Study sheds new light on transplant, cancer link
Targeted therapies in patients who have undergone organ transplantation could help reduce risk of cancer, new findings suggest.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have discovered that the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine can often lead to cancer by enabling the growth of new tumor-feeding blood cells.
Figures show that 15 to 20 per cent of transplant patients develop cancer within ten years of the surgery.
Senior investigator, Dr Soumitro Pal, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School's Transplantation Research Center at Children's Hospital in Boston, explained: "Once the organ has stabilized, it may be possible to lower the level of vascular endothelial growth factor expression to prevent tumor growth. We would need to figure out how to balance benefit and risk to keep cancer at bay."
Dr Pal added: "It is likely not the whole story, but this gives us a clue that we might be able to use existing or novel therapies to reduce cancer risk in transplanted patients."
The study, published in the latest issue of Cancer Research, was carried out in animal and laboratory experiments.
Health Headlines MORE »
Capsaicin (found in hot peppers) and capsiates (present in sweet peppers) exert modest weight management benefits.
While over 20% of U.S. adults receive periodic health examinations each year, many do not receive recommended preventive screening tests and counseling services
Researchers from Norway suggest a mechanism by which stress may make a person fat, and being obese may create stress.
Swedish researchers report that people who are short on sleep experience greater levels of hunger.
Among women with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), regular physical activity helps to reduce anxiety, irritability, feelings of tension, low energy and pain.
For every 100 mg per-day increase in magnesium in the diet, stroke risk may decline by up to 9%.
The best male marathon runners over age 65, and the best female marathon runners over age 45, continue to consistently improve their performance.
UCLA-led team safely uses human embryonic stem cells to treat macular degeneration.
First-of-its-kind study reports that indoor air in offices is an important source of worker exposure to potentially toxic substances.
Twenty percent of Americans ages 18+ experienced a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in 2010.
