Stand Up To Cancer

Canadian researchers have developed a hormone testing technique that could one day be part of a handheld device for the detection of breast cancer. The "lab on a chip" technique out of University of Toronto analyzes tiny samples of blood and breast tissue, identifying women at a risk for the disease by analyzing estrogen concentration. Now the research team is preparing for a clinical trial in 200 Canadian women to validate the promising method.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091008/hl_afp/healthuscanadacancer_20091008011944

According to new research by US and Chinese immunology experts, human stem cells could one day be used to create a vaccination for colon cancer. Human embryonic cells injected into mice produced a consistent immune system response against colon cancer cells, indicating that they may be able to produce the same effect in humans. One of the researchers involved added that the discovery may also have implications for other forms of cancers: "Although we have only tested the protection against colon cancer, we believe that stem cells might be useful for generating an immune response against a broad spectrum of cancers, thus serving as a universal cancer vaccine," he said.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166696.php

A new study shows that exercise during breast cancer treatment can boost patients' feeling of well-being during a difficult and often frightening time. Among Chinese women diagnosed with the disease, those reporting even low levels of regular exercise reported better physical, mental and social well-being than those who did not exercise. Recommended levels of exercise include a brisk, 45-minute walk three days a week, yoga for 40 minutes three times a week or any aerobic exercise for a half hour three times a week.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=8783064

Elsewhere, researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute are using computer simulations to validate treatment targets for lung cancer. This "in silico" research helps identify lung cancer pathways to better match treatments to individual patients - an idea that may sound familiar to you if you know anything about SU2C's breast cancer Dream Team. "There is going to be a wealth of profiling data out there in the near future," said a doc involved in the study. "You can then apply techniques like this, and hopefully design smarter clinical trials to find the drugs that would work."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091007081353.htm

Finally, a new study adds to growing evidence that childhood cancer survivors go on to experience difficulties later in life that are not always addressed. According to fresh research out of Yale School of Medicine, childhood cancer survivors are 20 to 25% more likely to remain unmarried than the general population. "Many childhood cancer survivors still struggle to fully participate in our society because of the lasting cognitive and physical effects of their past cancer therapy," noted the study's lead researcher.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091008/cancer_survivors_091008/20091008?hub=TopStoriesV2

That's all for this week, but check back next Thursday for more!

--Cat