Breast density linked to increased cancer recurrence riskNovember 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Women treated for breast cancer are at higher risk of cancer recurrence if they have dense breasts, according to a new study. The study's results indicate that breast cancer patients with dense breasts may benefit from additional therapies following surgery, such as radiation.
New therapy shows promise in treating advanced leukemiaNovember 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre have come up with a novel treatment that would improve survival rates of leukemia and pre-leukemia patients. They used a radiolabeled antibody to deliver targeted doses of radiation, followed by a stem cell transplant, to successfully treat a group of leukemia and pre-leukemia patients,
The study showed that patients with advanced acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome - a pre-leukemic condition - experienced a remission with the help of combination of low-intensity chemotherapy, targeted radiation delivery by an antibody and a stem-cell transplant.
Radiation can prevent cancer relapse after surgeryNovember 6th, 2009 SYDNEY - High-risk melanoma patients who are treated with radiation after surgery have a significantly lower risk of their cancer returning to the lymph nodes, compared to those patients who do not have radiation therapy, according to new research. "Results of this trial now confirm the place of radiation therapy in the management of patients who have high risk features following surgery for melanoma involving the lymph nodes," said Bryan Burmeister, M.D., lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia.
Chemo-radiation combo may avert prostate cancer recurrenceNovember 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Radiation therapy, in combination with chemotherapy before prostate removal, has been found safe for cancer patients and may reduce the risk of recurrence, say researchers. The research team from Oregon Health and Science University Knight Cancer Institute and the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Centre has shown chemo-radiation combination is feasible and safe and improves survival among prostate cancer patients.
Radiation therapy 'treats pain in patients with advanced cancer'November 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) have pioneered a radiation therapy procedure that could help reduce pain in patients with cancer that has spread to the spine. Lead researcher Dr Dwight E.
Potential new pancreatic cancer treatment safer than standard chemoNovember 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from Ohio State University have designed tumour-penetrating microparticles (TPM) may offer treatment hope for those suffering with pancreatic cancer. Tiny particles can carry drugs and target cancer cells more effectively and efficiently than the standard form of chemotherapy such as those injected through a vein.
Hepatitis B doesn't raise pancreatic cancer riskNovember 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Contrary to popular opinion, hepatitis B doesn't appear to increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, say researchers. However, the overall analysis has revealed that only age is significant predictor for pancreatic cancer.
Novel therapy may eradicate lung cancerOctober 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists from UT Southwestern Medical Center have suggested a novel therapeutic strategy that would completely eradicate lung cancer. Researchers Pier Paolo Scaglioni and Georgia Konstantinidou have shown that using an investigative drug called BEZ235 in combination with low-dose radiation successfully eliminated non-small cell lung (NSCL) cancer in mice.
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.
Breast cancer patients have low vitamin D levelsOctober 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Women with breast cancer are likely to have low levels of vitamin D, which could contribute to decreased bone mass and greater risk of fractures, according to scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center. In a study of 166 women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, nearly 70 percent had low levels of vitamin D in their blood, according to the study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Breast Cancer Symposium in San Francisco.
Rare head and neck cancer linked to HPVOctober 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The increased incidence of a rare type of head and neck cancer is linked to HPV, or human papillomavirus, according to researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. In their study, the scientists looked at patients with nasopharyngeal cancer- a tumour that grows behind the nose and at the top of the throat, above the tonsils.
Chemo alone as effective as radiation for malignant brain tumour treatmentOctober 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has revealed that initial chemotherapy alone is as effective as initial radiation therapy for patients who have undergone surgery for removal of very malignant brain tumour. With this treatment, the patients survive on average more than 30 months without a recurrence, said researchers from Heidelberg and Zurich.
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.
Novel way to improve bone health in cancer patients undergoing radiation treatmentSeptember 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists looking for ways to reduce bone loss in astronauts claim to have found a novel way of improving the bone health of cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment. "Our studies indicate significant bone loss at the radiation levels astronauts will experience during long missions to the moon or Mars," said Ted Bateman, a member of NSBRI's Musculoskeletal Alterations Team.
Hologic says FDA cleared more flexible design of MammoSite radiation seeding systemSeptember 1st, 2009 Hologic: FDA approves new radiation therapy systemBEDFORD, Mass. — Hologic Inc.
