8 posts · 5,210 views
A blog about current cancer research aimed at the public. Understanding Cancer reports on current news stories, new research and new treatments.
Avril
8 posts
Sort by: Latest Post, Most Popular
View by: Condensed, Full
- December 16, 2009
- 03:03 PM
- 1,072 views
Can a CT scan give you cancer?
by Avril in Understanding Cancer
Can a CT scan give you cancer? Yes, occasionally. A research study published on the 14th of December 2009 looked at whether CT scans increase your risk of cancer, this was covered in the Press and Journal “CT scans may increase risk of cancer“. CT scans (also known as CAT scans) use X-rays (a form [...]... Read more »
Smith-Bindman, R., Lipson, J., Marcus, R., Kim, K., Mahesh, M., Gould, R., Berrington de Gonzalez, A., & Miglioretti, D. (2009) Radiation Dose Associated With Common Computed Tomography Examinations and the Associated Lifetime Attributable Risk of Cancer. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169(22), 2078-2086. DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.427
- December 14, 2009
- 03:55 AM
- 473 views
VEGF – How can we stop the blood supply to cancer cells?
by Avril in Understanding Cancer
I haven’t written about VEGF before, not because it’s not important, it is, in fact VEGF has been shown to be important in a whole range of solid (i.e. lump forming) tumours, these include:
Bladder
Breast
Cervical
Colorectal (bowel)
Esophageal (food pipe)
Glioblastoma multiforme (brain tumour)
Head and neck cancer
Lung cancer
Ovarian cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Renal cell carcinoma
Generally speaking, if you have a lot of [...]... Read more »
Nowak, D., Woolard, J., Amin, E., Konopatskaya, O., Saleem, M., Churchill, A., Ladomery, M., Harper, S., & Bates, D. (2008) Expression of pro- and anti-angiogenic isoforms of VEGF is differentially regulated by splicing and growth factors. Journal of Cell Science, 121(20), 3487-3495. DOI: 10.1242/jcs.016410
- November 13, 2009
- 11:53 AM
- 326 views
New research – stapled proteins
by Avril in Understanding Cancer
There are several news reports out today about a new way of turning off cancer causing proteins. These reports are based on a study in the journal Nature called “Direct Inhibition of the NOTCH transcription factor complex“, you will need to pay to read the article in it’s full technical detail, but there are several [...]... Read more »
Moellering RE, Cornejo M, Davis TN, Del Bianco C, Aster JC, Blacklow SC, Kung AL, Gilliland DG, Verdine GL, & Bradner JE. (2009) Direct inhibition of the NOTCH transcription factor complex. Nature, 462(7270), 182-8. PMID: 19907488
- November 3, 2009
- 07:38 AM
- 298 views
More on microRNAs and why cancer spreads
by Avril in Understanding Cancer
This is another geeky post. If you are currently having treatment for cancer the research described in this post will not alter your treatment as this work is being carried out in cells in a laboratory (and not in people) but it is very interesting and will hopefully be used to design new treatments in [...]... Read more »
Valastyan S, Reinhardt F, Benaich N, Calogrias D, Szász AM, Wang ZC, Brock JE, Richardson AL, & Weinberg RA. (2009) A pleiotropically acting microRNA, miR-31, inhibits breast cancer metastasis. Cell, 137(6), 1032-46. PMID: 19524507
- October 23, 2009
- 07:25 AM
- 785 views
I am coughing up blood – Do I have cancer?
by Avril in Understanding Cancer
There have been two research studies done, looking at thousand of people to work out how many people with a certain symptom are likely to have cancer. If you are couching up blood, then you should make an appointment and mention this to your GP. The chances are it’s not cancer, but you need to [...]... Read more »
Jones, R., Charlton, J., Latinovic, R., & Gulliford, M. (2009) Alarm symptoms and identification of non-cancer diagnoses in primary care: cohort study. BMJ, 339(aug13 2). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.b3094
- October 19, 2009
- 11:52 AM
- 456 views
Does exercise help ease fatigue in people with cancer?
by Avril in Understanding Cancer
Many people with cancer have fatigue. Fatigue is tiredness that doesn’t get better when you rest. Fatigue is a very difficult thing to study, it may be caused by having cancer (e.g. the cancer itself might disrupt your normal biological process and that makes you feel fatigued) or it may also be caused by cancer [...]... Read more »
Adamsen L, Quist M, Andersen C, Møller T, Herrstedt J, Kronborg D, Baadsgaard MT, Vistisen K, Midtgaard J, Christiansen B.... (2009) Effect of a multimodal high intensity exercise intervention in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: randomised controlled trial. BMJ (Clinical research ed.). PMID: 19826172
- October 16, 2009
- 03:26 AM
- 447 views
Turning p53 on and off
by Avril in Understanding Cancer
I have written about p53 before and I am sure I will write about it again! We all have p53 inside us. We all have a p53 gene and this p53 gene makes p53 protein. Normally your p53 levels are low but if your DNA gets damaged your p53 increases, damaged cells can be allowed [...]... Read more »
Wang B, Xiao Z, & Ren EC. (2009) Redefining the p53 response element. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(34), 14373-8. PMID: 19597154
- September 18, 2009
- 06:56 AM
- 1,353 views
Diabetes Drugs and Breast Cancer – What is the connection?
by Avril in Understanding Cancer
This week I wrote a post on diabetes and breast cancer (September 16th 2009), where I mentioned that the diabetes drug metformin, also known as Glucopahge or Fortamet has been shown to block tumor growth and prolong remission in mice.
I thought I’d write a bit more about this research, it interests me for two reasons:
I [...]... Read more »
Hirsch, H., Iliopoulos, D., Tsichlis, P., & Struhl, K. (2009) Metformin Selectively Targets Cancer Stem Cells, and Acts Together with Chemotherapy to Block Tumor Growth and Prolong Remission. Cancer Research. DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-2994
topics
join us!
Do you write about peer-reviewed research in your blog? Use ResearchBlogging.org to make it easy for your readers — and others from around the world — to find your serious posts about academic research.
If you don't have a blog, you can still use our site to learn about fascinating developments in cutting-edge research from around the world.
