http://medicineworld.org/cancer/colon/colon-cancer-blog.html Colon cancer blog from medicineworld.org adds a personal touch to the stories related to colon cancer. This colon cancer blog brings you stories of hope, stories of survivors and latest news and research related to colon cancer. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT en-us http://medicineworld.org/images/blogs/colon-cancer.jpg http://medicineworld.org/cancer/colon/colon-cancer-blog.html 128 90 http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/1-2009/hormone-therapy-and-colorectal-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/1-2009/hormone-therapy-and-colorectal-cancer.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT The combination of estrogen plus progestin, which women stopped taking in droves following the news that it may increase their risk of breast cancer, may decrease their risk of colorectal cancer, as per a report reported in the recent issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/12-2008/predicting-metastasis-from-colon-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/12-2008/predicting-metastasis-from-colon-cancer.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT Cancer Scientists at the Max Delbrck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch and the Charit Universitts Medizin Berlin (Gera number of) have identified a gene which enables them to predict for the first time with high probability if colon cancer is going to metastasize. Assistant Professor Dr. Ulrike Stein, Professor Peter M. Schlag, and Professor Walter Birchmeier were able to demonstrate that the gene MACC1 (Metastasis-Associated in Colon Cancer 1) not only promotes tumor growth but also the development of metastasis.When MACC1 gene activity is low, the life expectancy of colon cancer patients is longer compared to patients with high MACC1 levels. (Nature Medicine, doi: 10.1038/nm.1889)*........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/12-2008/a-qualified-endoscopist-for-your-colonoscopy.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/12-2008/a-qualified-endoscopist-for-your-colonoscopy.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT A study released recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine observed that colonoscopy is linked to lower death rates from colorectal cancer, however, the procedure missed lesions more often on the right side of the colon versus the left side. The study highlights the importance of seeking a qualified gastrointestinal endoscopist to perform a thorough colonoscopy and that patients must take the bowel prep as directed by their doctor allowing for a clear view of the colon to detect lesions. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), representing the specialists in colorectal cancer screening, recommends that patients seek out an expertly-trained gastrointestinal endoscopist to perform a colonoscopy and to ask questions about their qualifications before the procedure........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/12-2008/smoking-and-colorectal-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/12-2008/smoking-and-colorectal-cancer.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT An analysis of prior studies indicates that smoking is significantly linked to an increased risk for colorectal cancer and death, as per an article in the December 17 issue of JAMA Eventhough tobacco was responsible for approximately 5.4 million deaths in 2005, there are still an estimated 1.3 billion smokers in the world. While many cancers are attributable to smoking, the link between cigarette smoking and colorectal cancer (CRC) has been inconsistent among studies. "Because smoking can potentially be controlled by individual and population-related measures, detecting a link between CRC and smoking could help reduce the burden of the world's third most common tumor, which currently causes more than 500,000 annual deaths worldwide. In the United States alone, an estimate of approximately 50,000 deaths from CRC would have occurred in 2008," the authors write........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/12-2008/racial-gap-growing-in-colorectal-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/12-2008/racial-gap-growing-in-colorectal-cancer.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT A new report from the American Cancer Society says despite unprecedented progress in reducing incidence and death rates from colorectal cancer, the gap between blacks and whites continues to grow. The latest data show death rates are about 45 percent higher in African American men and women than in whites. The data come from Colorectal Cancer Facts and Figures 2008-2010, the second edition of a report first issued in 2005........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/11-2008/encouraged-by-drop-in-colorectal-cancer-deaths.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/11-2008/encouraged-by-drop-in-colorectal-cancer-deaths.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) heralds the recent news of a decline in U.S. cancer deaths and incidence rates, with colorectal cancer among the top three cancers with significant declines. ASGE, representing the specialists in colorectal cancer screening, is excited by the report showing that colorectal cancer deaths among men and women dropped 4.3 percent per year between 2002 and 2005. The incidence rate for colorectal cancer (the rate at which new cancers are diagnosed) dropped 2.8 percent per year among men and dropped 2.2 percent per year among women between 1998 and 2005........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/11-2008/genomic-signature-of-colon-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/11-2008/genomic-signature-of-colon-cancer.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT Scientists in the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy have developed a model for predicting risk of recurrence in early stage patients with colon cancer, and have used the model to also predict sensitivity to chemotherapy and targeted treatment regimens. "These findings have important implications for individualizing treatment," said Katherine Garman, M.D., a gastroenterology fellow at Duke and lead investigator on the study. "By examining gene expression in early-stage colon cancer tumors, we have found certain patterns that seem to put some patients at higher risk for recurrence. By identifying these patients up front, we may be able to treat them in a targeted and proactive manner to prevent this recurrence and help them live longer and healthier lives"........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/11-2008/screening-for-colorectal-cancer-detects.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/11-2008/screening-for-colorectal-cancer-detects.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT Screening for colorectal cancer detects four out of ten cancers and should be carefully designed to be more effective, as per a research studypublished recently on bmj.com. About one in 20 people in the UK develop bowel cancer during their lifetime. It is the third most common cancer in the UK and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Europe and the US........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/10-2008/gene-expression-for-advanced-bowel-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/10-2008/gene-expression-for-advanced-bowel-cancer.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT Research by researchers in France has demonstrated for the first time that identifying patterns of gene expression can be used to predict response to therapy in patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer. Dr Maguy Del Rio, a scientist at the Institut de Recherche en Cancrologie de Montpellier (Montpellier, France), presented a study to the 20th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Geneva today (Wednesday) [1] in which she and her team had identified an 11-gene signature that could be used to separate those patients who would respond to a particular chemotherapy (FOLFIRI leucovorin, fluorouracil and irinotecan) from those who would not. FOLFIRI is one of the most usually used, first-line therapys for metastatic colorectal cancer........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/10-2008/stool-dna-testing-for-colorectal-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/10-2008/stool-dna-testing-for-colorectal-cancer.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT The first generation of a stool DNA test to identify early colorectal cancer has limitations, as per a Mayo Clinic-led study reported in the Oct. 7, 2008, issue of Annals of Internal Medicine Results did not corroborate findings of an earlier multicenter study that showed stool DNA testing was more accurate than fecal blood testing for colorectal cancer detection. *........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/10-2008/colonoscopy-reduces-colorectal-cancer.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/10-2008/colonoscopy-reduces-colorectal-cancer.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT Patients who undergo a complete negative colonoscopy have a reduced occurence rate of colorectal cancer, confirms a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology However, in the proximal colon, the incidence reduction of colorectal cancer following complete negative colonoscopy differs in magnitude and timing. The reduction of colorectal cancer is observed in about half of the 14 follow-up years and for the most part occurs after just seven years of follow-up. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology is the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/10-2008/breakthrough-optical-technology.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/10-2008/breakthrough-optical-technology.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT Scientists at NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) and Northwestern University have discovered that fiber optic technology can for the very first time effectively measure blood levels in the colonic lining (mucosa) in humans, thus having potential applications for analyzing risk of colon cancer........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/9-2008/cancer-causing-gene-in-many-colon-cancers.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/9-2008/cancer-causing-gene-in-many-colon-cancers.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT Demonstrating that despite the large number of cancer-causing genes already identified, a number of more remain to be found, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have linked a previously unsuspected gene, CDK8, to colon cancer. The discovery of CDK8's role in cancer was made possible by new tools for assessing the activity of specific genes, say the authors of the new study. As these tools are further improved, the stream of newly discovered cancer genes is expected to increase, providing new avenues for treatment, the authors suggest. The findings are being published as an advanced online publication by the journal Nature on Sept. 14........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/9-2008/early-stage-colon-cancer-and-gatekeeper-gene.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/9-2008/early-stage-colon-cancer-and-gatekeeper-gene.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT The absence or inactivation of the RUNX3 gatekeeper gene paves the way for the growth and development of colon cancer, Singapore researchers report in the Sept. issue of the journal Cancer Cell Prior studies have shown that RUNX3 plays a role in gastric, breast, lung and bladder cancers. The inactivation of RUNX3 occurs at a very early stage of colon cancer, as per the Singapore scientists' studies with human tissue samples and animal models........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/9-2008/colorectal-cancer-screening-should-start-at-age-50.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/9-2008/colorectal-cancer-screening-should-start-at-age-50.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT Colorectal adenomas, the precursor polyps in virtually all colorectal cancers, occur infrequently in younger adults, but the rate sharply increases after age 50. Additionally, African Americans have a higher rate of proximal, or right-sided, polyps, and may have a worse prognosis for survival if the polyps become malignant. Therefore, the results of this study further emphasize the importance of colonoscopies, which view the entire colon, for the prevention of colorectal cancer beginning at age 50. The results of this study, which represents the largest investigation, by several-fold, of this kind, were published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute........ ]]> http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/7-2008/colorectal-cancer-screening-rates-still-too-low.html http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lead/7-2008/colorectal-cancer-screening-rates-still-too-low.html Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:11:40 GMT Eventhough colorectal cancer screening tests are proven to reduce colorectal cancer mortality, only about half of U.S. men and women 50 and older receive the recommended tests, as per a report in the July 2008 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research........ ]]>