Cancer Research Lab

US researchers have identified a highly tumorigenic subpopulation of pancreatic cancer cells that display the established features of stem cell. A further understanding of these cells could lead to novel treatments for this usually fatal malignancy.

Previous studies have uncovered stem cells for blood, brain, and breast cancers. Until now, however, a stem cell for pancreatic cancer had not been identified.

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In a retrospective case-control study, researchers observed a non-significant trend for better survival in head and neck cancer patients who used nonselective COX inhibitors (aspirin and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications) on a regular basis.

“Although these results are intriguing, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend their use in patients with head and neck cancer unlike patients with colon polyps or colon cancer,” Dr. M. Boyd Gillespie from the Medical University of South Carolina warned in comments.

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Amgen Inc.’s anemia drug Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa) is facing further safety concerns after a medical newsletter reported on Friday that a Danish study of the drug in head and neck cancer was halted due to adverse outcomes.

The report in The Cancer Letter said the study was temporarily halted in October after an interim analysis of the first 484 patients turned up a statistically significant increase in disease recurrence. It said a decision not to resume the study was made on Dec. 1.

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Higher methionine intake is apparently associated with a reduction in pancreatic cancer risk, according to a report in the January issue of Gastroenterology.

Impaired methyl group metabolism may contribute to pancreatic diseases and carcinogenesis, the authors explain, suggesting that methyl group donors like methionine could influence the risk of pancreatic cancer.

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Except for hematopoietic cancers, cancer incidence is no more common among patients with inflammatory arthritis than in the general population, investigators in the UK report. However, 5-year cancer survival is significantly reduced.

Mortality among patients with rheumatoid arthritis is about twice as high as that of the general population, Dr. Alan Silman and his associates note, and mortality related to cancer is also increased. What remains unsettled is whether the higher mortality is due to greater incidence or a higher case fatality rate.

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Childhood exposure to ionizing radiation to treat tinea capitis increases the long-term risk of thyroid cancer, according to findings published in the December issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

“The thyroid gland is known to be sensitive to the carcinogenic effect of ionizing radiation, especially in children,” Dr. Siegal Sadetzki, of Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel, and colleagues write.

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The European Union approved Roche’s cancer drug Tarceva for use against pancreatic cancer, Roche said on Monday, in line with an earlier recommendation from EU authorities.

Roche said the approval was based on data from a phase III study, showing that treatment with Tarceva resulted in significant longer survival of patients, compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone.

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Aspiration is very common in patients with advanced head and neck cancer, is more severe following chemoradiation therapy, and is often without symptoms, according to Illinois-based researchers.

“We found that aspiration of food and/or liquids was highly prevalent at baseline, and became worse shortly after treatment,” senior investigator Dr. Kerstin M. Stenson said.

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Myths about the causes and prevention of cancer have been floating around for years. While some have been tame, there have been some cancer myths that are downright outlandish and ridiculous. Check out the craziest cancer myths in this Top 10 style list.

1. Myth: Fellatio Greatly Reduces a Woman’s Risk Factor for Breast Cancer

Truth: An email circulated with a link to what appeared to be a bonafide CNN news story claiming that a study found that women who performed fellatio reduced their risk of breast cancer. The truth is that there is no evidence that performing fellatio will reduce your risk of cancer.

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