Cancer News - 2005 Archives

 


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Oct 7, 2005   

UVa Health System Physicians Find Potential Target of Bladder Cancer Spread
University of Virginia Health System researchers have found a potential new target and drug for disrupting the process of bladder cancer metastasis (cancer spread). In bladder cancer, the spread of cancer cells to the lungs is common and deadly. While searching for new ways to slow or reduce the process of metastasis, researchers found a gene that, when blocked, led to a dramatic reduction of lung metastasis. Likewise, they found that atrasentan, a drug in clinical trials for hypertension, can suppress certain genes and block metastasis. Their findings point to a potential framework for a clinical trial involving bladder cancer patients at high risk of developing lung metastasis. (more)  

Sept 23, 2005      

UVA Earns Grant to Develop Tomo Stereotactic Program
Recently ranked as one of the top 40 Cancer Centers in the country,* the University of Virginia Cancer Center offers high-quality patient care in an integrated, comprehensive treatment environment. A TomoTherapy Center of Excellence, the Department of Radiation Oncology at UVA has been treating patients with the TomoTherapy Hi·Art System® since October 2004, and the quality care patients receive there is enhanced and supported by the department's pioneering research. Tomotherapy.com

Sept 19, 2005  UVa Participates in Landmark Breast Cancer Screening Trial
Digital mammography that uses computers to detect breast cancer found significantly (up to 28%) more cancers than screen film mammography in women 50 and younger, premenopausal and perimenopausal women, and women with dense breasts, according to results from one of the largest breast cancer screening studies ever performed. (more)
Sept 16, 2005  UVa Breaks Ground for New Medical Research Building
The University of Virginia has broken ground on a new medical science building devoted to research on vaccine therapy, immunology, infectious diseases, cancer and other areas of biomedicine. With 102,000 net square feet of research space, the structure will be named the Carter-Harrison Research Building to honor two families who have provided generous support for the project. (more)
May 17, 2005  UVa Health System Physicians Develop Test for Success of Common Prostate Cancer Treatment
A new study by University of Virginia Health System researchers has found that prostate cancer patients who reach a very low-level PSA (prostate-specific antigen) after combined radiation treatment using brachytherapy "seeds" and hormone therapy have a 99 percent chance of survival free from disease. In this study, PSA level was measured by a blood test six to 12 months after therapy. (more)  
April 8, 2005  New Vaccine to Treat Cervical Cancer and Genital Warts Shows Promise, says Pathologist at University of Virginia Health System
A vaccine against four of the human viruses that cause most cervical cancers and genital warts could reduce infection and disease by more than 90 percent, according to the results of a randomized clinical trial published in the online edition of the British medical journal  The Lancet Oncology. 
Feb 6, 2005  UVa researchers find cancer-slowing plant
By Claudia Pinto  / Daily Progress
Deborah Lannigan and Jeff Smith have a picture of a rare South American plant on their office wall. The green, leafy branches of the forsteronia refracta look like part of an ordinary bush, but the University of Virginia scientists have discovered the plant contains a compound that kills human breast cancer cells in laboratory cultures. (more)
Feb 2, 2005 

'A smart guided missile' to cancer cells
By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY
A novel therapy aims to treat cancer of the lymph nodes by delivering radiation directly to tumor cells. The technology, called radioimmunotherapy, involves attaching a radioactive element to a drug designed to latch onto cancer cells. Unlike traditional radiation, which exposes a large section of the body, these drugs shower tumor cells with radiation but leave most other tissues unharmed. (more)  

Feb 2, 2005    

New Study in Journal of the American Medical Association Details Trends in Diagnosis, Treatment of Brain Tumors
A two year study involving over 560 patients with the newly-diagnosed malignant brain tumors shows that patterns of care are varied and there is a need for new, detailed clinical guidelines for management of brain tumors. The study is published in the Feb. 2, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found on the web at http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/293/5/557.