Gene Fusions May Drive Certain Cancers
Researchers say they have discovered genes in prostate cancer cells that fuse when their chromosomes trade places with each other, an occurrence that may initiate the development of some cancers. The mutations, identified by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, appear only in cancer cells, a finding that may serve as a marker for diagnosing cancer or a target for future... Read more
Diet pills from Brazil pose health risks: report
A new report highlights the potentially serious health risks of using imported Brazilian-made prescription diet pills that combine amphetamines and other prescription medicines, such as anti-anxiety agents and antidepressants. Banned amphetamine-based weight loss pills are easily available via the Internet and are being illicitly imported into the United States, warns the report’s author, Massachusetts-based... Read more
Coffee may protect against oral cancers
New research indicates that drinking coffee lowers the risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity or throat, at least in the general population of Japan. The consumption of coffee in Japan is relatively high, as is the rate of cancer of the esophagus in men. To look into any protective effect of coffee drinking, Dr. Toru Naganuma of Tohoku University, Sendai, and colleagues, analyzed data from the... Read more
Study sheds light on deadly childhood cancer
A gene involved in cell division also helps fuel a deadly childhood cancer called neuroblastoma and could offer a new way to develop drugs to treat the disease, German researchers said on Monday. The study published in the journal Cancer Cell found that a protein produced by the AURKA gene feeds a different gene called MYCN, which scientists know plays a key role in fuelling tumor growth in children... Read more
Diabetes Epidemic Now Poses Challenges for Nursing Homes
More and more people with diabetes are living to older ages, thanks to medical advances. But the long-term facilities, such as nursing homes, that care for aging Americans may not be ready for the additional challenges that come with treating patients with diabetes. “We need to spend appropriate time to think of a way to successfully provide care for people with diabetes as they enter their elder... Read more
Vitamin D deficiency common in diabetic kids
Children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes may have a particularly high rate of deficiency in bone-building vitamin D, a small study suggests. The findings, say researchers, underscore the importance of adequate vitamin D intake for children with type 1 diabetes — who, studies suggest, are already at particular risk for bone loss as they grow older. Among 128 children and teens with the disease,... Read more
British woman to deliver baby screened for breast cancer
A woman is to give birth this week to the first baby in Britain which has been selected to be free of a gene which greatly increases the risk of breast cancer, experts said. The 27-year-old woman, who wants to remain anonymous, decided to take the step because several of her husband’s close female relatives suffered from breast cancer. But one campaign group warned that such selection takes science... Read more
Cancer Medicine Advances on Many Fronts
The war against cancer gathered steam in 2008, as new drugs tackled the toughest cancers with some success, and advances were made in both disease prevention and risk factor identification. A new report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) details 12 “major” advances and 19 “notable advances” across the gamut of cancer prevention, screening, treatment and survival... Read more
Gene Variant Tied to Smokers’ Risk of Lung Cancer
People may face an increased risk of lung cancer if they have a gene variant that metabolizes the most potent of cigarette smoke carcinogens, a new study says. The ABCB1 and ABCC1 genes normally help protect the lungs by removing inhaled toxins. Specifically, they act on tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) — a cigarette smoke component shown to cause... Read more
Gleevec Approved for Use After Cancer Surgery
Gleevec, a “miracle drug” in curing certain types of adult leukemia, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to stop cancer growth after gastrointestinal cancer surgery. According to an FDA news release, Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) can be used after removal of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). While this is a fairly rare form of cancer (5,000 – 6,000 new cases... Read more