Causes of Skin Cancers

The most common cause of skin cancers are ultraviolet (UV) rays, either from the sun, or from UV-emitting lamps like those in tanning saloons. Both UV-A and UV-B rays may cause skin cancer.

Other possible causes of skin cancers include:

• High dose or repeated X-ray exposure (1,2)
• Exposure to arsenic (pesticides, wood preservatives, miners, sheep shearers, farmers) (1), pitch (from distillation of wood or coal tar), creosote, or radium (5)
• Therapy that destroys immune cells – chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunosuppression in organ or bone marrow transplantation (2)
• Smoking increases risk for squamous cell carcinoma (4)

continue reading Skin Cancer – Causes and Risk Factors

Skin Cancer – General Characteristics

Skin cancers are malignant growths on the skin. They mostly arise from the upper layer of the skin – epidermis. Skin cancers may develop anywhere on the skin, including scalp, lips, or under-nail skin.

Skin cancers are most common after 50 years of age, but they may occur at any time.

Any chronic skin growth or discoloration that increases in size with time is suspicious for skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

Common Types of Skin Cancer

There are three common types of skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma

continue reading Types of Skin Cancer – Pictures and Treatment

“Cell phones and other electrical devices can cause cancer among the users” it has been a heated issue for a quite long time.

Origin of this concept

The origin of this widespread concept is those scientific studies that suggest a link between cell phones and brain cancer is found. Similarly, many lawsuits and news headlines show concerns about possible link between cell phones and cancer. Almost 30% American believe that a connection is found between cancer and cell phones.

What is the real thing?

There are some studies that suggest a link between the use of cell phone and some rare kinds of brain tumors but according to some other well-designed population studies no such link is found between cell phone use and brain tumor. It is not an easy task to conduct precise studies to know the risk factors for some rare cancers like brain cancer. The biggest hurdle in the way of precise study is the collection of reliable data. In this connection, those studies that gather information from healthy people about latent risk factors and then follow the cases for many years to observe which diseases development can be relied.

continue reading Use of cell phone as a cause of cancer

In the first suite of Phase II clinical studies for its “vascular disrupting agent (VDA)”, “CYT997” the dosing of patients has been commenced by ‘Cytopia Limited’. The activity of this anti-cancer compound in specific cancer types which are highly unmet medical need and poor diagnosis will be investigated by these studies.

In the treatment of vascular tumors VDAs are a new class of drugs to treat cancer and have the potential for best sales. A dual action mechanism of CYT997 shuts down the established blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to the tumor and also direct cyto-toxic properties. The compound was discovered by Cytopia scientists in 2003 can be administered orally as well as intravenously. To commence Phase I study an Investigational New Drug application was accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2005.

Cytopia commences dosing in its first Phase II study, finalized preparations for its second Phase II study, concluded its first Phase I safety and tolerability study with intravenous administration and continued dose-escalation in its Phase I capsule dosing study during the 2008 financial year.

Clinical Programs

After the conclusion of its initial Phase I study ‘Cytopia’ commenced dosing in it first Phase II trial in patients with refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma in January 2008. An extensive body of preclinical studies including studies in cells from heavily pre-treated patients was followed by this clinical study. In this clinical study ‘CYT997’ established the significant anti-myeloma activity. The utility of the drug further is the main point of the Phase II studies in conventional solid tumors is extended by the potential activity of this compound in the multiple myeloma. Cytopia also aims to file an Orphan Drug Designation application in the US which gives development benefits including extended patent protection and increased regulatory consultation for this drug in multiple myeloma within 3 months.

continue reading A Report on the Clinical Trial of CYT997, the Anti-Cancer Drug

Identification of fully ‘human monoclonal antibodies’ against the intractable disease targets will be the main objective of a new research collaboration between ”Genmab” and “Pepscan Therapeutics”, the companies from Denmark and Netherland respectively.

Present technological set up has its own limitations with such identification and it has become more urgent to device new techniques to address the issue. It could be mainly due to the fact that the target proteins are deposited in a large quantity near the cell surface or within the cell membrane. There may be other reasons as well like the poor immunogenicity of the protein or the epitopes that are required.

Both the companies feel that the collaboration would facilitate detailed evaluation of the disease targets and it will help in addressing and evolving new standard treatments.

Monoclonal Antibodies against intractable targets are a significant unmet need. A combination of ‘Pepscan CLIPS protein mimicry platform’ and the ‘Genmab’s ability to generate fully ‘human monoclonal’ will enable the partners to develop innovative products for poorly served indications.

continue reading Human Monoclonal Antibodies Could Be Beneficial to Address Intractable Diseases

Almost 25 million Americans are affected with ‘Osteoporosis’ every year and 80% of these people are women, according to a recent report of the ‘National Osteoporosis Foundation’. This disease is mainly responsible for thinning of the bones and this may result in to hip fractures and spinal fractures in addition to some extreme complications leading to severe health problems, the report says.

The “Bisphosphonates (BF)” is the compounds that are generally prescribed for patients suffering with this kind of disorders.”Fosamax”, the ‘alendronate sodium compound’, is one such very popular class of drugs which helps in preventing bone fractures. In ‘Osteoporosis ‘patients who are also suffering from some cancerous disease, this drug prevents bone metastases and other related skeletal problems. The types of cancers may include multiple myeloma, metastatic breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

continue reading Bisphosphonates Work in Osteoporosis but Not Effective in Osteonecrosis

A recent study, by the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed the fact that working in night shifts may cause serious problems including an enhanced risk of cancer in humans. Women are at specific risk in such an environment of working in the night shifts.

The study findings bring out the fact that after a prolonged exposure to the night shifts women have higher risks of developing breast and colon cancer. Men are equally at risk with the night shift working conditions. Men have more probability to suffer from the prostate cancer.

Almost 15 to 20% of the working class population in the United States and the Europe is undergoing a night shift working schedule. Such night shifts working system is very much prevalent in some specific business sectors including healthcare, transportation, communication, leisure, and hospitality industries.

continue reading Prolonged Night Shifts, Painting and Firefighting May Cause Cancer

Colon Cancer is a disease afflicting humans and is a malignant tumor, which arises from the inner wall of the large intestine (colon), or the rectum (which is the end of the colon). It is also referred to as colorectal cancer. In the United States, it is the third leading cause of cancer in males, and fourth in females.

The human colon is a tube shaped muscular organ which is about four feet in length, extending from the small bowel to the anus. It has three main functions, which are digest and absorb nutrients from the food, to concentrate fecal material by absorbing fluids, and store fecal material and control its evacuation.

continue reading Colon Cancer: A Dangerous Disease

Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, is caused by exposure to asbestos. This exposure often occurs in the workplace, or through exposure to someone who works around asbestos. Mesothelioma is a deadly disease, nearly impossible to treat. By the time it is recognized, it is often too late to develop an effective treatment plan. Mesothelioma attacks the lining of organ tissue, forming fluid and tissue mass and affecting organ function. Surgery and radiation treatment can sometimes improve life expectancy for Mesothelioma patients, but the disease is nearly always fatal.

Cancerous (malignant) cells develop in the protective lining the surround the body’s internal organs, known as the mesothelium. The cancer most commonly develops in the pleura, which is the outer lining of the chest cavity. It also occurs, however, in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum, and the sac that surrounds the heart, which is called the pericardium.

continue reading Mesothelioma – An Overview

Causes of Mesothelioma

Before we start off with discussing the disease Mesothelioma, it would be mandatory to pen down that causes. Mesothelioma, as we all know is the most hazardous kind of cancer and is usually caused due to exceeded exposure to Asbestos. Asbestos is a kind of a fibre that is present in the lot of the insulating and the building substances and these fibres are pretty tiny to be seen with the naked eyes. Until the eighties, Asbestos was used in large quantities in the ship building, construction and even some of the household appliances. When this asbestos is moved or accidentally spoiled then it happens to release minute fibres that can be easily breathed into the lungs and can also lead to inflammation, or building up of the tissue also popularized as fibrosis and then finally to mesothelioma, a cancer. It was as recently in the sixties that the initial possible instance between mesothelioma and asbestos was made. Therefore it can be rightly identified as the most frequent cause of the cancer. These asbestos fibres, usually travel through the lungs and settle in the long membrane surrounding the lungs which is also called the pleura. Over period of time, these particles in the lung can cause an assortment of lung diseases and even mesothelioma. These asbestos particles are so tiny that they can even be consumed and a part of these fibres can stick into the digestive track and then after that they can move down to the tissue that borders the peritoneum and cause inflammation there.

continue reading A Brief Introduction on Mesothelioma