Cost of Cancer Care in 2020

Cost of Cancer Care in 2020

Artesunate therapy for treating cancers

Artesunate works for treating malaria(inhibits Schistosoma haematobium infection). It is frequently given with mefloquine to avoid development of resistance. New research shows that lenalidomide and Artesunate combination may be effective in treating cancer cells in the colon, breast and lung.

Reference:

Wai M. Liu, Andrew M. Gravett, Angus G. Dalgleish. The antimalarial agent artesunate possesses anticancer properties that can be enhanced by combination strategies. International Journal of Cancer

Researching Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) as a new mechanism for cancer therapy

Angiogenesis(formation of new blood vessels) with abnormal shape occurs when there is a oxygen shortage from cancer metastasis tumor growth. Researchers have found that Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) helps in the normalization of tumor blood vessels and therefore is a new mechanism for cancer therapy.

 

Reference:

Charlotte Rolny, Massimiliano Mazzone, Sònia Tugues, Damya Laoui, Irja Johansson, Cathy Coulon, Mario Leonardo Squadrito, Inmaculada Segura, Xiujuan Li, Ellen Knevels. HRG Inhibits Tumor Growth and Metastasis by Inducing Macrophage Polarization and Vessel Normalization through Downregulation of PlGF. Cancer Cell

Midkine: a biomarker for cancer

Midkine, which is also known as neurite growth-promoting factor 2 (NEGF2), is an embryonic cytokine and well known cancer biomarker that has been found to correlate with cancer progression and malignancy. Midkine shows limited expression in healthy adults, but is detectable in high quantities in the blood and urine of patients with a wide variety of cancers.

Angiotensin-(1-7) for the treatment of breast cancer.

Scientists have found that angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits the cancer producing fibroblasts (cells that cause the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells) and breast cancer cells. It also decreases the supply of blood vessels to the growing tumor. Estrogen-receptor and HER2 sensitive are two types of breast cancer cells.

Reference:

K. L. Cook et al, Angiotensin-(1-7) Reduces Fibrosis in Orthotopic Breast Tumors. Cancer Research

Pomegranate Juice and Cancer Prevention

Phenylpropanoids, hydrobenzoic acids, flavones and conjugated fatty acids in pomegranate juice preventsprostate cancer metastasis.

Reference:

University of California - Riverside Pomegranate juice components could stop cancer from spreading, research suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 1, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/12/101212121741.htm

ENACCT: Free E-Learning Series–Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials

ENACCT’s goal is to improve access to cancer clinical trials through education and collaboration with communities, health care providers, and researchers.

http://www.enacct.org/

Regular exercise and lower colon cancer incidence

A 30-minute walk every day reduces your risk of a number of diseases. The American Cancer Society Prevention Study II (CPS II) viewed whether physical activity reduced the incidence of colon cancer. The study found that regular exercise consistently for at least 10 years had the lowest risk of colon cancer incidence.

Reference:
K. Y. Wolin, A. V. Patel, P. T. Campbell, E. J. Jacobs, M. L. McCullough, G. A. Colditz, S. M. Gapstur. Change in Physical Activity and Colon Cancer Incidence. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention

P-Rex1: Breast Cancer Therapy Genetic Pathway Discovery

P-Rex1 is overexpressed breast cancer patients leading to increased chances of developing metastasis. Estrogen-receptor signaling and CXCR4 also also appears to rely on P-Rex1, indicating small molecule inhibitors that block proteins in the Rac pathway may help in developing medicines to treat breast cancer. For example, inhibition of P-Rex1 might improve responses tamoxifen efficacy.

Reference:
Maria Soledad Sosa, Cynthia Lopez-Haber, Chengfeng Yang, HongBin Wang, Mark A. Lemmon, John M. Busillo, Jiansong Luo, Jeffrey L. Benovic, Andres Klein-Szanto, Hiroshi Yagi, J. Silvio Gutkind, Ramon E. Parsons, Marcelo G. Kazanietz. Identification of the Rac-GEF P-Rex1 as an Essential Mediator of ErbB Signaling in Breast Cancer. Molecular Cell, Volume 40, Issue 6, 877-892, 22 December 2010

Genetics of Glioblastoma

Gene deletion of NFKBIA, on chromosome 14, causes Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, melanoma, and breast, lung, colon cancer and glioblastoma. NFKBIA, deletions causes changes of the epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR. NFKBIA deletion causes increases in NF-kappa-B because it’s activity is not reduced by the lack of I-kappa-B in the cell. EGFR hyperactivity and NF-kappa-B activity results in glioblastoma formation.

Reference: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1006312#t=abstract