Low-grade prostate cancers may not become aggressive with time - adds support for "watch and wait" approach

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Men's Health
Article Date: 15 Aug 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Low-grade prostate cancers may not become aggressive with time - adds support for "watch and wait" approach

Prostate cancer aggressiveness may be established when the tumor is formed and not alter with time, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Researchers found that after the introduction of widespread prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, the proportion of patients diagnosed with advanced-stage cancers dropped by more than six-fold in 22 years, but the proportion diagnosed with high Gleason grade cancers did not change substantially. This suggests that low-grade prostate cancers do not progress to higher grade over time.

Cancer stage refers to the extent or spread of the disease, and cancer grade, called Gleason grade for prostate cancer, refers to the aggressiveness of the disease.

"We were able to look at finely stratified time periods to capture pre-PSA, early-PSA, and late-PSA eras within one study. Over time, because of PSA screening, men have been more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at an earlier stage, before the disease has had an opportunity to grow and spread. If Gleason grade also progressed over time, we would expect a similar decrease in high Gleason grade disease over time," said Kathryn Penney, Sc.D., instructor in medicine at the Harvard Medical School and associate epidemiologist at the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Mass. "We were surprised by just how constant the incidence of high-grade disease has been over time."

This study adds more evidence to the argument that patients who are diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancers can opt for an active surveillance, or "watch and wait" approach instead of getting treated right away.

Penney and colleagues used data from 420 participants recruited to the Physicians' Health Study and 787 participants recruited to the ongoing Health Professionals Follow-up Study. All participants were diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1982 and 2004, and treated with surgery. The researchers reanalyzed prostate tissue collected from these patients to assess Gleason grade.

The researchers divided the data into four time periods based on when the participants received a diagnosis and treatment: 1982-1993, 1993-1996, 1996-2000, and 2000-2004, to represent the pre-PSA and PSA eras. They found that the number of participants who had undergone PSA screening increased from 42 percent in 1994 to 81 percent in 2000.

They also found that the number of late-stage cancers decreased from 19.9 percent in the 1982-1993 group to just 3 percent in the 2000-2004 group, reflecting an 85 percent drop in stage at diagnosis. However, there was only a moderate decrease in high Gleason grade cancers, from 25.3 percent in the 1982-1993 group to 17.6 percent in the 2000-2004 group, reflecting a 30 percent drop.

With further analyses, the researchers found that the moderate drop in high Gleason grade cancers was not because progression to more aggressive disease was prevented through screening, but because of an increased diagnosis of low-grade disease that would not have been detected without PSA screening.

"Radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy, the usual treatments for prostate cancer, can have negative side effects such as impotence and incontinence; choosing active surveillance could prevent this decline in quality of life," said Penney. "Men with low-grade disease at diagnosis should seriously consider talking with their doctors about active surveillance."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
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15 Aug. 2013. APA
American Association for Cancer Research. (2013, August 15). "Low-grade prostate cancers may not become aggressive with time - adds support for "watch and wait" approach." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
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Smart Map launch offers new approach in the battle against Britain's biggest cancer killer, UK

Main Category: Lung Cancer
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 31 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Smart Map launch offers new approach in the battle against Britain's biggest cancer killer, UK

Lung cancer patients can now check they are getting the best care available after the launch of a new interactive online map.

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF) announced the launch today of its Lung Cancer Smart Map, which shows patients how treatment in their area compares against government targets.

Dr Jesme Fox, Medical Director at the RCLCF said: "There may be many reasons why some areas aren't meeting national standards but the point of this map is to give patients the power to ask why.

"We hope that the Smart Map will encourage patients to work with their doctors in making sure they get the best care available."

Dr Michael Peake, Clinical Lead for the National Lung Cancer Audit (NLCA), said: "The Lung Cancer Smart Map is a great way to make our data on the quality and outcomes of lung cancer services across the UK easily available and easily understandable to the general public. Patients and their families have a right to know what information is 'out there' on the hospitals in which they might be treated and this map is an excellent example of how that can be achieved."

Public health minister Anna Soubry said: "This interactive cancer map is a great source of information which empowers lung cancer patients to make better informed choices about the care and treatment they receive.

"I'd like to commend the Foundation's commitment to diagnosing lung cancer earlier and identifying the best treatments available in order to save as many lives as possible."

Please click on the following link to view the map

The Smart Map includes the latest regional data from a range of measures recorded in the NLCA. It compares local real-world hospital data to the nationally recommended standards of care.[1] Hospitals have made consistent progress in treating lung cancer since the NLCA audit began in 2004 but there is still significant room for improvement and it's hoped that sharing this information will accelerate future positive change.

It is hoped that the Smart Map can also encourage improvements in timely referral from primary care. It includes local data from the National Cancer Intelligence Network's (NCIN) "Routes to Diagnosis" study which showed that lung cancer patients who are diagnosed via a managed referral rather than an emergency admission have improved outcomes.[2]

The development of the map was supported by Roche Products Ltd.

The National Lung Cancer Audit is the most comprehensive review of lung cancer services that has been undertaken in the UK. The latest published audit used data collected on 38,528 patients first seen in 2011 in Great Britain, representing approximately 93% of the expected number of new lung cancer cases. This is thought to represent almost all cases of lung cancer presenting to hospital.[1]

The audit, which began eight years ago, has helped drive improvements in care by providing hospital trusts with vital information about their performance and how they compare to others. The audit is managed by The NHS Information Centre in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians and is commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership.

The NCIN Routes to Diagnosis study examined the sequence of events leading to every cancer diagnosis made in England between 2006 and 2008.[3] The total number of lung cancer cases evaluated in this study over the three year period equates to 96,735. In the RCLCF Smart Map, lung cancer specific data from the study is grouped to show the percentage of diagnoses made via 'managed', 'emergency presentation' and 'other' routes. The 'managed' route encompasses patients who presented through the two week wait, GP referral, plus other outpatient and inpatient elective routes.

Lung cancer is Britain's biggest cancer killer with approximately 41,500 new cases diagnosed each year.[4] Of these patients, about 30% will survive a year and only about 8% will survive five years.[5],[6] Lung cancer kills almost 4,000 more women every year than breast cancer and accounts for more male cancer deaths than prostate, pancreatic and stomach cancer combined.[7]

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our lung cancer section for the latest news on this subject.

[1] National Lung Cancer Audit Report 2012

[2] National Cancer Intelligence Network. Routes to Diagnosis – NCIN Data Briefing (Last accessed May 2013)

[3] National Cancer Intelligence Network. Routes to Diagnosis, 2006-2008 (Last accessed May 2013)

[4] Cancer Research UK. Lung Cancer Incidence Statistics(Last accessed May 2013)

[5] Office of National Statistics. Cancer Survival in England - Patients Diagnosed 2005-2009 and Followed up to 2010 (Last accessed May 2013)

[6] Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Lung Cancer Facts and Figures (Last accessed May 2013)

[7] Cancer Research UK. Cancer mortality for common cancers (Last accessed May 2013)

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

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31 Jul. 2013. APA

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'Smart Map launch offers new approach in the battle against Britain's biggest cancer killer, UK'

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Smart Map launch offers new approach in the battle against Britain's biggest cancer killer, UK

Main Category: Lung Cancer
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 31 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Smart Map launch offers new approach in the battle against Britain's biggest cancer killer, UK

Lung cancer patients can now check they are getting the best care available after the launch of a new interactive online map.

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF) announced the launch today of its Lung Cancer Smart Map, which shows patients how treatment in their area compares against government targets.

Dr Jesme Fox, Medical Director at the RCLCF said: "There may be many reasons why some areas aren't meeting national standards but the point of this map is to give patients the power to ask why.

"We hope that the Smart Map will encourage patients to work with their doctors in making sure they get the best care available."

Dr Michael Peake, Clinical Lead for the National Lung Cancer Audit (NLCA), said: "The Lung Cancer Smart Map is a great way to make our data on the quality and outcomes of lung cancer services across the UK easily available and easily understandable to the general public. Patients and their families have a right to know what information is 'out there' on the hospitals in which they might be treated and this map is an excellent example of how that can be achieved."

Public health minister Anna Soubry said: "This interactive cancer map is a great source of information which empowers lung cancer patients to make better informed choices about the care and treatment they receive.

"I'd like to commend the Foundation's commitment to diagnosing lung cancer earlier and identifying the best treatments available in order to save as many lives as possible."

Please click on the following link to view the map

The Smart Map includes the latest regional data from a range of measures recorded in the NLCA. It compares local real-world hospital data to the nationally recommended standards of care.[1] Hospitals have made consistent progress in treating lung cancer since the NLCA audit began in 2004 but there is still significant room for improvement and it's hoped that sharing this information will accelerate future positive change.

It is hoped that the Smart Map can also encourage improvements in timely referral from primary care. It includes local data from the National Cancer Intelligence Network's (NCIN) "Routes to Diagnosis" study which showed that lung cancer patients who are diagnosed via a managed referral rather than an emergency admission have improved outcomes.[2]

The development of the map was supported by Roche Products Ltd.

The National Lung Cancer Audit is the most comprehensive review of lung cancer services that has been undertaken in the UK. The latest published audit used data collected on 38,528 patients first seen in 2011 in Great Britain, representing approximately 93% of the expected number of new lung cancer cases. This is thought to represent almost all cases of lung cancer presenting to hospital.[1]

The audit, which began eight years ago, has helped drive improvements in care by providing hospital trusts with vital information about their performance and how they compare to others. The audit is managed by The NHS Information Centre in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians and is commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership.

The NCIN Routes to Diagnosis study examined the sequence of events leading to every cancer diagnosis made in England between 2006 and 2008.[3] The total number of lung cancer cases evaluated in this study over the three year period equates to 96,735. In the RCLCF Smart Map, lung cancer specific data from the study is grouped to show the percentage of diagnoses made via 'managed', 'emergency presentation' and 'other' routes. The 'managed' route encompasses patients who presented through the two week wait, GP referral, plus other outpatient and inpatient elective routes.

Lung cancer is Britain's biggest cancer killer with approximately 41,500 new cases diagnosed each year.[4] Of these patients, about 30% will survive a year and only about 8% will survive five years.[5],[6] Lung cancer kills almost 4,000 more women every year than breast cancer and accounts for more male cancer deaths than prostate, pancreatic and stomach cancer combined.[7]

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our lung cancer section for the latest news on this subject.

[1] National Lung Cancer Audit Report 2012

[2] National Cancer Intelligence Network. Routes to Diagnosis – NCIN Data Briefing (Last accessed May 2013)

[3] National Cancer Intelligence Network. Routes to Diagnosis, 2006-2008 (Last accessed May 2013)

[4] Cancer Research UK. Lung Cancer Incidence Statistics(Last accessed May 2013)

[5] Office of National Statistics. Cancer Survival in England - Patients Diagnosed 2005-2009 and Followed up to 2010 (Last accessed May 2013)

[6] Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Lung Cancer Facts and Figures (Last accessed May 2013)

[7] Cancer Research UK. Cancer mortality for common cancers (Last accessed May 2013)

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. "Smart Map launch offers new approach in the battle against Britain's biggest cancer killer, UK." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 31 Jul. 2013. Web.
31 Jul. 2013. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

'Smart Map launch offers new approach in the battle against Britain's biggest cancer killer, UK'

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New approach for studying deadly brain cancer

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 25 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
New approach for studying deadly brain cancer

Human glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most common, aggressive and deadly forms of brain cancer, is notoriously difficult to study. Scientists have traditionally studied cancer cells in petri dishes, which have none of the properties of the brain tissues in which these cancers grow, or in expensive animal models.

Now a team of engineers has developed a three-dimensional hydrogel that more closely mimics conditions in the brain. In a paper in the journal Biomaterials, the researchers describe the new material and their approach, which allows them to selectively tune up or down the malignancy of the cancer cells they study.

The new hydrogel is more versatile than other 3-D gels used for growing glioma (brain cancer) cells in part because it allows researchers to change individual parameters - the gel's stiffness, for example, or the presence of molecular signals that can influence cancer growth - while minimally altering its other characteristics, such as porosity.

Being able to adjust these traits individually will help researchers tease out important features associated with the initial growth of a tumor as well as its response to clinical therapies, said University of Illinois chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Brendan Harley, who led the study with postdoctoral researcher Sara Pedron and undergraduate student Eftalda Becka. Harley is an affiliate of the Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois.

The researchers found that they could increase or decrease the malignancy of glioma cells in their hydrogel simply by adding hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring carbohydrate found in many tissues, especially the brain.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a key component of the extracellular matrix that provides structural and chemical support to cells throughout the body. HA contributes to cell proliferation and cell migration, and local changes in HA levels have been implicated in tumor growth.

"Hyaluronic acid is one of the major building blocks in the brain," Harley said. "The structure of a newly forming brain tumor has some of this HA within it, but there's also a lot of the HA in the brain surrounding the tumor."

Previous studies have used hydrogels made out of nothing but hyaluronic acid to study gliomas, Harley said. "The problem there is that HA is structurally not very strong." It also is difficult to adjust the amount of HA that the glioma cells are exposed to if their environment is 100 percent HA, he said.

In the new study, Pedron observed how glioma cells behaved in two different hydrogels - one based on methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) and the other using a more conventional polyethylene glycol (PEG) biomaterial. These two materials vary in one important trait: GelMA is a naturally derived material that contains adhesive sites that allow cells to latch onto it; synthetic PEG does not.

"The purpose of having these two systems was to isolate the effect of HA on glioma cells," Pedron said. If changing HA levels produced different effects in different gels, that would indicate that the gels were contributing to those effects, she said.

Instead, Harley and Pedron found that additions of HA to glioma cells had "very similar" effects in both materials. Adding too little or too much HA led to reduced malignancy, while incorporating just enough HA led to significantly enhanced malignancy. This held true for multiple types of glioblastoma multiforme cells. This suggests that "it's the HA itself that is likely the cause for this malignant change," Harley said.

"If you have a material that allows you to selectively tune up or down malignancy, that will allow you to ask lots of questions about treatment methods for more malignant or less malignant forms of glioma. It also will allow scientists to try to get a response that's closer to what you see in the body," he said.

"If you talk to pathologists, they'll say a biomaterial will never allow you to grow a full brain tumor, which is probably true," Harley said. "But it's realistic to think that a well-designed biomaterial will allow you to study aspects of glioma growth and treatment in a way that's much richer than simply looking in a petri dish and much more accessible than trying to study tumor development within the brain itself."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our cancer / oncology section for the latest news on this subject.

The U. of I. department of chemical and biomolecular engineering, the Institute for Genomic Biology and the Campus Research Board supported this research.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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'New approach for studying deadly brain cancer'

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New idea and approach in the treatment of vascular dementia

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our alzheimer's / dementia section for the latest news on this subject.

Article: " A ginkgo biloba extract promotes proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in vascular dementia rats " by Jiwei Wang2, Wen Chen1, Yuliang Wang1 (1 Department of Physiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261042, Shandong Province, China; 2 School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China).

Wang JW, Chen W, Wang YL. A ginkgo biloba extract promotes proliferation of endogenous neural stem cells in vascular dementia rats. Neural Regen Res. 2013;8(18):1655-1662.

Full text: http://www.sjzsyj.org:8080/Jweb_sjzs/CN/article/downloadArticleFile.do?attachType=PDF&id=634

Neural Regeneration Research

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