Health and Cancer

Novel Prostate Cancer Drug Target Identified

2012-02-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

A protein critical to the development and growth of prostate cancer has been discovered by LSU Health Sciences Center researchers. The findings are published online in the Early Edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, available the week of February 6, 2012

Dr. Liu and his team discovered a protein called ARD1 which is involved with the male hormone, androgen, and its receptor. Prostate cancer is a hormone-regulated disease and the main hormone is androgen. Androgen activates its receptor - androgen receptor (AR) to play a critical role in the development and progression of prostate cancer. Therefore, androgen deprivation therapy has been a standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer.

"However, a majority of tumors invariably relapse and become an androgen-independent prostate cancer from which most patients eventually die," notes Dr. Liu, who is also a member of the LSUHSC Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center.

To find an alternative strategy to treat prostate cancer, Dr. Liu's group is studying androgen receptor activators and increasing levels of these activators leading to prostate cancer. Following the discovery of this new protein, they determined that ARD1 is overproduced in the majority of prostate cancer samples, that it activates the androgen receptor, and that it is an essential component of prostate cancer cell growth.

"In addition, we demonstrated that inactivation of ARD1 inhibits the function of androgen receptors resulting in complete suppression of prostate cancer cell growth in tissue culture and prostate tumor growth in mice," reports Dr. Liu. "Furthermore, we revealed that the role of ARD1 in the development of prostate cancer is to modify the androgen receptor to enhance its activity."

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 242,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. It is the second most diagnosed cancer among men, only behind skin cancer. An estimated 28,170 men will die from prostate cancer in 2012.

"Our study provides a novel avenue for controlling AR-mediated prostate tumor development by directly inhibiting the function of ARD1 or AR-ARD1 interaction," says Dr. Liu. "Developing an ARD1-specific inhibitor or an AR-ARD1 interaction-disrupting compound may be of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of prostate cancer."

Source-Eurekalert

Alcohol consumption and risk of renal cell cancer: the NIH-AARP diet and health study

2011-05-09T13:33:00.001-07:00

Background:
The effect of moderate to heavy drinking (>15 g per day) on renal cell cancer (RCC) risk is unclear.
Method:
The relationship between alcohol consumption and RCC was examined in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study (n=49 2187, 1814 cases).
Results:
Compared with >0 to <5 g per day of alcohol consumption, the multivariate relative risk (95% confidence intervals) for 15 to <30 and 30 g per day was, 0.75 (0.63–0.90) and 0.71 (0.59–0.85), respectively, in men and 0.67 (0.42–1.07) and 0.43 (0.22–0.84), respectively, in women.
Conclusion:
Alcohol consumption was inversely associated with RCC in a dose–response manner. The inverse association may be extended to 30 g per day of alcohol intake.

British Journal of Cancer 104, 537-541 (1 February 2011)

Women's Cancer Program

2010-10-12T10:53:00.000-07:00

Overview:

The Women's Cancers Program Area addresses research, clinical and educational activities for malignancies in women. The program fosters interactive and collaborative activities between and among members in order to develop multidisciplinary research in the areas of breast and women's reproductive cancers. It takes a comprehensive approach to clinical cancer research with a focus on translational research.

Goals:

Establish genetic-based risk assessment and counseling by understanding high-risk/genetic predisposition
Evaluate and implement prevention and screening strategies by understanding high-risk/genetic predisposition
Investigate the molecular/genetic and environmental conditions that give rise to cancers in women for possible early intervention by understanding early cellular transformation events
Develop targeted therapeutics for women’s cancers by understanding the mechanisms of solid tumor progression/angiogenesis/invasion
Identify targets and develop new, rational, highly effective and minimally toxic therapeutic approaches by understanding established tumors/motility/metastasis
Meetings and Events:

Multiple weekly clinical meetings within each of the clinics
Monthly Ovarian Cancer Research Group meetings
Monthly joint Cedars Sinai-UCLA gynecologic oncology journal club for fellows and residents
Bi-annual meeting of Women’s Cancers Program Area members, with oral and poster presentations and an invited visiting research expert
Leadership:

Dr. John Glaspy serves as director of the Women's Cancers Program Area and is the inaugural recipient of the Estelle, Abe and Marjorie Sanders Endowed Chair in Cancer Research at UCLA in recognition of his distinguished contributions in the area of cancer research and his eminence as a faculty member in the David Geffen School of Medicine. A professor of medicine, Glaspy earned a medical degree at UCLA concurrently with a master's degree in public health from the UCLA School of Public Health. He has gained a national reputation in clinical medicine as an acute diagnostician and outstanding clinician. His research includes understanding the role of gene therapy in cancer and developing new and more efficient molecularly targeted therapies for melanoma and breast cancer. Glaspy played a major role in developing a community-based oncology research network designed to bring UCLA expertise and clinical research programs to regional oncology offices in California and several surrounding states.

Associate Director Dr. Robin Farias-Eisner, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology, serves as Chief of Gynecologic Oncology at UCLA. His research interests include developing better treatments for cervical and uterine cancer and better detection and treatment for ovarian cancer. Farias-Eisner and his colleagues are working on developing a test for the early detection of ovarian cancer that could join the mammogram, colonoscopy, and pap smear in the screening arsenal and save thousands of lives now lost every year to the cancer known as the "silent killer." The simple blood test can detect ovarian cancer when there are no physical signs of disease - when ovaries appear normal and CA 125, a biomarker for ovarian cancer, is normal. In a small study, Farias-Eisner and his team were able to diagnose early stage ovarian cancer with 100 percent accuracy using a panel of four biomarkers that create a specific protein signature. The work currently is being confirmed in a larger study.

National Institute of Health Cancer Statistics

2010-10-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

http://seer.cancer.gov Welcome to the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program, a premier source for cancer statistics in the United States. We collect information on incidence, prevalence and survival from specific geographic areas representing 28 percent of the US population and compile reports on all of these plus cancer mortality for the entire country. Our site is intended for anyone interested in US cancer statistics or cancer surveillance methods.

Overview of the SEER ProgramThe Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States. SEER currently collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based cancer registries covering approximately 28 percent of the US population. For more information on this, please view the SEER Research Data. SEER coverage includes 26 percent of African Americans, 41 percent of Hispanics, 43 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives, 54 percent of Asians, and 71 percent of Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders. (Details are provided in the table: Number of Persons by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity for SEER Participants.)

The SEER Program registries routinely collect data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, tumor morphology and stage at diagnosis, first course of treatment, and follow-up for vital status. The SEER Program is the only comprehensive source of population-based information in the United States that includes stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and patient survival data. The mortality data reported by SEER are provided by the National Center for Health Statistics. The population data used in calculating cancer rates is obtained periodically from the Census Bureau. Updated annually and provided as a public service in print and electronic formats, SEER data are used by thousands of researchers, clinicians, public health officials, legislators, policymakers, community groups, and the public.

NCI staff work with the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) to guide all state registries to achieve data content and compatibility acceptable for pooling data and improving national estimates. The SEER team is developing computer applications to unify cancer registration systems and to analyze and disseminate population-based data. Use of surveillance data for research is being improved through Web-based access to the data and analytic tools, and linking with other national data sources. For example, a Web-based tool for public health officials and policy makers, State Cancer Profiles, provides a user-friendly interface for finding cancer statistics for specific states and counties. This Web site is a joint project between NCI and CDC and is part of the Cancer Control PLANET Web site which provides links to comprehensive cancer control resources for public health professionals. SEER staff also work with a number of collaborating organizations that are involved in cancer surveillance and related disciplines.

Read Goals of the SEER Program for more information about SEER's activites

Time Since Diagnosis as a Predictor of Symptoms, Depression, Cognition, Social Concerns, Perceived Benefits, and Overall Health in Cancer Survivors

2010-09-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Abstract

Purpose/Objectives: To assess whether health and other factors are different in short-term cancer survivors (less than five years since diagnosis), long-term survivors (5-10 years), and very long-term survivors (more than 10 years).

Design: A cross-sectional survey.

Setting: New Zealand.

Sample: 836 survivors of adult-onset cancers (6 months to 43 years since diagnosis).

Methods: Survivors were recruited using community-based methods and answered a mailed questionnaire.

Main Research Variables: Physical and emotional health, depression, symptoms, cognitive difficulty, social concerns, and perceived benefits of cancer.

Findings: Physical and emotional health, depression, physical symptoms, and perceived benefits of cancer were not associated with time since diagnosis, but longer time since diagnosis was associated with decreases in cognitive difficulties and social concerns. The survivors in this study reported a mean of 8.4 physical symptoms, regardless of time since diagnosis, with the most frequent being fatigue (76%), aches and pain (75%), and trouble sleeping (68%).

Conclusions: Most survivors enjoyed a moderately good level of health. However, some adverse effects, such as symptoms, were similar in short-, long-, and very long-term survivors, suggesting that interventions may be needed to prevent persistent issues as time progresses.

Implications for Nursing: The findings suggest a need to reconsider the common attitude that survivors who finish treatment should be able to return to normal life. Assessment of symptoms, particularly fatigue, pain, and sleep issues, is important even in very long-term survivors.

Jill A. Bennett, PhD, RN1, Linda D. Cameron, PhD2, Paul M. Brown, PhD2, Lisa C. Whitehead, PhD3, David Porter, MBChB, MD4, Tanja Ottaway-Parkes, MA2, Elizabeth Robinson, PhD2
1School of Nursing, University of Auckland, New Zealand
2School of Public Health, University of Auckland
3Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies, University of Otago in Christchurch, New Zealand
4Auckland District Health Board, Medical Oncology, Auckland Hospital

Statins reduced incidence of prostate cancer recurrence after prostatectomy

2010-06-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

In men with prostate cancer who underwent prostatectomy, the use of statins reduced the disease recurrence rate by 30%.

“Our findings require confirmation in other settings and in particular to determine whether statins are associated with a reduction in metastases and/or prostate cancer specific and overall mortality,” the researchers wrote.

These conclusions were drawn from data taken from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database. Data on 1,319 men treated with radical prostatectomy were taken from this database between 1988 and 2008. The researchers compared PSA recurrence between statin users and nonusers. Of the men examined, 18% were taking statins.

Significant differences between statin users and nonusers were identified at presentation. Those men taking statins were more likely to be older (P<.001), have a lower median PSA (P=.04), were more likely to be white (P<.001) and have a higher BMI (P=.05); however, they were also more likely to have a higher biopsy Gleason score (P=.002).

Median follow-up for statin users was 24 months; it was 38 months for nonusers. At that time, 23% of the men had a biochemical recurrence (16% for statin users vs. 25% in nonusers).

After adjusting for the pathological and clinical factors that differed between the two groups, the researchers found that men who used statins had a 30% decreased risk of PSA recurrence (95% CI, 0.50-0.97). This association was dose-dependent.

Hamilton RJ. Cancer. 2010;doi:10.1002/cncr.25308.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Weight Loss controversy

2010-02-08T11:14:00.001-08:00

Where is the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Weight Loss controversy come from.

A controversial usage of hCG is as an adjunct to the British endocrinologist A.T.W. Simeons' ultra-low-calorie weight-loss diet Simeons, while studying pregnant women in India on a calorie-deficient diet, and “fat boys” with pituitary problems treated with low-dose hCG, discovered that both lost fat rather than lean (muscle) tissue. He reasoned that hCG must be programming the hypothalamus to do this in the former cases in order to protect the developing fetus by promoting mobilization and consumption of abnormal, excessive adipose deposits. Simeons, practicing at Salvator Mundi International Hospital in Rome, Italy, recommended low-dose daily hCG injections (125 mg) in combination with a customized ultra-low-calorie (500 cal/day, high-protein, low-carbohydrate/fat) diet loss of adipose tissue without loss of lean tissue. After Simeons’ mysterious death, the diet started to spread to specialized centers and via popularization by such as the controversial author Kevin Trudeau.

The controversy proceeds from warnings by the Journal of the American Medical Association[1] and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition[2] that hCG is neither safe,[1] nor effective as a weight-loss aid.[3]

1. Fraser L. "Ten Pounds in Ten Days: A Sampler of Diet Fads and Abuse". Health resources special report. Caremark, L.L.C.. https://www.caremark.com/wps/portal/HEALTH_RESOURCES?topic=dietscams. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
2. Stein MR, Julis RE, Peck CC, Hinshaw W, Sawicki JE, Deller JJ (September 1976). "Ineffectiveness of human chorionic gonadotropin in weight reduction: a double-blind study". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 29 (9): 940–8. PMID 786001. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/reprint/29/9/940.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-03
3. Barrett S. "HCG Worthless as Weight-Loss Aid". Diet Scam Watch. dietscam.org. http://www.dietscam.org/reports/hcg.shtml. Retrieved 2009-02-03.

Cancer Therapy Costs Influence Treatment: A National Survey Of Oncologists

2010-01-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

A national survey of medical oncologists indicates that rising cancer treatment costs are influencing clinical practice, even as oncologists tend not to communicate with patients about costs. The survey shows that 84 percent of oncologists say that patients’ out-of-pocket spending influences treatment recommendations. Only 43 percent always or frequently discuss costs with patients.

Among those surveyed, 79 percent favor more comparative effectiveness research; 80 percent support more cost-effectiveness data, although only 42 percent feel well prepared to interpret it.

The results suggest that physicians support federally funded comparative effectiveness research but that they wish to retain a central role in making decisions about how and when to use expensive cancer treatments. The results also support educating physicians about cost-effectiveness and how to communicate with patients regarding cost.

Health Affairs, 29, no. 1 (2010): 196-202

Peter J. Neumann1,*, Jennifer A. Palmer2, Eric Nadler3, ChiHui Fang4 and Peter Ubel5

Alcohol Use and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

2009-11-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

American Journal of Epidemiology 2009 169(9):1043-1051
The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study

The epidemiologic evidence for the role of alcohol use in pancreatic cancer development is equivocal. The authors prospectively examined the relation between alcohol use and risk of pancreatic cancer among 470,681 participants who were aged 50–71 years in 1995–1996 in the US National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study.

The authors identified 1,149 eligible exocrine pancreatic cancer cases through December 2003. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate relative risks and 95% confidence intervals with the referent group being light drinkers (<1 drink/day).

The relative risks of developing pancreatic cancer were 1.45 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17, 1.80; Ptrend = 0.002) for heavy total alcohol use (3 drinks/day, 40 g of alcohol/day) and 1.62 (95% CI: 1.24, 2.10; Ptrend = 0.001) for heavy liquor use, compared with the respective referent group. The increased risk with heavy total alcohol use was seen in never smokers (relative risk = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.79, 2.30) and participants who quit smoking 10 or more years ago before baseline (relative risk = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.00).

These findings suggest a moderately increased pancreatic cancer risk with heavy alcohol use, particularly liquor; however, residual confounding by cigarette smoking cannot be completely excluded.

Li Jiao, Debra T. Silverman, Catherine Schairer, Anne C. M. Thiébaut, Albert R. Hollenbeck, Michael F. Leitzmann, Arthur Schatzkin and Rachael Z. Stolzenberg-Solomon

new suicide gene- on tumor cells

2009-08-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

Bannazadeh Baghi H, Bamdad T, Soleimanjahi H.
Dept. of Virology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran.

Background: The herpes simplex virus (HSV) UL41 gene product, virion host shutoff (Vhs) protein, mediates the rapid degradation of both viral and cellular mRNA. This ability suggests that Vhs protein can be used as a suicide gene in cancer gene therapy applications. The recent reports have shown that the degradation of cellular mRNA during herpes simplex infection is selective.

RNA containing AU-rich elements (ARE) in their 3' untranslated ends are the targets for the Vhs protein. RNA that are not subject to Vhs protein-dependent degradation are up-regulated during HSV infection. ARE are frequently found in mRNA that encode proto-oncogenes, nuclear transcription factors, and cytokines. In many human cancers, the AU-rich stretch of proto-oncogenes and regulatory genes has impaired.

Methods: To investigate whether Vhs protein might be useful for inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, a eukaryotic expression vector containing Vhs protein gene was constructed. Cell degradation and RNA content of HeLa and MRC-5 tumor cells after transfection with the constructed vector were studied. Results: The results showed a strong inhibitory activity in proliferation of transfected tumor cells and a sharp decrease in their RNA content.

Conclusion: These data suggest that Vhs protein can be considered as a candidate for suicide cancer gene therapy