Getting routine mammograms has long been touted as an efficient way to catch early stage breast cancers. Routine screening by this methods, however, may lead to overdiagnosis: researchers suggest that women with small, harmless growths may be undergoing significant stress and possibly unnecessary treatments with no real benefit. New Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)… [Continue Reading]
Complex Interaction of Soy Consumption with Breast Cancer Resistance to Chemotherapy
April 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Soy contains compounds that mimic the hormone estrogen, and how soy in the diet affects breast cancer patients is not entirely understood. New research suggests that depending on when individuals started adding soy products to their diet may change how their tumors react to the compounds. Studies exploring the relationship between soy consumption and breast… [Continue Reading]
Gene Variant Predicts Recurrence of Squamous Cell Carcinoma
April 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Variations in a gene that breaks down a suite of compounds in the body predict the likelihood of recurrence of a certain type of cancer, new research indicates. The protein, called CYP1B1, breaks down molecules such as estrogen, tobacco smoke, and alcohol, which can release carcinogenic by-products. Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck—which… [Continue Reading]
Diabetes Drug May Be Also Help Fight Liver Cancer
April 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A drug prescribed to diabetic patients may also reduce the risk of liver cancer, new research suggests. Metformin regulates glucose in the body, which the liver converts to fats. Scientists tested the effect of the drug on liver tumors in mouse models, who developed cancer less frequently with treatment. Metformin, a drug widely used to… [Continue Reading]
Molecular Markers of Pancreatic Cancers Suggest Differences in Treatment Effectiveness and Survival
April 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
In a new study of patients with pancreatic cancer, scientists have found a protein present in tumor cells that predict treatment effectiveness and survival. Molecular differences between cancers in different patients may explain why people respond differently to treatment. The protein survivin, the new study has found, is linked to a better outcome and response… [Continue Reading]
Rates of Skin Cancer Increasing in Young People
April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
In a worrying trend, researchers are reporting increased rates of skin cancer in young people. Women in their 20s and 30s are showing the most significant increase, suggesting expert advice to avoid sunbeds and tanning are going unheeded. Even as the rates of some cancers are falling, Mayo Clinic is seeing an alarming trend: the… [Continue Reading]
Discovery of Intestinal Stem Cell Population Gives Insights into Colon Cancer
April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A new type of stem cells that have been discovered in the intestine are helping researchers understand how colorectal cancer arises. The cells express a particular protein that suppresses uncontrolled growth, and eliminating this protein in mice resulted in tumor formation. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center researchers have identified a new population of intestinal stem cells that… [Continue Reading]
CT Scans More Effective at Dectecting Lung Cancer
March 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Compared to traditional approaches, CT scans are more effective for the diagnosis of lung cancer, a new study shows. The imaging technique permits a higher rate of detection, and at earlier stages of the disease. A new study led by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine indicates that CT scans are more effective than… [Continue Reading]
New Mechanism Driving Breast Cancer Metastasis Discovered
March 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
A subtype of breast cancer, called ErbB2-positive, is highly resistant to current treatment, metastasizes rapidly, and is highly lethal. A new study has identified the mechanism underlying the spread of tumor cells, suggesting new approaches to develop drugs to fight it. A new study has identified a key mechanism that causes breast cancer to spread…. [Continue Reading]
Chemotherapy-Resistant Breast Cancer Subtype Identified
March 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Researchers have discovered that some breast cancer tumors aren’t vulnerable to a commonly prescribed therapy. A team of scientists, while examining the biology of tumor samples, noticed that a subset of samples was not affected by the drug taxane, and have a unique molecular signature. Further research could find ways to identify women for whom… [Continue Reading]