Cancer Research

US Settlers Spread Rare Cancer Gene

Los Angeles Times  |  Jan 7, 08 6:18 PM CST

(Newser) - Two American settlers braved cross-Atlantic travel in the 1630s with unusual baggage: a genetic mutation that increases the risk of colon cancer 17-fold, the Los Angeles Times reports. Researcher Deborah Neklason traced two cancer-ridden families, one in Utah and one in New York, back to colonists George Frye and his wife—one of whom carried the deadly mutation in a gene called APC. More »

Patients Flee London Cancer Hospital Fire

BBC  |  Jan 3, 08 8:35 AM CST

(Newser) - A huge fire gutted one of the world's leading cancer hospitals yesterday, forcing up to 160 patients and 800 staff to evacuate and causing up to $1 billion in damages. London's Royal Marsden Hospital went up in flames after a small fire in a plant room spread through the building. Five operating theaters and two patients' wards have been greatly damaged, and the roof of the hospital has been destroyed. More »

Mouthwash Could Spot Cancer

Reuters  |  Jan 1, 08 7:00 AM CST

(Newser) - Scientists are working on a mouth rinse that could save lives by detecting head and neck cancers early, Reuters reports. A cheap and easy "swish-and-spit" saliva test could turn up cells containing the altered genes associated with these cancers. Head and neck cancers can often be cured, but early detection is essential. More »

Breast Cancer Risk Seen for Latinos, Blacks

San Jose Mercury News  |  Dec 26, 07 6:40 PM CST

(Newser) - A genetic mutation that increases the risk of breast cancer has been linked to Hispanic and young black women, according to a new study. The findings could lead to changes in screening, the San Jose Mercury News reports. In the survey of 3,181 women with breast cancer, 16.7% of black patients under 35 and 3.5% of Hispanic patients had the mutated gene, compared with 2.2% of white patients. More »

Hospitals Seduced by 'Nuclear Arms Race' vs. Cancer

New York Times  |  Dec 26, 07 2:29 PM CST

(Newser) - More and more hospitals are using nuclear proton accelerators in the fight against cancer, with mixed results, reports the New York Times . Some experts say the massive devices, formerly only found in physics labs, are a vital next-generation tool. Others doubt their effectiveness and worry that hospitals are getting caught up in a kind of anti-cancer "arms race," with price tags running up to $100 million a pop for the 222-ton accelerators. More »

Uninsured Cancer Patients Die More Often

Associated Press  |  Dec 20, 07 4:26 PM CST

(Newser) - Cancer patients without health insurance are 1.6 times more likely to die within five years of diagnosis than the insured, the AP reports. A new study by the American Cancer Society examined records for 600,000 patients under 65 in 1,500 US hospitals and found that 35% of the uninsured were dead after five years, whereas only 23% of those with private insurance or Medicaid had died. More »

Sun Exposure May Reduce Risk of Lung Cancer

Daily Telegraph (UK)  |  Dec 18, 07 10:50 AM CST

(Newser) - Lack of exposure to sunlight may increase the risk of lung cancer, a study of 111 countries shows. Smoking is the risk factor most closely associated with the disease, accounting for as many as 85% of cases, but limited access to UV rays is second, the Telegraph reports. Vitamin D, which is generated by exposure to the sun, can slow or even halt tumor growth, reports the BBC. More »

Study: Many Can Safely Skip Chemo for Breast Cancer

Associated Press  |  Dec 14, 07 4:02 AM CST

(Newser) - Thousands of breast cancer patients could be spared the misery and expense of chemotherapy, or at least get a milder regimen than what's usually prescribed, according to a new study. A new genetic test that predicts women's risk of recurrence shows that up to 40% of patients with early stage breast cancer could safely skip chemotherapy. More »

Mammograms Hard to Read Even When There's a Lump

Reuters  |  Dec 12, 07 10:23 AM CST

(Newser) - The accuracy of mammograms is highly dependent on the radiologist reading them, not only in finding easy-to-miss tumors but in diagnosing visible lumps, reports Reuters. "On average, 21 percent of breast cancers were missed and 4.3 percent of women underwent a biopsy even though they didn't have breast cancer," said the lead researcher. More »

Meat Linked to Many Cancers

NPR  |  Dec 12, 07 3:48 AM CST

(Newser) - A diet rich in red meat has long been linked to a higher risk of colon cancer, but new research also ties it to lung, esophageal and liver cancers. A new study of over a half million participants focuses on consumption of beef, pork, lamb and processed meats—cold cuts, bacon and hot dogs. Researchers speculate that the increased risk stems from compounds within the meat, as well as some generated by cooking. More »

New Key to Breast Cancer Discovered

Reuters  |  Dec 10, 07 4:57 AM CST

(Newser) - Scientists believe they've made a breakthrough discovery in why a certain genetic mutation can cause a particularly deadly form of breast cancer. Mutations in the BRCA1 gene are apparently linked to the loss of an important protein, PTEN, that checks cell growth, according to a new study in the journal Nature. More »

FDA Panel Rejects Breast Cancer Drug

Wall Street Journal  |  Dec 5, 07 4:34 PM CST

(Newser) - An FDA panel rejected a drug to treat advanced breast cancer by 5-to-4 vote, the Wall Street Journal reports. The drug Avastin is already used to treat colon and lung cancer, but the panel said it did not have sufficient data to weigh the risks and benefits of using the drug to treat breast cancer. More »

Inventor Takes On Spam, Fatal Blood Cancer

New York Times  |  Dec 3, 07 4:16 PM CST

(Newser) - Silicon Valley entrepreneur Steven T. Kirsch will save his own life right after he’s done eliminating spam email, he says. Kirsch has a rare form of blood cancer with a 5-7 year life expectancy, but he says, “I just look at it as a problem…you have four years to solve it or you don’t get to solve any more problems,” according to The New York Times . More »

French Fries May Increase Risk of Cancer

BBC  |  Dec 3, 07 1:52 PM CST

(Newser) - Women who eat too many French fries or potato chips may increase their risk of cancer, say researchers tracing the effect of the chemical acrylamide in the diet. In a new Dutch study, women who ingested 40mg of acrylamide a day—about one order of fries—developed twice as many cases of ovarian or uterine cancer as others. More »

Cancer Still Winning War ...on Cancer

Boston Globe  |  Dec 2, 07 5:35 PM CST

(Newser) - Nixon declared war on cancer in '71, but $69 billion in funding and claims of near victory are yet to slow it down, the Boston Globe reports. No one knows what makes it spread—and trigger 90% of cancer deaths—and a drop in deaths is due to lifestyle changes and early diagnosis, not better drugs. Yet one expert claims that progress is being made, quietly, behind closed doors. More »

Night Shift Linked to Cancer