“Lentil-loving hippies have the right idea when it comes to beating bowel cancer,”

Thursday August 4 2011

Beans and lentils are good sources of fibre

“Lentil-loving hippies have the right idea when it comes to beating bowel cancer,” according to the Daily Express. The newspaper says that a diet rich in beans, pulses and brown rice cuts the risk of developing bowel cancer by up to 40%.

The news is based on a study that assessed people’s diets and examined the risk of developing colorectal polyps (small growths in the lining of the bowel that can become cancerous) over the next 26 years. It found that diets high in cooked green vegetables, dried fruit and brown rice were associated with a significantly lower risk of colorectal polyps. Legumes such as beans and other pulses were also linked to a lower risk, although results in this area were less robust.

The research had some limitations that make the results less reliable, including the fact that it relied on people reporting their diets on only one occasion during the lengthy study, and because the participants were self-reporting whether or not they had developed polyps. The participants were also Seventh Day Adventists, a religious group who may not represent the wider population due to their beliefs about avoiding harmful activities such as smoking and drinking. However, despite these limitations the main findings are in line with current advice that a diet rich in plant-based foods can reduce the risk of cancer. These foods are good sources of fibre, which helps maintain healthy bowels, as well as important nutrients.

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from Loma Linda University, California. It was funded by the US National Institutes for Health.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrition and Cancer.

The research was reported fairly in the media although the Daily Express’ claim that this was a “hippy diet” was perhaps misleading. These days, you don’t need to be a “lentil-loving hippy” to eat foods such as pulses, vegetables and brown rice.

What kind of research was this?

This was a prospective cohort study, which looked at the relationship between specific foods and the risk of colorectal polyps among 2,818 participants over 26 years. The researchers point out that colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths and that the majority of cases originate from adenatomous (benign) polyps. Although previous research suggests diet plays a part in the risk of colorectal cancer, they wanted to look at how diet affects the risk of both polyps and CRC, as this remains unclear.

What did the research involve?

The study drew its participants from a Californian population of Seventh Day Adventists, a Christian religious group that places particular emphasis on healthy diet and lifestyle. For example, members of the church tend to avoid alcohol and smoking, and often limit their consumption of meat. The group is considered to be of scientific interest for dietary research as their lifestyle means they are likely to be largely unaffected by habits such as smoking and drinking, thereby helping to isolate the effect diet would have on diseases such as cancer.

The research was based around an analysis of two phases of a large, ongoing study examining Adventists. In the first phase, which took place between 1976-7, (known as AHS-1), participants were given a lifestyle questionnaire which included a dietary section asking them 55 questions on food frequency. People were asked how often on average they consumed different foods and drinks, with frequency of consumption mostly recorded using an eight-point scale ranging from “never or almost never” to “more than once a day”. The questionnaire also included comprehensive questions on lifestyle, medical and family history.

The second phase of the study (AHS-2) was carried out from 2002-4. In this part, participants were given a lifestyle questionnaire which asked if they had ever had a colonoscopy and whether they had ever been told by a doctor that they had specific conditions, including rectal or colon polyps. The participants in the two studies were linked, meaning that the data from the two studies was matched to ensure the questionnaire from 1976 matched the participants in 2002-4. They were also asked to specify the approximate amount of time since they were first diagnosed. To ensure higher validity of this self-reported outcome, only cases diagnosed after a colonoscopy were used in the study.

Of the 5,095 original study participants, they excluded those who had polyps or a history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory intestinal conditions before the study began. They also excluded those who had never had a colonoscopy and those who reported having one after their diagnosis. After these exclusions the researchers had information on 2,818 participants available for analysis.

Researchers used validated statistical methods to analyse the relationship between different foods and the risk of polyps, adjusting their findings for possible confounders such as family history of CRC, education, alcohol intake and smoking habits. As there were so few people who had ever drank or smoked in this population the researchers excluded these known influences from their analysis.

What were the basic results?

During an average 26-year follow-up period, the researchers identified a total of 441 cases of rectal or colon polyps, a figure which represents between 15%-16% of the study population. They found that:

• People who ate cooked green vegetables one or more times a day had a 24% reduced risk, compared to those eating them less than five times a week (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.97).
• People who ate dried fruit three times a week or more had a 24% reduced risk compared to those who ate less than one portion a week (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.99).
• People who ate brown rice at least once a week had a 40% reduced risk compared to those who never ate it (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.87).
• People who ate legumes at least three times a week reduced their risk by 33% compared to those who ate them less than once a month (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.01) However, this reduction was not statistically significant.

In the case of both legumes and brown rice, there was a “dose-response effect”, which means that the more people ate, the more their risk was lowered.

No significant association was found between the risk of polyps and other foods, including red meat (which other studies have found increases the risk), fish and salad.

How did the researchers interpret the results?

High consumption of cooked green vegetables, dried fruit, legumes and brown rice was associated with a lower risk of colorectal polyps, the researchers said. This type of diet contains fibre and types of chemicals called phytochemicals that may inhibit the development of colon cancer, they added.

Conclusion

This study had several strengths. It had a long follow-up period and it was also “prospective” as it assessed diet and followed the participants over time, rather than asking them to recall what they had eaten years previously. The researchers also pointed out that the Adventist population has a “unique lifestyle”, with lower levels of alcohol consumption and smoking. This limits the effect these factors would have had on the participants’ risk of polyps and cancer.

However, the study also some significant limitations:

• The study relied on people self-reporting their diets on only one occasion. It is possible, even probable, that people’s diets changed over the 26-year period.
• The researchers stated that about 80% of participants did not make changes in their dietary habits during the years of follow-up, but how they arrived at this estimate was not published.
• The self-reported diet information may not be accurate as estimating food intake is difficult to do accurately.
• The study relied on people self-reporting whether they had had a colonoscopy and whether they had been diagnosed with polyps. It is entirely possible that some people misunderstood, forgot or got confused about their medical history, including whether they had polyps or not. Studies of this type would typically verify this type of medical information using hospital/physician records and other independent data.

Also, the researchers’ decision to use a mostly vegetarian population who tend to adopt a stricter lifestyle is open to question. On one hand, the fact that few of the participants drank or smoked meant that the results are largely free from the influence of these known risk factors. However, on the other hand, this lifestyle and other differences, mean that on the other hand the outcomes seen in this group may not be applicable to the wider population.

However, despite these limitations it is accepted that a plant-based diet high in fibre reduces the risk of cancer, and this type of diet is already recommended in a major report from the World Cancer Research Fund [http://www.wcrf-uk.org/research/cp_report.php]. This report is useful for putting some figures against the reduced risk of specific foods, and for indicating how much of these foods people need to eat to reduce their risk.

Links to the headlines

Lentils and kidney beans 'cut bowel cancer risk' by up to a third. Daily Mail, August 4 2011

Hippy diet can ward off cancer. Daily Express, August 4 2011

Links to the science

Tantamangoa YM, Knutsena SF, Lawrence Beesona W et al. Foods and Food Groups Associated With the Incidence of Colorectal Polyps: The Adventist Health Study. Nutrition and Cancer, originally published online May 4 2011

15 December 2010 Last updated at 20:02

Plymouth hot spot for deadly cancer

Experts say people's attitudes towards exposing themselves to the sun must change

Related stories

• Cancer warning in students' film
• Men's skin cancer rate doubles
• Sun bed-users can get 'addicted'

Plymouth has the highest rate in England for malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, researchers have said.

There were 28.7 cases per 100,000 people in the city between 2004 and 2006, said the the South West Public Health Observatory (SWPHO).
That was almost double the English average of 15.6.
Experts have blamed the outdoor lifestyle many residents lead in the summer months.
The SWPHO research shows that Torbay had 26.4 cases of malignant melanoma per 100,000 people, Devon 24.4 and the South West 20.6.
Steven Brown, assistant public health director of NHS Devon, said: "We're not taking tackling skin cancer, particularly in the West Country where we are one of the hot spots.
"It is about cultural changes, changing people's attitudes.
"It's not going to be a short term fix and we have got a lot of work to do."

More on This Story

Related stories

• Cancer warning in students' film 22 JUNE 2010, DEVON
• Men's skin cancer rate doubles 30 MAY 2010, HEALTH
• Sun bed-users can get 'addicted' 20 APRIL 2010, HEALTH
• Skin cancer rise for baby boomers 01 APRIL 2010, WALES
• Cheap holidays 'skin cancer link' 31 MARCH 2010, HEALTH

From other news sites

• Exeter Express and Echo New superstore expects big things of snow business 3 hrs ago

• This is Devon Fears that the New Year VAT increase will hit small firms hardest 4 hrs ago

• Yorkshire Post Obesity still eating away at health of the nation 15 hrs ago

• About these results

Related Internet links

• South West Public Health Observatory
• Cancer Research UK
• British Skin Foundation
• Peninsula Cancer Network

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• BBC - Health Skin cancer

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BBC Devon

• Freeze causes snow to turn to ice

  Drivers are warned of continuing treacherous conditions on Devon's roads after temperatures of -14C in places causes snow to become ice

Does red meat give you bowel cancer?

By Clare Murphy Health reporter, BBC News

Everyone agrees you can still enjoy a steak

A bitter row has broken out between members of the British meat industry and the World Cancer Research Fund over whether red meat increases the risk of bowel cancer. What do we know about this link?

The WCRF says the evidence that red and processed meats increase the risk of colorectal cancer is "convincing", and since 2007 - when it published a major report on lifestyle and cancer - has urged the public to limit their consumption of steak and sausages.

These conclusions, claim an array of organisations representing meat producers, are flawed. They point to a number of independent scientists who have questioned the conviction with which the link between red meat and cancer was presented in the report.

The WCRF has published a list of "minor errors" with the report - some relating to the findings on red meat and bowel cancer - but says it has no intention of altering the conclusions based on an expert panel's review of the scientific literature.

According to the recommendations, red meat should be consumed in modest amounts, and salami and ham should almost always be avoided.

Veggies' risk

This latest spat is driven by the fact that the government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition cited the WCRF report in draft conclusions on the impact of cutting red meat on the nation's iron levels.

The WCRF findings, argues the lobby group for the English beef and lamb industry - EBLEX, should not be used as a "point of reference".

It's an enigma - nobody knows the truth Professor Tim Key Oxford University

But there have already been clashes within the pages of the leading scientific journal on diet and disease.

In a letter last year to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Professor Stewart Truswell of the University of Sydney questioned why several large studies which found no link had been discarded by the panel, and also pinpointed errors in the reporting of data.

In response, the WCRF explained that a series of studies on meat had been omitted because they did not report on red meat specifically, but it did accept some mistakes in the reporting of the data. This did not however "change the overall picture", it stressed.

Many in the scientific community were however taken aback by the findings of a large study into the relationship between diet and cancer, published in the same nutrition journal last year.

Looking at all the research, the evidence linking red and processed meat and bowel cancer is overwhelming Professor Martin Wiseman WCRF

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Oxford (EPIC-Oxford), which followed 65,000 people during the 1990s, found that far from being protected from bowel cancer as anticipated, vegetarians in fact displayed a slightly higher incidence of this form of the disease.

It ran counter to the the findings of a previous arm of the EPIC study which suggested that very high levels of red and processed meat consumption - more than two pork chops every day - was associated with a 35% higher risk of bowel cancer when compared with those who rarely ate red meat.

"Our findings did come as something of a surprise. At the simplest level if meat causes colorectal cancer you would expect to see lower rates in the vegetarians, and we didn't," says Professor Tim Key, the epidemiologist who led the Oxford study.

"It's definitely a really tricky area. It's an enigma - nobody knows the truth. We can be much clearer on the relationship between obesity and cancer, or alcohol and cancer, because it's relatively easy to measure these things. Understanding the exact role specific foods play is much harder to quantify.

"There is a lot of evidence for meat, but it's not completely compelling."

It's not no

The WCRF says the Oxford findings on vegetarians could be explained by chance, noting there were only 28,000 non-meat eaters in the study. Vegetarians, it said, may consume fewer dairy products - "and our report found that milk probably reduces risk of bowel cancer".

RED MEAT CONTENT Medium steak: 145g Pork chop: 75g Spaghetti bolognese with beef: 140g Serving of roast beef: 90g

"We are in the process of reviewing the evidence on meat and bowel cancer and that is expected to be published later this year," says Professor Martin Wiseman, the project director. "But no research has been published since our report to make us question the finding that there is convincing evidence red and processed meat increase risk of bowel cancer."

"It is easy for anyone to find an individual study to support almost any view they wish to hold. But looking at all the research, the evidence linking red and processed meat and bowel cancer is overwhelming."

The WRCF does not in any event advocate a vegetarian diet, or a complete abstention from red meat. In fact its recommendations that people keep within 500g a week - the equivalent of a fair serving of roast beef on five of those days - is not far off average consumption.

Nell Barrie, Cancer Research UK's science information officer, said: "Two of the world's largest studies on diet and cancer have found that people are more likely to develop some cancers, such as bowel cancer, if they eat too much red or processed meat.

"Cutting down on these foods can help to reduce the risk of developing cancer."

But cancer specialist Professor Karol Sikora said those who enjoyed eating red meat should continue to do so.

"We have created a nightmare situation of confusing messages based on very little evidence. Eating red meat in the context of a balanced diet should really not be viewed as a problem.

"Yes, avoid a high calorie, high fat diet - but by all means enjoy that steak."

a study into the link between diet and disease has found.

Five-a-day has little impact on cancer, study finds

By Clare Murphy Health reporter, BBC News

Researchers are trying to harness key chemicals like lycopene in tomatoes

Eating more fruit and vegetables has only a modest effect on protecting against cancer, a study into the link between diet and disease has found.

The study of 500,000 Europeans joins a growing body of evidence undermining the high hopes that pushing "five-a-day" might slash Western cancer rates.

The international team of researchers estimates only around 2.5% of cancers could be averted by increasing intake.

But experts stress eating fruit and vegetables is still key to good health.

In 1990, the World Health Organization recommended that everyone consume at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases.

The advice has formed a central plank of public health campaigns in many developed countries. It has been promoted in the UK since 2003 and in the US for nearly two decades.

But research has failed to substantiate the suggestion that as many as 50% of cancers could be prevented by boosting the public's consumption of fruit and vegetables.

It's still a good idea to eat your five-a-day but remember that fruits and vegetables are pieces in a much larger lifestyle jigsaw Yinka Ebo Cancer Research UK

This latest study, which analysed recruits from 10 countries to the highly-regarded European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, confirms that the association between fruit and vegetable intake and reduced cancer risk is indeed weak.

The team, led by researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York, took into account lifestyle factors such as smoking and exercise when drawing their conclusions.

But writing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, they said they could not rule out that even the small reduction in cancer risk seen was down to the fact that the kind of people who ate more fruit and vegetables lived healthier lives in many other respects too.

Broccoli not biscuits

In the best case scenario, an extra two portions of fruit and vegetables each day could prevent 2.6% of cancers in men and 2.3% of cases in women, the study concluded.

Research should focus more sharply on specific fruits and vegetables and their constitutents Walter Willett Harvard School of Public Health

Vegetables, which tend to be richer in nutrients, appeared to be more beneficial than fruits, while heavy drinkers seemed to gain the most from a higher intake of both when it came to protection from cancers caused by alcohol and smoking.

In an accompanying editorial, Professor Walter Willet of Harvard University said the research strongly confirmed the findings of other studies, showing "that any association of intake and fruits and vegetables with risk of cancer is weak at best".

But he stressed specific substances contained in certain fruit and vegetables, if harnessed, could still have an important, protective effect.

Substantial evidence suggests lycopene from tomatoes, for instance, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, while chemicals in broccoli are thought to stimulate a gene which protects against bowel cancer.

And data still suggests fruit and vegetables may provide protection against cardiovascular disease, one of the major killers in the developed world - although this too has yet to be proven categorically.

Prof Sikora: 'Eating five-a-day still has health benefits'

Keeping lean

But while the links between diet and cancer remain unclear, obesity is now seen as an established risk factor.

Fruit and vegetables could therefore be beneficial just by virtue of taking the place of more calorific fare, health experts say.

In any event, a reduced risk of 2.5% should not be dismissed out of hand, the World Cancer Research Fund argues.

"For the UK, this works out as about 7,000 cases a year, which is a significant number," says Dr Rachel Thompson from the charity, which in a major 1997 report said there was "convincing evidence" of the protective effect of fruit and vegetables.

Yinka Ebo of Cancer Research UK said: "It's still a good idea to eat your five-a-day but remember that fruits and vegetables are pieces in a much larger lifestyle jigsaw.

"There are many things we can do to lower our chances of developing cancer such as not smoking, keeping a healthy weight, cutting down on alcohol, eating a healthy balanced diet, being physically active and staying safe in the sun."

Gastric dumping syndrome

Gastric dumping syndrome

Gastric dumping syndrome, or rapid gastric emptying is a condition where ingested foods bypass the stomach too rapidly and enter the small intestine largely undigested. It happens when the upper end of the small intestine, the jejunum, expands too quickly due to the presence of hyperosmolar^[jargon] food from the stomach. "Early" dumping begins concurrently or immediately succeeding a meal. Symptoms of early dumping include nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, dizziness and fatigue. "Late" dumping happens 1 to 3 hours after eating. Symptoms of late dumping include weakness, sweating, and dizziness. Many people have both types. The syndrome is most often associated with gastric surgery.

It is speculated that "early" dumping is associated with difficulty digesting fats while "late" dumping is associated with carbohydrates.^{[citation needed]}

Rapid loading of the small intestine with hypertonic stomach contents can lead to rapid entry of water into the intestinal lumen. Osmotic diarrhea, distension of the small bowel (leading to crampy abdominal pain), and hypovolemia can result.

In addition, people with this syndrome often suffer from low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, because the rapid "dumping" of food triggers the pancreas to release excessive amounts of insulin into the bloodstream. This type of hypoglycemia is referred to as "alimentary hypoglycemia".

[edit] Diagnosis

Physicians diagnose dumping syndrome primarily on the basis of symptoms in patients who have had gastric surgery. Tests may be needed to exclude other conditions that have similar symptoms. Two ways of determining if a patient has dumping syndrome include Barium fluoroscopy and radionuclide scintigraphy.

In the first procedure, a contrast of barium-labeled medium is ingested, and x-ray images are taken; early dumping can be easily recognized by premature emptying of the contrast medium from the stomach.

The second method, scintigraphy (or radionuclide scanning), involves a similar procedure in which a labeled medium containing ^99mTc (or other radionuclide) colloid or chelate is ingested. The ^99mTc isotope decays in the stomach, and the gamma photons emitted are detected by a gamma camera; the radioactivity of the area of interest (the stomach) can then be plotted against time on a graph. Patients with dumping syndrome generally exhibit steep drops in their activity plots, corresponding to abnormally rapid emptying of gastric contents into the duodenum.

[edit] Treatment

Dumping syndrome is largely avoidable by avoiding certain foods that are likely to cause it, therefore having a balanced diet is important. Treatment includes changes in eating habits and medication. People who have gastric dumping syndrome need to eat several small meals a day that are low in carbohydrates, avoiding simple sugars, and should drink liquids between meals, not with them. Fibers delay gastric emptying and reduce insulin peaks. People with severe cases take medicine such as octreotide, cholestyramine or proton pump inhibitors (such as pantoprazole) to slow their digestion. Doctors may also recommend surgery. Surgical intervention may include conversion of a Billroth II to a Roux-en Y gastrojejunostomy.

[edit] Source

Most of the text of this article is taken from http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/rapidgastricemptying/index.htm

• 
  

The Prostate Care Cookbook

is probably the most delicious cancer treatment yet devised. A recipe book built around foods known to help to fight prostate cancer is the first example of “evidence-based cooking”, its author said yesterday.

The Prostate Care Cookbook has been written by scientists for people with prostate cancer or at risk of developing it.

“There is growing scientific evidence that strongly suggests that diets rich in certain foods can help prevent this disease or its spread,” the authors write. “For those living with the condition, a controlled diet may be the only means of active treatment.”

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, but aggressive treatments can often be worse than the disease, said Margaret Rayman, Professor of Nutritional Medicine at the University of Surrey and lead author of the book.

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“It’s often quite indolent and slow-growing. So there may be something you can do with diet.” Foods such as onions and garlic, broccoli and cauliflower, fish and tomatoes, have all been shown to lower the risk of developing the cancer, or slowing its spread.

But Professor Rayman said: “It’s not just what you eat but how you cook it.” When garlic or onions are chopped, they produce an enzyme, alliinase, that produces anti-cancer compounds. But these are destroyed if they are heated immediately.

“The secret is you’ve got to leave the vegetables to stand for ten minutes before cooking to allow the alliinase to do its work,” Professor Rayman told the British Science Festival.

Cruciferous vegetables, which include broccoli, cabbage, rocket and radish, also need to be chopped but not overcooked. “Cook them lightly, steam them or eat them raw,” Professor Rayman advised.

Tomatoes are also best chopped or processed, and she said “a sauce made from a tin of plum tomatoes would be ideal”.

Chefs including Raymond Blanc and Antony Worrall Thompson have contributed recipes to the cookbook, which has been produced in association with the charity Prostate Cancer Research Foundation.

Professor Rayman said that her aim was to offer “food that everyone in the family can eat, not something precious”.

The recipes also aim to avoid foods that may worsen risks for prostate cancer, including dairy products, processed or overcooked meats and saturated fats.

There is no need to cut out milk in your tea, Professor Rayman say, but “you shouldn’t be pigging out on milk or yoghurt”.

Every year 35,000 men in Britain have prostate cancer diagnosed, and the condition accounts for 22 per cent of all cancers. However it is responsible for only 12 per cent of cancer deaths in men, and in older patients doctors often recommend “watchful waiting” rather than radical surgery, which can have serious side-effects including erectile dysfunction.

Managing such patients’ diet more effectively will allow them to take control of their treatment, Professor Rayman said.

“There’s also a psychological benefit to doing something about your own condition,” she added.

Roasted tomato and sweet potato soup (Serves 4) 450g sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1.2kg tomatoes, halved Two tablespoons olive oil One large onion, chopped into wedges Two garlic cloves, sliced Salt and pepper One small bunch of basil leaves, torn, plus extra to garnish One tablespoon of tomato puree

1 Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas 6

2 Parboil the sweet potatoes in a saucepan for five minutes, drain and leave to cool

3 Place all the ingredients except the tomato puree on a roasting tray and drizzle with the oil

4 Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, turning the vegetables halfway through

5 Once removed from the oven, pick any burnt skins off the tomatoes, which will come away easily

6 Whizz all the ingredients, along with 600ml water and the tomato puree, in a blender or processor

7 Reheat to serve and garnish with basil leaves

animal factor

Virus linked to prostate tumours

Prostate cancer is a major killer

Scientists have produced compelling evidence that a virus known to cause cancer in animals is linked to prostate cancer in humans.

The researchers from the University of Utah and Columbia University medical schools found the virus in 27% of the 200 cancerous prostates they looked at.
They say it was associated with more aggressive tumours and found in only 6% of non-cancerous prostates.
The finding raises the prospect of one day producing a vaccine.
Previous research has linked XMRV (Xenotropic murine leukaemia virus) to prostate cancer but not specifically to the aggressive form of the disease.
Retrovirus
XMRV is a retrovirus like HIV which works by inserting a copy of its own DNA into the chromosomes of a cell they infect.

We still don't know that this virus causes cancer in people, but that is an important question we are going to investigate. Dr Ila Singh, University of Utah

Where this occurs next to a gene that regulates cell growth it can disrupt the normal development of the cell.
XMRV is known to cause leukaemia and other tumours in animals.
Dr Ila Singh, who led the study from the pathology department at the University of Utah, said: "We still don't know that this virus causes cancer in people, but that is an important question we are going to investigate.
"One of the things peculiar about this virus is that it has an androgen response element - it grows better in the presence of testosterone and possibly other steroid hormones.

PROSTATE CANCER FACTS Most common cancer in men in UK 10,000 die each year Most cases are in those aged 70-74 Higher rates in most deprived populations Source: Cancer Research UK

"This is particularly interesting because if we can prove that it responds to oestrogen it could have a role in other cancers.
"We are already looking at the bodies of 100 women and 100 men, who died from other causes, to see if any other organs carry the virus."
Risk factor
Dr Helen Rippon, Head of Research Management at The Prostate Cancer Charity, said the research was intriguing but posed several key questions about the role the infection plays in prostate cancer.

It is critically important to identify key triggers of prostate cancer to improve early detection Dr Helen Rippon, Prostate Cancer Charity

She said: "Around the world, extensive work is being undertaken to identify risk factors for prostate cancer which will enable treatments and tests for the disease to be refined.
"It is critically important to identify key triggers of prostate cancer to improve early detection of the disease in men with potentially life threatening prostate cancer."
Dr Chris Parker, Cancer Research UK's prostate cancer expert at the Institute of Cancer Research said: "This exciting study raises the possibility that the virus might contribute to the development of some prostate cancers.
"In the future, if it turns out to be true, then we could speculate about the possibility of vaccination to protect against prostate cancer, similar to the approach now used to prevent cervical cancer."

drug cancer link

Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is given to most women with breast cancer

Long-term use of a common breast cancer drug may hike the risk of developing a deadly second tumour, a study suggests.

Tamoxifen, given to thousands of British women, prevents tumours being fuelled by the sex hormone oestrogen, and stops them returning after surgery.

But a US study links use of the drug to a four-fold raised risk of developing a more aggressive, difficult-to-treat tumour, not dependent on oestrogen.

However, women are strongly advised not to stop taking tamoxifen.

Women should be reassured that the benefits of taking hormone-blocking drugs, such as tamoxifen, after their first diagnosis of breast cancer far outweigh any potential risks Dr Alison Ross Cancer Research UK

Experts stress any risks of taking the drug are far outweighed by the benefits.

They said the odds of developing a second, non-hormone sensitive tumour remained very low.

Each year around 45,500 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer and 12,000 die from the disease.

Around two thirds of breast cancers are sensitive to the hormone oestrogen.

Tamoxifen become the "gold standard" treatment for these hormone-sensitive tumours, although in recent years newer drugs have started to be preferred.

The latest study, by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, looked at long-term use of the drug among more than 1,000 women.

The researchers, writing in the journal Cancer Research, found that tamoxifen reduced the chances of oestrogen-positive breast cancer returning by 60%.

But they also found that five or more years of treatment was associated with a 440% increase in the chance of an aggressive, non-hormone sensitive tumour appearing in the opposite breast.

These tumours can be particularly difficult to treat.

Many women in the UK cease tamoxifen treatment after five years to avoid side effects, but several thousand woman have been on the drug for a longer time.

Risks and benefits

Lead researcher Dr Christopher Li said: "It is clear that oestrogen-blocking drugs like tamoxifen have important clinical benefits and have led to major improvements in breast cancer survival rates.

"However, these therapies have risks, and an increased risk of ER negative (oestrogen receptor negative) second cancer may be one of them.

"Still, the benefits of this therapy are well established and doctors should continue to recommend hormonal therapy for breast cancer patients who can benefit from it."

Professor Jack Cuzick, head of Cancer Research UK's Centre for Epidemiology, Mathematics and Statistics at Queen Mary, University of London, stressed that tamoxifen had a proven track record.

He said: "There is overwhelming evidence that tamoxifen, and newer more effective hormone blocking treatments, prevent far more recurrences, new breast cancers and cancer-related deaths than they might stimulate."

Professor Cuzick said some of the non-hormone sensitive tumours recorded in the study may have started out as hormone-sensitive, but had been kept at bay by tamoxifen treatment.

Dr Alison Ross, senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "Women should be reassured that, based on extensive scientific evidence, the benefits of taking hormone-blocking drugs, such as tamoxifen, after their first diagnosis of breast cancer far outweigh any potential risks.

"More research will be needed to confirm the possible link between its long-term use and the relatively rare occurrence of an aggressive form of the disease in the other breast."

cancer gene form oe leukemia

Cancer gene complexity revealed

Leukaemia targets cells in bone marrow which form blood

Scientists have shown just how mind-bogglingly complex are the genetics underpinning the development of cancer.

For the second time a team from Washington University has decoded the complete DNA of a patient with a form of leukaemia.

But the suite of key genetic mutations they found were completely different from those uncovered following analysis of their first patient last year.

The study appears in the New England Journal of Medicine.

What we find may lead us to completely restructure the way we define tumour types Dr Elaine Mardis Washington University

The latest study does reveal some potentially significant findings.

One of the new mutations found in the second patient was also found in samples taken from 15 other patients with the same disease, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

The same mutation is also thought to play a role in the development of a type of brain tumour called a glioma.

A second new mutation was also found in another AML patient.

By using a state-of-art gene sequencing technique, the Washington team became the first to decode the entire genome of a cancer patient last year.

Once they have the full menu of DNA from cancer cells, the researchers can compare it with DNA from healthy cells to pinpoint genetic mutations which probably play a key role in the development of the disease.

The hope is that armed with this information scientists will be able to develop new drugs to target cancer.

Much work to do

But lead researcher Dr Elaine Mardis said: "Only by sequencing thousands of cancer genomes are we going to find and make sense of the complex web of genetic mutations and the altered molecular pathways in this disease.

"What we find may lead us to completely restructure the way we define tumour types and subtypes."

Her colleague Dr Timothy Ley said: "Currently, we don't have great information about how patients with this particular subtype of AML will respond to treatment, so most of them are treated similarly up front.

"By defining the mutations that cause AML in different people, we hope to determine which patients need aggressive treatment, and which can be treated effectively with less intense therapies."

The patient in the latest study was a 38-year-old man who had been in remission for three years.

Analysis revealed 64 genetic mutations which were most likely to play a role in cancer development.

Of these 52 were found in long stretches of DNA that do not contain genes, but which potentially affect how and when neighbouring genes become active.

The researchers compared the results with samples from 187 other AML patients.

They found the same mutation linked to brain tumours in 15 samples, making it one of the most common mutations yet linked to AML.

None of the mutations uncovered from analysis of the first patient was subsequently found in any other AML patient.

Dr Jodie Moffat, Cancer Research UK's senior health information officer, said: "It's exciting that these detailed studies to understand the genetic basis of cancer are now possible due to advances in technology.

"The genetic factors involved in leukaemia are particularly complex, so anything new we can learn is very welcome.

"But further research will be needed before scientists can reveal which parts of the genetic puzzle can actually be used to improve the lives of cancer patients."

cancer

Green tea 'can block cancer'

Green tea may block cancer

Green tea's ability to fight cancer is even more potent and varied than scientists suspected, research suggests.

Scientists already know that green tea contains anti-oxidants which may have a protective effect against cancer.

But now they have discovered that chemicals in the tea also shut down a key molecule which can play a significant role in the development of cancer.

It's likely that the compounds in green tea act through many different pathways Professor Thomas Gasiewicz

The molecule, known as the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor, has the ability to activate genes - but not always in a positive way.

Tobacco smoke and dioxins, in particular, disrupt the functioning of the molecule and cause it to trigger potentially harmful gene activity.

The researchers, from Rochester University, found that two chemicals in green tea inhibit AH activity.

Similar compounds

Both chemicals are similar to compounds called flavonoids, which are found in broccoli, cabbage, grapes and red wine, and which are also known to help prevent cancer.

Researcher Professor Thomas Gasiewicz said: "Green tea may work differently than we thought to exert its anti-cancer activity.

"It's likely that the compounds in green tea act through many different pathways."

The Rochester team showed that the chemicals shut down the AH receptor in cancerous mouse cells.

Early results indicate the same is true in human cells.

However, the scientists say that the results in the laboratory do not necessarily translate to everyday life as the crucial factor is how green tea is broken down inside the body.

In addition, there are a lot of differences between various types of green tea.

Dr Julie Sharp, a science information office at Cancer Research UK, said: "This research describes additional properties of green tea that may be beneficial but which have yet to be tested properly.

"The causes of cancer are complex and both diet and our genetic make-up act together to influence our risk of developing the disease.

"Cancer Research UK is currently involved in a large-scale study of diet and health that is researching the eating habits of over half a million people in 10 European countries to try and help unravel this complexity."

Research has also suggested that green tea may help to reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and to lower cholesterol levels.

The research is published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology.

green tea

Green tea 'may keep HIV at bay'

Drinking green tea could help in the fight against HIV, research suggests.

Scientists found a component called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) prevents HIV from binding to immune system cells by getting there first.

Once EGCG has bound to immune system cells there is no room for HIV to take hold in its usual fashion.

However, experts said the joint UK and US work, which appears in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, was at a very preliminary stage.

We suggest that it should be used in combination with conventional medicines to improve quality of life for those infected Professor Mike Williamson University of Sheffield

Researcher Professor Mike Williamson, of the University of Sheffield, said: "Our research shows that drinking green tea could reduce the risk of becoming infected by HIV, and could also slow down the spread of HIV.

"It is not a cure, and nor is it a safe way to avoid infection, however, we suggest that it should be used in combination with conventional medicines to improve quality of life for those infected.

"Future research is also currently under way in order to determine how much effect can be expected from different amounts of tea."

More work needed

Keith Alcorn, senior editor of the Aidsmap web service, said tests on animals would be needed before any conclusions could be safely drawn on the potential protective effect of drinking green tea.

"This study only looks at the ability of a chemical in green tea to block HIV binding to human CD4 immune cells in the test tube.

"Many substances shown to prevent HIV infection in the test tube turn out to have little or no effect in real life, so I think there's a long way to go before anyone should rely on green tea to protect against HIV infection."

Lisa Power, head of policy at the HIV charity, Terrence Higgins Trust said: "Condoms keep HIV at bay. Anything that boosts your immune system is beneficial for people with HIV, but green tea can't be a substitute for proper medication and prevention techniques."

Green tea has been linked to a positive effect on a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's.

green tea

Green tea 'slows prostate cancer'

Green tea has already been linked to health benefits

A chemical found in green tea appears to slow the progression of prostate cancer, a study has suggested.

Green tea has been linked to a positive effect on a wide range of conditions, including heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

The research, in the US journal Cancer Prevention Research, found a significant fall in certain markers which indicate cancer development.

A UK charity said the tea might help men manage low-risk tumours.

This could mean completely avoiding, in some cases, any of the more usual medical interventions and their associated side effects John Neate, The Prostate Cancer Charity

Although previous studies have shown benefits from drinking green tea - including some positive findings in relation to prostate cancer, there have been mixed results.

In this study, Philadelphia-based researchers tested a compound called Polyphenon E.

They were looking for a number of biomarkers - molecules - including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) which are indicators of developing cancer.

They also looked for prostate specific antigen (PSA) - a protein only found in the prostate. Levels can rise if cancer is present.

'12 cups'

The study included 26 men, aged 41 to 72 years, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and who were scheduled for radical prostate surgery.

Patients took four capsules containing Polyphenon E for an average of 34 days, up until the day before surgery - the equivalent of around 12 cups of normally brewed concentrated green tea.

The study found a significant reduction in levels of HGF, VEGF and PSA, with some patients demonstrating reductions of more than 30%.

Dr James Cardelli, from the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, who led the study, said the compound, which was provided by the company Polyphenon Pharma, "may have the potential to lower the incidence and slow the progression of prostate cancer."

There were only a few reported side effects associated with this study, and liver function remained normal.

Dr Cardelli said: "We think that the use of tea polyphenols alone or in combination with other compounds currently used for cancer therapy should be explored as an approach to prevent cancer progression and recurrence."

"There is reasonably good evidence that many cancers are preventable, and our studies using plant-derived substances support the idea that plant compounds found in a healthy diet can play a role in preventing cancer development and progression."

'Keep progression at bay'

John Neate, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "There have been several studies into green tea and its potential benefits, but there is, as yet, no conclusive evidence.

"The results of this study do suggest that there is merit in further research into the effects of extracts of green tea, both in relation to its impact on the prevention of prostate cancer and in controlling progression in men already diagnosed with the disease, as was investigated in this instance."

"These initial positive findings could indicate that green tea could have a place in 'active surveillance', where a slow-growing, low risk tumour is monitored for changes and men want to take something which could help keep progression at bay.

"Potentially, this could mean completely avoiding, in some cases, any of the more usual medical interventions and their associated side effects."

cancer support bristol

Support groups

A cancer diagnosis means a lot of changes in your life. This group offers support and a safe place for you
to talk about your experience.

It is a confidential and supportive group where you can voice your hopes, fears and frustrations; share ideas and experiences with others, and learn ways to manage the emotional strain of living with cancer.

We offer you a free introductory appointment with the group facilitator. This gives you an opportunity to visit and find out more about the support group and how you could benefit. In addition we can tell you about other services on offer.

Our Support Groups are:-

• professionally led by a member of our
• psychotherapy Team
• limited to a maximum of nine participants
• running during Spring and Autumn every year
• weekly on a Thursday 2-3.30pm for 15 weeks

The next groups starts 19 March 2009 and will run until 15th July 2009. The group costs £5 per session (donation rate is available).

The support group takes place at Penny Brohn Cancer Care, Chapel Pill Lane, Pill, Bristol BS20 0HH.

Click here for directions

To find out more

If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Bookings on 01275 370 111 or email bookings@pennybrohn.org to book a FREE introductory appointment with a group facilitator.

common infections

How infection may spark leukaemia

Common infections may trigger cancer cell growth

Scientists have shown how common infections might trigger childhood leukaemia.

They have identified a molecule, TGF, produced by the body in response to infection that stimulates development of the disease.

It triggers multiplication of pre-cancerous stem cells at the expense of healthy counterparts.

The Institute of Cancer Research study appears in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

While infection is clearly only one factor in triggering progression, this study greatly increases the strength of evidence for its role in the commonest form of childhood leukaemia Dr Shabih Syed Leukaemia Research

Leukaemia occurs when large numbers of white blood cells take over the bone marrow, leaving the body unable to produce enough normal blood cells.

The researchers had already identified a genetic mutation - a fusion of two genes - occurring in the womb that creates pre-leukaemic cells.

These cells then grow in the bone marrow, effectively acting as a silent time bomb that can stay in the body for up to 15 years.

Evidence suggests the mutation may be present in as many as one in 100 newborn babies, but only about one in 100 of these children then go on to develop leukaemia.

This suggests that the cells will only complete the transformation to fully-fledged cancer cells if they exposed to an independent trigger.

The latest study suggests production of TGF in response to an infection could be that trigger.

Because the molecule hugely increases the rate at which the pre-leukaemic cells multiply, this significantly raises the the chance that some will become even further damaged in a way that results in the child developing leukaemia.

Preventative measures

Researcher Professor Mel Greaves said: "Identifying this step means we can determine how an unusual immune response to infection may trigger the development of the full leukaemia and eventually perhaps develop preventative measures such as a vaccine."

Dr Shabih Syed, scientific director at the charity Leukaemia Research, said: "Before this study, there had been only circumstantial evidence to implicate infections in the progression from a child carrying pre-leukaemic cells to actually having leukaemia.

"There was no evidence of the mechanism by which this might happen.

"While infection is clearly only one factor in triggering progression, this study greatly increases the strength of evidence for its role in the commonest form of childhood leukaemia."