Colorectal Cancer News and Research

Latest Colorectal Cancer News and Research

Study finds colonoscopy safe for Chinese children

Colonoscopy in children is a highly specialized procedure which is not often performed in the Chinese population. Data of its safety and diagnostic yield in Chinese children is scarce. One of the most common indications for colonoscopy in children of western countries is investigation and follow-up assessment for inflammatory bowel disease which is uncommon in Chinese children. It has recently been reported that there is increasing occurrence of childhood inflammatory bowel disease in western countries. It is, however, unknown whether a similar increase happens in Chinese children.

27 Mar 2010

Genome sequencing of tumors biopsied from women with invasive breast cancer

Tumors biopsied from women with invasive breast cancer are having their genomes sequenced in an attempt to develop a DNA profile that one day may identify ahead of time the patients who will most likely respond to chemotherapy with an aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase inhibitors are a class of chemotherapeutic agents that block the production of estrogen in postmenopausal women.

27 Mar 2010

Roche NimbleGen' s microarray technologies help identify genes responsible for CRC

In a recently published study in the journal Genome Research, a team of scientists led by Dr. Shaying Zhao at the University of Georgia have developed a novel cross-species comparative genomics and oncology strategy for cancer driver gene discovery, using microarray technologies from Roche NimbleGen, that differs fundamentally from current approaches which focus on human cancers only.

26 Mar 2010

Educating African Americans on colorectal cancer screening can reduce death rates

Physician experts from the American College of Gastroenterology raised concern that the majority of African Americans are not aware of the recommendation that they should undergo colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45—five years before current guidelines generally recommend.

26 Mar 2010

Single-incision laparoscopy reduces postoperative complications

Surgeons at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report what is believed to be the nation's first single-incision laparoscopy to perform a combined colectomy and kidney-preserving therapy.

26 Mar 2010

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals reports net loss of $4.7M for 2009 fourth quarter

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of medically important pharmaceutical products for the treatment of life-threatening diseases, including cancer and renal disease (the "Company"), today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

25 Mar 2010

Renowned expert to present latest research on gut microbes at EICC

Trillions and trillions of bacteria live in the human gut. The thought of all these invisible inhabitants inside you might be yucky, but without them we would not be here at all. Which microbes reside in our gut? Are they harmful? Where do they come from? What do they actually do deep in our bowels? Do pre- or pro- biotics affect them?

25 Mar 2010

Colorectal cancer survivor shares her experience

For Hempstead resident Lynette Love, mother of four and grandmother of five, surviving colorectal cancer took courage, diligence and faith. Now a 3-year survivor, Love is giving the love back to the community through her participation in the Sprint for Colorectal Oncology Prevention and Education (SCOPE) run.

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

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

Simcere Pharmaceutical completes Phase IV clinical study of Endostar

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, a leading manufacturer and supplier of branded generic pharmaceuticals and manufacturer of the patented anti-cancer biotech product Endostar (also known as Endu) in China, announced today the successful completion of Endostar Phase IV clinical study at a conference in Beijing dedicated to this study.

22 Mar 2010

Asuragen appoints BMD as exclusive distributor of Signature Oncology Products in France

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in the development of molecular diagnostics, announced today the appointment of Biomedical Diagnostics SA, a leading medical diagnostic company in Europe, as its exclusive distributor of Signature® Oncology Products in France. Asuragen’s Signature Oncology Portfolio comprises multiplex assays for the detection of mutations in solid and hematologic malignancies.

22 Mar 2010

Research roundup: Insurance crisis tough on middle class; Hospitals' profit margins on private patients up

Private-Payer Profits Can Induce Negative Medicare Margins - "Hospitals' profit margins on privately insured patients have risen dramatically in recent years, while profit margins on Medicare patients have fallen," write the authors, who all work for MedPAC.

20 Mar 2010

Community-driven approaches needed for reducing cancer-death disparities

Cancer death rates for African-Americans far exceed non-Hispanic Caucasians in the United States, and only community-driven approaches to reducing health disparities will lessen the gap, says Edward Partridge, M.D., president-elect of the American Cancer Society (ACS) National Board of Directors and director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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

Researchers find some similarities between SPN and PET

Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas is relatively rare. There are some similarities between SPN and pancreatic endocrine tumor (PET), especially the non-functioning ones, in clinical and pathological manifestations.

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

Genes linked to ulcerative colitis identified

A study of the human genome led by Cedars-Sinai researchers has now identified genes linked to ulcerative colitis, offering clues as to what causes the condition and potential avenues for new therapies to treat the disease.

18 Mar 2010

Research shows Caspase-1 protein plays a key role in the process of inflammation and colon cancer

Every day, our gut comes in contact with bacteria, inducing an inflammatory response that is tolerated and controlled. Sometimes the control of inflammation is lost and this can lead to inflammatory bowel disease that may predispose to colon cancer.

18 Mar 2010