Diabetes drug metformin may prevent cancer   By Aaron Derfel, Postmedia News January 19, 2012

MONTREAL – The most widely prescribed drug to treat Type 2 diabetes might also help prevent colon cancer in those who are considered at high risk, suggests new research carried out by a team of Montreal scientists.

Metformin has already been shown in previous studies to cut cancer rates by 40 per cent in those taking the medication, compared with diabetics who are not. [Read more...]

WASHINGTON — Many hospital patients are dissatisfied with some aspects of their care and might not recommend their hospitals to friends and relatives, the federal government said Friday as it issued ratings for most of the nation’s hospitals, based on the first uniform national survey of patients. For complete story, click here.

Tuesday, 03 February 2009 00:00

Response Genetics, Inc. RGDX, a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, announced today it has signed a nonexclusive license with Roche Diagnostics for the use of Response Genetics’ patented PCR analysis to assess human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2) gene expression. The accurate measurement of HER2 gene expression can assist physicians with treatment decisions for patients with cancers in tissues such as breast. For complete story, click here.

An article published in the Fall, 2008 issue of the Journal of Economic Perspectives concludes that improved behavior and increased screening among Americans are major contributors to the 13 percent decline in cancer mortality from 1990 to 2004 recently announced by the National Cancer Institute. In a study that is the first to evaluate the reasons for the decline, David Cutler of Harvard University examined data for breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer, and uncovered three factors leading to improved cancer survival. The most important of these is cancer screening, such as mammography and colonoscopy, which can detect cancer at an early, treatable stage. Second in importance is improved personal behavior, including a reduction in smoking. Dr Cutler ranks improved treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation as third in importance, and notes that their contribution comes at a high cost.

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Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, has announced that Australia would make a substantial contribution to the International Cancer Genome Consortium by tackling pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest cancers and fourth most common cause of cancer death.

The consortium brings together the world’s leading scientists, through 11 funding organizations in 8 countries, and aims to catalogue the genetic changes of the 50 most common cancer types.
[Read more...]