Stand Up To Cancer

A new experimental therapy for melanoma is showing extremely promising results, researchers reported this week. The drug, which currently goes by the catchy name RO5185426, blocks the effects of the BRAF genetic mutation that the human genome project found to be a part of many melanoma tumors. Turning off the gene keeps it from signaling cells to grow uncontrollably. In a clinical trial testing the drug, 70 to 80% of patients with the mutation saw their tumors regress, often by about 50%, within just months of trying the medicine. That's especially good news because in spite of years of research, the last big advance in treating melanoma came out in 1992, and it only works for 5 to 10% of patients.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/melanoma-drug-hope-fight-virulent-form-cancer/story?id=9933403

Prophylactic removal of a healthy breast is becoming increasingly common for women being treated for breast cancer; the rate of these preventive mastectomies increased 150% in the five years between 1998 and 2003. Now, a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates that prophylactic mastectomies benefit one group of patients most: those under 50 with Stage 1 or 2 breast cancer that is estrogen receptor negative. For these women, the mastectomy upped their odds of remaining cancer free after five years by 4.8%. The study also identified one group that definitely did not benefit from preventive breast removal: patients over the age of 60.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/02/breast-cancer-prophylactic-mastectomy.html

A new survey by the Avon Foundation for Women indicates that a quarter of US states have either cut or eliminated screening mammography and early detection services for women under the age of 50. The results of the survey underscored concerns that the US Preventive Services Task Force's revisions to screening guidelines issued last year might be used to deny health coverage for women. "Lawmakers at all levels need to act now to ensure that these recommendations do no further damage, and that women have full and ready access to mammography," said Dr. James Thrall, chair of the American College of Radiology's Board of Chancellors.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61L4JZ20100222

Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have shown that by directing gold nanoparticles into the nuclei of cancer cells, they can not only prevent those cells from multiplying - they can also kill them on the spot. The nanoparticles are decorated with two chemicals: one that gets them into the cytoplasm of cancer cells but not healthy ones, and the other that draws them into the nucleus. The gold then interferes with the cell's DNA, effectively killing it. "Previously, we've shown that we can bring gold nanoparticles into cancer cells and by shining a light on them, can kill the cells. Now we've shown that if we direct those gold nanoparticles into the nucleus, we can kill the cancer cells that are in spots we can't hit with the light," said the study's lead researcher.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216140402.htm

Finally, a new study shows that removing lymph nodes boosts endometrial cancer survival. It had previously been shown that removing pelvic lymph nodes would have this effect, but the surgery is more effective at preventing recurrence if the para-aortic lymph nodes are removed as well, say Japanese researchers. Those at medium to high risk for recurrence who had both sets of lymph nodes removed were 56% less likely to die of the disease than those who only had pelvic lymph nodes removed, according to the analysis of 328 women.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636366.html

That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!

--Cat