Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

New insight into critical molecular mechanisms involved in aggressive childhood cancer

A new study reveals critical molecular mechanisms associated with the development and progression of human neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in young children.

5 Jan 2009

Old Digitalis-based drugs show promise as a treatment for cancer

Digitalis-based drugs like digoxin have been used for centuries to treat patients with irregular heart rhythms and heart failure and are still in use today.

5 Jan 2009

Simple test kit helps prevent lung cancer caused by radon

Using a simple, inexpensive test to detect radon gas seeping into homes could help prevent lung cancer and save thousands of lives, Acting Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said today.

5 Jan 2009

Metadherin gene plays dual role in breast cancers with poor prognosis

A new study reveals that the metadherin gene (MTDH) plays a role in both cancer metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy.

5 Jan 2009

Endo Pharmaceuticals to acquire Indevus Pharmaceuticals

Endo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ENDP) and Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDEV) announced today that they have entered into a merger agreement under which Endo will commence a tender offer to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding shares of Indevus for approximately $370 million, or $4.50 per Indevus share, in cash, and up to an additional approximately $267 million, or $3.00 per Indevus share, in cash payable in the future upon achievement of certain regulatory and sales milestones.

5 Jan 2009

Cylene Pharmaceuticals starts CX-4945 trial - first-in class inhibitor of CK2

Cylene Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has initiated a Phase I clinical trial of its oral CK2 protein kinase inhibitor, CX-4945, in patients with advanced solid tumors, Castleman's disease, or multiple myeloma.

5 Jan 2009

Discovery of new tumor suppressor for lung cancer

Cancer and cell biology experts at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have identified a new tumor suppressor that may help scientists develop more targeted drug therapies to combat lung cancer.

5 Jan 2009

Researchers show mechanisms that regulate DNA damage control and replication

Scientists at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have demonstrated important new roles for the protein kinase complex Cdc7/Dbf4 or Cdc7/Drf1 (Ddk) in monitoring damage control during DNA replication and reinitiating replication following DNA repair.

5 Jan 2009

Discovery of 'on switch' for cell death signaling mechanism

Scientists at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have determined the structure of the interactions between proteins that form the heart of the death inducing signaling complex (DISC), which is responsible for triggering apoptosis (programmed cell death).

5 Jan 2009

A novel glioblastoma mouse model developed

Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have developed a versatile mouse model of glioblastoma-the most common and deadly brain cancer in humans-that closely resembles the development and progression of human brain tumors that arise naturally.

5 Jan 2009

Molecular imaging enables earlier, individualized treatment of thyroid cancer

In a study to determine the diagnostic value of molecular imaging in nodal staging of patients with thyroid cancer, researchers were able for the first time to accurately distinguish between cancerous cells in regional lymph nodes and normal residual thyroid tissue directly after surgery.

5 Jan 2009

Inherited factors play key role in breast cancer

New research in mice and five independent collections of human breast tumors has enabled National Cancer Institute (NCI) scientists to confirm that genes for factors contributing to susceptibility for breast cancer metastasis can be inherited.

5 Jan 2009

First-degree family history of prostate cancer does not affect some treatment outcomes

In a first of its kind study, a first-degree family history of prostate cancer has no impact on the treatment outcomes of prostate cancer patients treated with brachytherapy (also called seed implants), and patients with this type of family history have clinical and pathologic characteristics similar to men with no family history at all, according to a January 1 study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics , the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

5 Jan 2009

Dormant cancer cells rely on cellular autophagy to survive

A single tumor-suppressing gene is a key to understanding, and perhaps killing, dormant ovarian cancer cells that persist after initial treatment only to reawaken years later, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the December Journal of Clinical Investigation.

5 Jan 2009

Women reminded yearly examinations best way to prevent cervical cancer

As a part of National Cervical Health Awareness Month, Acting Secretary of Health Everette James has reminded women of the importance of cervical cancer prevention and the need for pap tests.

5 Jan 2009

Bionovo publishes discoveries in predictable tissue selectivity for selective estrogen receptor modulators platform

Bionovo, Inc. has announced results describing predictable estrogen regulatory elements that can be used to identify estrogenic drugs that are safer.

5 Jan 2009

Study links obesity to elevated risk of ovarian cancer

A new epidemiological study has found that among women who have never used menopausal hormone therapy, obese women are at an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer compared with women of normal weight.

5 Jan 2009

New blood fights cancer

"New blood" can revitalize a company or a sports team. Recent research by Tel Aviv University finds that young blood does a body good as well, especially when it comes to fighting cancer.

1 Jan 2009

Why prostate cancer patients fail hormone deprivation therapy

The hormone deprivation therapy that prostate cancer patients often take gives them only a temporary fix, with tumors usually regaining their hold within a couple of years.

1 Jan 2009

Vitamins C and E and beta carotene again fail to reduce cancer risk in randomized controlled trial

Women who took beta carotene or vitamin C or E or a combination of the supplements had a similar risk of cancer as women who did not take the supplements, according to data from a randomized controlled trial in the December 30 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

1 Jan 2009