ER+ Breast Cancer Treatment

Researchers have discovered a new way of treating the ER positive breast cancer. Assuming that tumor cells are heterogeneous, scientists were able to create cellular models that are very similar to ER positive breast cancer. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

ER positive breast cancer means that the tumor is composed of cells that have receptors for estrogen. ER positive breast cancer develops in response to estrogen action. In other words, this type of breast cancer may respond to hormone therapy,  that is by blocking of estrogen receptors. But not all breast cancers respond to hormone therapy because the tumor is composed of heterogeneous cells. Researchers have used in the study samples of human breast cancer tissue taken after surgery,  then they implanted this tissue to animals models. The samples have maintained their heterogeneity even after implantation in animal models.

ER + Breast Cancer

Breast cancer can be estrogen or progesterone receptor positive, HER2-positive, triple positive (ie positive estrogen receptors, progesterone and HER2) or triple negative (no receptors for estrogen, progesterone or HER2).
Researchers’ hypothesis was that ER positive tumor is not composed only of ER positive cells. Tumor cells may have other types of cells, besides the ER positive, that have other mechanisms of action. Therefore, experiments on cellular models that test drugs have better outcomes than when drugs are administered to human models. Moreover, administration of estrogen receptors blockers leads to cell damage but does not destroy  ER negative cells, which in time become the dominant type of cells. Therefore, these cells are ER negative and more difficult to deal with.

Carol Sartorius, PhD, investigator at the CU Cancer Center, associate professor at the CU School of Medicine, and the paper’s senior author, says the solution is that the drugs target these unique features of the tumor. By using cellular models which are similar to human models, researchers can test the accuracy of new drugs used to treat ER positive breast cancer.

In terms of hormone therapy, it is usually given, after removal (surgery) or after tumor destruction (with chemotherapy or radiotherapy) to kill tumor cells left or to prevent relapse. Of the drugs used during the endocrine therapy, the most common are tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Tamoxifen is an estrogen receptor antagonist, while aromatase inhibitors inhibit the synthesis of estrogen hormones. It should be noted however that aromatase inhibitors are effective only in post-menopausal women.

Samsung Galaxy S3

Little over one month ago,the Samsung Galaxy S3 has hit the market. It was no surprise that it gained only positive reviews from specialists, becoming in such little time a must have for many smartphone enthusiasts. The Samung Galaxy S3 demand managed to overcome its producers production capability very little after the official release date on June 21. Samsung’s newest smartphone was available for buying from 5 major United States carries ( AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and US Cellular) by the 12th of July.  If there is any Android powered smartphone that we can state it came close to compete with Apple iPhone up to this day, it would defenetly be the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Looking at these success facts, there is no surprise that companies like Chitika Insights performed a study in order to find out how exactly is the new Samsung Galaxy S3 performing compared with its older brothers. In order to interpret the study results, the company conducted a user agent analysis on nearly hundred of millions of advertisement impressions, on a six-week interval that stretched between June 18 and August 5. Looking at the chart below you can clearly observe the rise in web traffic coming from the Samsung Galaxy S3 since the day it was released to the public.

Samsung Galaxy S3

Now, if we analyze the data, we can see that the Samsung Galaxy S3 usage has increased constantly since it was first presented to the public in June, already accounting for about 12% of all the Samsung smartphone web utilization. Another interesting fact is that the Galaxy S3 has rapidly overtaken the Galaxy Nexus and it is right behind older Samsung Galaxy S devices. Although the web usage growth is not quite as steep as the sales, the guys at Chitika are expecting a linear with holiday spikes  growth. Bottom line, continuous growth is also needed by Samsung and major smartphone producers but the ultimate goal would be competing with iPhone or even beating it. From Chitika point of view, at the end of 2012 the Galaxy S3 will be on top of all Android powered devices when it comes to sales. Many folks are bewitched by the Samsung Galaxy S 3 impressive specs that include a 1280×720 Super AMOLED screen, 2GB of random access memory and generous 21000mAh battery that  far outweigh the iPhone 4S’s. But despite those big differences the Apple iPhone remains very popular , as you can see in the usage shares presented below that compare the two rivals.

Apple vs Samsung web share

As you can see, despite its huge sales, Samsung is still very far behind Apple when it comes to mobile phone internet usage. Personally I am very curious how will this chart will look like  after the new iPhone 5  will be released. What is your opinion?

HTC Is Working On A 5-inch 1080p Display Phone

Do you consider a 720p display panel not satisfactory for you? That is OK, because HTC is hard at work in squeezing a Full HD resolution into its next generation of smartphones, a device that will probably pack a 5 inch display according to DigiTimes. The new HTC model will be unveiled in Octomber, or if we are lucky in late September. This kind of rather peculiar information that comes like I stated before from DigiTimes, is citing a strange resolution, to be more exact 1794×1080, which in fact may be a whole panel of 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution.

Although we tend not to believe rumors released by DigiTimes, as they tend to have a past with poor device specs predictions, this time there seems to be some collaboration for this roumor regarding the new HTC device with a GLBBenchmark result that confirms the resolution (also confirms Andoroid as the Operating System) from July this year. In that particular benchmark you will be also very pleased to find a Qualcomm’s MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 SoC that is accompanied by Adreno 320 graphics. Clocked at an impression 1,5 GHz, this chipset will manage to highlight all the best from the new 1080p HTC speculated display panel while also continuing the tradition of HTC inovation leadership when it comes to Android powered handsets.

HTC usually renews its handset offer twice each year, and as we are accustomed the update in the autum being not so aggressive as the one we usually see in the springtime. If this is the case, this new HTC with a new display panel is the main plan of the company for the next year to start showing some good profit after suffering in the past trimesters.

Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer (malignant tumors) occurs mainly in people aged between 50 and 70 years, and it is three times more common in men than women. From histopathological point of view it comes in two forms: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The risk of squamous cell carcinoma is related to chronic alcohol consumption, smoking, presence of hereditary disorders characterized by hyperkeratosis of palms and feet, ingestion of caustic substances, the existence of other cranio-cervical cancers. The squamous cell carcinoma histological type is more common in black people. The other histological type – adenocarcinoma – is more common in the Caucasian population (whites) and originates from mucosal and submucosal glands of the esophagus.

Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignancies of the digestive tract, on the 4th place after gastric cancer, colon cancer and rectal cancer. Esophageal cancer marked characteristic is axial extension both in-depth and in surface and its very difficult treatment. As an aside, I wish to make known some of the differences between malignant tumors (neoplasms, cancers) and benign tumors. Benign tumors are well-defined, grow slower, and sometimes push neighboring formations. Malignant tumors are poorly defined, grow faster, invade neighboring tissues and metastasize to locoregional and distant sites. Metastasis is the detachment of cancer cells from the tumor “parent” cells entering the circulatory torrent, lymph nodes and other organs.

Esophageal Cancer Risk Factors

Risk Factors for esophageal cancer are: prolongued esophagitis, esophageal diverticula, stenosis scar, therapeutic irradiation of a preexisting thyroid cancer. Some chronic irritation of the esophageal mucosa by mechanical, chemical and toxic substances, too hot beverages , excessive ingestion of  incomplete chewed food bowls were also incriminated in the development of cancer of the esophagus. Chronic esophagitis conditions can not be considered precancerous, but rather states that are potentially carcinogenic.

Esophageal Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms of esophageal cancer are dominated by esophageal syndrome secondary  to esophageal  stenosis (esophageal lumen size reduction due to the tumor volume). The first sign is dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) that starts with solid foods and liquids afterwards. Sometimes, dysphagia may disappear for a while, if the tumor ulcerated. In cancers located in the upper esophagus, the patient feels pain when swallowing. Tumor extension into the lower esophagus translates into a constant retrosternal or back pain. In upper esophageal cancer that involves the vagus nerve, salivary hypersecretion occurs. Regurgitation may be present and fetid halitosis (bad smelling breath ). By extension of the tumor to the recurrent laryngeal nerve hoarseness occurs through by cervical sympathetic irritation.  Claude-Bernard-Horner syndrome can occur and it is characterized by decreasing pupil, abnormal clogging eyeballs in their sockets and falling eyelids. In general, form the first suggestive clinical signs to diagnosis about 5-6 months are lost.

The diagnosis should not be delayed until clinical signs are well-defined, because most likely at this time the tumor is already in an advanced stage. It is recommended in the presence of swallowing disorder quite small in appearance, such as a sensation behind the sternum after the ingestion of solid foods that are too cold or too hot or a sensation of bowel that gives off spontaneously or after the patient drinks a glass of water, especially to a man in his 40s, to require Barium examination of the esophagus and stomach, to confirm or rule out cancer.

Regurgitations are in small quantities, possibly with bloody grooves. The condition of the patient declines quite rapidly and deeply, becoming pale, anemic and weak. Patients lose weight, about 15-20 kg in a few months by lack of appetite and cancerous intoxication. The pain is a late symptom and it is caused by the passage of food through the esophagus, ulcers and nerve involvement

Left Untreated Heartburn Riases Cancer Risk

Researchers warn that one of the risk factors for cancer of the esophagus is gastroesophageal reflux disease. Esophageal cancer is one of the most common digestive cancers (third order), and its incidence has increased over the past 20 years about 6 times, according to a team from the University of California, Los Angeles. The  high rate of mortality is very high because symptoms that send patients to the doctor appear quite late when the cancer is already in an advanced stage. Another cause of high mortality rate is caused by cases of  quickly metastasized esophageal cancer.

Researchers point out the fact that esophageal cancer may still be prevented by timely treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. In gastroesophageal reflux disease, the lower esophageal sphincter does not function properly, and the acid from the stomach reaches the esophagus and   damages the esophageal lining at this level. A hiatal hernia or obesity result in  sphincter dysfunction . Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, like heartburn (burning) or acid regurgitation, should be treated in time in order to avoid complications. Treatment of gastroesophageal relux disease is based on antisecretory medication like proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole ) or histamine H2 receptor antagonists (ranitidine). For treatment to be effective, proton pump inhibitors should be administered in the morning.  Antireflux surgery is recommended to patients when the drug therapy has no effect.

Esophageal Reflux Disease

One of the main complications of gastroesophageal reflux disease is Barrett’s esophagus, characterized by the appearance of islands of intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus. Gastroesofagian reflux disease is a risk factor for esophageal cancer in that it can cause Barrett’s esophagus, but it is also an independent risk factor.

Researchers offer several tips for patients with gastroesophageal reflux. Losing weight and food consumption  help relieve acid reflux symptoms. Obesity causes reflux disease due to a decrease in lower esophageal sphincter pressure. Another tip would be that all patients that  start having heartburn to go see a doctor. Avoiding smoking, fat, caffeine and alcohol help relieve symptoms of heartburn. Also, certain medications such as nitrates or calcium blockers, can cause acid reflux.

One should know that esophageal cancer is divided mainly in epithelial and non-epithelial tumors. Epithelial tumors are squamous cell cancer, adenocarcinoma and esogastric junction adenocarcinoma. It is also important to remember that risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma are not identical. For example, smoking and alcohol are major risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma, while the main factors for adenocarcinoma is Barrett’s esophagus, reflux disease and obesity.

Radical Prostatectomy

According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, there are no significant differences in terms of mortality in patients treated by radical prostatectomy compared with just observation. The study, led by Timothy J. Wilt, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine in Minneapolis, was conducted on 731 men with localized prostate cancer patients and follow-up lasted about 10 years. Selection of the patients took into account primarily the tumor stage (T1, T2N0M0, that is without ganglionic invasion or distant metastases), age (which was more than 75 years), and the PSA value (which was than 50 ng per milliter).

Prostate Cancer

The 731 patients were divided randomly into two groups: first group (364 men) underwent radical prostatectomy, while the second (367) was assigned to observation. What investigators found was that the mortality rate was 47% in the first group and about 49% in the second group. So there were no significant differences in terms of mortality rate in both groups. Also, 21% of men had adverse effects operate in the first 30 days after surgery, including a case of death. Bone metastases occurred in 4.7% of patients assigned to radical prostatectomy and 10.6% of men undergoing observation.

Prostate cancer is the sixth leading cause of death induced by cancer in men. Prostate cancer can be asymptomatic or have symptoms similar to benign prostatic hyperplasia, for example difficulty in urinating(dysuria), nocturia (urination at night), possibly hematuria. In advanced stages metastases occur most often in bones (vertebrae, femur, hip bones, ribs, etc.) and lymph node. Bone metastases are usually manifested by pain or compressive phenomena, which, if vertebrae are interested, can lead to fecal or urinary incontinence or other neurological manifestations. It should be reminded also the general symptoms that usually occur in any type of cancer: weight loss, anorexia, asthenia.

There are many factors involved in prostate cancer: heredity, testosterone, sexually transmitted infections. Also, it seems that obesity, high fat diet, smoking are risk factors for prostate cancer.Prostate cancer treatment consists of surgery (prostatectomy), radiotherapy, chemotherapy, cryotherapy and hormonal therapy. Recently, the FDA approved a vaccine (sipuleucel-T) for the treatment of prostate cancer resistant to hormone therapy. It seems that the vaccine increases survival in these patients.It is recommended that all men over 40 screening perform tests for prostate cancer: rectal examination and PSA measurement. The latter is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate specific antigen, a protein released by prostate blood. However,  PSA is not elevated only in prostate cancer but also in prostate infection or inflammation.

Malignant Melanoma Growth Inhibited By Interleukin 9

Researchers made a significant discovery that targets malignant melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer. It seems that this form of cancer growth is inhibited by interleukin-9, a cell signaling molecule.

Interleukin 9 is a cytokine produced by CD4 helper T lymphocytes and is involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis (cell programmed death). According to a study led by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH),  IL-9 could play a great role in melanoma therapy. The finding been made working with laboratory mice. The team, led by Thomas S. Küpper, MD, chair of the BWH Department of Dermatology, and Rahul Purwar, PhD, found that mice resistant to this form of cancer had high levels of interleukin 9. They also have observed that blocking TH17 (T helper 17) cell pathway leads to inhibition of tumor growth. Also, researchers treated melanoma-bearing mice with T helper cell 9 (cells responsible for producing interleukin-9) and found that they are resistant to melanoma growth. Küpper mentioned that: “Immunotherapy of cancer is coming of age, and there have been exciting recent results in patients with melanoma treated with drugs that stimulate the immune system.”

The connection between interleukin 9 and melanoma has been highlighted also in humans. Thus, it was found that melanoma patients have very low levels of IL-9. This finding is promising and may be the future therapy of malignant melanoma.

Skin Melanoma

Melanoma is a type of cancer of the melanocytes, cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives skin color. Although it is classified as a skin cancer, melanoma can occur in any site of body where melanocytes exist, including the intestine or in the eye (uveal melanoma). Sun exposure is a risk factor, as well as family history or presence of moles on the skin. Prognosis varies by histologic type (eg, mucosal melanoma has a worse prognosis) and disease stage. Of course, patients with metastases have a poor prognosis.

Melanoma is the leading cause of death among skin cancers. Treatment consists mainly of surgical resection with oncological safety margins and adjuvant therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, interferon, radiation therapy). It is important to remember that melanoma is curable when diagnosed early. In terms of early detection of this type of cancer, a formula to help recognize malignant characters exists: ABCD, ie Asymmetrical lesion of the skin;  Border of the lesion is irregular; Color: usually melanomas have multiple colors; Diameter: moles greater than 6 mm are more likely to be melanomas; Enlarging: enlarging or evolving.

Thrombosis

esearchers at the Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research (ICMR) at the University of Reading, have discovered the mechanism by which platelets bind together to form blood clots. This discovery, they say, can lay the foundation for new treatments to prevent stroke or heart attacks.

In healthy people, blood is always in a physiological fluid-coagulant equilibrium. In other words, when the endothelium is damaged, platelets and fibrinogen  form a network plug that repair the defect and the bleeding stops. Then the network of fibrin is lysed and the blood vessel is recanalized. This process occurs continuously in the body. In certain diseases or conditions such hypercoagulability or atrial fibrillation, platelets aggregate together to form a thrombus that may obstruct imporant blood vessels. What researchers found is how platelets communicate with each other. It seems that platelets are interconnected by gap junctions, some pore-like structures. ‘Gap junction’ is a common type of connection to other cells, such as myocardial cells or neurons. Gap junctions are a special type of connection that  interconnects the cytoplasm of two cells.

Thrombosis

Professor Jonathan Gibbins and Dr. Sakthivel Vaiyapuri, said: “This appears to be a very important communication mechanism for blood clotting and thrombosis”. He added that by blocking those channels involved in the formation of junctions thrombosis can be reduced. The new discovery may be a target  in antithrombotic therapy.

Currently, stroke is prevented by oral anticoagulant medication (warfarin) which inhibits the synthesis of coagulation factors dependent on vitamin K. This medication has several drawbacks. On the one hand, and patient dose should be adjusted by measuring the INR (International Normalised Ratio), on the other hand, there are plenty of side effects. Oral anticoagulants can cause bleeding and give drug interactions. It is important to note that the risk of bleeding is significantly increased when combined with anticoagulants such as clopidogrel antiplatelet or aspirin. In addition to this, anticoagulants are prohibited during pregnancy.

Anticoagulant medication is commonly prescribed in patients with cardiovascular disorders. Oral anticoagulants are prescribed long-term in patients with atrial fibrillation to prevent thromboembolic accidents. Because atria no longer contract, blood tends to clot and the formed thrombi can migrate into circulation and stroke can occur. Also, patients with metal valves need to follow long-term treatment with oral anticoagulants to prevent thrombosis.
Understanding the mechanisms underlying thrombosis may be a target for discovery of new anticoagulants. Dr. Vaiyapuri notes that this discovery is exciting even if their work is still not complete.

Vaccine May Extend The Lives Of Patients With Brain Cancer

New advances have been made to treat an aggressive form of brain tumor. The vaccine, which passed the phase 2 clinical trial, may extend lives of patients suffering from glioblastoma multiforme. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is part of astrocitic tumors and is an aggressive form of cancer arising from nervous system glial cell proliferation. These tumors are infiltrative tumors and are poorly defined  from surrounding tissue. Glioblastoma multiforme is usually located in the cerebral hemispheres (frontal lobe, parietal, temporal, occipital more rare). The prognosis of this type of cancer is poor, the average survival being 14 months. Very few patients survive five years after diagnosis as relapses are very common. So, finding a treatment to prolong patients’ lives is extremely valuable.

Brain Cancer

Researchers have shown that the vaccine, using tumor tissue from the patient, can prolong survival by several months. After trials, it was found that vaccinated patients had a survival time of 47 weeks compared with other patients (who received standard treatment) who had a survival time of 32 weeks. Moreover, more patients who were vaccinated survived more than a year. The study was a multicentre and was conducted at UCSF Helen Diller Family’s Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at Case Medical Center in Cleveland and at New York-Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. Neurosurgeon Andrew Paris, MD, PhD, who led the research, says these results are promising and  hopes that by combining the vaccine with other forms of therapy to extend lives of patients and more. The next step is to evaluate the efficacy of this vaccine with Avastin (bevacizumab), standard therapy in this cancer.

The mechanism behind cancer vaccines is similar to that used to prevent infection. By injecting pure antigens or cancer cells in the body triggers an immune response designed to destroy the tumor. Tumor cells are taken from the patient during surgery, then they are processed in the laboratory and eventually injected to the patient. Cancer vaccines are actually a form of active immunotherapy because it causes immune response to attack cancer cells. The first cancer vaccine was that  to treat prostate cancer, which was approved by the FDA in 2010.
Vaccine to treat glioblastoma multiforme is autologous, which means it is composed of dead cancer cells taken from the patient. TIn other words,  it is unique to each patient.
The current treatment for glioblastoma multiforme is multimodal. Patients have first surgery, then they follow a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, angiogenic therapy, gamma knife radiosurgery and  corticosteroids.

Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center, have made new discoveries in the treatment of an aggressive forms of leukemia, acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia.  The study, which was published in the online edition of Cancer Cell, demonstrates the role of two molecules, phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) gamma and delta, involved in the development of acute lymphoblastic T-cell leukemia (T-ALL).

The new discovery by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center, can provide new therapeutic target for leukemia treatment. If researchers manage to develop a drug to acts only on the blasts, they will be able to reduce the toxicity of current treatment for leukemia, which consists of a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, corticosteroids and growth factors. Study leader Diacovo Thomas, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and pathology and cell biology at CUMC, said the dual PI3K gamma / delta inhibitor is already highly effective against this type of cancer in mice models.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

In studies on rats, Dr. Diacovo and his team, led by Dr. Subramaniam showed that administration of CAL-130, an experimental inhibitor of PI3K gamma and delta, reduces the number of blasts. Moreover in blood samples taken from patients with leukemia, CAL-130 prevented the proliferation of lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the white blood cells, characterized by excessive production of lymphoblasts. These cancer cells produced in excess by the bone marrow infiltrate other organs and can cause death. The disease is common in young children, with a maximum occurrence in the range of 2-5 years. Symptoms and signs of acute lymphoblastic leukemia include weakness, fatigue, fever, infections, anemia, weight loss, bruising, petechiae, dyspnea. It also may occur with symptoms related to organ infiltration of blasts (immature cells, young, produced in excess), such as joint or bone pain, splenomegaly (enlarged spleen). This type of leukemia occurs through mutations in DNA from exposure to radiation or chemicals. Moreover, studies have shown the connection between the victims of attacks of Hiroshima and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Some also believe that this type of leukemia can be caused by exposure to certain chemicals present at workplace, such as benzene and certain pesticides or herbicides. Another cause of leukemia, but secondary, is related to the treatment of cancer.

Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia currently consists of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, corticosteroids, growth factors, but most times leukemia patients receive combined therapy. What is particularly in acute lymphoblastic leukemia is its resistance to treatment and the average 25% relapse cases.