Turmeric can help fight cancerOctober 28th, 2009 LONDON - An extract found in the yellowish orange Indian spice turmeric can kill oesophageal cancer cells, say scientists. In the research, boffins found that when they treated oesophageal cancer cells in the laboratory with curcumin - a chemical in tumeric - it started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours.
Actress who played false accuser in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' dies of brain cancer in NCOctober 22nd, 2009 'To Kill a Mockingbird' actress dies in NCHIGHLANDS, N.C. — The actress who portrayed the false accuser in the movie "To Kill a Mockingbird" has died of brain cancer in North Carolina.
Decoding of enzyme opens way to less toxic HIV drugsOctober 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers have decoded the atomic structure of a key human enzyme, potentially opening the way towards less toxic HIV drugs. "Many anti-HIV drugs are designed to stop the process of DNA replication," says Whitney Yin, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Texas-Austin (UT-A).
New discovery may help create less toxic anti-HIV drugsOctober 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from The University of Texas at Austin have unravelled the atomic structure of a key human enzyme - a finding that would help create less toxic anti-HIV drugs. "Many anti-HIV drugs are designed to stop the process of DNA replication," said Dr.
Novel therapy to destroy cancer cells via laser drug activationOctober 13th, 2009 LONDON - A revolutionary cancer treatment, called the Photodynamic therapy (PDT), could destroy cells in a patient's tumour without any side effects of surgery or chemotherapy. PDT uses a laser to activate an otherwise harmless drug inside the patient's tumour, destroying cancer cells without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.
Mums can 'infect' unborn child with cancerOctober 13th, 2009 LONDON - Solving a longstanding puzzle, British scientists have finally proved that cancer cells can pass on from the mother to her unborn child. While there are very rare cases where a mother and child appear to share the same cancer, but in theory the child's immune system should block the cancer.
Drug-chemo combo doubles survival in high-risk childhood leukaemia patientsOctober 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has revealed that daily doses of a targeted drug called imatinib mesylate along with regular chemotherapy can almost double the survival rate of children with a high risk type of blood cancer called Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Known commercially as Gleevec, imatinib is a pill that's used to treat some adult leukemias and gastrointestinal cancers.
Chemo cocktail blocks breast cancer spreadOctober 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has revealed that breast cancer drug, when combined with another drug used to treat leukaemia, can help stall the spread of cancer to organs. When breast cancer spreads or metastasizes, it crashes through the body's protective fences.
Scientists offer 'baby hope' for women on toxic cancer drugsSeptember 28th, 2009 LONDON - Scientists have given new hope for women who face the heartbreak of losing their fertility after toxic cancer treatment by finding a way to stop them from being robbed of motherhood during gruelling chemotherapy. This breakthrough is expected to end the tragedy of thousands of women who are every year made to make the dreadful choice of whether to save themselves or face the prospect of never having a child.
Scientists uncover 'genetic switch' that can trigger leukaemiaSeptember 28th, 2009 LONDON - Experts at the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute at Cambridge University have identified a broken genetic "switch" that can trigger leukaemia, and believe that this breakthrough may lead to new treatments. According to background information in a report on this discovery, Leukaemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and the immune system's white blood cells, which do not develop properly and begin to divide uncontrollably.
Drug that reverses resistance to chemotherapy identifiedSeptember 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers have for the first time shown that inhibiting the action of an enzyme called TAK-1 could make pancreatic cancer cells sensitive to chemotherapy, paving the way for the development of a new drug to treat the disease. Dr. Davide Melisi said that resistance to chemotherapy was the greatest challenge to treating pancreatic cancer.
'Wonder drug' chloroquine losing out to malarial parasiteSeptember 25th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australian scientists say malarial parasite is fast developing resistance to chloroquine, the inexpensive and effective drug used to treat malaria. Dr Rowena Martin, a biochemist, and colleagues at the Australian National University in Canberra have published their study in the journal Science.
Scientists uncover new anti-TB compoundsSeptember 17th, 2009 LONDON - Scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College have identified certain compounds that would inhibit the sophisticated mechanism used by tuberculosis bacteria for surviving dormant in infected cells. The researchers said most of the people infected with TB remain symptom-free because the Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the disease-causing bacteria, is kept in check within immune system cells.
'Dung of the devil' plant roots may offer swine flu cureSeptember 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Chinese scientists have found that the roots of a plant have powerful natural substances that can kill the H1N1 virus. Researchers Fang-Rong Chang and Yang-Chang Wu identified chemicals in the extracts of the "Dung of the Devil" plant, which were more effective against the H1N1 virus than the antiviral drug currently available for the flu.
Scientists uncover vulnerable enzyme that can be targeted to kill dangerous pathogensAugust 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A collaborative study conducted by researchers from three institutions in the U.S. has shown that an enzyme, which is essential to many bacteria, can be targeted to kill dangerous pathogens.
