CancerMedic.org

UroToday.com- This article published in International Journal of Cancer identifies the high-risk occupations for the development of bladder cancer in New Zealand workers. Using a case-control format 213 incident cases of bladder cancer (age 25-70 years) notified to the New Zealand Cancer Registry during 2003 and 2004. 471 population controls were interviewed face-to-face. The questionnaire collected demographic information and a full occupational history. [click link for full article]

UroToday.com- This article published in the journal Cancer, details the complete response rate, disease-specific, and overall survival of patients with cT2-cT4 transitional cell carcinoma to combined transurethral tumor resection, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. [click link for full article]

UroToday.com- The dilemma of treating the distal ureteral cuff during laparoscopic nephroureterectomy continues. In this article, 12 patients undergoing laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with stapling of the distal cuff of bladder were compared to 12 patients undergoing open nephroureterectomy; of importance, all patients had only a primary upper tract renal transitional cell cancer and no history of lower tract transitional cell cancer. [click link for full article]

UroToday.com - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been available for many years and exert their anti-inflammatory effects primarily through inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes. [click link for full article]

Men whose mothers, sisters or daughters test positive for a cancer causing gene mutation also have an increased risk of developing the disease but are unaware of that risk. That is the conclusion of a study at Fox Chase Cancer Center exploring how families communicate genetic test results. Like their female relatives, fathers, sons or brothers can also harbor a mutation in the BRCA 1 or 2 genes. [click link for full article]

Johns Hopkins scientists have by chance discovered that a widely used means of illuminating cancer cells could undermine studies of the potential value of experimental anti cancer drugs because the natural "pump" that cells use to clear out the chemical light source alters their chemistry. "Researchers who use markers involving luciferase may want to double check their findings," says Martin Pomper, M.D., Ph.D. [click link for full article]

Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) has received FDA 510(k) clearance for a new proton scanning dose algorithm that offers clinicians greater control over how proton beams are used to target tumors and other abnormalities. [click link for full article]

PL(u)C(king) the cells from the plaques: Targeting PLC-beta-3 in the treatment of atherosclerosisAtherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the arterial blood vessels enhanced by the presence of immune cells known as macrophages. Macrophages migrate to the cholesterol-rich atherosclerotic plaques that form in the blood vessels and are the central component of atherosclerotic disease. [click link for full article]

A study by BC Cancer Agency scientists provides new evidence that environmental contaminants - organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The study, the largest of its kind to date, will be published later this week in the International Journal of Cancer. [click link for full article]

One of the biggest stories in cancer research over the past few years has been, unexpectedly, stem cells. Not embryonic stem cells, but tumor stem cells. These mutated cells, which live indefinitely and can seed new tumors, are now suspected of causing many, if not all, cancers. What is worse, these persistent cells are not killed by chemotherapy or other current treatments. Their survival might explain why tumors frequently recur or spread after treatment. [click link for full article]