After being used in cancer research for long, a new way of treating cancer know as “virtual karyotyping” that can be done by re-creating chromosomes via computer technology is now available to treat cancer patients. It appears that Dr. Jill Hagenkord from the Creighton University will be the first in the world to offer such service.

From the University of Pittsburg to Creighton last year, Dr. Jill has used the method in studying cancer chromosomes for several years.

The new technology offers higher quality of image of chromosomes and cancerous tissue. Being able to target on particular damaged chromosomes, Dr. Jill and other specialist can have a better prediction on the tumor growth and determine the right drugs for the tumor. Dr. Jill added this technology is currently best for kidney, breast, blood and a few other cancers. Soon it will also be available to many more types of cancer.

According to Dr. Jared Schwartz, the president of the College of American Pathologist in North Carolina, he was familiar with the work of Dr. Jill, and called it as the way to improve cancer diagnosis and determining the right medicine. He further commented that the “trial and error” style for treating the disease has came to an end.

Dr. Jill said that she was being prepared by her trainings in molecular genetic pathology (a study of disease at the DNA level), and pathology-cancer informatics (the use of computer in analyzing huge and complex sets of biological data) to spread out the diagnosis process.

Dr. Jill Hagenkord process includes the normal laboratory works like examining a patient’s tumor sample in a microscope, place it in a test tube, and extract its DNA. After that, the DNA will be placed in a chip and will be scanned in a computer, which in turn re-create the patient’s chromosomes virtually for further study.

A similar process has also been used in discovering birth defects and cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said Dr. Warren Sanger, UNMC’s director of human genetic laboratories. But they are not yet ready to use it for cancer patient care. Dr. Sanger commented that the process developed by D.r Jill may be able to detect some chromosomes abnormalities, but the meaning of these abnormalities to cancer diagnosis and treatment is still unclear. However, he considers it as a powerful potential tool.

At the meantime Dr. Jill agreed that her process is not yet workable to other cancer types but is found effective for others.

Deaths due to the disease known as Malignant Mesothelioma which is a form of cancer mainly caused by over exposure to asbestos are on a rise in the United States. The Centers Disease Control officials examined death records of people in the US, and to their great surprise found that over 18000 deaths occurred in US between 1999-2005 due to malignant mesothelioma. According to the officials, majority of the deaths that occurred due to mesothelioma were among Caucasian people, with Maine being the highest state.

Despite the fact that numerous rigid steps have been taken in order to diminish the use of asbestos, deaths due to asbestos exposure keep on taking place. These deaths mainly occur due to the “Dormant Phase”. It is a phase when the asbestos lies dormant inside the body of the individuals for many years. The period between the first asbestos exposure and the commencement of various asbestos linked diseases can be around 40 years. CDC officials predicted that the number of deaths due to mesothelioma would hit record high by 2010.

The study reported that despite the use of asbestos in the manufacturing of various products has been eliminated; asbestos is being imported and used as part of many construction products. The report added that in order to ensure the deaths due to mesothelioma decrease in the coming years, careful control and planning is required regarding the use of asbestos.

Even though mesothelioma is generally related with men who work in certain places and occupations, like mining and constructions, the number of females who are developing this particular disease has increased by many folds in the past few years. For example in United Kingdom, a number of women who used to wash asbestos covered clothes of their fathers or some other family associate, are now at a risk of dying due to mesothelioma. This difficulty associated with 2nd hand exposures to asbestos is equally serious in US, as many women mostly in the twenties or thirties are now suffering from similar diseases such as mesothelioma.

According to World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) the 3 best ways to reduce the risk of cancer are a healthy and balanced diet, habitual physical exertion and sustaining a healthy and normal weight.

An independent panel of researchers after 5 years study on more than 5 hundred thousand report has successfully come up with the 10 best ways to reduce the risk of cancer. Thus they concluded that consuming a balanced diet, following a strict exercise schedule and maintaining a normal and healthy weight are the 3 best methods to reduce the risk of cancer.

The panel of researchers suggested that a healthy diet normally comprises of high fibre content plant foods with modest amounts of alcoholic beverages, red meat and salt plus small quantities of processed meat. Evidence also suggests that people should intake different types of fruits and vegetables as it provides the body with different nutrients that may reduce the risk of cancer. The panel also advises people to stay away from any form of dietary supplements.

Experts estimate that by eating healthily, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight could aid in preventing close to 1/3rd of the most prevalent types of cancers, and could also help in reducing the risk of various other diseases such as diabetes etc.

The panel also recommended that people should avoid sugary drinks as they contain a lot of calories which results in weight gain in a person. Limiting the intake of calories is vital for cancer preclusion as according to the new report over weight is one of the major contributors to the increased risk of cancer. Hence people should try to be as fit as possible and should not be underweight either.

Another method to maintain a healthy weight is by having regular physical activity and movement. The researchers in their proposals have advised people to remain active for least 30 minutes per day. Remaining active doesn’t just include working out in a gym; it also includes various things such as fast walking, cycling and working daily in the houses. People should not do their whole day’s workout in just one go, as taking breaks and then continuing with the workout is the best way to maintain a healthy weight. Thus including physical activity into one’s existing daily schedule is the best way in the long run.

A study has shown that the current prostate cancer screening process made to obese men is more like to miss tumors. This finding was discovered when researchers made a study to over 500 men, which resulted for obese men to have low level of prostate specific antigen or PSA even if they have abnormal prostate findings.

Researchers test PSA level to screen prostate cancer because PSA level often rise before any prostate cancer’s symptoms are developed. It is possible to have a normal PSA level yet still to have prostate cancer, although this situation is uncommon. As a general rule, higher a man’s PSA level, more likely the man will have prostate cancer.

The current findings simply suggests that obese men has relatively low PSA level and thus some cancer cannot be detected right away or worse will be missed. Dr. Freedland, the senior investigator on the study, said that excessive blood volume is most likely the reason why obese men have lower PSA level, which may also resulted into a dilution effect.

Therefore, Freedland suggest that dilution effect should be taken into consideration when interpreting PSA levels in obese man so that prostate cancer in obese men can be detected more accurately.

According to studies, overweight men have a PSA value of 5 percent lower compared to those in normal weight. Mildly obese on the other hand have 14 percent difference; while for moderately and severely obese men, the difference was 29 percent lower. With the current data presented, researchers suggest that the PSA levels used to recommend for biopsy should be adjusted according to a man’s level of obesity.

In Washington, a group of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a useful implantable device that will help track cancer growth and its respond to treatment after biopsy.

Professor Michael Cima, the device development group leader said that the device was found successful in tracking tumor marker in mice, when they transplanted human tumors into the mice’s body during the experiment. The group thinks that one day, this particular implant device will provide and up to the minute update of the tumor’s activity such as responding to treatment and whether the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.

Professor Cima added that this implantable device can be implanted during biopsy. The device can also be modified in order to monitor chemotherapy agents and help doctors in determining if the cancer drugs have reached the tumors. He also pointed out that the device can be tailored to measure PH or oxygen levels and eventually reveals tumor metabolism and the way it responds to the treatment.

Professor Cima stresses that with the current tools used in detecting tumor action, it is already too late to prevent the spread of cancer by the time you receive the test results and said that the implantable device is the perfect tool to turn death causing cancer disease into a manageable one.

The said implantable device is a 5mm cylindrical implant containing magnetic nanoparticles and is coated with antibodies specialized to keep the target molecules that bind to the particles clump together. MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is then used to detect the clump.

Professor Michael Cima believes that the implant device to test PH level will be soon commercially available.

Obesity as an epidemic is slowing engulfing the United Kingdom. Researchers have concluded that annually almost nineteen thousand Britons develop cancer by being overweight; the figure is 50% higher than estimated and is constantly increasing by leaps and bounds. Thus individuals are being advised to stay as lean and slim as possible to minimise the risk of cancer.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) found that seven main type of cancers and excess fat were directly linked. These cancers were cancer of the breast, endometrium, bowel, pancreas, oesophagus, kidney, and gall bladder.

Professor Wiseman, an adviser at WCRF, felt that thousands of diagnosed cancer cases could have been prevented if people had maintained their weight healthily. He said this was grave issue and demanded immediate concern as the people who are overweight and obese is increasing manifold.

The risk of cancer increases as body fat helps in the production and secretion of hormones and various growth factors present in our body like oestrogen and insulin which increases the threat of cancer. Obese and overweight people also do not lean towards eating healthy and nutritious quantities of fruits which are very helpful in protecting against cancer.

Professor Wiseman added that after quit smoking the next most important aspect for leading a healthy life is to maintain a normal and healthy weight. However the irony is that around 40% of people do not actually have the knowledge that obesity is one of the major causes of cancer. Thus this knowledge needs to be spread to as many people as possible to prevent the spread of cancer.

According to the scientists, around 1/3rd of the most general cancers can be prevented by people if they improve their way of living and lifestyle by simply eating healthy food, doing more exercise and maintain a constant and normal weight. Thus the WRCF concluded that people should maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18.5 – 24.9 to keep away from various diseases such as cancer.

The researchers at the Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have discovered that prostate cancers actually originates from one single cell in the prostate and spread to other part of the body.

Cancer is due to mutation of DNA, which cause a variation in DNA base. Cancer mutations can also be in the form of copy number changes, wherein a person has an abnormal copy of genes. Those cells that do not have normal copy of genes will probably grow uncontrollably and eventually spread to different parts of the body through a process called metastasis and form a new cancerous site.

Researchers did a study for 14 years to 30 men that died from metastatic prostate cancer. Samples are taken from both the prostate and metastatic sites, dissected and analyzed. Researchers then found out and conclude that mostly of the metastatic cancer cells if not all are merely clones of one single cell from the prostate.

Because of this new finding, scientists are hoping that they can use it in determining the specific genomic features of the death causing primary cancer cells. When scientists have enough databases of cancer cells’ genetic features from different individuals and groups, physicians will now have the chance to change their method in treating cancer, making it to be more effective in treating any existing cancerous tumors.

Since it is not only the single cell origin that causes metastatic cancer, an additional research for this matter is required in order to treat the existing cancerous tumors more effectively.

A recent study has indicated that breast tissue density – a major risk of breast cancer, runs in the family thus is hereditary. This particular study helps one understand the importance of breast density in women which was until recently confirmed to be heritable in women, thus adding to the importance of preventing breast cancer in early life of women.

Dr. Boyd was the first scientist to discover that middle aged women having dense breasts are more susceptible to acquire breast cancer. Breasts are formed by fibroglandular tissues and fat, excessive amount of fibroglandular tissues lead to dense breasts thus leading to breast cancer. His new research, published in Lancet Oncology report, is the first study that measures and reports the breast density in young women. It reported that many factors affect the density of breasts in young women such as their height, weight and the breast density of their mothers.

The scientists used Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) technology instead of mammograms as young women are more susceptible to radiations from mammogram. The MRI technology measures the amount of water in the breasts which in turn also measures the density of fibroglandular tissues in women.

This study established that the breast density in young women is considerably higher as compared to their mothers, and this decreased as the age progressed .The study also found out that the breast density was considerably lower in shorter women. Thus indicating an inverse relation between height and breast density in women. However the study was yet to confirm and understand how the density of breasts in young women changes with their age.

The probability of occurrence of breast cancer in young women is next to zero as this disease mainly occurs in middle aged to older women that is around the age of 45-50years. However assessing the risks of breast cancer at a younger age is recommended as this would help the women understand the risk of the disease. Breast density is the key indicator of breast cancer thus women with high density of breasts should be screened more frequently and should be under close watch of their doctors to prevent any occurrence of breast cancer when their age increase.

In the recently concluded panel discussion at Ontario Canada the researchers have said to have found pivotal scientific evidence that links smoking and secondary smoking with breast cancer. Reporting from Toronto regarding their results, an international board of researchers have said that they have “credible proof” regarding the risk of smoking and that of second-hand smoking which can lead to breast cancer.

“Till lately, confirmation regarding the linkage between breast cancer and smoking, although capacious, was still unconvincing. However the board’s vigilant investigation regarding all the accessible data, in particular the current evidence, led the panel to come to a conclusion that there was enough influential confirmation of threat,” said Mr. Neil

Mr. Neil, the panel chairman estimated that 80 to 90% of women have came into contact with tobacco during their adolescence and their adulthood. Such women are facing an amplified danger of being diagnosed of breast cancer due to such exposures.

An announcement was made over the board’s results and it stated that there were numerous studies and experiments over the past few years regarding the connection between cigarette smoking and the risk of breast cancer in females. The panel analyzed all the available facts, which included significant latest evidences, and thus it inferred that there was significant amount of risk that even non-smokers face which is due to flaccid contact with the smoke of cigarettes.

The panel further added that the association between active smoking is with both pre as well as post menopausal cancer and that it is consistent with causalities, although there isn’t yet sufficient proof to infer regarding the character of this association between the introduction with second hand smoking  to  breast cancer in grown-up, post-menopausal females.

Anthony Miller, who is part of the panel, added that it was essential to pass on this message to adolescent woman, as the offered confirmation confirms that both active smoking as well as the exposure to second-hand smoke increase risk of breast cancer.