Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

World Bank urges China to address NCDs or face economic consequences

In a report released on Tuesday, the World Bank urged China to step up its efforts to fight non-communicable diseases (NCDs), "the main cause of death in the country, warning of rising health expenditure and an economic slowdown if rapid action is not taken," Reuters reports.

28 Jul 2011

Scientists show how RET gene in breast cancer cells responds to estrogen

Using human breast cancer cells and the protein that causes fireflies to glow, a Johns Hopkins team has shed light on why some breast cancer cells become resistant to the anticancer effects of the drug tamoxifen. The key is a discovery of two genetic "dimmer switches" that apparently control how a breast cancer gene responds to the female hormone estrogen.

28 Jul 2011

New report is setback for 9/11 responders and cancer costs

The report concluded that medical research does not prove that those working at the World Trade Center disaster site have an increased risk of developing certain forms of cancer.

28 Jul 2011

Smokers are misinformed about safety and efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy

Nearly half of all smokers in the United States attempt to quit at least once per year, yet the majority of these efforts fail. One factor contributing to the low annual rate of successful cessation is that the majority of quit attempts are made without evidence-based treatment such as nicotine replacement therapy.

28 Jul 2011

Isis, Genzyme submit European MAA for mipomersen to treat familial hypercholesterolemia

Genzyme, a Sanofi company, and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced that Genzyme has submitted a marketing authorization application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency seeking approval for the 200 mg weekly dose of mipomersen for the treatment of homozygous and severe heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

28 Jul 2011

Blueberries can help prevent cell damage linked to cancer

Blueberries are among the nutrient-rich foods being studied by UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center investigators exploring the link between disease and nutrition. Dieticians there say as little as a cup a day can help prevent cell damage linked to cancer.

28 Jul 2011

IRCM geneticists discover an unsuspected organization of pituitary cells

A team of geneticists at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montr-al (IRCM), directed by Dr. Jacques Drouin, made an unexpected discovery on hormone secretion. Contrary to common belief, the researchers found that pituitary cells are organized in structured networks. The scientific breakthrough was published yesterday by the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

28 Jul 2011

Puget Sound Blood Center, Seattle Children's inaugurate new on-site lab

Today, Seattle Children's and Puget Sound Blood Center opened a new blood laboratory to serve Children's patients exclusively. Located within Seattle Children's main campus and staffed by Puget Sound Blood Center employees 24 hours every day of the year, the facility will bring the lab closer to the patient.

28 Jul 2011

State roundup: Cuomo's N.Y. home health reform spurs complaints

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's effort to overhaul New York state's $6 billion home health-care industry is coming under scrutiny from patient advocates and other industry players who say the administration is bowing to the interests of large, politically connected providers.

28 Jul 2011

Invadopodia could help survival of cancer cells

Delicate, threadlike protrusions used by cancer cells when they invade other tissues in the body could also help them escape control mechanisms supposed to eliminate them, a research group led by led by Bradley Davidson in the University of Arizona's department of molecular and cellular biology reports in Nature Cell Biology.

28 Jul 2011

Insect virus holds key to safer stem cell therapy: Singapore scientists

The future of regenerative medicine lies in harnessing the potential of the human body to renew and repair itself. Now, scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the world's first bioengineering and nanotechnology research institute, have developed a new genetic engineering technique that promises safer stem cell therapy for cancer patients. Using an insect virus, the team of researchers successfully inserted a therapeutic gene into a safe site in the DNA of human embryonic stem cells without compromising the functionality of the engineered cells.

28 Jul 2011

BD to acquire Carmel Pharma

BD, a leading global medical technology company, announced today that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Carmel Pharma, Inc., a Swedish company that manufactures the PhaSeal System, the leading closed-system drug transfer device for the safe handling of hazardous drugs that are packaged in vials.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 28 Jul 2011

Dense breasts raise risk of breast cancer

A new study supported by the National Cancer Institute found a higher cancer risk for women with dense breasts. It's the tissue in women's breast that can differ by heredity, from more fatty to more dense tissue. Fatty tissue shows up dark on a mammogram, but fibrous or dense tissue shows up white. So do small tumors, which can make them hard to find. The study was published in the July 27 online edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

27 Jul 2011

Breast cancer survival and lymph nodes

A large new study has found that a lymph node-sparing test hailed as revolutionary for its conservative approach does not lead to longer survival times for women undergoing lumpectomies whose early-stage breast cancer has spread microscopically.

27 Jul 2011

No link between cell phone use and increased risk for brain cancer: European study

A new study that looked at cell phone users under the age of 20 found no link between cell phone use and an increased risk for brain cancer. Researchers from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel, Switzerland, studied data collected in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland.

27 Jul 2011

Recruitment complete in Aeterna Zentaris' perifosine Phase 3 trial for advanced colorectal cancer

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. today announced the completion of patient recruitment for the ongoing Phase 3 trial with perifosine in refractory advanced colorectal cancer.

27 Jul 2011

First Edition: July 27, 2011

Today's headlines include the latest developments related to efforts to raise the debt ceiling, as well as reports about health policy news from the states.

27 Jul 2011

Hoag signs license and implementation agreement for Unibased ForSite2020 RMS software

Unibased Systems Architecture, Inc. announced today that Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian (Hoag) has signed an agreement for the license and implementation of the Unibased ForSite2020 Resource Management System (RMS) software application suite, including the POCET and CASH physician and consumer portals.

27 Jul 2011

Safeguard Scientifics reports consolidated net income of $121.8M for second quarter 2011

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a holding company that builds value in growth-stage life sciences and technology companies, today announced results of operations for the second quarter of 2011.

27 Jul 2011

Epitomics launches 23 novel cancer-related antibodies

Epitomics, Inc., a biotechnology company commercializing the next generation of antibodies based on its groundbreaking Rabbit Monoclonal technology, today announced the Company has now launched 23 novel cancer-related antibodies that were developed through a partnership with the National Cancer Institute's Center for Cancer Research.

27 Jul 2011