Aspirin reduces the risk of esophageal cancer
Telling cancer stories through art
Tomatoes: no prostate protection
Less toxic treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma would help more patients
Cancer survivorship open house June 23
Aspirin reduces the risk of esophageal cancer
Researchers also identify genetic markers that boost risk of developing cancer
People with the most aggressive form of the precancerous condition Barrett's esophagus benefit significantly from preventive therapy with aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs.
Dr. Brian Reid, Dr. Xiaohong Li and Patricia Galipeau, researchers from the Hutchinson Center's Seattle Barrett's Esophagus Program, also for the first time identified a cluster of four known cancer biomarkers, or genetic abnormalities, in people with Barrett's that significantly increases their risk of developing esophageal cancer.
The researchers found that those in the study with three or more of the cancer biomarkers who also used aspirin, ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs had a 30 percent risk of esophageal cancer after 10 years. Those with the same biomarkers who did not use the drugs had a 79 percent risk of developing cancer within a decade of joining the study. In addition, Barrett's patients whose esophageal tissue had none of the genetic abnormalities had a 12 percent risk of developing esophageal cancer after 10 years, while those with three or more of the abnormalities had a nearly 80 percent risk.
Ultimately, the researchers hope these biomarkers one day could be used to identify which Barrett's esophagus patients are most likely to develop esophageal cancer and therefore benefit from aggressive cancer screening and prevention therapy with aspirin and other anti-inflammatories.
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Telling cancer stories through art
There is no word for cancer in most North American native languages, yet cancer is the second-leading cause of death for American Indians and the leading cause of death among Alaska Natives. In an effort to change these statistics, Dr. Scott Ramsey commissioned two Native American artists to use their crafts to communicate the importance of cancer prevention and screening.
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Chholing Taha's button blanket-style painting, entitled "Legend of Octopus Woman and Crow," is part of a pilot study to test culturally relevant ways to communicate about cancer risks. |
In addition to bringing statistics to life, presenting cancer information through the symbolism of storytelling and art is thought to be less intimidating. A common concern among some Native people is the belief that if a person acknowledges a disease or speaks its name, it creates a connection to the disease and perhaps brings it on. "Cancer, in particular, can be seen as a very intelligent, formidable opponent, and so there may be a belief among some healers, out of respect to cancer's power, that you don't call its name casually," said Chholing Taha, an artisan of the Cree/Iroquois First Nations, who created a painting depicting the dangers of cigarette smoking — and the benefits of quitting — in a culturally relevant way. "Art takes you out of the picture and creates a safe learning environment."
Because smoking-related cancer is a major public-health issue in the tribal community, Ramsey enlisted Taha and Sammamish, Wash.-based artist Roger Fernandes for this pilot study.
"Art and storytelling remain very powerful means for communicating information among American Indians and Alaskan Natives and may be the best way to educate people in these communities about health behaviors related to cancer screening and prevention," said Ramsey, who is conducting research on the use of specific cancer-screening services among tribal communities in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
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Tomatoes: no prostate protection
Researchers refute link between lycopene and prostate-cancer prevention, find beta-carotene increases risk of aggressive form of the disease.
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Dr. Ulrike Peters |
They may be nutritious and tasty, but don't count on them to prevent prostate cancer. In a study that received widespread news coverage, researchers at the Hutchinson Center and the National Cancer Institute found that lycopene, an antioxidant predominately found in tomatoes, does not effectively prevent prostate cancer as previous studies had indicated. In fact, the researchers noted an association between beta-carotene, an antioxidant related to lycopene, and an increased risk for aggressive prostate cancer.
The study, one of the largest to evaluate the role of blood concentrations of lycopene and other carotenoid antioxidants in preventing prostate cancer, derived data from more than 28,000 men enrolled in the NCI's ongoing Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Previous studies suggested that a diet rich in lycopene protected against prostate cancer, spurring commercial and public interest in the antioxidant.
"It is disappointing, since lycopene might have offered a simple and inexpensive way to lower prostate-cancer risk for men concerned about this common disease," said Dr. Ulrike Peters, co-author of the study. "Unfortunately, this easy answer just does not work."
Most surprisingly, Peters said, was the relationship between increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer — defined as disease that has spread beyond the prostate — and beta-carotene, another antioxidant found in many vegetables and commonly used as a dietary supplement.
"While it would be counterproductive to advise people against eating carrots and leafy vegetables, I would say to be cautious about taking beta-carotene supplements, particularly at high doses, and consult a physician," Peters said.
Antioxidants protect against free radicals, highly reactive atoms and molecules that can damage DNA and other important molecules in the cell. Since free-radical damage increases with age, there has been a long-held suspicion in the scientific community that free-radical damage could increase the risk of prostate cancer, a disease that has been clearly associated with age.
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Less toxic treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma would help more patients
For many patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the standard treatments can do more harm than good — a frustration that led Center scientists to search for a better way. Their new discovery holds promise for future therapies.
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Dr. Ajay Gopal |
While non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can strike at any age, the average patient age ranges from 60-65. And once it's in remission, it often returns.
Physicians are reluctant to use the standard treatments of stem-cell or bone-marrow transplantation on older adults because of its toxicity. "That basically excludes half of the patients who have this diagnosis," said Dr. Ajay Gopal. However, one treatment first used in younger patients looks promising. Working with monoclonal antibodies, proteins that can bind to cancer cells, physicians are able to deliver high doses of radiation to tumor sites, sparing the surrounding organs. Total-body irradiation or high-dose chemotherapy attacks healthy cells as well as tumor cells, so Gopal believes the targeted approach could be developed into a safer, more effective treatment for older people.
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Cancer survivorship open house June 23
Moving Beyond Cancer to Wellness, the first annual open house of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Survivorship Program, will be held at the Center's Pelton Auditorium on Saturday, June 23, 8 a.m.?2 p.m.
The free program is open to all cancer survivors, their family members and friends. Center researchers and physicians will lead sessions on topics such as cancer-survivor research, memory and cognitive function, nutrition and exercise.
Attendees must register in advance by calling (206) 667-1960 or e-mailing survivor@fhcrc.org.
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