"Poliovirus kills off cancer cells, stops tumor regrowth"

Via Reddit: Researchers from Duke University in Durham, NC, may have discovered a new way of killing off cancer cells.

The new research - which is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine - shows how a modified poliovirus enables the body to use its own resources to fight off cancer. The modified virus bears the name of recombinant oncolytic poliovirus (PVS-RIPO).

PVS-RIPO has been in clinical trials since 2011 and preliminary results have offered hope to patients with one of the most aggressive forms of brain tumor: recurrent glioblastoma. So, the researchers set out to investigate more deeply how exactly PVS-RIPO works.

The researchers examined the behavior of the poliovirus in two human cell lines: melanoma and triple-negative breast cancer. They observed that the poliovirus attaches itself to cancerous cells. These cells have an excess of the CD155 protein, which acts as a receptor for the poliovirus.

Then, the poliovirus starts to attack the malignant cells, triggering the release of antigens from the tumor. Antigens are toxic substances that the body does not recognize, therefore setting off an immune attack against them.

So, when the tumor cells release antigens, this alerts the body's immune system to start attacking. At the same time, the poliovirus infects the dendritic cells and macrophages.

(Link to more)

"Alternative Medicine Kills Cancer Patients, Study Finds"

Via Reddit:  A team of scientists from Yale University perused the National Cancer Database, a collection of 34 million records of cancer patients along with their treatments and outcomes, to identify patients who elected to forgo conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery in favor of alternative medicine. They found 280 subjects diagnosed with cancer in 2004 who used alternative medicine and matched them with 560 control subjects who received conventional treatment. The researchers then tracked subjects' outcomes over time.

After five years, 78.3% of subjects who received conventional treatments were still alive, compared to only 54.7% of subjects who used alternative medicine. Even more startling, breast cancer patients who used alternative medicine were five times more likely to die. Colorectal cancer patients were four times more likely to die. Lung cancer patients were twice as likely to die. Prostate cancer patients were also more likely to die, though the difference did not reach statistical significance.

The researchers could not specifically identify which alternative medicines subjects were using, although there shouldn't be much variation between therapies, since, by definition, there isn't convincing evidence that any alternative medicine is effective.

Proponents of alternative medicine often innocently ask, "What's the harm?" For cancer patients who opt for treatment with alternative medicine, the harm is death.

(Link to source)

British star with cancer receiving gene therapy based on Chinese ancestry

"“In short, I had originally been told, that the only option available to me was 6 rounds of palliative chemotherapy,” [Leah Bracknell] continued. “We asked about trials, and was told NO, that it was unlikely I’d be eligible. We asked about targeted therapy and were told compatibility rates are low, less than 10% and usually it is female, non-smokers who are Asian.

“But thanks to my extremely Chinese mother, I hoped that perhaps this could give me a break, a chance, a lifeline, a glimmer of hope.

“I recently received the news that we had all been praying for: the biopsy revealed a match for the EGFR mutation, and I was able to start on targeted biological therapy, here in the UK on the NHS a couple of weeks ago. You take it daily as a tablet, it works by targeting the cancer cells directly, so the rest of the body and immune system is less compromised, and side effects are considerably eased in the majority of cases.”"

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/emmerdale-leah-bracknell-terminal-cancer_uk_58493b98e4b0a754873948a5

"Cancer ISN'T all in your genes"

"Up to 90% of cases 'could be wiped out by avoiding triggers caused by our unhealthy lifestyles'"

They said that factors in the world around us, from diet, to sunlight, cigarettes and disease, play a far bigger role in fuelling cancer than dodgy DNA.

While the advice may not seem surprising, scientists are divided about how much cancer is caused by what we do and how much is unavoidable.

The latest study involved four analyses of the causes of cancer and used some of the same data as the first piece of research.

However, it came to the opposite conclusion, suggesting that cancer incidence is far too high to be explained by simple mutations in cell division alone.

They said that, if random mutations were to blame, there would be far fewer cases of cancer than there are.

Bacon is now cancer causing?

"Halloween week kicked off with big scary news from the World Health Organization: Processed meat is now in the same category of carcinogens as cigarettes . . .
. . . and sunshine."

The IARC says it is now classifying processed meat as a Class One carcinogen (known to cause cancer) and all red meat as Class Two carcinogens (likely to cause cancer). Wait, don’t place that bulk order of lentils just yet. “Causes cancer” is not the same as “will give you cancer.”

But don't worry, it's now safe to eat bread. "Scientists who found gluten sensitivity evidence have now shown it doesn't exist."

In one of the best examples of science working, a researcher who provided key evidence of (non-celiac disease) gluten sensitivity recently published follow-up papers that show the opposite...

For a follow-up paper, 37 self-identified gluten-sensitive patients were tested. According to Real Clear Science’s Newton Blog, here’s how the experiment went:

Subjects would be provided with every single meal for the duration of the trial. Any and all potential dietary triggers for gastrointestinal symptoms would be removed, including lactose (from milk products), certain preservatives like benzoates, propionate, sulfites, and nitrites, and fermentable, poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates, also known as FODMAPs. And last, but not least, nine days worth of urine and faecal matter would be collected. With this new study, Gibson wasn’t messing around.

The subjects cycled through high-gluten, low-gluten, and no-gluten (placebo) diets, without knowing which diet plan they were on at any given time. In the end, all of the treatment diets - even the placebo diet - caused pain, bloating, nausea, and gas to a similar degree. It didn’t matter if the diet contained gluten. (Read more about the study.)

"In contrast to our first study… we could find absolutely no specific response to gluten," Gibson wrote in the paper. A third, larger study published this monthhas confirmed the findings.

"cancer... It's the best way to die, says top doctor"

"Dr Richard Smith says it may be a ‘romantic view’, but cancer gives people a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones, which is denied to many who die from other conditions."

He says most people tell him they would prefer a sudden death, but he thinks that is very hard on the families of the deceased.

‘The long, slow death from dementia may be the most awful as you are slowly erased, but then again when death comes it may be just a light kiss,’ he says.

‘Death from organ failure – respiratory, cardiac, or kidney – will have you far too much in hospital and in the hands of doctors.

‘So death from cancer is the best...

‘This is, I recognise, a romantic view of dying, but it is achievable with love, morphine, and whisky. But stay away from overambitious oncologists, and let’s stop wasting billions trying to cure cancer, potentially leaving us to die a much more horrible death.’

Uncle Junior gives Tony the bad news.

Cancer coverage under ACA?

Negative Nelly that I am, my biggest concern about ACA is how cancer coverage will go. I have visions of not being able to get cutting edge treatment if under the wrong coverage. On the other hand, even with the right coverage, I foresee increased peril due to the decreased number of medical professionals (proportionately and in absolute numbers) and the computerization of medical records, leading to delayed care with a greater possibility of error in treatment...bearing in mind the track record isn't too fab now. Here is some thoughts from the American Cancer Society  on ACA:

"1) More cancer survivors can now get care - High-risk pools have been established in every state to provide coverage for the uninsured.  The program launched on July 1st and is providing immediate access to coverage for people in every state who have been uninsured for six months or more and have cancer or another pre-existing condition.

2) No more “doughnut holes” - The Affordable Care Act is finally closing the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole”.  Immediately after enactment, the law provided a $250 rebate to seniors who hit the coverage gap in Medicare’s prescription drug program.  In addition, Medicare beneficiaries will receive discounts on brand-name drugs next year, and the coverage gap will be closed completely by 2020.

3) “The kids are all right” – Mantra from the old song by The Who can be applied here.  Health plans will be prohibited from denying coverage to children up to age 19 with pre-existing conditions such as cancer.  So if you have a child who is a survivor you will no long have to worry about their insurance if you change jobs.  

4) The well won't run dry - Health plans will be banned from setting lifetime dollar limits on coverage, ensuring that people with cancer have access to needed care throughout their lifetimes. Annual dollar limits on coverage will be tightly restricted for most plans and will be eliminated altogether in 2014. Patients will no longer have to put off treatments waiting for the new plan year to start.

5) In sickness and in health – Just like marriage, your health plan now takes a vow to you when they take your business.  As of this week, health insurers will be barred from dropping people from coverage when they get sick.  In other words, you can’t lose your insurance for developing cancer.

6) Prevention, prevention prevention – Also new this week, coverage will be guaranteed and out-of-pocket costs will be eliminated in new insurance plans for proven preventive services, giving people access to lifesaving screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer."