Vaccine for Ovarian Cancer 'Encouraging'

New study could be strong case for vaccinating boys

(NEWSER) - A whopping half of men may be infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), best known for causing cervical cancer, but also a cause of anal, penile, head, and neck cancers. Though the CDC currently recommends a vaccine for females, health officials have so far not recommended one for males. Researchers believe this new statistic strengthens the case for why boys should be vaccinated, Reuters reports. More»

Research ties disease to specific mutations

(NEWSER) - Scientists have mapped the genomes of skin and lung cancer, allowing them to know which specific mutations cause the disease. The development, hailed as a major breakthrough, could lead to earlier detection and better drug treatments. Melanoma and lung cancer are triggered by sets of tens of thousands of errors, mostly caused by overexposure to the sun and cigarette smoke, respectively. One researcher likened the process to Russian roulette—"Most of the time the mutations will land in innocent parts of the genome, but some will hit the right targets for cancer." More»

(NEWSER) - Don't go overboard on the candles, researchers warn. The fumes of paraffin wax candles can contribute to cancer and asthma, though it would take years of heavy use to cause a problem, the BBC reports. “An occasional paraffin candle and its emissions will not likely affect you,” says one scientist involved with the new study. More»

Perception that vitamins can prevent prostate problems is false

(NEWSER) - Two new studies debunk the perception that vitamin supplements help ward off prostate and other cancers, the BBC reports. The trials involving 50,000 men provided the most definitive results yet on the effects of vitamins C and E—or, rather lack thereof—on cancer. One study had planned to trace the effects over 7 years but was curtailed because results were so disappointing. More»

Plant's robust immune system makes it a viable vaccine factory

(NEWSER) - Scientists are trying to use the tobacco plant to produce a cancer vaccine, Newsweek reports. Ironic though it may be, the plant could someday offer fast and cheap production of antibodies personalized for individual’s tumor cells. In the first study of its kind, scientists found that the plant-based vaccine triggered the immune systems of patients with a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma without dangerous side effects. A larger study will now determine how effective the vaccine is at fighting the cancer. More»