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Experimental vaccine can help delay IBD and colon cancer

An experimental vaccine against an abnormal protein found in some tumors has the potential to delay the onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and in turn prevent progression to colon cancer, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

25 Mar 2010

China’s 3rd Annual Asia Scientific Congress programs feature latest updates on cancer

In an effort to curb the cancer rates, the country has adopted evidence-based treatment guidelines and continues to strengthen a number of strategic collaborations with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) as demonstrated by several NCCN programs scheduled throughout China this spring.

25 Mar 2010

Expert testimony in trial of Dr Patel

Dr Jayant Patel’s manslaughter trial in the supreme court of Brisbane saw Dr Nigel Chikolwa give testimony about the deteriorating condition of Mr Morris after surgery. Dr Chikolwa was the principal house officer at Bundaberg hospital, where Dr Patel had performed the surgery in 2003.

25 Mar 2010

Æterna Zentaris announces 2009 financial and operating results

Æterna Zentaris Inc., a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrine therapy, today reported financial and operating results as at and for the fourth quarter and the full year ended December 31, 2009.

24 Mar 2010

Virtual biopsy probes to detect precancerous polyps to be available soon

The newest generation of "virtual biopsy" colonoscopy probes being tested at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida demonstrate that it might soon be possible to use such a device to determine whether a colon polyp is benign and not remove it for biopsy. Currently, all colon polyps are extracted during a colonoscopy and sent to a pathologist for examination, which adds time, expense, and some surgical risk, to the procedure.

24 Mar 2010

RCOG prostate cancer treatment database reaches new milestone

Radiotherapy Centers of Georgia (RCOG), a division of RC Cancer Centers announced today that they have reached a new milestone and recently treated their 12,500th patient for prostate cancer with their ProstRcision® treatment therapy.

24 Mar 2010

Infections from Clostridium difficile on the rise in community hospitals

While prevention methods appear to be helping to lower hospital infection rates from MRSA, a deadly antibiotic-resistant bacterium, a new superbug is on the rise, according to research from the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network.

23 Mar 2010

CT colonography screening identifies unsuspected cancer outside of colon

A new, large-scale study of more than 10,000 adults found that more than one in every 200 asymptomatic people screened with CT colonography, or virtual colonoscopy, had clinically unsuspected malignant cancer and more than half of the cancers were located outside the colon. The findings were published in the April issue of the journal Radiology.

23 Mar 2010

Trauma patients with undiagnosed Helicobacter infections: Some drugs may not be effective

A Kansas State University study aimed at alleviating intestinal damage in trauma patients digressed to an important finding that could affect medication given to the individuals.

19 Mar 2010

Studies reveal increased polyp detection rates with TER during colonoscopy

Two new studies show an increase in polyp detection rates using the Third Eye Retroscope (TER), a retrograde viewing device, during colonoscopy. The first study found that TER added to standard colonoscopy detected 13.2 percent more polyps than colonoscopy alone, including 11 percent additional adenomas (precancerous polyps). A second study examined endoscopist experience using TER and its impact on polyp detection rates, concluding that polyp detection rates improved significantly with TER.

19 Mar 2010

Genes role in protecting intestinal tract from colitis may lead to potential targets for treatment

Scientists report a protein made by a gene already associated with a handful of human inflammatory immune diseases plays a pivotal role in protecting the intestinal tract from colitis.

19 Mar 2010

Working rotating shifts may increase risk of developing IBS and abdominal pain

Nurses participating in shift work, especially those working rotating shifts, face a significantly increased risk of developing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and abdominal pain compared to those working a standard day-time schedule, according to research published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

19 Mar 2010

Interfering with dickkopf 1 protein may help in controlling inflammatory bowel diseases

Signals released by immune cells during a bout of inflammatory bowel disease interfere with intestinal cells' ability to regenerate. Yet people with inflammatory bowel diseases have a significantly higher risk of developing colon cancer: a hyper-activation of growth in those same intestinal cells.

19 Mar 2010

Therapeutic may not be effective on trauma patients with undiagnosed Helicobacter infections

A Kansas State University study aimed at alleviating intestinal damage in trauma patients digressed to an important finding that could affect medication given to the individuals.

18 Mar 2010

Study finds the cost of cancer care is skyrocketing

USA Today: "The cost of cancer treatment is 'skyrocketing' — both for individual patients and the nation, a new analysis shows. From 1990 to 2008, spending on cancer care soared to more than $90 billion from $27 billion. The increase was driven by the rising costs of sophisticated new drugs, robotic surgeries and radiation techniques, as well as the growing number of patients who are eligible to take them, says Peter Bach of New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Cancer, co-author of an analysis in today's Journal of the American Medical Association.

18 Mar 2010

CCAC launches online campaign to raise colorectal screening awareness

As part of its March awareness month kick off, the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada has launched a unique campaign to encourage Canadian men and women to show their butts online so as to raise awareness about the importance of getting screened for colorectal cancer.

18 Mar 2010

New chemotherapeutic agents for colorectal cancer: High-cost/low-value medical care

New chemotherapy agents appear associated with improvements in survival time for patients with metastastic colorectal cancer, but at substantial cost, according to a report in the March 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

18 Mar 2010

EDP Biotech briefs Tennessee state legislators on ColoMarker colon cancer test

EDP Biotech, a Knoxville-based company today briefed Tennessee state legislators on its revolutionary ColoMarker™ colon cancer test which potentially could save 50,000 lives and more than $12 billion in healthcare costs annually in the U.S. Legislators were also provided the opportunity to personally experience the ColoMarker™ test by enrolling in the control study group for EDP’s latest research.

18 Mar 2010

Combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin limits the progression of endometrial cancer: Study

Researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report that in a small study of women with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, gemcitabine and cisplatin, when used in combination, produced a response rate in fifty percent of patients.

18 Mar 2010

Adjuvant chemotherapy may benefit older patients with stage III colon cancer

Even though older patients with colon cancer are less likely to receive chemotherapy following surgery because of concerns of adverse events, new research indicates that when they do receive this treatment, it is less toxic and of shorter duration than therapy younger patients receive, and older patients experience fewer adverse events, according to a study in the March 17 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on cancer.

18 Mar 2010