Tag Archives: story

Could there be a gleevec for brain cancer?

A similar drug might be able to tame some brain cancers, new research from Columbia University Medical Center has shown. A team led by Antonio Iavarone, MD, professor of neurology and of pathology and cell biology, Institute for Cancer Genetics, previously discovered that a fusion of two proteins (present only in cancer cells and different from the two in CML) drives some cases of glioma, a common form of brain cancer. The team’s most recent study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, looked closely at two patients affected by recurrent glioblastoma with the fused proteins, in a first in-human trial of a drug that targets half of the fusion protein. Those patients, the researchers found, responded particularly well to the drug, with clinical improvement and radiological tumor reduction…

Hedgehog signaling pathway for breast cancer identified — ScienceDaily

Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report that hedgehog, a unique cell signaling pathway known to contribute to many types of cancer, may be behind breast cancer metastasis. This molecular message service works with the lncRNA known as BCAR4 giving the genetic green light for tumor growth. “Our study of BCAR4 and the hedgehog signaling pathway has provided evidence for lncRNAs’ regulator roles in aggressive breast cancers progression,” said Liuqing Yang, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular and cellular oncology, whose findings are published in this month’s issue of Cell…

Investigational oral drug combo shows promise for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

“Ixazomib is an investigational, oral proteasome inhibitor with promising anti-myeloma effects and low rates of peripheral neuropathy,” says Shaji Kumar, M.D., a hematologist at Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study. “While it is well known that a combination of bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone is highly effective in treating newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, we wanted to study the safety, tolerability and activity of ixazomib in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.” Dr. Kumar and colleagues enrolled 65 patients (15 to phase 1 and 50 to phase 2) between November 2010 and February 2012. …

Do spinal cord injuries cause subsequent brain damage?

The research, published recently in two articles, one in of the Journal of Neuroscience, the other in Cell Cycle, highlights the close links between spinal cord injury and loss of brain function, and suggests potential treatment to prevent such changes. “Animal studies have shown that traumatic brain injury, even mild repeated injuries, can result in progressive brain tissue damage and cognitive decline, as well as widespread brain inflammation. But little research has examined whether these problems occur after spinal cord injuries,” said UM SOM anesthesiology professor and noted neurobiologist Alan Faden, MD, who led the study. “Our studies the first to show that isolated SCI can cause progressive loss of brain cells in key brain regions,” said Faden. …

Technology developed to improve lung cancer detection, treatment

John Roeske, PhD, and colleagues presented how they developed and evaluated the technology at the recent annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology. Their approach uses dual-energy imaging combined with fluoroscopy to view tumors during radiation therapy. This technology does not require an X-ray that produces both high-and low-energy images. Existing hardware can be used to eliminate visuals of the ribs and other bones making it easier to see the tumor…

Britain’s obese in denial about their weight

In one of the first studies of its kind to examine British perceptions of obesity, fewer than 10 per cent of those who are clinically obese accept they have a serious weight problem. In a 2012 survey of around 2000 adults, only 11 per cent of obese women accurately acknowledged they were “obese,” with most describing themselves as “very overweight” or “just right.” And among men, only seven per cent correctly described themselves as being “obese” and another 16 per cent as “very overweight.” Approximately 10 per cent of people in the survey knew the BMI threshold for obesity and those who did were more likely to define themselves as “obese.” Researchers suggest that as bigger sizes become the new “normal,” people are less likely to recognise the health problems associated with their weight. Professor Jane Wardle, co-author and director of the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Centre at UCL, said: “It’s a real worry that people don’t recognise that their weight places them in the obese category, because it means they aren’t aware they are at increased risk of a number of health problems including cancer. …

Physicians play critical role in ensuring bladder cancer patients understand link between smoking, their disease — ScienceDaily

At least half of bladder cancer cases diagnosed in the United States are the result of cigarette smoking. Bladder cancer is the second most common tobacco-related malignancy, a fact that is not well known even among bladder cancer surgeons, let alone the general public. Quitting smoking after cancer diagnoses can prolong survival, improve cancer prognoses, and decrease the risk of developing second cancers. …