Oncology news

Women who are at risk for breast cancer may also be at greater risk for heart disease, new research has found.

Italian researchers have shown that the effect of treating women before surgery with trastuzumab (Herceptin) and docetaxel for HER2-positive breast cancer is improved by adding another 'Herceptin-like' drug called pertuzumab.

Long-term coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk for endometrial cancer, according to a recent study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Alcohol consumption by adolescents may increase breast cancer risk in those with a family history of the disease.

The bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Cervarix, GlaxoSmithKline) offers excellent protection against the more serious immediate precursor to invasive cervical cancer (ICC), particularly when given to young adolescent girls before they become sexually active. The findings of two studies published in The Lancet Oncology, also show that the vaccine partially protects against four other cancer-causing HPV types not targeted by the formulation, that together with HPV16/18, cause about 85% of cervical cancer worldwide.

Deprived men are more likely to die from bowel cancer than men from the most affluent section of society, new research presented at the NCRI Cancer Conference in Liverpool this week shows.

Self-testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) - the virus that causes cervical cancer - at home is at least as sensitive as conventional cytology (smear testing) in detecting cervical cancer or pre-cancerous changes, a study of Mexican women has found.

Consumption of 3 to 6 alcoholic drinks per week is associated with a small increase in the risk of breast cancer, and consumption in both earlier and later adult life is also associated with an increased risk, according to a study in JAMA.

Long-term aspirin use protects against bowel cancer in people with Lynch syndrome - a genetic disorder that predisposes to the disease - according to research partly funded by Cancer Research UK.

Taking the Pill for 10 years can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by almost half (45 per cent), new research part-funded by Cancer Research UK shows today.

It is known that a high proportion of dense breast tissue, as seen with a mammogram, is associated with a high risk of breast cancer. But the role of non-dense fat tissue in the breast is less clear. New research published in the journal Breast Cancer Research separates the breast cancer risks associated with dense, fibroglandular tissue, and fat, and shows that large areas of either are independently associated with an increased risk.

Using chemotherapy and the drug Herceptin to treat early-stage breast cancer for women with an aggressive form of the disease could help boost survival rates, a study has found.

The number of new cases of breast cancer diagnosed worldwide has risen dramatically from about 640 000 in 1980 to 1.6 million in 2010. During the same period, cervical cancer incidence and death rates have been decreasing, but the disease still killed 200 000 women in 2010, according to the first global estimates published in The Lancet.

Contraceptive intrauterine devices (IUDs) could substantially reduce the risk of women developing cervical cancer, new research from Spain shows.

Fewer than three doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Cervarix may be just as effective as the standard three-dose regimen when it comes to preventive measures against cervical cancer, according to a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

A single injection delivering a cancer targeting virus to tumour cells was shown to be effective in a study published in "Nature". According to Jennerex Biotherapeutics, who produced the JX-594 vaccine, the study represents the first trial of an intravenous oncolytic virus successfully expressing transgene products in humans.

Genomic sequencing of colorectal cancer tumors is reported this week in Nature Genetics. Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related mortality.

Scientists have discovered how a molecule that was first discovered in bacteria blocks a protein which causes breast cancer to develop and spread, reveals research published in Nature Chemistry.

Scientists have found a potential new mechanism to stimulate the body's own ability to fight cancer using Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) – the germ commonly used to inoculate against tuberculosis (TB).

Two new studies have found that smokers who tend to take their first cigarette soon after they wake up in the morning may have a higher risk of developing lung and head and neck cancers than smokers who refrain from lighting up right away. The results may help identify smokers who have an especially high risk of developing cancer and would benefit from targeted smoking interventions to reduce their risk.

Cancer Research UK scientists have developed a new imaging technique that uses vitamin C to detect cancers likely to be more aggressive or resistant to treatment, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society today.

Women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer who take the drug tamoxifen for five years after breast cancer surgery can cut their long-term chances of dying from the disease by at least a third, according to a report by the Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group (EBCTCG).

The targeted drug erlotinib nearly triples progression-free survival (PFS), and is better tolerated, compared with standard chemotherapy as the initial treatment for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours harbour epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. The results suggest that erlotinib should be one of the first-line treatments now considered for advanced NSCLC in patients with activating EGFR mutations.

Weight is the biggest factor affecting the level of sex hormones that increase breast cancer risk in post menopausal women, according to new research published in the British Journal of Cancer today (Wednesday).

UK scientists have shown that a particular group of chemotherapy drugs work by causing an unusual form of cell death in cancer cells, called necroptosis.

Older breast cancer patients with certain other health problems have higher mortality rates than patients without these problems according to a study published online June 30 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

A computational model of cancer metabolism that predicts genes that are essential for cancer-cell growth is reported in a study published online in Molecular Systems Biology. This study provides an important step towards more selective and more personalized cancer treatments.

Cancer Research UK scientists at the University of Leeds have used a library of DNA to create a vaccine that could be used to treat cancer, according to a study published in Nature Medicine.

The number of women with precancerous cervical changes has fallen in Victoria, Australia since the introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes, a new study has found.

Poorer women from deprived areas are less likely to survive breast cancer as they are diagnosed at a later stage which means the best available treatments won’t be as effective according to a new report out today (Thursday) by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN).

Cancers of the gut, stomach and pancreas could be detected much sooner with a simple urine test, research suggests.

The WHO / International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer (1), associated with wireless phone use.

Lung cancer is the most common tumour type, with an estimated 1.5 million cases diagnosed worldwide every year. In most countries it has historically been more common in men, but its incidence in women is rising, following an increase in the proportion of women smokers. There is therefore considerable interest in studying differences in incidence patterns of this tumour between the sexes.

First large study of HPV and pap co-testing in routine clinical practice confirms most women can safely extend screening to every three years; HPV testing alone also appears to be superior to pap testing alone.

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that a common gene fault in cervical cancer cells triggers a ripple of molecular signals - which makes the disease more aggressive, according to research published in The Journal of Pathology, today.

A commonly used HIV treatment could prevent cases of cervical cancer by killing off cells infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a new laboratory study.

Breast cancers that are first detectable in the interval between screening mammograms are more likely to be aggressive, fast-growing tumours according to a study published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that tumours are able to recruit part of the body’s defence system to protect them from the effect of a drug designed to block the supply of blood to the tumour.

Good news for women treated for precancerous cervical lesions. A Dutch study published in Lancet Oncology shows that after three consecutive normal cytological smears (Pap tests) women face a similar 5-year risk of developing cervical cancer or recurrent disease to the general population and can return to population-based regular screening.

Chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are the leading cause of death globally, according to the World Health Organization.

Cancer researchers at the University of Calgary are investigating a new tool to use for the prognosis of breast cancer in patients. This new digital tool will help give patients a more accurate assessment of how abnormal and aggressive their cancer is and help doctors recommend the best treatment options.

Scientists reveal that an 'electronic nose' can distinguish between molecules found in the breath of head-and-neck cancer patients and those of healthy people, according to the results of a small, initial study published in the British Journal of Cancer, today.

Final overall survival improvement of 3.5 months compared with standard chemotherapy − updated analysis from pivotal CRYSTAL trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows KRAS is the only validated biomarker which is predictive for the efficacy of Erbitux.

The number of cancers and the types of cancers among people living with AIDS in the U.S. have changed dramatically during the 15-year period from 1991-2005, according to an article published online April 11th in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

In a 20 year follow up study screening for prostate cancer was found to have no effect on mortality, reports a Swedish study in the British Medical Journal.

Breast cancer is on the rise in developing countries and mortality is high. Now, a consensus review of cancer experts worldwide, published in this month's issue of The Lancet Oncology, has identified the biggest challenges to diagnosing and treating breast cancer in low-income and middle-income countries (LMCs) and proposed resource-appropriate solutions to improve outcomes.

The proportion of second cancers related to radiotherapy treatment for the first cancer in adulthood is small (about 8%), concludes an article published in The Lancet Oncology.

A breakthrough discovery by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Children's Hospital Boston promises an effective new treatment for one of the deadliest forms of cancer.

Experts are urging breast cancer patients to complete their full prescription of tamoxifen, following long-term results from a major Cancer Research UK-funded trial which showed the cancer was less likely to come back in women who took the drug for five years, compared to two years.

Tamoxifen, taken by certain women as a preventive measure against breast cancer, saves lives and reduces medical costs. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

High levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or 'good cholesterol') may be associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer, a European study suggests.

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered for the first time that DNA methylation patterns – a key process in cell development - could accurately detect early bowel cancer, according to research published in Gut, today.

There is increasing pressure from national and international advocacy groups on low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to implement population-based mammography screening. But according to an article in The Lancet Oncology, this "one-size-fits-all" approach although proven to be effective in high-income countries would be impractical in most LMCs and an ineffective use of limited health-care resources. A better solution might be to raise awareness and encourage more women with breast symptoms to seek and receive timely treatment.

There will be nearly 1.3 million deaths from cancer in Europe in 2011 according to predictions from a study published in the cancer journal, Annals of Oncology Wednesday 9 February.

Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have discovered that an enzyme involved in the spread of breast cancer is also important for the growth and spread of bowel cancer.

Starting hormone therapy at around the time of menopause is associated with a greater risk of breast cancer compared to starting after a longer gap, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

A combination of six serum markers to detect colorectal cancer (CRC) was found to be comparable to the performance of fecal immunochemical testing, finds a study in Clinical Cancer Research.

Denmark is the world’s cancer capital, according to a league table that has also revealed that the UK has the 22nd highest cancer rates in the world.

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that cervical cancer patients who have a mixture of different genetic faults in their tumour at the start of treatment may be more likely to relapse, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer today.