, according to research conducted by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

4 Jun 2011

DFG to form new collaborative research centers as of 1 July 2011

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) will establish 21 new Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs) as of 1 July 2011. This was decided by the relevant Grants Committee at its spring meeting in Bonn.

4 Jun 2011

Study links loss of PTEN gene with patient's response to melanoma therapy

Genetic analysis of the tumors from patients with advanced melanoma can clue researchers in to how well patients will respond to a therapy that targets the growth-promoting protein called BRAF, a researcher from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania will report on Monday, June 6 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

4 Jun 2011

Dendritic cells secrete signal molecule that contributes to pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of cardiovascular disease, and results from chronic inflammation of arterial vessel walls. An international collaboration led by Professor Christian Weber of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich and Privatdozentin Alma Zernecke of Würzburg University now shows that dendritic cells stimulate this process by derailing a mechanism that normally acts as a brake on immune reactions.

4 Jun 2011

Researchers identify 'epigenetic fingerprints' of healthy volunteers, patients with common diseases

Until a decade, it was believed that differences between people were due solely to the existence of genetic changes, which are alterations in the sequence of our genes. The discoveries made during these last ten years show that beings with the same genetics like the twins and cloned animals may have different characteristics and disease due to epigenetic changes.

4 Jun 2011

Johns Hopkins researchers solve long-standing mystery of Warburg effect

It's long been known that cancer cells eat a lot of sugar to stay alive. In fact, where normal, noncancerous cells generate energy from using some sugar and a lot of oxygen, cancerous cells use virtually no oxygen and a lot of sugar.

4 Jun 2011

Scientists demonstrate why B cells exposed to chronic HIV shut down, how they can be reactivated

Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have demonstrated why certain immune cells chronically exposed to HIV shut down, and how they can be reactivated.

4 Jun 2011