An accurate diagnosis at an earlier stage could avoid chemotherapy.

Currently, the core biopsy is a fairly common practice to take samples of breast tissue in suspected there may be the presence of cancer cells, so that they can be examined under a microscope.

Observe the genetic patterns of the samples can help to discover the need for some type of more intensive treatment for cancer, but so far the accuracy of this test was limited.

However, the study conducted in Switzerland and published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, points out that the result is reliable.

The team of researchers from University Hospital Basel found that the gene expression profile in the samples made with thick needle biopsies were done with an accurate picture of the type of cancer that were facing, despite taking some small tissue sections of tumor.

The information can be used to determine which cancers are aggressive and therefore need more intensive treatment, including chemotherapy after tumor surgery, and which have little chance of returning after being removed surgically.

Less invasive

The study could help in diagnosis and treatment of those affected.

The study presented by Swiss scientists also suggests it might be better to obtain tissue samples for later genetic analysis using core needle biopsy that the removal of a sample through surgery.

Not only does this type of less invasive method, but also the researchers point out that apparently gives a clearer indication of the patterns of genes present in the sample.

Research indicates that needle biopsy revealed it to be an expression of the genes involved in wound healing, in addition to the present in the tumor itself and in its spread.

In the latest study, conducted in 22 women affected, the specific expression of four known genes are involved in the development of breast cancer significantly increased surgical tests taken through that core needle biopsies.

In comparison, the expression of these four genes we increased the women who did not undergo the core biopsy before.

This means that each sample is obtained after surgery will present a profile of altered gene expression.

According to Swiss researchers, the information presented in this study is very important for doctors and help them to appreciate more accurately the aggressiveness of a tumor at diagnosis, making it easier to determine the necessary treatment and possible outcomes .

“A great help”

Dr Rosana Zanetti-Dallenbach and his colleagues at University Hospital in Besel warned that the profiles of altered genes in the samples obtained through surgery after a core biopsy might influence doctors’ diagnosis.
This interesting study could mean greater accuracy when predicting how it will respond to treatment a person affected by breast cancer and what the potential risk to their reappearance
Maria Leadbeater, of Breast Cancer Care

According to the researchers, the core biopsy provided a truer picture, more representative and cleaner.

Professor Karol Sikora, an oncologist at Imperial College Medicine UK, said: “The analysis of gene expression will likely talk about the natural history of disease, if it is going to be aggressive or not allowing you to establish a tailored treatment. ”

“This is a relatively new technique and how difficult is that you need a validation. Still does not possess sufficient information quantity, so in that sense, this study is a great help,” he said.

For its part, Maria Leadbeater, of the aid organization Breast Cancer Care said: “This interesting study could mean greater accuracy in predicting how it will respond to treatment a person affected by breast cancer and what the potential risk to reappearance. ”

Anyway, this is a small study so that more work is needed to investigate whether this way of collecting samples through core biopsy, could change the way breast cancer is currently diagnosed and treaty, “he said.

Two patients in the worst kind of skin cancer were declared free of the disease, after which they are applying novel genetic therapies.

Specialists from the U.S. National Institute against Cancer in Bethesda, manipulated immune system cells of several patients to fight advanced melanoma.

Although only two of 17 patients undergoing cancer treatment are free 18 months after therapy was applied to them, scientists say the results are very encouraging and is a new direction in medical research.

In addition, experts can also argue that genetic manipulation of the immune system cells to fight breast cancer, liver and lungs.

“This is the first time that genetic manipulation of tumor regression achieved in humans,” said Steven Rosenberg, the scientist who led the experiment.

Treatment consisted of removal of cells or normal T cells, which were genetically engineered to rebuild the immune systems of patients.

Experimental

“Our technique is to take normal lymphocytes from patients, and make them reactive to tumor cells,” explained Rosenberg.

The Mark treatment Source was so successful that he could attend the wedding of his daughter.

“The method is experimental, and it takes several years of additional research,” said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, the American Cancer Society.

“We must be very cautious about not raising hopes too much,” said Lichtenfeld.

Mark origin, 53 years old, was one of those cured. Her melanoma and other tumor disappeared in the liver was reduced just enough to be removed through surgery.

The treatment was so successful that Origin was able to attend the wedding of his daughter, held in 2005. Last week, doctors declared him cancer free.

The study found a relationship between the consumption of mandarin and reduction of liver disease.

Japanese scientists discovered that the key is a vitamin A compounds called carotenoids, responsible for giving the fruit its orange color.

As told BBC Science Dr. Victoria Chimp, Nutritionist College of Peru, “not only carotenoids found in fruit, but also in many vegetables.”

“And previous studies have found that have an antioxidant effect, known anti-cancer may have a role,” he says.

Daily consumption

Japanese researchers conducted two separate studies.

The first, found that eating mandarins reduces the risk of liver disease, hardened arteries and insulin resistance.

Experts recommend eating fruits and vegetables to reduce cancer risk.

And a second study found that drinking the juice of the fruit reduces the risk of patients with chronic viral hepatitis developing liver cancer.

In the first study, scientists at the National Institute of Fruit Tree Science, examined 1,073 people in the Japanese city of Mikkabi, who ate a high number of mandarin.

In blood samples of the population the researchers found chemical markers associated with a lower risk of developing several serious conditions.

In the second study, a team from the University of Medicine Kyoto Prefectural studied 30 patients with viral hepatitis for a year they had consumed a daily drink containing carotenoids and mandarin juice.

After a year, the group did not develop any liver cancer, compared with a rate of 8.9% among a group of 45 patients with the disease who had not been drinking.

Natural

Experts emphasize, however, that with only 75 patients, the study is too small to be conclusive about the relationship between the mandarins and cancer.
The beneficial effect of these compounds found in natural food, but not in vitamin supplements that are purchased
Dr. Victoria Chimp, College of Peru Nutritionist

The Japanese scientists studying and stress that will continue the investigation for five years.

As stated by Dr. Chimp, Nutritionist College of Peru, “what people should be clear is that all antioxidants, like carotenoids must be obtained from natural sources.”

“The beneficial effect of these compounds found in natural food, but not in vitamin supplements you buy.”

“The supplement behaves differently and reacts differently our bodies,” said the expert.

“So the recommendation is to eat different fruits and vegetables and that the more types of these foods are included in the diet, the more benefits will accrue to health,” he says.

The genetic map shows that nearly 200 mutated genes, most previously unknown, help tumors emerge, grow and expand.

The discovery could also lead to better ways to diagnose cancer in its early stages, where treatment is easier and can be customized, according to the magazine Science.

The Kimmel Cancer Center Johns Hopkins University says the findings suggest that cancer is more complex than experts had believed.

Marked differences

The mutated genes in breast cancer and colon cancers were almost completely distinct, there are many different forms of development for each of these cancers.

Each individual tumor seems to have a different genetic blueprint, which could explain why cancers can behave very differently from people, the scientists say.

“No two patients are identical,” said co-author Dr. Victor Velculescu.
These genes have been identified that provide rich for scientists looking for new ways to treat or detect cancer
Ed Yong, of Cancer Research UK

Now, scientists will study how these mutations occur in colon cancer and breast cancer.

In the past, such genetic discoveries led to new and successful strategies for detection and treatment.

For example, the drug Herceptin for breast cancer, pointing to the cancer cell receptor produced by the Her2-neu gene. Blood tests for hereditary bowel cancer are based on the APC gene.

Custom Therapies

Dr. Anna Barker of the National Cancer Institute in the UK, said: “Increasing the number of targets available for drug development in a specific type of cancer means that patients receive a more personalized therapy and less toxic.

Ed Yong, of Cancer Research UK, said: “This could be a very important research.”

“Most of the cancer genes identified in the study had not been previously associated with cancer.”

“These genes have been identified that provide rich for scientists looking for new ways to treat or detect cancer.”

“In the future, scientists hope to be able to design treatment plans tailored according to each person’s genetic profile. Studies like this allow us to achieve this goal.”

The researchers hope that in future, be able to manufacture drugs that block the supply of the correct number of chromosomes to new cells in order to destroy certain cancers.

The scientists explained their idea of what they call the “aneuploidy therapy” in the latest issue of the journal Cancer Cell.

“Consequence or cause?

It is known that aneuploidy, too few or too many chromosomes, is linked to cancer.

What is unclear is whether it is simply a consequence of mutations in the genes that cause tumors or if it directly causes cancer by promoting mutations in these genes.

Each human cell usually has 23 pairs of chromosomes: in each of the first 22 chromosome pairs are inherited from the mother and one father, while the 23rd pair of chromosomes determine sex.

The cells of mice normally have 20 pairs, but the researchers studied animals with highly variable amounts of chromosomes to see if aneuploidy increased their chance of getting cancer.

Suppressor gene

Indeed, mice with the wrong number of chromosomes were more likely to develop tumors as they aged than other mice.

However, when scientists were added other genetic errors animals susceptible to cancer, the disease development was reduced.

The team also studied mice lacking a tumor suppressor gene that helps control cell growth.

As expected, mice lacking this gene were more prone to getting cancer.

When scientists created mice without the gene and a high proportion of aneuploidy, also slowed tumor growth.

“This study opens the door to a broad range of potential therapeutic targets against cancer,” the investigation team leader, Beth Weaver.

“By increasing the level of genetic damage, we can kill these cancer cells,” he added.

They estimate that the gene affected annually creates approximately 100 cases of breast cancer in the UK.

Two damaged copies of the gene also appears to cause a serious blood disorder in children, as reported in the journal Nature Genetics.

Mutant DNA

PALB2 gene function is to repair mutant DNA, so that people who have a defective copy of the gene are more likely to accumulate other genetic damage, which leads to other problems, like cancer.

Professor Nazneen Rahman and her team studied the DNA of 923 women with breast cancer and family history of disease was not caused by BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, known to be the cause of breast cancer.

Ten of the patients had a damaged copy of PALB2 las1084 contrast to healthy women who were used to compare.

Having a defective copy of PALB2 increases more than double the risk of developing breast cancer.

Although the study was conducted only with women, scientists believe that the same genetic defect may also occur in men.

Double trouble

They also found that children who inherited two faulty copies of PALB2 developed a sub-type of a genetic condition called Fanconi anemia.

This aggressive sub-type of the disease was not caused by any of the 11 genes known to be responsible for Fanconi’s anemia and was cited as a high risk for certain cancers, including kidney and brain tumors.

Professor John Toy, Cancer Research UK, said: “The discovery of another gene that increases breast cancer, either for a small number of women is very important.”

“Gradually, we are beginning to learn more and more about the rogue genes that cause cancer in some families, and someday hope to use this knowledge to help those at high risk of contracting the disease.”

Most breast cancers happen by chance. Only 5% are related to an inherited gene.

Eating broccoli and cauliflower regularly reduces the risk of prostate cancer, according to a team of U.S. researchers.

A study involving 1,300 men suggests that these vegetables are better than others to curb the growth of aggressive tumors.

The researchers, who published the results of the study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute USA (NCI by its acronym in English), ensures that you know that broccoli and cauliflower contain anticancer substances.

Experts recommend a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables, to reduce the risk of cancer, as shown by several studies.

However, the results have been inconsistent, and many of the investigations have not specifically looked at the most aggressive forms of evil.

A weekly serving

A team from the NCI and Cancer Care Ontario in Toronto made questionnaires to a group of patients who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in a recognition test.

Men should eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day to prevent cancer.

Overall, they found that eating fruits and vegetables are not necessarily associated with a decreased risk of cancer.

But when you consume large amounts of cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli is a noticeable reduction in the risk of aggressive cancers that occur in the prostate.

A weekly serving of cauliflower was associated with 25% risk reduction, and similar amounts of broccoli appear to decrease the risk by up to 45%.

Healthy Diet

Spinach consumption also appears to be associated with a reduced risk, but results were not significant when the researchers examined cancers that had spread beyond the prostate.

Study leader, Dr Victoria Kirsch, Cancer Care Ontario, said prostate cancer “are biologically virulent and associated with an incomplete diagnosis.
Experts have proven that the best way to reduce the risk of many cancers is to eat a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables.
Dr Kat Arney, Cancer Research UK

“If the observed association is causal, a medium that can reduce the burden of this disease is primary prevention by eating broccoli, cauliflower and perhaps spinach,” she explained.

However, the research indicated that men who eat these vegetables tend to be healthier in general.

Cases of skin cancer skyrocketed in the last decade.

These four are responsible for the excesses massive increase in certain types of cancer in recent years, according to British experts warns.

Researchers say that about half of all cancer cases could be prevented by changes in lifestyle.

According to data published by the UK Cancer Research UK, cases of melanoma, the type of skin cancer more dangerous in the last decade increased by 40%.

In most cases, the disease was linked to excessive sun exposure and neglect, according to researchers.

Oral cancer associated with snuff and alcohol consumption, grew between the British in almost 25% over the past ten years.

And cases of kidney cancer and uterus, both related to obesity, also rose during the same period.

“Prevention rather than cure”

“People still do not believe much in changing their habits,” he told BBC Science Diana Patricia Garcia, coordinator of a cancer prevention program at the Washington Hospital Centre, U.S..

In the United States and the United Kingdom the numerous campaigns against snuff, as well as legislation that prohibit smoking in many public places are already having visible results.

According to data published in the UK cases of lung cancer, especially among men, continue to decline due to a reduction in smoking.

However, according to Diana Patricia Garcia, “in Latin America the use of alcohol and smoking is still quite high because there are no prevention programs.”

Beauty vs. Health

Too much food, alcohol, snuff and sun exposure habits are not necessarily exclusive to the “modern” life more advanced societies.

Although, as is stated Diana Patricia Garcia, motivations they can be different.

“Many times in developed societies like the United States or Britain, people face the sun as a matter of beauty.”

“In our countries many women are exposed to the sun not so much for aesthetic as for work: because they have to spend many hours in the sun picking crops, caring for children in the open, not so much about beauty and survival.”

The cancer prevention coordinator stresses once again that what is needed is to provide information.

“People still do not understand what can be wrong and what can be good,” he told BBC Science.

“But in our countries there is no social structure or the structure of medical or enough money to reach many people. These campaigns are conducted on a massive scale not reach everyone really,” he said.

Annual Medical Examination
HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CANCER
Avoid smoking
Maintaining a healthy weight
Eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables and fiber
Sun protection
Exercise regularly
Source: Cancer Research UK

“Sometimes the feel good is a passport to good health,” warned Diana Patricia Garcia.

In addition to daily exercise, changing diet and sun protection, the expert stressed the importance of regular medical surveillance.

“Although our countries there is no prevention as such, we must go to our doctors and ask for an annual checkup, although one does not have any symptoms, even if you feel well,” he advised.

“A good review is a good preventive health check for anything in the future” was his conclusion.

According to Cancer Research UK points out, early detection of the disease makes the treatment and increases the likelihood of cure.

Although it is less likely that obese people suffer from prostate cancer, are more likely to die from a variety of more aggressive disease, a new study.

Researchers at Umea University in Sweden discovered that it is much less likely to develop cancer in people who are resistant to insulin, a pre-diabetic condition linked to obesity.

However, it is more likely that obese people suffer from an aggressive form of the disease could spread to other parts of the body, says the study.

The research involved 784 men and was released in the publication International Journal of Cancer.

In the United Kingdom are diagnosed each year about 35,000 cases of prostate cancer, about one in eight of all cancer cases.

In this country, the disease causes 10,000 deaths each year.

Sex hormone

“The idea that obese people are less likely to develop prostate cancer is provocative,” said research director, Dr. Par Stattin.

According to Dr Stattin, who led the research, low levels of testosterone (the male sexual steroid which is low in the obese) could explain why these men are less likely to develop prostate cancer.

… But causing malaise that can cause early death.

But may have more risks of being more aggressive forms a variety of cancer that is less related to testosterone.

Dr. Greg Martin, the World Cancer Research Fund, which funded the study, said that “it is important to remember that obesity increases the risk of several cancers, and generally a bad precedent for cancer.

Dr Chris Hiley, the Prostate Cancer Charity, warned that “men should not think that one of the advantages of obesity is that it can prevent prostate cancer because it is not so.”

Cancer and heart disease “are the biggest causes of preventable deaths and weight control with diet and a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of both.”

The investigation of a U.S. scientist Results indicated that immune cells taken from healthy person can be used to battle cancer in another person.

The study, published in the journal New Scientist, says that some people seem to have cells that have a greater ability to tackle cervical cancer cells in test tubes.

Dr. Zheng Cui, who was in charge of the investigation, now wants to transplant more potent “granulocytes” patients.

The finding has surprised some experts believed that granulocytes played a minor role in the fight against cancer.

The body’s immune system helps fight infection, but also plays a key role in destroying cancer cells.

Test

The idea of receiving immune cells, either from yourself or from a donor, is not new.

However, the investigation at the Medical University of Wake Forest, North Carolina, points to a different cell as a potential savior.

And Granulocytes are normally associated with the body’s response to bacterial infections.

In his research, Dr Cui took blood samples from 100 volunteers and mixed in the laboratory just their granulocytes with cervical cancer cells.

He found that one sample appeared to kill 97% of cancer cells in just two days, while the other side of the scale, after 48 hours, one sample had destroyed only 2% of cancer cells.

Patients with cancer provided granulocytes, which had a below-average ability to kill cancer cells.

So did people who reported being stressed and over 50 years.

Even more surprising was that even the time of year seemed to have an effect on the potency of granulocytes.

“Nobody seems to have the ability to kill cancer cells during the winter months,” said Dr. Cui.

In another study found that granulocytes from a strain of mice completely resistant to cancer cured the disease when they were transplanted into other mice.

Dr Cui now plans human trials to see if donor granulocytes - which are plentiful and easily harvested - can have a similar effect.

Risk of attack

However, a British expert warned of the potential risks of the experiments.

Although granulocyte transfusions are already makes to patients with impaired immune systems, they are normally irradiated to make sure that no other immune cells to the patient by mistake.

If this happens it can cause “graft-host disease in which the donor cells recognize the new body as an invader and launch an assault with occasionally fatal consequences.

Dr John Gribben, an immunologist at St. Bartholomew Hospital in London, said he was surprised if Dr Cui receives approval for the transplantation of “live” cells into a patient with cancer.

“From my point of view is more than a theoretical risk,” he said.

But he added that research results were surprising, adding that more work needed to be done to confirm that the granulocytes were in a wider variety of cancers, not just cervical cancers.

“There are enough people considering therapy for cancer cells, but not working on granulocytes.”