When chemotherapy fails for cancer patients with solid tumors, it is usually because the cancer has developed a resistance to chemotherapy. A new study may have found one of the mechanisms by which some cancers may continue to grow and spread despite repeated rounds of chemotherapy.

Researchers led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center discovered that the microenvironment surrounding a tumor can play a role in spurring cancer growth and resistance to chemotherapy.

Specifically, a normal, noncancerous cell called a fibroblast located near a tumor can sustain DNA damage when exposed to chemotherapy. This drives the production of a broad spectrum of growth factors that stimulate cancer growth.

Normally, in a healthy person, fibroblasts help maintain the structural integrity of connective tissue, and they play a critical role in wound healing and collagen production. But when chemotherapy damages the DNA of fibroblasts, they pump out a protein called WNT16B within the tumor microenvironment. High levels of this protein enable cancer cells to grow, invade surrounding tissue and resist chemotherapy.

The researchers detected up to a 30-fold increase in WNT production, a result that both stunned and surprised them. It was known that WNT genes and proteins play a role in normal development and the development of some cancers, but it was not known to play a significant role in treatment resistance.

"Cancer therapies are increasingly evolving to be very specific, targeting key molecular engines that drive the cancer rather than more generic vulnerabilities, such as damaging DNA. Our findings indicate that the tumor microenvironment also can influence the success or failure of these more precise therapies." said senior author Peter S. Nelson, M.D., a member of the Hutchinson Center's Human Biology Division.

The researchers believe the next step will be to find a way to block this response to chemotherapy in the tumor environment, and hopefully eliminate this path of drug resistance.

Sources:

Healthy Day

Medical News Today

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Over the years, researchers have chronicled many unhealthy trends in the American diet—like not eating enough fruits and vegetables or consuming too much saturated fat and processed foods. Recently many medical experts are focusing their attention on another danger to our health—refined sugar.

So, how did refined sugar go from being just “excess calories” for the weight conscious to a health hazard?

There is compelling medical evidence that refined sugar contributes to cancer, heart disease, metabolic disorders like insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and a host of other health problems.

These findings have spawned a media blitz of books and television programs in which some medical experts are calling sugar “poison” and urging changes in public policy to regulate sugar much like alcohol and tobacco.

Natural vs. Added Sugar

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate found naturally in many foods, including fruits, vegetables and grains. If the only sugar we consumed were in natural, whole foods, there wouldn’t be a problem. But the average American diet is full of refined, nutrient-depleted foods that contain high amounts of added sugar.

As we pointed out in a previous post, How Much Sugar is Too Much?, we are consuming far more than the recommended daily limit of 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men. The current U.S. average consumption is 20 teaspoons of added, refined sugar every day. However, many teenagers consume much more than that.  As the leading consumer of junk food, it’s easy to see how sugar grams add up. A single 20 oz. soda contains about 60 grams (15 teaspoons) of sugar.

Problems Linked to Sugar

The list of health issues linked to added sugars is very long, but here’s a few of the major concerns:

• Sugar compromises immune function. In one study, two cans of soda (which contain 20 teaspoons of sugar) reduced the efficiency of white blood cells by 92 percent--an effect that lasts up to five hours.
• Refined sugar overworks your pancreas and adrenal glands as they struggle to keep blood sugar levels in balance. In response to sugar, your pancreas pumps out insulin to normalize blood sugar levels. This causes a sudden drop in blood sugar which triggers the adrenals to compensate with the release of cortisol. Overtime, these glands become overworked and “burn out” leading to early menopause, type 2 diabetes, hypoglycemia and chronic fatigue.
• Since sugar is devoid of nutrients, the body must use its own nutrient reserves to metabolize it. When these stores are depleted, the body becomes unable to properly metabolize fatty acids and cholesterol, leading to higher cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Drawing on the body's nutrient reserves can also lead to chronic mineral deficits, especially in magnesium (a mineral required for more than 300 different enzyme activities) and chromium (a trace element that regulates hormones such as insulin), putting you at risk for numerous health problems, from depression to attention deficit disorder to asthma. A recent study found that kids who eat significant amounts of junk food are much more likely to develop asthma than kids who don't.
• Researchers conducting studies of juvenile delinquency and public school children found improved test scores when sugar and white four were eliminated from their diets. Another study conducted in juvenile detention centers found that violent behavior decreased dramatically when sugar was eliminated.
• The damage sugar inflicts on the body is cumulative and may go unnoticed for many years. Experts estimate that is takes roughly 15 – 20 years of steady consumption of refined sugar and junk food before you develop a chronic disease like diabetes. Furthermore, it doesn’t take much to put you at risk. Once intake exceeds 20 teaspoons daily, the risk of chronic illness increases exponentially.

Cutting Back on Sugar

Reducing sugar intake can be difficult as humans naturally crave sweets. However, there are strategies you can employ to reduce or eliminate added sugars:

• Choose whole, unprocessed foods whenever possible as this eliminates added sugars from the start.
• Keep fresh fruit around to satisfy any sweet cravings.
• Instead of artificially sweetened beverages, use one sweetened with the herb stevia.
• Natural sweeteners like honey, blackstrap molasses, fruit juice, brown rice syrup, and evaporated cane juice do contain small amounts of nutrients, such as the B vitamins, iron, calcium and potassium. But these "natural" sweeteners are only marginally better than plain white table sugar and their intake should be limited.

If you do purchase processed foods like cereal, yogurt or snack foods, read the labels carefully. While the total grams of sugar listed under “Nutrition Facts” does not separate sugars naturally in whole foods vs. those added during processing, you can often determine  the amount of added sugars if you can compare it to a “plain” or unsweetened version of the same product.

For example, plain yogurt will only list the sugars found in milk—about 12 grams in a 6 oz container. Therefore you’ll be able to calculate added sugar in a flavored yogurt by subtracting 12 grams from the total amount of sugar.

Another option is to purchase a large container of plain yogurt and add your own fresh fruit. You’ll save money and added sugar!

For more information and tips on how to kick the sugar habit, read The Dangers of Sugar: Is it Really That Bad?

Sources:

WebMD

Nutritional Magnesium

Yes, we mean you--not your car.

We know you probably don’t think it’s necessary to see a doctor unless you’re “dying”, (usually from a bad cold), but skipping out on regular checkups is a big reason why men are dying (for real) before women. The average life expectancy of men is 74.6 years vs. 79.6 years for women.

Research tells us what we already know about men. They are less likely to schedule preventive health screenings, tend to take more risks than females and are more reluctant to seek medical attention.

As a result, men are more likely to die from preventable diseases such as cancer, heart disease and HIV. They are also at a greater risk for accidents and committing suicide.

As we celebrate Men’s Health week, we hope to raise awareness of preventable health problems affecting men and encourage early detection and treatment through regular health checkups.

For all the wives, moms, girl friends and sisters who need a little help encouraging men to have a checkup, here’s some tips that may help you get your guy to see the doctor.

The Good News

The good news is that the days of “annual checkups” are all but gone for most men—unless you have a chronic health condition that is not under control.

Instead, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends the following list of tests that every man should have performed routinely—your doctor may add or remove some of these tests based on your medical history.

• Blood Pressure – starting at age 20 and every 3-5 years afterward
• Cholesterol – age 35 and up or in your 20s if you have other risk factors for heart disease
• Colorectal Cancer – age 50 and up
• Immunization – over age 50 a tetanus booster is recommended every 10 years. A pneumococcal vaccine is recommended once at age 65.
• Prostate Cancer – this screening is highly controversial as there is a high rate of false positives. Speak with your doctor about your specific risks for prostate cancer.
• Diabetes – adults who are overweight or have high blood pressure or cholesterol should also be screened for diabetes.
• Skin Cancer – in addition to regular self-exams, individuals who spend a great deal of time outdoors or have experienced repeated sunburns should see a dermatologist every 2 to 3 years.
• Testicular Cancer – a testicular exam should be part of a routine cancer-related checkup. Though rare, testicular cancer affects young men ages 20 – 39.

The goal of these exams is to catch early signs of the leading causes of death--heart disease, cancer and diabetes--when treatment is most effective.

One Last Tip

Establishing a relationship with a single physician you know and trust and who knows your medical history is the key to good care.

The most important consideration when choosing a primary care physician is how well you communicate with them. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your doctor, choose a new one.

When you establish a strong relationship with your doctor, you are more likely to receive appropriate medication when you need it. You are also less likely to be subjected to needless and costly medical tests.

For more on men’s health, see “Men’s Health Myths Debunked!”

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

WebMD

Three new studies released in as many months add to increasing evidence that exposure to certain toxic metals can increase the risk and spread of breast cancer and infertility in women and men.

Cadmium and Breast Cancer

A Swedish study of over 56,000 women found that consuming the toxic metal cadmium in the foods you eat may raise your risk for breast cancer by as much as 27%. Researchers believe that cadmium may mimic the effects of the female hormone estrogen, which can fuel the growth of certain breast cancers.

The 12-year study had women fill out food intake questionnaires that researchers used to estimate how much cadmium they consumed in their diets. There were 2,112 cases of breast cancer reported during the follow-up period of which 1,626 were estrogen receptor-positive and 290 estrogen receptor-negative cancers. Women with the highest amounts of cadmium in their diets were 21% more likely to develop breast cancer than women who had the least. The risk increased to 27% among women who were also lean or normal-weight.

Interestingly, the cadmium source was a contributing factor in increasing cancer risk. Women who consumed higher amounts of whole grain and vegetables had a lower risk of breast cancer compared to women that consumed dietary cadmium through other foods.

"It's possible that this healthy diet to some extent can counteract the negative effect of cadmium, but our findings need to be confirmed with further studies," study author Agneta Akesson, an associate professor at Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

Another study found that exposure to low levels of cadmium over your lifetime may spur the growth and spread of some breast cancer cells.

According to their research, breast cancer cells can pass through the outer barrier of the breast after prolonged cadmium exposure. It appears that cadmium may affect levels of SDF-1, a protein associated with tumor invasion and cancer spread.

Cadmium, Lead and Fertility

Researchers studying the effects of serum levels of heavy metals on fertility in couples trying to conceive found that, in the women, the probability of pregnancy was reduced by 22 percent with each increase in the blood cadmium concentration. In men, the probability of conceiving was reduced by 15 percent for each increase in their blood lead concentration.

Based on their findings, the researches recommended that men and women planning to have children should minimize their exposure to lead and cadmium.

Avoiding Cadmium

Cadmium is released into the environment from mining and metal processing operations, burning fuels, making and using phosphate fertilizers, and disposing of metal products. Cadmium can enter the body from eating and drinking food and water containing cadmium, and inhaling it from the air. The skin does not easily absorb cadmium.

• Smoking is the most important single source of cadmium exposure so not smoking and avoiding second- and third-hand smoke is a good place to start.
• As most dietary exposure to cadmium is due to soil contamination from fertilizers, choose organic foods whenever possible.
• Some of the main sources of cadmium in the diet are bread and other cereals, potatoes, root crops and vegetables.
• Avoid shellfish and organ meats like liver or kidney which also contain more cadmium than other foods.
• Cadmium is also used in batteries, metal coatings, paints and plastics. People living near plants that manufacture these products may be exposed to cadmium in the air, water and soil.
• If your drinking water comes from a private well near a source of cadmium, you may want to have the water tested. Public water systems test for cadmium on a regular basis. If you live near a source of cadmium, you may want to have your garden soil tested for cadmium before eating home-grown produce.
• Cadmium and other toxic substances are often found in cosmetics and personal products.

Avoiding Lead

Common sources of exposure to lead in the United States include lead-based paints in older homes, lead-glazed pottery, and contaminated soil and water. Learn how protect your family in our post about the continuing problem of lead exposure.

Sources:

Health Finder

Health Day News

Health Finder

Illinois Department of Health

A preliminary study of a new treatment for stage 4 metastatic breast cancer found that cryoablation or “freezing” secondary tumors may add up to five years to a patient’s life. While the treatment is not a cure, it can significantly reduce discomfort and incidence of disease, say researchers.

In stage 4, breast cancer has metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body. The tumors frequently appear in organs such as the liver, lungs, bones and kidneys. At this point, the disease is considered incurable.  Treatments at this stage are considered palliative and the intent is to keep metastases in check and provide individuals with more time and better quality of life.

The new procedure uses tiny probes to insert pressurized argon gas into tumors. The gas freezes the tumor, killing it. The therapy has a minimal rate of cancer recurrence and no major complications.

The eight patients in the study lived for an average of 46 months, and two survived for at least five years.

Study authors believe freezing tumors is a much better option than surgery -- especially since many metastatic patients are not candidates for surgery. It also provides another option for patients who have relatively resistant tumors.  

While cryoablation does not address the systemic problem of metastatic cancer, it may give patients more time until a cure is found.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, killing nearly 370,000 people worldwide each year. Approximately 10,000 to 15,000 new cases of stage 4 breast cancer occur in the United States each year.

Source:

Health Finder

Evidence from three studies published this week indicates that aspirin may dramatically reduce your risk of cancer-related mortality and cancer metastases. These studies add to the already abundant research linking aspirin use to reducing the risk of many health problems including stroke, heart disease, asthma, and Parkinson’s disease.

In the first study, which investigated the use of aspirin to prevent vascular events (strokes), daily aspirin versus no aspirin reduced the risk of non-vascular mortality by almost 15%. Aspirin use also reduced the risk of death from cancer by 18%. Furthermore, aspirin seems to reduce cancer incidence and death across different forms of cancer and many cancer sites.

While aspirin therapy does raise the risk of major bleeding, the researchers reported that these effects diminished over time.

The second study, also investigating aspirins’ potential to reduce vascular events, the researchers analyzed data from several large randomized trials. Among 17,285 trial participants, 987 of whom had a new solid cancer diagnosed during the follow-up period, aspirin use reduced the risk for cancer with distant metastasis by 36%.

Aspirin use also reduced the risk for adenocarcinoma by 46%. Among patients with adenocarcinoma who did not have metastasis at their initial diagnosis and who remained on aspirin treatment up to or after diagnosis, the use of aspirin reduced the risk for metastasis on subsequent follow-up by about 70%.

Aspirin also lowered cancer mortality rates among patients who developed adnenocarcinomas.

The third study compared the effect of aspirin on the 20-year risk for cancer-specific mortality between observational studies and randomized trials. Overall, results from observational studies were similar to randomized trials, and showed that regular aspirin use lowered the risk for several cancers and for distant metastasis.

With regard to specific cancers, the authors observed consistent reductions in risks for colorectal, esophageal, gastric, biliary, and breast cancers. The largest effects were observed for gastrointestinal cancers.

Aspirin Therapy Safety

While daily aspirin therapy may lower your risk for many health conditions, it is not without risks and may not be appropriate for everyone.

Don’t start an aspirin regimen without speaking with your doctor first. Although taking an occasional aspirin or two is safe for most adults to use for headaches, body aches or fever, daily use of aspirin can have serious side effects and can affect other medications you may be taking.

Sources:

Medscape

The Daily Beast

Mayo Clinic

A recent analysis of health data from over 23,000 women found that those with a history of endometriosis had a significantly increased risk of three types of ovarian cancer. The findings suggest that women with the uterine disorder should step up screening for these cancers.

About 10 percent of women of reproductive age have endometriosis which causes cells from the lining of the uterus to grow in other areas of the body.

It is important to note that there are many subtypes of ovarian cancer and this study only found an association between endometriosis and increased risk of three subtypes of ovarian cancer. Endometriosis was linked to:

• A three-fold risk of clear-cell ovarian cancer
• A two-fold risk of endometrioid tumors
• A two-fold risk of low-grade serous ovarian cancers

No increased risk of ovarian cancer was found with the sub-types high-grade serous, mucinous, serous borderline, or mucinous borderline ovarian cancers.

"This breakthrough could lead to better identification of women at increased risk of ovarian cancer and could provide a basis for increased cancer surveillance of the relevant population, allowing better individualization of prevention and early detection approaches such as risk-reduction surgery and screening," lead author Celeste Leigh Pearce, at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, said in a journal news release.

The Big Picture

Despite what seems to be an alarming association, the overall risk of a woman with endometriosis developing ovarian cancer remains small. However, the study authors believe that women with endometriosis as well as health care providers should be alert to the increased risk and weigh it along with other risk factors when considering ovarian cancer screening.

Source:

Health Finder

A new study finds that women who received a chemotherapy drug combination that included the drugs cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil over 20 years ago may still experience “chemo brain,” a chemotherapy side effect that causes memory and thinking problems. These drugs were the standard treatment for breast cancer from the 1970s to the 1990s.

The study compared the memory and cognitive abilities of 196 women who had breast cancer and were treated with chemotherapy roughly 21 years earlier with women who had never been diagnosed with cancer. All of the study participants were women between the ages of 50 and 80.

The researchers found that women who received the then standard chemotherapy regimen had lower scores on various memory and cognitive tests such as their ability to recall words, information-processing speed, and coordination of thinking and hand movement, than women who did not have the treatments.

The researchers also assessed the women for depression and self-reported memory problems as part of the study. Women who had received chemotherapy also had more memory complaints, but these complaints were not related to how they performed on memory tests.

The results of memory and thinking tests were similar to those seen among people who had just completed chemotherapy. The researchers equated the loss of memory and thinking skills to roughly six years of age-related decline in mental function.

Preventing Brain Fog

The effects of chemo brain vary from person to person, and not all people who receive chemotherapy will develop or be affected by these issues.

In terms of prevention and treatment, there are more questions than answers at the moment. But now that this study has confirmed that chemo brain is not a temporary problem, more research will be needed to learn how to help treat and reduce some of the negative impact.

Although the study uncovered an association between the cancer treatment and memory problems in the study patients, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. Finding the cause of chemo brain is extremely complex as there are many factors that may have contributed to these study results including the cancer itself. Drugs taken by breast cancer survivors to help prevent recurrence after treatment may also contribute to chemo brain. We also don’t know if today’s drugs may be less likely to cause long-term cognitive effects.

We’ll be following this issue and keep you up to date on new developments.

Source:

Health Day

It appears that what’s good for the heart may also be good for the prostate say researchers from the Duke Cancer Institute. They found that men with coronary artery disease had a 74% higher risk of developing prostate cancer than men who did not have heart disease.

The researchers analyzed data from 6,390 men in a four-year clinical trial testing the effectiveness of a drug in reducing prostate cancer. Of those men, 547 reported a history of coronary artery disease before the trial began.

They found that men with coronary artery disease had a 35 percent greater risk of developing prostate cancer over time and a 24 percent greater risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer within the first two years of the study compared to men who did not have heart disease.

By the end of the clinical trial, men with coronary artery disease had a 74 percent higher risk of prostate cancer than those without heart disease.

These findings took into account a number of risk factors, including hypertension, taking statins or aspirin.

While researchers don't know what's causing the link between heart disease and prostate cancer, finding the association will prompt further research to understand the mechanisms behind both health conditions.

Reducing Your Risk

This study should give men some comfort in knowing that following a heart-healthy lifestyle may also protect them from prostate cancer as well. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States, and prostate cancer is the second most deadly type of cancer for men in the United States.
Learn more about preventable risk factors for heart disease and foods and nutrients that promote heart health.

Source:

Health Finder

Each year 12.7 million people receive a cancer diagnosis and 7.6 million people die from the disease. If current trends continue unchecked, those numbers will more than double by 2030.

Currently 1 out of 6 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. It is also the leading cause of death worldwide, but it doesn’t have to be. The fact is 30 to 40% of cancers can be prevented. And more lives could be saved through current screening and treatment procedures if only they were universally available and used.

On February 4, World Cancer Day, hopes to raise awareness of the devastating realities of cancer worldwide and encourage each one of us to do our part to help prevent, detect, and cure the disease.

Together We Make a Difference

We can all take steps to prevent cancer and live healthier, longer lives—and encourage our family and friends to do the same. You can significantly reduce your risk of cancer through simple measures:

• Stopping tobacco use and avoiding exposure to second- and third-hand smoke.
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Avoiding excessive sun exposure
• Getting regular physical activity
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Protecting against cancer-causing infections

It is also important to get regular check-ups and screenings to ensure that cancer is detected early.

World Cancer Campaign

World Cancer Day is one day in a global campaign to fight cancer around the globe. The World Cancer Campaign unites governments, researchers, doctors and many other organizations around common goals and targets including:

• Ensuring Effective Delivery Systems in all Countries
• Decreasing Tobacco, Alcohol Consumption and Obesity
• Dispelling Damaging Myths and Misconceptions
• Increasing Screening and Early Detection
• Improving Access to Diagnosis, Treatment, Rehabilitation and Palliative Care
• Making Availability of Effective Pain Control Universal
• Improving Training Opportunities for Cancer Control Professionals

In the spirit of World Cancer Day, consider signing the World Cancer Declaration to help raise awareness and promote action to end the global cancer epidemic.

Sources:

World Cancer Day

Union for International Cancer Control

World Cancer Day

Among breast cancer myths the concern that there may be a connection between deodorant use and breast cancer still persists. While a new study may finally let deodorants off the hook, one of its suspect ingredients may still be a cause for concern.

For many years, deodorants fell under suspicion for a few reasons:

• Most breast cancers are located in the outer, upper quadrant of the breast near the arm pit where deodorant is applied. The feeling was, “This couldn’t be a coincidence, right?”
• Parabens and aluminum, ingredients in some underarm products, were found in breast cancer tissue and both have weak estrogenic effects. And since estrogen is a risk factor for breast cancer, deodorants were suspect.

The latest study conducted by Dr. Philippa Darbe, who has been researching a possible connection between parabens and breast cancer for several years, found parabens in the breast tissue of women who had never used deodorants.

Darbe examined breast tissue samples from 40 women who had mastectomies and found widespread traces of parabens in breast tissue—even in the seven women who said they never used underarm products. Parabens were found in 158 of the 160 samples taken from the tissue collected from the 40 women. They found 96 samples contained all five of the most common paraben esters (forms).

The levels of paraben were four times higher than a similar study she conducted in 2004. This was a surprise as many manufacturers removed parabens from underarm products as a result of her 2004 study.

Darbe is quick to point out that her studies only reported the presence of parabens in breast tissue, not that parabens caused breast cancer. "I feel sure the issue is bigger than one chemical," she said. And, as many body lotions, sunscreens and cosmetics contain parabens, deodorants cannot be singled out. She believes that parabens in breast tissue come from a variety of sources.

Until more research is conducted to understand if parabens and other endocrine disruptors affect breast cancer risk, she suggests we cut back the use of cosmetic products as much as possible. "We simply use too much in the modern world -- too much for our body systems and too much for the wider environment," she said.

Other cancer experts echo Darby’s comments. The American Cancer Society finds no clear link between deodorant/antiperspirants and breast cancer. They note that, "There are no strong epidemiological studies in the medical literature that link breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use, and very little scientific evidence to support this claim." They add that Darby’s and other studies do establish that parabens found in topical skin products can be absorbed through the skin. The American Cancer Society maintains that more and larger studies are needed to find out what, if any, effect parabens might have on breast cancer risk.

Paraben Controversy Persists

The cosmetic industry continues to assert that parabens are safe and effective preservatives. They argue that:

• Parabens occur naturally in foods and are safely metabolized by the body and flushed out.
• They have very weak estrogenic activity compared to stronger estrogens in birth control pills, estrogen replacement therapy and natural phytoestrogens found in soy, red clover, and hops.

However, a recent study found that parabens act much differently when absorbed through the skin. When applied topically, parabens inhibit an enzyme called SULT that helps the body flush out estrogen. So, when SULT enzymes are deactivated, estrogen levels increase. These results suggest that chronic topical application of parabens may lead to prolonged estrogenic effects in skin as a result of reduced SULT activity.

As for whether parabens are metabolized when applied to the skin, another study found that after a month of applying methylparaben to skin cells, it "remained unmetabolized and persisted slightly" in the outermost layer of the skin. Additionally, it was found to affect DNA expression in the skin cells, inhibiting collagen production, and possibly leading to early aging of cells. 

For more on other suspect ingredients in cosmetics, see The Real Cost of Beauty:  Dangerous Toxins Lurking in Your Cosmetics.

Sources:

HealthDay

PubMed

Skin Inc

PubMed

At first researchers thought that a bile acid naturally produced in the liver called lithocholic acid (LCA) might be the “fountain of youth” as it was shown to extend the lifespan of yeast. Now the same group of researchers has found that lithocholic acid selectively kills cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed.

Study Details

The researchers studied the effects of LCA on rat glioma cells and human breast cancer cells. LCA not only killed cancer cells, it prevented tumors from releasing substances that cause nearby cancer cells to grow and proliferate. This is important in preventing cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body. LCA did not affect normal cells which continued to grow.

So how does LCA destroy cancer cells? The researchers speculate that cancer cells have more sensors for LCA than normal cells, which makes them more vulnerable to LCA  than healthy cells.

LCA sensors send signals to mitochondria -- the energy-producing powerhouses of cells. They believe that when these signals are too strong (i.e. from too many LCA sensors), mitochondria self-destruct and the cell dies.

Alternative to Chemotherapy?

Unlike drugs used in chemotherapy, LCA is a natural compound that already exists in our bodies. Studies have shown that LCA can be safely administered to mice by adding it to their food.

The next step for the researchers is to test LCA’s effect on different cancers in mice models and, if those go as expected, human clinical trials will follow.

While looking for the “fountain of youth” they may have found the “holy grail” in cancer research—a way to target cancer cells without harming healthy ones.

Sources:

PubMed

Science Daily

For many years medical experts have advised women to limit alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of breast cancer. A new study finds that there may be an exception to that rule. Red wine unlike other forms of alcohol, appears to help reduce one of the most important risk factors for breast cancer—estrogen.

Researchers found that phytochemical compounds present in red wine act like aromatase inhibitors, a drug that suppresses estrogen production. This is significant as about 75 percent of all breast cancers are estrogen receptor positive (ER-Positive) breast cancers--meaning they are fueled by estrogen.

Before this study, all alcoholic beverages were believed to promote the conversion of androgens like testosterone into estrogen.

Study Details

The researchers randomly assigned 36 pre-menopausal women to drink eight ounces of either Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay nightly for almost a month and then switch to the other type of wine. Blood samples were collected twice each month to measure hormone levels.

They found that red wine slightly lowered estrogen levels while elevating testosterone. White wine lacked the same affect.

Study authors believe that phytochemicals in red grape skin and red grape seeds that are not found in white grapes may decrease breast cancer risk by changing hormone patterns. Similar results have been reported in test tube studies.

Other Benefits

Other studies have found that women who drank more red wine showed less breast density on mammograms. Dense breasts are also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Sources:

Science Daily

Los Angeles Times

This year approximately 11,000 American women will learn they have cervical cancer and nearly 4,000 will die from the disease. Some medical experts believe that through a successful education, screening and vaccination program for women, we have the potential to nearly eliminate cervical cancer in the U.S. But we still have much work to do.

As part of Cervical Health Awareness Month, CNCA is sharing important information that every woman needs to know to protect her health -- from risk factors and prevention measures to screening procedures and treatment options.

Cause/Risk Factors:

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted through sexual contact, is the single known cause of cervical cancer. While there are many forms of the HPV virus, the “high-risk” forms are those associated with cervical cancer. Two types, HPV 16 and HPV 18 account for more than 70% of all cervical cancer cases. HPV may go away on its own, but if it does not, it may cause cervical cancer over time.

Women can reduce their risk of contracting the HPV virus by:

• Being vaccinated as an adolescent, before becoming sexually active
• Using a condom during sex
• Limiting your number of sexual partners
• Not smoking

Prevention:

Two vaccines are available that protect against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers. It is given in a series of three shot to girls as young as 9 and women up to age 26.

Detection:

It’s important for sexually active women to have regular gynecological check-ups that include screening for HPV and/or cervical cancer. There are two lab tests that a doctor may perform. Both involve collecting cells from the cervix.

HPV Test – This test looks for the presence of the HPV virus, including high-risk strains. Some doctors routinely suggest this test in addition to the pap test.

Pap Test -- A pap test screens for abnormal cell growth that may lead to cancer. Women should start getting a regular pap test at age 21, or within three years of the first time you have sex.

Depending on your age, number of sex partners, test results, and other factors, your doctor may vary the frequency of these tests.

If you don’t have health insurance or can’t afford screening tests, you may be a able to get a free or low-cost Pap test through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. To learn more, call 1-800-CDC-INFO or your local public health department.

Abnormal Pap Tests:

If a Pap test indicates abnormal cells, they will be classified by stage of advancement and further tests such as a colposcopy or biopsy may be ordered to determine the best treatment option.

Early stage, pre-cancerous conditions usually involve freezing or removing the abnormal tissue followed by more frequent screenings for a period of time.

Cervical Cancer:

Fortunately, cervical cancer develops very slowly in most women and regular Pap tests should identify worrisome changes in time for treatment. The prognosis is better when the cancer is found early.

Cervical cancer may not cause noticeable signs or symptoms until it has reached advanced stages. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

• Vaginal bleeding.
• Unusual vaginal discharge.
• Pelvic pain.
• Pain during sexual intercourse.

Depending on the stage of the cancer, treatment may include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Sources:

National Cervical Cancer Coalition

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Cancer Institute

Mayo Clinic

When cells become cancerous, the sugars on their surface proteins undergo distinct changes that set them apart from healthy cells. Scientists have been trying to create a vaccine that enables the immune system to recognize those differences so that it destroys cancer cells rather than normal cells.

It appears that researchers from the University of Georgia and the Mayo Clinic in Arizona may have “cracked the code” by creating a vaccine that stimulates the immune system to attack cancer cells.

Their vaccine reduced tumor size by as much as 80% in a mice model that represents 90% of human breast and pancreatic cancer cases.

Like humans, the mice used in the study develop tumors that over express a protein known as MUC1 on the surface of their cells. The tumor-associated MUC1 protein exhibit a distinctive, shorter set of carbohydrates that set it apart from healthy cells.

MUC1 is found on more than 70 percent of all cancers that kill. Many cancers, such as breast, pancreatic, ovarian and multiple myeloma, express MUC1 with the shorter carbohydrate in more than 90 percent of cases.

"This is the first time that a vaccine has been developed that trains the immune system to distinguish and kill cancer cells based on their different sugar structures on proteins such as MUC1," said Mayo Clinic researcher Sandra Gendler, a co-senior author on the study.

Advances in Cancer Vaccines

Last year the Food and Drug Administration approved the first cancer treatment vaccine, a drug called Provenge used to treat metastatic prostate cancer. Treatment with Provenge is complex as it requires clinicians to isolate immune cells from the patient and then send them to a lab where they are linked to a protein that stimulates the immune system. The cells are returned to treating physician who infuses the drug over three treatments weeks apart.

This vaccine, by contrast, is much simpler and can be mass produced in a lab. The vaccine consists of three components:

• an immune system booster known as an adjuvant,
• a component that triggers the production of the immune system's T-helper cells, and
• a carbohydrate-linked peptide molecule that directs the immune response to cells bearing MUC1 proteins with truncated carbohydrates.

Although promising results in mice may not translate to humans, the researchers are confident that targeting the specific carbohydrate signatures of cancer cells will one day play a significant role in cancer treatment.

Source:

Science Daily