Cancer News and Research

Acute changes in extracellular matrix can trigger rapid change in cell’s metabolism

UCLA researchers have found that the extracellular matrix, the dense network of proteins and carbohydrates that surround a cell, can influence how cells move within the body by regulating their sugar consumption.

Cancer Australia releases new data on childhood cancer stage at diagnosis

In a world first, national data on childhood cancer stage at diagnosis* has been released, showing that a high proportion of the most common childhood cancers are diagnosed at a limited stage, before they have spread to other parts of the body.

Metabolic dysfunction drives chronic illness

Much of modern Western medicine is based upon the treatment of acute, immediate harm, from physical injury to infections, from broken bones and the common cold to heart and asthma attacks.

Innovative robotic system helps in removing large colorectal lesions without surgery

Each year, an estimated 140,000 individuals in the U.S. are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a malignancy that often develops from a benign polyp into cancer over time.

Researchers develop new generation of pain medications

Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Zuse Institute Berlin have developed a new generation of pain medications.

Major pitfall identified in popular prostate cancer PET imaging method

Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography imaging has become a popular method for determining the stage of a patient's prostate cancer.

Nicotine exposure of adolescent e-cigarette users found to be as much as cigarette smokers

A new study that looked at nicotine exposure of adolescent e-cigarette users, specifically those who use the 'pod' vaping devices (ie, Juul), found that levels of urinary cotinine, a byproduct of nicotine metabolism, were even higher than what has been reported among adolescent cigarette smokers.

NCCN updates Clinical Practice Guidelines to include new recommendations for CABOMETYX tablets

Exelixis, Inc. today announced that the National Comprehensive Cancer Network updated its Clinical Practice Guidelines to include new recommendations for CABOMETYX tablets.

Hsp90 protein appears to stimulate exosome release

Researchers from the Verstreken lab have identified a completely novel function for Hsp90, one of the most common and most studied proteins in our body.

A joint effort to provide new insights into how gene activity drives cartilage development

Anyone with arthritis can appreciate how useful it would be if scientists could grow cartilage in the lab. To this end, Keck School of Medicine of USC scientists in the USC Stem Cell laboratory of Denis Evseenko, MD, PhD, collaborated with colleagues at several institutions to provide new insights into how gene activity drives the development of cartilage.

Immune checkpoint inhibition may be effective in treating HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma

Among a small cohort of patients with HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, more than 65 percent had partial or complete remission.

Study reinvestigates benefit of biomarker tests in certain breast cancer patients

The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care reinvestigated the benefit of biomarker tests to support the decision for or against adjuvant systemic chemotherapy in certain breast cancer patients, that is, women with primary hormone receptor-positive, HER2/neu-negative breast cancer and 0 to 3 affected lymph nodes.

Researchers test experimental cancer vaccine on mice with aggressive melanoma

An experimental cancer vaccine that boosts the immune system's ability to fight cancers could work in tandem with other cancer therapies to fight aggressive tumors, scientists reported recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Transcranial direct current stimulation may help aphasia patients recover use of language

Neuroscientists at the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina have collaborated on a study in the field of aphasia that has successfully paved the way for a large clinical trial.

Breast cancer cases among men who were at ground zero on 9/11

The after effects of the terror attacks on 11th September 2001 in the United States are still appearing. Around 15 men who were present near the Ground Zero on the fateful day have been diagnosed with rare forms of male breast cancer. Male breast cancer makes up for less than 1 percent of all breast cancers. 

This new data emerges from a client list of a law firm that is specially looking into health cases of those in and around the region on 9/11. There could be many more men who are outside of this data base say experts. Two of the men – Jeff Flynn (65 years old) and John Mormando (51 years old) who were near the zone were initially diagnosed with the cancer and are being treated for it. Both men say that there is no history of breast cancers in their family and they were exposed to toxins on the day.

Flynn was an account manager for a data-storage company Dell EMC and was assigned to Goldman Sachs on Maiden Lane on the fateful day. He was around the region for months after the attack helping Goldman and other financial services firms to set up again.

After a decade, in 2011, he first noticed an abnormality in one of his nipples and was then diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer for which he underwent extensive operations. Soon the cancer returned as a stage 4 cancer. He was awarded compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund that helped him pay for his treatment. Mormando was a commodities broker working at the Mercantile Exchange until 2007. He is a triathlete now. Last year he noticed a lump on his chest and was diagnosed with the breast cancer.

Leon Silverstein (89 years old), an Army veteran, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to be operated upon. As a result of the cancer both his breasts had to be removed in a double mastectomy. He used to live near Battery Park near the Ground Zero for 30 years.

Experts believe that apart from those killed during the attacks more people are emerging with long term after effects of the attack. There are over ten thousand individuals who were members of the first responders’ teams for rescue operations or were near the region when the attack took place.

These people have been diagnosed with various forms of cancers due to exposure to the toxins. Over 2000 individuals have ailments that can be attributed to the toxins on that day. The Chief of the fire Department of New York, for example, who was leading the first responder efforts died this June from cancer.

Mayo Clinic physicians win SU2C Catalyst Award to fund melanoma research

​Mayo Clinic physicians Matthew Block, M.D., Ph.D. and Tina Hieken, M.D., have received a Stand up to Cancer Catalyst Award to fund melanoma research and a neoadjuvant clinical trial.

Researchers reveal how rapidly spreading ovarian cancer cells take the next steps

In nearly 80 percent of women with ovarian cancer, the disease has already spread to the omentum before it was diagnosed. Within the omentum - a large, energy-dense fat pad that covers the intestines - the cancer grows even faster.

Research team identifies new therapeutic target for castration-resistant prostate cancer

A collaborative research team has linked the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer and resistance to treatment to a lack of androgen receptor expression in prostate cancer cells, identifying a new therapeutic target for one of the deadliest forms of cancer among men.

Endocrine Society announces winners of prestigious 2019 Laureate Awards

The Endocrine Society today announced it has chosen 13 leading endocrinologists as winners of its prestigious 2019 Laureate Awards, the top honors in the field.

Ground-breaking therapeutic process can destroy bowel cancer cells

Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have discovered a ground-breaking therapeutic process that can target and kill bowel cancer cells, which may improve survival rates for bowel cancer patients globally.