Stand Up To Cancer

An experimental drug called cabazitaxel could offer a last-ditch hope for prostate cancer patients, reports the LAT's Booster Shots blog. After testing the drug in 755 men in 26 countries, esearchers are reporting this week that the drug can improve survival in men with advanced prostate cancer by 30%. While prostate cancer is usually treated with hormone-reducing drugs through a process called chemical castration, cabazitaxel can work for those patients whose cancers are castration-resistant.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/new-drug-offers-lastditch-hope-for-prostate-cancer-patients.html

Meanwhile, freezing a malignant breast tumor has been shown to not only kill the cancer in the breast, but also to prevent it from spreading, according to a recent study performed on mice. The mice who received a 30-second version of the procedure, which is known as cryoablation, had fewer tumors that spread and a better survival rate than those treated with a slower freezing technique or with surgery alone. "Not only does [cryoablation] appear effective in treating the primary tumor with little cosmetic concerns, but it also may stimulate an immune response capable of eradicating any cells that have traveled throughout the body, reducing both local and distance recurrence, similar to giving a breast cancer vaccine," said the study's lead researcher.
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/03/04/2010-03-04_freezing_malignant_breast_tumors_helps_stop_the_spread_of_cancer_in_mice_study.html

In other breast cancer news, new research suggests that a "plant-focused" diet may reduce breast cancer risk by up to 30%. In a study of 34,000 Chinese women, researchers detected a trend of decreasing breast cancer risk with increased intake of vegetables, fruits, and yes, soy. In spite of the cultural differences, the study's lead author believes American women can learn from the findings. "Eating a diverse diet that can be characterized as having a lot of fruits and vegetables, and possibly adding soy also, would be beneficial," she said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6234HU20100304

A study out of the University of Birmingham in the UK indicates that childhood cancer survivors have four times the normal risk of developing bladder cancer later in life. The highest risk for bladder cancer was seen in patients who had initially faced heritable retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer typically seen in children under the age of five; survivors in this group were more than nine times as likely to develop bladder cancer as childhood cancer survivors overall. However, even for these patients, the risk of developing bladder cancer is still pretty small - fewer than half a percent of childhood cancer survivors will develop the disease.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6234HG20100304

Finally, researchers in the Netherlands have tested a vaccine for mesothelioma with promising results. Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lungs and is most often caused by exposure to asbestos. In a study of ten patients, scientists found that the vaccine induced an immune T-cell response against the tumors without negatively impacting patient health. "We hope that by further development of our method it will be possible to increase survival in patients with mesothelioma and eventually vaccinate persons who have been in contact with asbestos to prevent them from getting asbestos related diseases," said the study's lead author.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636645.html

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

--Cat