Archive for the ‘lung cancer’ Category
Friday, April 5th, 2013
A new study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology concluded that Chinese women who consumed more soy before being diagnosed with lung cancer lived longer compared with those who consumed less soy. The researchers said “To our knowledge, this is the first study to suggest an association between high soy consumption before lung cancer diagnosis and better overall survival.” “Although the findings are very promising, it’s too early to give any dietary recommendations for the general public on the basis of this single study.”
The cancer incidence of 74,941 women in the Shanghai Women’;s Health Study was tracked and information about usual dietary intake of soy foods (soy milk, tofu, fresh and dry soybeans, soy sprouts, and other soy products) was collected in person at study enrollment and two years later. Using the Chinese Food Composition Table the soy food and isoflavones content of various food products was calculated. Four hundred forty four women were diagnosed with lung cancer during the study period and the median time between the first dietary assessment and cancer diagnosis was 5.8 years. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to soy food intake prior to lung cancer diagnosis for analysis. The highest and lowest leveks were equivalent to approximately 4 ounces or more and 2 ounces or less of tofu daily. Those with the highest soy food intake had markedly better overall survival compared with those with the lowest intake–60% of patients in the highest intake group and 50% in the lowest intake group were alive at twelve months after diagnosis.
The risk of death decreased with increasing soy intake until the intake reached a level equivalent to 4 ounces of tofu daily. No additional survival benefits were found by a higher intake. Factors such as a higher soy food intake, lower prevalence of cigarette smoking, and postmenopausal hormone replacement in this population may influence the results when the methodology is applied to a different population. Further research is planned.
Tags:lung cancer, research, soy products, survival
Posted in Cancer, lung cancer, research | Comments Closed
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013
New research published in the Journal, Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention concluded that the sooner a person smokes upon waking in the morning the more likely he/she will have lung or oral cancer. Researchers reported that “smokers who consumed cigarettes immediately after waking have higher levels of NNAL-a metabolite of the tobacco-specific carcinogen NNK–in their blood than smokers who refrain from smoking a half hour or more after waking, regardless of how many cigarettes they smoke per day.” Previous research has shown that NNK induces lung cancer in rodents and therefore can predict lung cancer in rodents and humans. Also, he said NNAL levels are stable in smokers over time, and a single measurement can accurately reflect a persons exposure.
Data on 1,945 smoking adult participants was examined who provided urine samples for analysis of NNAL, and history of smoking behavior including how soon after waking they smoked. Findings showed that 32% smoked their first cigarette within 5 minutes of waking; 31% smoked within 6 to 30 minutes; 18% smoked within 31 to 60 minutes after waking and 19% smoked more than an hour after waking. The NNAL level in the participants blood was correlated with their age, the age they started smoking, their gender, and whether or not another smoker lived in the house. Researchers concluded “Most importantly, we found that NNAL level was highest among people who smoked the soonest upon waking, regardless of the frequency of smoking and other factors that predict NNAL concentrations.” They also said “We believe these people who smoke sooner after waking inhale more deeply and more thoroughly, which could explain the higher levels of NNAL in their blood, as well as their higher risk of developing oral or lung cancer.”
Tags:lung cancer, research, smoking
Posted in Cancer, lung cancer, research | Comments Closed
Friday, October 12th, 2012
Several news sited reported on researchers who say they have patented a virtual bronchoscopy system that improves lung cancer diagnosis by enabling endoscopic examination of peripheral lung lesions. The goal is to help physicians decide whether bronchscopy is necessary and avoid potential risks and discomfort for the patient if it is not.
Using this system based upon 2D computer tomography scans, pulmonologists can virtually explore a patient’s airways and simulate the flexible bronchscope movements to be made during the real exam. Then the pulmonologist can plan an access route from the trachea to the peripheral lung lesion and also determine if the tip of the bronschoscope will reach the injury. If not, they can calculate the distance remaining and the biopsy technique to use. This allows them to know whether or not to continue with the procedure and, if not, avoid a futile exam. The system was developed as part of a three year project that aims to study, implement and assess the guided bronchscopy systems for peripheral lung lesion examinations.
Tags:diagnosis, lung cancer, research, virtual bronchoscopy
Posted in Cancer, lung cancer, research, Uncategorized | Comments Closed
Friday, October 5th, 2012
A new study reported in Mail Online concluded that a new blood test can accurately detect the beginning stages of lung and breast cancers long before symptoms appear. In their initial study researchers had a 95% success rate detecting cancer in participants including those with stages 0 and 1 breast cancer, and those with stages 1 and 2 lung cancer. Stage 2 is when patients usually begin to have symptoms.
In the test increased enzyme activity indicating illness and found in the blood are mixed with certain amino acids along with a dye that interact. Each type of cancer produces a specific enzyme pattern, or signature, that can be identified by the doctor. The researchers see this as a first step into a new arena of investigations and suggest that the people who could most benefit are those classified as at risk for cancer, such as heavy smokers and people who have a family history of cancer. He said “The idea is these at-risk groups could go to their physician’s office quarterly or once a year, take an easy–to-do, noninvasive test, and be told early on whether cancer had possibly developed.”
?Researchers tested the accuracy of the test on 32 participants in various stages of breast or lung cancer. Data was collected from 20 people with breast cancer ranging from age 36 to 81, and 12 lung cancer patients ranging in age from 27 to 63. Twelve controls without cancer were tested for comparison and ranged in age from 26 to 62. A blood test from each participant was tested 3 times and analysis showed a 95% success rate in detecting cancer in subjects. Further research to test pancreatic cancer and triple-negative breast cancer is planned beginning next month.
Tags:blood test, breast cancer, detection, enzymes, lung cancer, pre-symptoms, randomized research
Posted in breast cancer, Cancer, lung cancer, research | Comments Closed
Friday, September 14th, 2012
A new retrospective study presented at the Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology last Thursday concluded that married patients with locally advanced lung cancer will likely survive longer after treatment than single patients. One hundred sixty eight patients with Stage III non-small cell lung cancer who were treated over a 10 year period (January 2000 to December 2010) with chemotherapy and radiation were studied. Results showed that 33 percent of the married patients were still alive after three years compared to 10 percent of the single patients and women fared better than men. Married women had the best three year survival rates (46%) and single men had the worst (3%) whereas single women and married men had the same survival rate, and white married patients had a better survival rate than married African American patients. The researcher said “Marital status appears to be an independent predictor of survival in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.” “The reason for this is unclear, but our findings suggest the importance of social support in managing and treating our lung cancer patients. Patients may need help with day to day activities, getting to treatment and making sure they receive proper follow-up care.
Tags:lung cancer, marital status, research, survival
Posted in Cancer, lung cancer, research | Comments Closed
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
A new study published online in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cancer and Molecular Physiology concluded that a key protein involved in cell function and regulation is stopped by a substance in cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 components, many of which are linked to the development and progression of lung cancer and may cause other forms of cancer in adults. It is also known that secondary smoke may be as dangerous as primary smoke.
In the current study researchers found a cancer-causing agent called reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the gaseous phase of cigarette smoke that can inhibit normal cell function. Second- hand exposure to as little as 2 cigarettes was found to almost completely stop the function of the cells sodium pump within a few hours and in normal cells this pump plays an important role in transporting potassium into the cell and sodium out of the cell. The inability of the sodium pump to regulate sodium is predictive of cell damage, disease progression and ultimate, survival. The researchers said “We now know that one need not inhale the particulate matter present in secondhand smoke to suffer the consequences of smoking. Exposure to the gaseous substance alone, which you breathe while standing near a smoker is sufficient to cause harm. “
Tags:cigarette smoke, lung cancer, research, secondhand smoke
Posted in Cancer, lung cancer, research | Comments Closed
Friday, December 23rd, 2011
In a new study published in the journal Nanomedicine researchers showed that a new device distinguishes between volatile organic compounds in the exhaled breath of cancer patients from those of a control group without cancer. Subjects exhaled into a bag that separated superficial exhaled breath from that originated deeper in the lungs and then analyzed the deeper breath using an array of gold nanoparticle sensors.
The metabolism of lung cancer patients is different from the metabolism of those without cancer and consequently, the molecules making up the expired air are also different. Using gold nanoparticles to trap and define molecules in exhaled air the new device can tell if the lung is cancerous, and whether it is small cell or non-small cell, adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
The researchers say the device could be used to diagnose lung cancer and also to look at differences over time to determine if a treatment is effective. The device would also reduce cost of diagnoses and increase the efficacy of diagnosis because, for example, one previous study of 53,000 subjects found that using low-dose chest CT scans to detect lung cancer gave a near 95 percent false positive. Thus, the new device has hope for better diagnosing of lung cancer.
Tags:device, expired air, gold nanoparticles, lung cancer, research
Posted in Cancer, lung cancer, research | Comments Closed
Friday, November 25th, 2011
A new study published in the journal Molecular Carcinogenesis concluded that silibinin, a major component of milk thistle, stopped the spread of lung cancer in mice lung cancer cells.
The researchers explained how it works as follows. In a cell there may be a chair of signals, one leading to the next, to the next and eventually to an end product. It is possible to eliminate the end product by breaking a signaling chain in the above process. The end product is COX2 and iNOS and are enzymes involved the inflammatory response to perceived wounds and both can aid tumor growth. Further back in the signaling process leading to these unwanted enzymes are STAT1 and STAT3 that allow the blueprint of DNA to bind with proteins that continue the signaling cascade leading eventually to the production of COX2 and iNOS and the growth of lung tumors. By intervening to stop STAT1 and STAT3 you interfere with the chain and the end result of COX2 and iNOS and the development of lung tumors. The researchers found that silibinin, a derivative of milk thistle, was able to do this. Compared to the multi-million dollar drugs that interfere with these and other parts of the chain, the naturally occuring silibinin blocked the expression of COX2 and iNOS and also the migration of existing lung cancer cells. The researchers stated “What we show is that STAT1 and STAT3 may be promising therapeutic targets in the treatment of lung cancer , no matter how you target them. And also that naturally derived products like silibinin may be as effective as today’s best treatments.”
Tags:lung cancer, milk thistle, research, silibinin
Posted in Cancer, lung cancer, research | Comments Closed
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
A new study reported by DiabeticLive.com and published in the November issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology concluded that having diabetes improves the chances of survival of patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Using data from 3 studies the researchers analyzed a cohort of 1,677 patients with lung cancer within a clearly defined geographical area with a large and stable population. The relationship between lung cancer, diabetes and survival were analyzed.
Findings demonstrated that lung cancer patients who had diabetes had higher survival rates than lung cancer patients without diabetes. These rates were as follows: At the one year mark, survival of those with lung cancer and diabetes was 43% compared to 28% in those with lung cancer only: at two years the rates were 19% verses 11 %, and at 3 years were 3% verses 1%. The research team stated that “the fact that patients with diabetes mellitus showed a lower frequency of metastatic disease may partly explain the survival benefits in patients with diabetes mellitus because the majority of the patients with lung cancer die of metastasis and not of the primary tumor.” However, as we adjust for stage of disease in our analysis this potential advantage can hardly explain the observed benefit in patients with diabetes mellitus.” In addition increased survival was demonstrated in one study where all patients had advanced lung cancer.
The researchers did not discuss the exact cause of the relationship, stated the relationship warrented further study, and recommended against withholding standard cancer treatment in patients who have both lung cancer and diabetes.
Tags:diabetes, lung cancer, research, survival rates
Posted in Cancer, diabetes, lung cancer, research | Comments Closed
