Blog posts will resume in January 2018 - Happy Holidays

To all Grey Horizon readers:

Thank you for supporting our blog these past 5 years.  Postings will resume in January 2018.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Electric cap device offers hope to glioblastoma patients

A recent CTV news report introduced an electric cap-like device for patients with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with a 5-year survival rate of only 5%.  Known as Optune, the device, which is worn by patients 18 hours per day, "emits a low-intensity electromagnetic field to stop or slow cancer cells from dividing."  Regular use of the device has increased life expectancy by 4 months, however it has also increased the survival rate after 5 years to 13%.

To read more about this news story, click here.

Cancer survivors often age prematurely

Mayo Clinic researchers have recently conducted a study indicating that cancer survivors are often susceptible to premature aging following treatment.  Long-term health problems include "hormone and gland disorders, heart problems, brittle bones, lung scarring, and new cancers."

To read more about this study, click here.

New cancer drug shows promise against wide range of tumors

A preliminary trial, conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital is showing promise against many different tumor types.  Known as ulixertinib, the drug was administered to 135 cancer patients who had failed treatments for a variety of advanced, solid tumors.  According to the trial, ulixertinib "inhibits the MAPK/ERK pathway...a chain of proteins in the cell that communicates a signal from a receptor on the surface of the cell to the DNA in the nucleus of the cell."

To read more about this trial, click here

Prior cancers common in patients newly diagnosed with cancer

A new study conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas indicates that between 2009 and 2013, nearly 20% of patients newly diagnosed with cancer had a previous history of cancer diagnosis.  According to lead author Dr. Caitlyn Murphy, "some types of second primary cancer - such as leukemia - can be related to chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat a prior cancer", necessitating that clinicians be aware of these possible links when caring for cancer survivors.

To read more about this study, click here.

New trial alert: Ipatasertib in combination with Paclitaxel as a treatment for patients with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN-altered, locally advanced or metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer

A new clinical trial, being conducted at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, is seeking to evaluate the efficiency of ipatasertib + paclitaxel in patients with locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. The primary outcome of this investigation is progression-free survival, while secondary outcomes include health status, health-related quality of life, incidence and severity of adverse events, and changes in vital signs. This trial is currently in pending status, with an anticipated December 2017 start date.

To read more about this trial, click here.

Acupuncture may ease pain tied to breast cancer care

New research conducted at the Breast Cancer Program, Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City indicates that acupuncture may ease joint pain, a common side effect of breast cancer medications. According to Dr. Lauren Cassell, chief of breast surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, "if something so simple as acupuncture can improve...symptoms and the patients' quality of life, we will have more women becoming compliant in taking their medication."

To read more about this research, click here. 

Gum disease tied to esophageal cancer

A new study conducted at NYU Langone Health in New York City has drawn a correlation between gun disease bacteria and the risk of developing esophageal cancer.  The study, conducted on 122,000 Americans who's oral health was observed over a period of 10 years found that "the presence of one oral bacterium in particular, Tannerella forsythia...led to a 21% increase in the odds of developing esophageal tumors."  This find noted emphasized the importance of regularly brushing, flossing, and dental visits.

To read more about this study, click here.