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Regular exercise reduces large number of health risks including dementia and some cancers

Research review finds that regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of developing around two dozen health conditions, including some cancers and dementia. Healthy adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week, with strength-training sessions and balance exercises also recommended.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Clinical Practice·DateNov 15, 2010

Discovery may help scientists boost broccoli's cancer-fighting power

A University of Illinois study shows that sulforaphane, a powerful cancer-fighting agent in broccoli, can be released by bacteria in the lower gut and absorbed into the body. This discovery raises the possibility of enhancing the activity of these bacteria to increase broccoli's cancer-preventive power.

Researchers to activate anti-cancer gene

CDX2 is an identity gene that tells a cell it is in the epithelial tissue of the intestine, enabling it to perform its job correctly. Cancer cells deactivate this gene, leading researchers to identify five anti-cancer genes and discover CDX2's role in suppressing colon cancer.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateAug 30, 2010

Is your hemoglobin 'trending'?

Researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered that low hemoglobin levels can indicate a potential for colon cancer years before it's diagnosed. A continuous long-term decline of more than 0.28 grams per decilitre over a four-year period may serve as a warning of illness on the horizon.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer Prevention·DateAug 3, 2010

CTC screening for colorectal cancer not cost-effective when reimbursed at same rate as colonoscopy

A study published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that computed tomographic colonography (CTC) screening every five years is not cost-effective if reimbursed at the same rate as colonoscopy. However, CTC would be cost-effective if it enticed 25% more individuals to screen.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateJul 27, 2010

Bridging the gender gap

Researchers have developed a new technique combining flexible sigmoidoscopy with optical technologies to detect colon cancer more accurately in women. The test identified subtle changes in tissue that indicate the presence of cancer, providing hope for improving discrepancies in screening accuracy between men and women.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalCancer Prevention Research·DateJul 19, 2010

Smoking-related colorectal cancer in older women is associated with molecularly defined DNA changes

A study found that smoking is associated with molecularly defined DNA changes and a subtype of colorectal cancer that emerges more frequently among older women. The researchers suggest that epigenetic modifications may play a role in the development of smoking-related colorectal carcinogenesis.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateJun 29, 2010

A tumor suppressor in the gastrointestinal tract

A research group at Case Western Reserve University found that Recql5 mutation had an important impact on tumorigenesis in the mouse GI tract. The study also suggested that Recql5 may be an important candidate for a colon cancer biomarker, and its expression was recently shown to affect sensitivity to camptothecin-based anticancer drugs.

SourceWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·JournalWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·DateApr 7, 2010

Tips from the American Journal of Pathology

Researchers found that toxin Paton-Valentine leukocidin does not affect MRSA-induced pneumonia. A novel inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis was discovered in the metalloprotease ADAMTS9. Additionally, Kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (KLK4) may activate protease-activated receptors promoting colon cancer development.

SourceAmerican Journal of Pathology·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·DateFeb 24, 2010

High risk of colorectal, endometrial and Lynch syndrome cancers for MSH6 mutation carriers

A new study found that MSH6 mutation carriers have a high risk of developing colorectal and endometrial cancers, as well as cancers associated with Lynch syndrome. The estimated cumulative risks to ages 70 and 80 years were 22% and 44% for colorectal cancer in men, and 26% and 44% for women.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 22, 2009