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. . . supporting research that improves cancer survival.

 
Please contact us if you would like to contribute a news item. We are keen to publish more articles from UK-based research and findings that relate to microbial infections during therapy.

How Chinese medicine kills cancer cells

16/9/2016

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Researchers at the University of Adelaide have shown how a complex mix of plant compounds derived from ancient clinical practice in China - a Traditional Chinese Medicine - works to kill cancer cells.

Compound kushen injection (CKI) is approved for use in China to treat various cancer tumours, usually as an adjunct to western chemotherapy - but how it works has not been known. This study, published in the journal Oncotarget, is one of the first to characterise the molecular action of a Traditional Chinese Medicine rather than breaking it down to its constituent parts.

"Most Traditional Chinese Medicine are based on hundreds or thousands of years of experience with their use in China," says study leader, Professor David Adelson, Director of the Zhendong Australia - China Centre for the Molecular Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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"There is often plenty of evidence that these medicines have a therapeutic benefit, but there isn't the understanding of how or why. If we broke down and tested the components of many Traditional Chinese Medicines, we would find that individual compounds don't have much activity on their own. It's the combination of compounds which can be effective, and potentially means few side-effects as well."

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Study examines survival outcomes after different lung cancer staging methods

16/9/2016

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Accurate mediastinal nodal staging is crucial in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because it directs therapy and has prognostic value. Now researchers have examined five-year survival after endosonography vs mediastinoscopy for mediastinal nodal staging of lung cancer.

Accurate mediastinal nodal staging is crucial in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) because it directs therapy and has prognostic value. The Assessment of Surgical Staging vs Endosonographic Ultrasound in Lung Cancer (ASTER) trial compared mediastinoscopy (surgical staging) with an endosonographic staging strategy (which combined the use of endobronchial and transesophageal ultrasound followed by mediastinoscopy if negative). The endosonographic strategy was significantly more sensitive for diagnosing mediastinal nodal metastases than surgical staging (94 percent endosonographic strategy vs 79 percent surgical strategy). If mediastinal staging is improved, more patients should receive optimal treatment and might survive longer.
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This analysis evaluated survival in ASTER. Of 241 patients with potentially resectable NSCLC, 123 were randomized to endosonographic staging and 118 to surgical staging in 4 tertiary referral centers. Survival data were obtained through patient records, death registers, or contact with general practitioners. Survival data at 5 years were obtained for 237 of 241 patients. The prevalence of mediastinal nodal metastases was 54 percent in the endosonographic strategy group and 44 percent in the surgical strategy group. Survival at 5 years was 35 percent for the endosonographic strategy vs 35 percent for the surgical strategy. The estimated median survival was 31 months for the endosonographic strategy vs 33 months for the surgical strategy.

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Cancer patients not getting adequate pain relief

16/9/2016

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Many terminal cancer patients are not getting adequate pain relief early enough, according to an English study. The researchers found that, on average, terminal cancer patients were given their first dose of a strong opioid such as morphine just nine weeks before their death.

Researchers at Leeds University found that, on average, terminal cancer patients were given their first dose of a strong opioid such as morphine just nine weeks before their death. Yet many people with terminal cancer suffer with pain a long time before that, the researchers said.

"We have identified for the first time the relatively late onset and short duration of strong opioid treatment in cancer patients prior to death," said lead study author Dr Lucy Ziegler, a senior research fellow in palliative care at the University of Leeds.
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"This pattern of prescribing does not match population data which points to earlier onset of pain. Nine weeks before death is considered late in the course of the cancer trajectory. Although the prevalence of pain is higher in patients with advanced cancer and towards the end of life, for many patients pain is experienced at many stages throughout the illness. In fact, pain is the most common presenting symptom at diagnosis. Our research highlights the need to prioritise earlier access to effective pain management for patients with advanced cancer."

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    This feed features recent developments in cancer therapy and palliative care. Views in these articles do not necessarily represent those of the Cancer Management Society.

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