Heart Drugs Show Promise for Fighting Colon Cancer

Jenny Felth, Joachim Gullbo, and colleagues note that cardiac glycosides are a family of naturally-derived drugs used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. Scientists have suspected for some time, based on previous research, that these heart drugs may have promise for fighting many different types of cancer. Despite this, knowledge on effects in colon cancer or combination effects with other anti-cancer drugs is lacking. But scientists know little about their potential anticancer effects and have not tested these substances against colon cancer.

As part of a larger study to screen and identify natural substances with activity against colon cancer, the scientists picked several cardiac glycosides for further study. They tested five of these heart drugs against laboratory cultures of human colon cancer cells and found that they were all effective, to varying degrees, at killing the cancer cells.

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Terramed Alliance News Pregnant Women with Breast Cancer Do Not Have Worse Outcomes

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is defined as breast cancer that develops during or within one year after pregnancy. It is relatively rare, with approximately 10% of all breast cancer cases under age 40 occurring in pregnant women. However, some researchers have speculated that the incidence of PABC may increase as the average age at the time of pregnancy increases.

Some research has indicated that PABC has a worse outcome than other breast cancers; however, this could also be attributable to young age, since most women with PABC tend to be young and breast cancer in young women tends to have a worse prognosis.

» Read more: Terramed Alliance News Pregnant Women with Breast Cancer Do Not Have Worse Outcomes

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Eyelid Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer of the eyelids poses several diagnostic and management challenge. As a referral specialist, I see these patients well after a significant progression has occurred and the diagnosis is fairly obvious. The excision and reconstruction if these tumors requires a great degree of creativity and flexibility to achieve the optimal result.

The ultraviolet radiation that is primarily responsible for malignant transformation of skin cancer are 290 to 320 nm(UV-B). The most common malignancies affecting the periocular region are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma accounts for 90% of all eyelid malignancies. The tumor primarily involves the lower eyelid (50% to 66%) and the medial canthus (25% to 30%). The upper eyelid is affected in 15% of cases and the lateral canthus in 5%. Although these statistics are helpful, many skin cancers involve adjacent anatomic areas such as the forehead and cheek, and pose even greater challenges in reconstruction.

» Read more: Eyelid Skin Cancer

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