10/19/2004 Mt. Vernon Beth Durbin Mount Vernon News Photodynamic therapy, which uses a red laser and a light-sensitive drug to destroy cancer cells without harming normal tissue, is a promising new treatment option for patients with lung and esophageal cancers, according to Dr. Patrick Ross, associate professor of surgery and director of thoracic surgery at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University in Columbus. One of his patients, Ray McCann of Mount Vernon suffers from high-grade Barrett’s esophagus disease which is often a precursor to esophageal cancer. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse describes Barrett’s as a condition that develops in some people who have chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or inflammation of the esophagus. In Barrett’s esophagus, the normal cells that line the esophagus, called squamous cells, turn into a type of cell not usually found in humans, called specialized columnar cells. Damage to the lining of the esophagus — for example, by acid reflux from GERD —causes these abnormal changes. McCann’s doctor told him the condition is caused in part by smoking, being overweight and the American lifestyle. About 5 to 10 percent of people with Barrett’s develop cancer of the esophagus. Because of the cancer risk, people with Barrett’s esophagus are screened for esophageal cancer regularly. McCann has been undergoing PDT as a precautionary treatment for the past six weeks. Ross and his team at the James Cancer Hospital have been using this minimally invasive laser light therapy for five years. “We’ve become [...]

10/19/2004 Martina Pelzmann; Dietmar Thurnher; Claudia Gedlicka; Helga Martinek; Birgit Knerer Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine November 2004, vol. 33, no. 10, pp. 607-613 Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). There are two isoforms of the enzyme. Recent investigations indicate that both isoforms, COX-1 and COX-2, are involved in carcinogenesis. Methods: We investigated the effects of nimesulide, a COX-2 selective and indomethacin, a non-selective NSAID on the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines SCC-9 and SCC-25. Effects on cell numbers and apoptosis were assayed by cell counting, immunofluorescence and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). COX expression was examined by Western blotting. Results: The investigated cell lines express COX-1 and COX-2. Nimesulide and indomethacin induce apoptosis and cause a reduction of cell number. Incubation with NSAIDs upregulated COX-2 expression. Conclusion: The results of our study on HNSCC cells together with data from different studies showing anti-cancer activity of NSAIDs suggest that COX inhibitors could play a role in HNSCC treatment and prevention.

10/17/2004 Seattle, WA Chiun Hsu American Association for Cancer Research Disease prevalence in Taiwan corresponds to increased production of betel quid, a nut common to Asia and infamous for its intoxicating effects upon chewing Over the past couple of decades, scientists have been perplexed by a substantial rise in the incidence of head and neck cancers among Taiwanese men. According to cancer statistics, the disease increased by 85 percent among men there from 1981 to 2000. A new study, presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research Third Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, now suggests that the increased incidence may be linked to increased domestic production of a popular legal stimulant in Asia called betel quid. "Recent findings have spurred a great debate about whether the government should curb the expansion of domestic betel quid cultivation," said Dr. Chiun Hsu, from the Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital. "It is our hope that these findings will prove helpful in shaping future public health policy on this issue." Chewing betel quid, traditionally practiced in many parts of Asia and in Asian-immigrants around the world, can be likened to tobacco use in the states. It is often rolled like a cigar or intricately folded and generally consists of a betel palm leaf spread with lime paste (calcium hydroxide) wrapped around a slice of areca nut. Betel quid is chewed for many reasons, including for its stimulant effects, to satisfy hunger, to sweeten the breath, and as [...]

10/16/2004 Seattle Stephen M. Schwartz, Ph.D., Karin A. Rosenblatt, Ph.D. et al. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Contrary to previous research findings that have suggested a link, marijuana use does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of developing oral cancer, according to a large, population-based study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Their findings, the result of the most comprehensive evaluation to date regarding the association between marijuana use and the incidence of oral squamous-cell carcinoma, appear in the June issue of Cancer Research, a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research. The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Seattle's Center for Health Studies, Group Health Cooperative, found no association between marijuana use and increased oral-cancer risk, regardless of how long, how much or how often a person has used marijuana. The study also found no increased risk among marijuana users who had other underlying risk factors for oral cancer, such as a history of tobacco use or heavy alcohol use. "When asking whether any marijuana use puts you at increased risk of oral cancer, our study is pretty solid in saying there's nothing going on there," said Stephen M. Schwartz, Ph.D., a member of Fred Hutchinson's Public Health Sciences Division and the senior author of the study. The study also found that marijuana smokers with certain common genetic variations that are known to interfere with the body's detoxification process are at no greater risk of [...]

10/15/2004 Decatur, Alabama Erin Shawn & Decatur Daily Editorial UAB Health System & Decatur Daily When he was getting standing ovations for his 60-yard passes as one of Auburn University’s greatest players ever and as Alabama’s first Heisman Trophy winner (1971), Pat Sullivan seemed invincible. Now, 32 years later, after an outstanding career that brought him to UAB as the Blazers’ offensive coordinator five years ago, his invincibility is being challenged by cancer. He was diagnosed in September 2003 with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of cancer that begins in the squamous cells that line the structures found in the head and neck. He attributes his cancer diagnosis to 25 years of smokeless tobacco use. “Ironically, I gave up this habit a month before I was diagnosed last summer,” he says. He didn’t think much of it when he experienced an earache while spending the Fourth of July holiday with his family at Lake Martin. “I came back, noticed a little swelling in my glands, and went to see Mike Jones, UAB’s head athletics trainer. I was treated for swimmer’s ear with antibiotics. After about 10 days I told Mike the swelling had not gone down. At his insistence, I went to see Dr. (William) Carroll, a head and neck surgeon in the UAB Division of Otolaryngology. The primary tumor was detected in the base of the tongue.” While Coach Sullivan has never been challenged in his football career as he is now, he believes the battles he faced on [...]

10/15/2004 Lab Business Week editors Lab Business Week Introgen Therapeutics, Inc., (INGN) announced that its Advexin program has been featured in Conquest magazine, the quarterly magazine published by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. A feature article about M. D. Anderson's pioneering research in gene therapy highlighted Introgen's lead product Advexin. Also profiled were two lung cancer patients who had previously failed conventional therapies and then received combination treatments with Advexin therapy. These two patients recently celebrated their 5-year anniversary. Previously, M. D. Anderson profiled another lung cancer patient from the same Advexin trial who also celebrated her 5-year survival after failing conventional treatments. In addition to the Advexin program, the article also discussed two other cancer therapies from Introgen that are currently being tested at M. D. Anderson. One is the phase I clinical development of INGN 401, Introgen's systemically delivered nanoparticle tumor suppressor therapy. INGN 401 uses the FUS-1 gene, a gene frequently altered or missing in the development of many solid tumors. Encouraging preliminary data from this trial was discussed in Introgen's recently held quarterly conference. The phase I trial is treating patients with refractory stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer patients who typically have limited survival of approximately six months. Five of six patients are still alive 11-15 months after treatment with INGN 401. Also mentioned in the article is Introgen's clinical trial testing Advexin as an oral rinse, or mouthwash, for precancerous oral lesions. This trial uses "topical gene therapy to treat patients [...]

10/14/2004 Wakefield, United Kingdom Gavin Murray Wakefield Today (wakefieldtoday.co.uk) Cases of oral cancer in the Wakefield district are way above the national average with eight new cases diagnosed every month, according to worried health specialists. Late diagnosis of the cancer, also known as head and neck cancer, may be a result of the growing number of people unable to register with a dentist in the district. But, if the cancer is caught early enough, it has a 90 per cent chance of being cured and is 75 per cent preventable. Julie Hoole, a Macmillan head and neck cancer nurse specialist working across Wakefield, wants to highlight the problem of the world's sixth most common cancer. She said: "Nationally there has been a 17 per cent increase in reported cases. Oral cancer or neck and head cancer is comparable with cervical cancer but it is less well-known." But during the last 30 years survival rates from this cancer have not improved, while treatments and medical technology has. This is due to patients being unaware they have the cancer and not seeking medical attention early enough. At the moment most referrals are made by dentists and not doctors. Mrs Hoole said: "A lot of people are having difficulty registering with dentists and we are not sure at the moment if this is the reason for the increase. But if people had the chance to visit dentists more often the cancer would be picked up quicker. Many sufferers only go to the doctors [...]

10/14/2004 Dinesh C Sharma Press Information Bujreau, Government of India Turmeric is more than just another spice that makes up the delectable India curry famous the world over. A few years back, turmeric hit the headlines in global media when an American patent relating to one of its many medicinal properties was revoked. The patent was granted for wound healing properties of turmeric. Indian authorities challenged it on the grounds that this attribute of turmeric was part of common knowledge in India and was not something novel that can be protected by a patent. The documents that were furnished to the patent office included some of the ancient Ayurvedic texts. This illustrates the significance of turmeric and important qualities that it has been known for centuries now. It is part of Indian folklore and has been used for hundreds of years as a beauty aid as well as grandma’s cure for common ailments like coughs and colds, in addition to acting as a healing agent. In fact, even now turmeric paste is used to beautify brides in ceremonies preceding Indian marriages. Turmeric is claimed to be an important ingredient of many fairness creams available in the market. India is the largest producer of turmeric in the world since nearly 80 per cent of its global production happens in the country. In terms of area, it occupies 60 per cent of the total area under spice and condiment production in the country. Haldi is also grown extensively in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, [...]

10/14/2004 Medical News Editor Medical News Today (online) Some people who chew betel nut may be genetically more prone to mouth cancer, a new report in the British Journal of Cancer reveals(1). The nut of the betel or areca palm tree contains a mild, central nervous system stimulant called arecoline. Chewing the nut on its own or with a mixture of tobacco, lime and betel leaf is a popular habit in Asian countries and among British Asians. While all betel chewers have an increased chance of developing mouth cancer, scientists believe the genetic make-up of a person is likely to influence their susceptibility to the disease. Researchers based in Taiwan looked at variations in a gene that protects cells from damage in male betel chewers. They found that men with mouth cancer often had a different version of a gene than those not affected by the disease. Their findings shed important light on how mouth cancer develops and why some men are more susceptible to the disease than others. Over 153,000 new cases of mouth cancer are diagnosed in Asia each year. It accounts for up to 50 per cent of malignant tumours in some South Asian countries due to the popularity of betel chewing. Researchers based at the National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan looked at variations of a gene called HO-1*(2). The gene helps protect cells from damage by harmful agents such as UV irradiation or hydrogen peroxide. But studies also suggest that the gene may be involved in [...]

10/14/2004 no attribution economist.com There never will be a “cure for cancer”. But a multiplicity of new ideas promise treatments for the multiplicity of diseases that cancer actually is. Going by the numbers, humanity seems to be losing the war on cancer. According to the most recent data from the World Health Organisation, 10m people around the planet were diagnosed with the disease in 2000, and 6m died from it. And these numbers are growing. With an ageing population, the spread of western-style diets, and increasing tobacco consumption, cancer is on the rise around the globe. In America, for example, projections suggest that 40% of those alive today will be diagnosed with some form of cancer at some point in their lives. By 2010, that number will have climbed to 50%. All this is despite the fact that, since then-president Richard Nixon's famous speech in 1971, launching what became known as the war on cancer, America has given nearly $70 billion (in actual, not inflation-adjusted, dollars) to its National Cancer Institute (NCI). And that is not to mention the money spent by drug companies and charities—nor, indeed, the research budgets of other countries. Despite these billions, the rate of death from cancer in the United States has increased from 163 per 100,000 individuals in 1971 to 194 per 100,000 in 2001. By contrast, mortality rates from heart disease and strokes, two other diseases often seen as being associated with affluent styles of living, have fallen (see chart 2). Luckily, these [...]