Add BrightSurf on Google Email

The dilemma of screening for prostate cancer

Primary care providers should screen men aged 45 and older with a digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. If the patient is asymptomatic, a 5-year screening interval may be considered.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Clinical Practice·DateOct 14, 2015

Fast track referral for suspected cancer is saving lives

A recent study by researchers at King's College London found that general practices using the urgent referral pathway (two-week wait system) have lower cancer mortality rates compared to those that rarely use this pathway. Increasing its use could improve patient survival, especially for patients from low-referring practices.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateOct 13, 2015

Preferences for a good end-of-life experience

Researchers found that patients with advanced cancer are willing to pay more for aspects of a good end-of-life experience compared to healthy older adults. Both groups highly value high-quality healthcare experiences, including being treated with respect and receiving coordinated care. The study suggests that health reform efforts shou...

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalHealth Policy·DateOct 6, 2015

Rising cancer rates in low and middle income countries threaten economic stability

Cancer cases worldwide are projected to reach almost 22 million by 2030, with low- and middle-income countries facing unsustainable economic burdens. Effective cancer prevention campaigns have shown promising results in Taiwan, Rwanda, and Brazil, highlighting the importance of rapid implementation of control programs.

SourceAmerican Cancer Society·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateOct 1, 2015

Attacking acute myeloid leukemia

Researchers at Harvard University have discovered a molecule that can halt the growth of cancerous AML cells without harming healthy cells. The molecule, cortistatin A, works by inhibiting two specific kinases that play a key role in the growth of AML cells.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateSep 28, 2015

Role of cancer-suppressing gene uncovered

Researchers have identified a key role for the WWOX gene in suppressing cancer development. Lower levels of WWOX are associated with more aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers. The study suggests that targeting the enzyme activity of WWOX could influence cancer cell properties.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 21, 2015

Advanced treatment and prognosis data available for TNM classification

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer has released new data for the TNM classification of lung cancer, which will inform the Eighth Edition of the staging manual. The new database includes 94,708 patients diagnosed worldwide from 1999-2010 and analyzes tumor size, lymph node involvement, and metastatic status.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateSep 8, 2015

Study: Some with low-risk prostate cancer not likely to succumb to the disease

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine analyzed survival statistics of 1,298 men with low-risk prostate tumors and found that only two died of prostate cancer after 15 years, while three developed metastatic disease. This suggests that carefully selected patients in active surveillance programs are unlikely to be harmed by their disease.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateAug 31, 2015

Researchers discover new mechanism in adrenal gland tumors

A study by Helmholtz Munich researchers identified a key role of the protein BMP7 in promoting cell division and migration in pheochromocytoma cells. Targeting this signaling pathway with specific substances may lead to an increase in apoptosis, providing a new approach for treatment.

Prostate cancer is 5 different diseases

Researchers have identified five distinct types of prostate cancer with unique genetic fingerprints, which could help doctors predict the aggressiveness of tumors and choose the best course of treatment. This breakthrough discovery has important implications for how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated in the future.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalEBioMedicine·DateJul 29, 2015