Genetic analysis predicts whether liver cancer likely to recur
October 16, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
New technology makes it possible to study tissue samples locked away for decades
Researchers are poised to unlock the genetic secrets stored in hundreds of thousands of cancer biopsy samples locked in long-term storage and previously thought to be useless for modern genetic research. With the aid of a new technique developed by Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers, scientists can now reconstruct thousands of genes that are “shredded” into tiny pieces when tissue samples are treated with a chemical fixative and stored in wax a protocol that is commonly used to preserve the samples.
Penn researchers find targeted therapy combination overcomes treatment resistance in liver cancer
April 14, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center reported today at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research that combining two targeted therapies overcomes treatment resistance in liver cancer cell lines. The team is currently designing a trial to test the combination in patients.
Combined stenting and photodynamic therapy improves survival in late stage liver cancer patients
March 11, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
A combined therapeutic approach of stenting and photodynamic therapy may improve survival rates for patients suffering from advanced liver bile duct cancer, according to a study published this month in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.
Discovery of good — and bad — liver stem cells raises possibility of new treatment
February 8, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Many scientists believe up to 40 percent of liver cancer is caused by stem cells gone wild master cells in the organ that have lost all growth control. But, despite years spent looking, no one has ever found these liver cancer stem cells or even normal stem cells in the organ. Until now.
Indian medicinal plant Acanthus ilicifolius may combat liver cancer
January 16, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world with a poor prognosis. About three quarters of the cases of liver cancer are found in Southeast Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, India, and Japan. The frequency of liver cancer in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is greater than 20 cases per 100,000 population. Moreover, recent data show the frequency of liver cancer in the U.S. overall is rising.
Proteomic profiling shown more accurate than traditional biomarkers in identifying liver cancer
January 15, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
As the incidence of liver cancer continues to grow– fueled in large part, by rising rates of hepatitis C infections so too does the need for tests to help diagnose the disease at an earlier stage. A study appearing in the January 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research demonstrates that a novel mass-spectrometry based form of proteomic profiling is more accurate than traditional biomarkers in distinguishing liver cancer patients from patients with hepatitis C liver cirrhosis, particularly with regard to identifying patients with small, curable tumors. Led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the study could help lead to earlier diagnostic methods and subsequent treatments — for liver cancer.
Targeting nerve growth factor may cure liver cancer
September 19, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment
Nerve growth factor (NGF), as the name says, is an essential peptide factor for the growth and differentiation of neuronal cells. Therefore we can imagine that this growth factor is important for the nervous system including brain. But a recent scientific report published in the October 7 issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology tells us another surprising and exciting discovery about this growth factor: NGF is positively related with liver cancer, the No.2 killer among all kinds of cancers in the world.
Better life support for artificial liver cells
August 22, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment
Researchers at Ohio State University are developing technology for keeping liver cells alive and functioning normally inside bioartificial liver-assist devices (BLADs).
Such devices enable people who are suffering from acute liver failure to survive while their own liver cells regenerate, or until they receive a liver transplant. The person’s blood or plasma circulates through the device. Inside, living cells — usually pig or human liver cells — perform normal liver functions.
Simple new blood tryout for liver cancer
August 20, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment
A simple new blood tryout can detect early stage liver cancer, according to researchers led by Chitty Chen at the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology and Ghent University in Belgium.
Liver cancer is a major killer in Asia and Africa due to the high prevalence of hepatitis infections that can cause the disease.
Scientists develop new test for liver cancer
August 20, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment
LONDON (Reuters) - A simple blood test can detect early stage liver cancer and more accurately diagnose a disease that is a major killer in Asia and Africa, researchers said on Wednesday.
Current tests include biopsies, imaging and the so-called AFP test in which doctors can detect malignant tumours based on the concentration of particular substances — called markers — in the blood.
