Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

Healthy lung tissue transplantation shows promise for patients with pulmonary diseases

For patients suffering from severe pulmonary diseases including emphysema, lung cancer or fibrosis, transplantation of healthy lung tissue may offer the best chance for survival. The surgical procedure, however, faces two primary challenges: an acute shortage of donor lungs and rejection of transplanted tissue by the recipient's immune system.

2 Feb 2012

Cancer Genomics now available online

Genome Research publishes online and in print today a special issue entitled, "Cancer Genomics," highlighting insights gained form cutting-edge genomic and epigenomic analyses of cancer.

2 Feb 2012

Clear link between male subfertility and lower risk of prostate cancer

Involuntary childlessness owing to reduced fertility is a concern for many men. However, these men do have one advantage - they run a significantly lower risk of suffering from prostate cancer. Researchers are interested in whether this phenomenon could be used in the fight against cancer.

2 Feb 2012

Ligand announces results from melphalan Phase II study on multiple myeloma

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that results from the Phase II study of its Captisol-enabled, propylene glycol-free (PG-free) Melphalan program were featured this evening in a poster presentation at the combined annual meetings of the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) in San Diego.

2 Feb 2012

Genentech receives FDA approval for Vismodegib to treat skin cancer

A new skin cancer drug tested for the first time in the world five years ago at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare just received expedited approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a remarkable accomplishment in new drug development.

2 Feb 2012

FDA extends Novartis' Gleevec label to three-year treatment in patients with KIT+ GIST after surgery

Novartis announced today that following a priority review, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved an update to the Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) tablets label to recommend 36 months of treatment after surgery for adult patients with KIT (CD117)-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) who met the risk of recurrence inclusion criteria of the pivotal trial.

1 Feb 2012

FDA clears Roche's new test for detection of CT and NG infections

Roche announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided 510(k) clearance to the cobas CT/NG Test for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients from male urine and self -collected vaginal swabs.

1 Feb 2012

Singapore scientists lead in 3D mapping of human genome

Genome Institute of Singapore's (GIS) Associate Director of Genomic Technologies, Dr Yijun RUAN, led a continuing study on the human genome spatial/structural configuration, revealing how genes interact/communicate and influence each other, even when they are located far away from each other. This discovery is crucial in understanding how human genes work together, and will re-write textbooks on how transcription regulation and coordination takes place in human cells.

1 Feb 2012

Cooked tomatoes could help in prostate cancer: Study

Scientists have discovered the nutrient, lycopene, which is found in cooked tomatoes, can slow the growth and even kill the cancer cells. Dr Mridula Chopra and colleagues at the University of Portsmouth found that lycopene, which gives tomatoes their red color, intercepts the cancer's ability to make the connections it needs to attach to a healthy blood supply.

1 Feb 2012

Widely varying rates of repeat breast cancer surgery among surgeons: Study

According to a new study the number of repeat surgeries in women who had a breast tumor removed depends on their individual surgeons and medical centers and no clear reason for these differences are found.

1 Feb 2012

New York hospital offers at-home method for tissue expansion for breast reconstruction surgery

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center is the first hospital in the New York metro area to offer breast cancer survivors an at-home method for tissue expansion in preparation for breast reconstruction surgery. Patients use a remote control to gradually create a space within their chest wall for a breast implant.

1 Feb 2012

First signs of atherosclerotic heart disease may appear in early childhood

When we think about people with heart disease we usually think about middle-aged men. In reality, atherosclerotic heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in North America, but its impact starts much earlier than adulthood. Though children will rarely, if ever, have overt symptoms of atherosclerosis, the first signs of this disease appear in early childhood and perhaps even before birth.

1 Feb 2012

Study reveals substantial differences in rates of follow-up surgeries after partial mastectomy

A new study reveals substantial differences - by both surgeon and institution - in the rates of follow-up surgeries for women who underwent a partial mastectomy for treatment of breast cancer.

1 Feb 2012

Canadian Government announces investment in personalized medicine

The Harper Government today announced an important investment that will help Canadians in getting more effective treatments and make the healthcare system more sustainable through personalized medicine.

1 Feb 2012

BU scientists create unique material and drug delivery mechanism

Long duration, controllable drug delivery is of wide interest to medical researchers and clinicians, particularly those seeking to improve treatment for patients with chronic pain or to prevent cancer recurrence after surgery. Now a team of researchers led by Boston University Biomedical Engineer and Chemist Mark Grinstaff has developed a unique material and drug delivery mechanism that could pave the way for implants that release a drug at a designated rate for months.

1 Feb 2012

Omeros, BioMed sign new 15-year lease agreement

BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. announced today the signing of a new 15-year lease with Omeros Corporation for BioMed's Waterfront Research Center property located in Seattle, Washington.

1 Feb 2012

Researchers use liquid laser to diagnose genetic mutations linked with cancer

Using a liquid laser, University of Michigan researchers have developed a better way to detect the slight genetic mutations that might predispose a person to a particular type of cancer or other diseases.

1 Feb 2012

Progenitor cells have potential to develop into RBCs

A study of the cells that respond to crises in the blood system has yielded a few surprises, redrawing the 'map' of how blood cells are made in the body.

1 Feb 2012

Opinion pieces, blog react to new public-private NTD initiative

Pharmaceutical company heads and global health leaders gathered at a conference on Monday in London to announce the formation of a large public-private partnership to fight neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and endorse the "London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases", in which they pledged to work together and track progress.

1 Feb 2012

RMC first in N.J. to offer TESSYS minimally invasive surgery for patients with herniated discs

Riverview Medical Center, part of Meridian Neuroscience, today announced it is the only hospital in the state of New Jersey to offer patients the TESSYS surgery method, a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of herniated discs.

1 Feb 2012