February 28th, 2011
An inexpensive and rapid testing method can effectively identify a sub-group of never-smoking lung cancer patients whose tumors express a molecule associated with increased risk of disease progression or recurrence, US researchers have found.
Dr Ping Yang from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, and colleagues, reported the findings at the European Multidisciplinary Conference in Thoracic Oncology (EMCTO), 24-26 February 2011, Lugano, Switzerland.
February 28th, 2011
A week after Lance Armstrong announced his retirement from competitive cycling, the seven-time Tour de France winner is coming to California today on a political tour – to push for a ballot initiative that would add $1 a pack to cigarettes to raise money for cancer research.
“Cancer doesn’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, young or old,” Armstrong said in an interview.
The cyclist, who became a cancer activist and fundraiser after his battle with testicular cancer – a challenge chronicled in his best-selling memoir, “It’s Not About the Bike” – is co-chairing the California Cancer Research Act. The ballot measure is sponsored by former state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, another cancer survivor.
February 28th, 2011
There’s a killer lurking in and around your home and you may not even know it. Dead bolts and window locks are no match; in fact you could be in danger right now!
That killer is Radon, a radioactive gas. It’s a deadly by-product of decaying Uranium in the ground.
How deadly? Consider this; Radon is responsible for more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths every year. Claiming more lives annually than drunk driving and house fires, combined!
February 25th, 2011
ALK-positive, never-smoker, patients with lung adenocarcinoma at double risk to experience disease progression or recurrence within 5 years of initial diagnosis
Dr Ping Yang from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, and colleagues, reported the findings today at the European Multidisciplinary Conference in Thoracic Oncology (EMCTO) in Lugano.
Approximately 8% – 12% of patients with lung adenocarcinoma who have never smoked cigarettes carry tumors that express a protein product called anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), Dr Yang said. “This subset of patients are at more than double the risk of experiencing disease progression or recurrence within 5 years of initial diagnosis compared to never-smokers whose lung adenocarcinoma tumors are ALK-negative.”
February 22nd, 2011
The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (BJALCF), a global leader in efforts to eradicate lung cancer, today announced that it has named Scott Santarella as its new President and CEO. Santarella, former President and CEO of the American Lung Association in New Yorkand former COO of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) will step into the previous role of Bonnie J. Addario, who is now Chairman of the Board.
February 17th, 2011
A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) study has identified a new role for an important enzyme in preparing
lung tissue for the development of metastases. Published in the early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the report describes how focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is involved in producing areas of vascular leakiness in lung tissue – known to be part of the premetastatic process – and increases expression of a molecule that attracts cancer cells to potential metastatic sites.
“Blood from all tissues of the body travels to the lungs for oxygenation, increasing the likelihood that circulating metastatic cells will interact with the lung microvasculature,” says Rakesh K. Jain, PhD, director of the Steele Laboratory for Tumor Biology at MGH and senior author of the study. “Identifying factors that prepare this ‘hospitable soil’ for tumor formation may help us develop strategies to slow or halt that process.”
February 16th, 2011
A compound in the blood, bilirubin, has been identified to reduce risk of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and all-cause death, based on a study consisting of half a million adults.
Bilirubin (formerly referred to as hematoidin) is the yellow breakdown product of normal heme catabolism. Heme is found in hemoglobin, a principal component of red blood cells. Bilirubin is excreted in bile and urine, and elevated levels may indicate certain diseases. It is responsible for the yellow color of bruises, urine (via its reduced breakdown product, urobilin), and the yellow discoloration in jaundice.
February 9th, 2011
It has been predicted that Europe in particular will witness close to 1.3 million cancer related deaths this year, with rates rising dramatically for lung cancer in women. Meanwhile, in a survey conducted by the British Medical Journal this month, 72% of readers think healthcare in England in five years’ time will be worse or much worse compared with now.
To form this estimate, researchers focused on data on cancer deaths in the European Union (EU) for the period 1970-2007 to calculate rates of death each year and to identify trends which they used to predict death rates for 2011.
February 6th, 2011
On Sunday, Feb. 6, roughly 1,000 people honored a request made by late Cal coxswain Jill Costello by participating in the second annual Jog for Jill. The event – a 5K run/walk sponsored by the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation to raise funds for lung cancer research – fulfilled Jill’s desire to have a yearly walk in her honor.
“It was amazing to see so many student-athletes come out for Jog for Jill,” junior women’s swimmer Shelley Harper said. “My entire team was there and it was just really great to get together to celebrate Jill’s life and support her dream to ‘Beat Lung Cancer.’”
The walk started and ended in Sproul Plaza on the Cal campus with student-athletes representing all 27 Cal teams in attendance in addition to other Berkeley students and community members. Following the walk, there was a celebration of Jill’s life.
February 6th, 2011
Until recently, no screening test for lung cancer had ever shown the ability to detect this malignancy early enough to make a difference in survival.
But in November, the National Cancer Institute released initial results of a study, involving 53,000 former and heavy smokers, which compared chest X-rays to spiral computed tomography and found a 20 percent reduction in mortality in the group getting annual spiral CT.
