Approved by the FDA in 1993, the drug cladribine offered hope for the then-fatal blood cancer called hairy cell leukemia, or HCL, and was soon expanded as a therapy for multiple sclerosis. Developed by NFCR scientist Dr. Dennis Carson at the University of California, San Diego, cladribine acts like a purine nucleoside agent, which prevents cells from making DNA and RNA, and can selectively kill hairy cell leukemia cells. Heralded as a breakthrough cure, cladribine remains the first-line treatment for HCL and is also tapped as a treatment for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Now researchers have expanded its use to another deadly form of…
Author: Brett Johnson
Prostate cancer is, after skin cancer, the most common cancer among men and the second biggest cancer killer for men in the United States. It’s typically an older man’s cancer with approximately 60 percent diagnoses in men over 65, with the average age being 66. As cancers go, prostate cancer has one of the better prognosis: the five-year survival rate for most men with local or regional prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent. However, for men diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, that number falls to 30 percent. An estimated 174,650 men in the United…
As we honor Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, it’s important to be cognizant of the realities of these deadly diseases. All women with reproductive organs are susceptible to developing one of the seven gynecologic cancers, with the exception of women who have received a full hysterectomy and are at a lower risk. Know your body, know the facts, know your risk. #1. Gynecologic cancer is an umbrella term for seven different cancers that occur in women’s reproductive organs. Types of gynecologic cancers include… Cervical cancer. This occurs when the cells inside and outside the cervix mutate. This is the move preventable cancer through annual…
Some women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are able to choose between different types of surgery to remove their tumors. Because these surgical options are equally effective, the decision often comes down to the woman’s preference about factors such as recovery time, potential complications, and effect on appearance. But a new study shows that some women also take another factor into consideration: cost. The cost of care is particularly important for women with lower incomes, the study found. However, the researchers found that very few women reported discussing costs with their medical team, despite their desire to do so. “Doctors discuss many variables with women facing…
Many cancer studies focus on the genetic changes in a tumor that may influence its development or identify potential targets for new treatments. But a growing number of researchers have been looking into a different factor that might affect how tumors behave: bacteria. Several studies have suggested that the mix of bacteria in the gut of people with cancer—their gut microbiome—can affect their immune system’s ability to recognize and attack tumors or the effectiveness of some cancer treatments. Now, results from a new study suggest that, in the case of people with pancreatic cancer, the makeup of bacteria that populate their tumors could predict how long…
Finding new ways to help people quit smoking continues to be a challenge. In a recent study, researchers tried a unique approach: training pediatricians’ offices to provide smoking cessation treatment to parents during visits with their child’s doctor. The approach increased the number of people who got treatment and modestly improved smoking quit rates. The study tested the effectiveness of a program called CEASE, which aims to reduce children’s exposure to secondhand smoke—and thereby improve their health—by helping parents to quit. Results of the trial were published August 12 in JAMA Pediatrics. “We’ve made a lot of progress [in reducing secondhand smoke…
Findings from a study of patients who received radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for hyperthyroidism show an association between the dose of treatment and long-term risk of death from solid cancers, including breast cancer. The study, led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, was published July 1, 2019 in JAMA Internal Medicine. “We identified a clear dose–response relationship between this widely used treatment and long-term risk of death from solid cancer, including breast cancer, in the largest cohort study to date of patients treated for hyperthyroidism,” said Cari Kitahara, Ph.D., of NCI’s Division…
For many, working a night shift is a regular part of life. While most of the world operates on a 9-5 business model, a surprising number of businesses and services operate outside of “normal” hours. Hospitals need medical professionals, buildings need security and scores of drivers and workers need 24-hour gas stations and diners. Working during the night and sleeping during the day has become the norm in many professions. Working an overnight shift can be mentally fatiguing, psychologically isolating and physically exhausting. Night shift work can even cause depressive episodes for some individuals. In a 2017 study, night shift…