A recent paper outlines how marine bacteria have inspired an entirely new way of fighting melanoma. The authors hope that their findings might eventually lead to a more effective treatment. Marine bacteria may provide a new weapon against melanoma. Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer. Melanoma accounts for just 1

New research in mice identifies a compound that prevents ovarian cancer recurrence by eradicating the cancer stem-like cells that conventional chemotherapy leaves behind. New findings could change the face of ovarian cancer treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, there were over 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in the United States in 2018. More

New research that now appears in the British Journal of Cancer suggests that a person’s history of mental health issues may raise their risk of dying from cancer following diagnosis. Mental health can play a key role in the outlook of someone who has just received a cancer diagnosis. Though the cancer mortality rates in

New research, appearing in the Journal of Physiology, suggests that short bursts of intense, physical activity may reduce the growth of colorectal tumor cells. Could short bursts of high-intensity exercise immediately reduce the growth of colorectal cancer cells? According to the American Cancer Society, doctors will diagnose more than 100,000 new cases of colon cancer

A recent study dives into the details of exactly how cells fix DNA mutations. The researchers provide fresh insight into so-called flawless DNA repair. Understanding DNA repair may bring us closer to creating better cancer treatments. Cancer research often involves a multipronged approach. Of course, testing new treatments and finding novel ways to attack tumors

Scientists have identified a molecular mechanism through which an oral bacterium accelerates colorectal cancer growth. An oral bacterium with links to tooth decay may speed up the growth of colorectal cancer. Tests have shown that around a third of people who develop colorectal cancer also have the bacterium, which has the name Fusobacterium nucleatum. Their

New research, appearing in the journal Cell, reveals a drug compound that could halt the growth of an aggressive form of melanoma. If successful in human clinical trials, a new compound may effectively block the growth of melanoma. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that accounts for 1 percent of all skin cancer cases.

Filled with empty calories and ultra-processed, fast food may increase the risk of obesity and cancer. While fast-food chains have ostensibly been trying to offer more healthful options, a new study finds that the health impact of their menus has not improved — to the contrary, in fact. Fast food may now be worse for

Our dietary habits play an important role in shaping our health and well-being, but there are still many unknowns about the diet’s ultimate impact on minute biological mechanisms. In this Spotlight feature, we give an overview of some of the best nutrition research published in February 2019. What does the most recent nutrition research say

Water chestnuts are an aquatic tuber vegetable. They grow in parts of Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and many Pacific islands. A water chestnut resembles an actual chestnut in both color and shape, but it is not a nut. Water chestnuts are popular in many cuisines and have a variety of potential health benefits. These benefits

Some types of cancer, such as ovarian cancer, tend to remain undetected until they are too advanced for treatment to be effective. Now, an innovative tool may be able to detect cancer easily, quickly, and in minuscule amounts of blood. A newly developed, highly sensitive device can detect cancer in very small clinical samples. In

Having conducted a new study in mice, researchers now have a much better understanding of how chronic (long-term, sustained) stress can accelerate the growth of cancer stem cells. They may also have found a way to prevent stress from doing its damage. Researchers now know how chronic stress fuels the growth of cancer. Chronic stress,

Aside from their ability to inject deep flavor into almost any meal, onions and garlic might also protect against cancer, according to a recent study. A recent study adds to the evidence that allium vegetables reduce cancer risk. Garlic, onions, leeks, chives, and shallots are classed as allium vegetables. They are grown throughout much of

Gum disease is common and unpleasant, but, according to a growing body of evidence, it could also play a role in a surprising range of seemingly unrelated health problems. Cleaning your teeth may be even more important than you thought. Plaque — a sticky substance that contains bacteria — builds up on teeth. If it

New research that now appears in the journal Nature Medicine examined glioblastoma tumors, and the results move scientists closer to understanding why this form of brain cancer does not respond as well to immunotherapy as other cancers. Doctors may soon be able to predict which people with glioblastoma will respond to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a

A leading-edge genetic technique that can track cell lineage has revealed much about how breast cancer spreads. It could also help explain why some breast cancers relapse after initially successful chemotherapy. Researchers gain a better understanding of how breast cancer spreads thanks to ‘cellular barcoding.’ The name of the technique is cellular barcoding, and it

Lupron is the brand name for leuprolide acetate. This drug is a type of hormone therapy that doctors typically use in combination with other treatments to treat people with prostate cancer. Lupron belongs to a class of drugs called luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists. These medications block the production of LHRH in the body, which

New research involving Australian women aged 45 years and over found that the majority of this cohort believes that there is not a significant link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk. That could not be less true, the investigators warn. Women should be more aware of the link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer

A new phase I/II open-label, dose-escalation trial has recently tested the effectiveness of a “Trojan horse” drug in treating multiple types of otherwise treatment-resistant cancer in its late stages. A new clinical trial assesses the safety and effectiveness of an innovative drug against multiple cancers at an advanced stage. Recently, a team of experts from

An analysis of mortality rates related to breast cancer from 1989 until 2018 indicates that breast cancer screening, paired with access to better treatment, has significantly improved the health outcome for women with this type of cancer over the past few decades. Since 1989, breast cancer-related death rates have fallen exponentially, primarily due to screening

An innovative new approach to cancer therapy suggests that a compound of the metal iridium could, when activated by light, target and destroy cancer cells. A newly developed metal compound could offer an effective strategy against cancer. At the moment, there are many different types of cancer treatment. These range from chemotherapy and radiation therapy

New research featuring in the journal Science Translational Medicine shows that fatty acids fuel prostate tumor growth. As blocking fatty acids seems to slow disease progression, fatty acid uptake may be a promising new therapeutic target for prostate cancer. It may soon be possible to stop prostate cancer from becoming aggressive by blocking fatty acids.

Scientists have identified several cannabinoid compounds that could potentially treat colorectal cancer. Cannabis compounds may help in the fight against colorectal cancer. A team at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey tested hundreds of cannabinoids on various types of human colorectal cancer cells in the laboratory. Of these, 10 synthetic cannabinoids showed the

Bacillus Calmette–Guerin is a form of immunotherapy that doctors can use to treat some forms of bladder cancer. Following surgery to remove the cancer, this treatment can help prevent the cancer from returning. In this article, we will discuss what Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) therapy is, when doctors use it, and what to expect during treatment.

Recent research has linked prolonged sitting while viewing TV to a raised risk of developing colorectal cancer before the age of 50 years. According to a new study, watching TV may raise the risk of young-onset colorectal cancer. This effect, which appeared to be strongest for cancer that starts in the rectum, was independent of

New research finds that some nanomaterials that scientists use to combat cancer may have the opposite effect: to help tumors spread. The results reveal why this might occur and propose a way for us to turn this risk into a therapeutic advantage. Nanoparticles may make cancer cells (depicted here) divide and spread faster. Nanotechnology has

A protein that plays a key role in protecting the body against cancer also appears to have the opposite effect in some cancers. The tumor-suppressing protein p53 can sometimes drive the growth of cancer cells. New research from the University of California in San Diego demonstrates instances in which the tumor suppressor protein p53 can

Duodenal cancer is a rare type of cancer that forms in the first part of the small intestine. Symptoms can be vague, which can make early diagnosis difficult. In this article, we look at what duodenal cancer is, along with its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. We also discuss survival rates for this type of cancer.