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Daily Cancer News is brought to you by UICC in partnership with the cancer information and support service of the Cancer Council Victoria, Australia. The news items do not reflect the views of either UICC or the Cancer Council Victoria. Daily Cancer News puts together items from various news sources. If you are interested in an item, we suggest you contact the source directly.
12 January 2010
Participate in the online Ask the Expert session on World Cancer Declaration target for "Universal Cancer Pain Control" in cooperation with ESO E-grandrounds
Read more
Women 'too busy' for smear tests
BBC News 07 January 2010 - Practical reasons could be more significant than
emotional ones in explaining why many women miss cervical cancer screenings, a
study suggests.
Read more
Public health, treatment: human trial for leukaemia vaccine
A vaccine for leukaemia is about to be tested on human
patients for the first time in a breakthrough that could offer hope to
thousands. British researchers have developed a treatment that can be used to
stop the disease returning after chemotherapy or a bone-marrow transplant. It
is hoped the drug - which activates the body's own immune system against the
leukaemia - eventually could be used to treat other cancers.
The research will be published in the Journal of Cancer Immunology,
Immunotherapy. The study, led by Professors Ghulam Mufti and Farzin
Farzaneh of King's College London and Dr Nicola Hardwick of University College
London, has developed a virus, similar to HIV, which carries the two genes into
the immune system. Sydney Morning Herald 05/01/10 page 8, West
Australian 05/01/10 page 11.
Pediatric Cancer Survivors at Risk for Diseases that Predispose Them to Heart
Disease - PHILADELPHIA
07 January 2010 - Survivors of pediatric cancer are at greater risk for high
cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure, all of which predispose them to heart
disease. These risk factors for heart disease are being found at an earlier age
than in the general population, according to research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &
Prevention, a journal of the American
Association for Cancer Research.
Scientists Examine the Calorie-Cancer Connection
Could the amount of food energy you take in each day
help determine your odds for developing cancer? It's a hypothesis that's been
gaining traction in recent years, with numerous studies in animals suggesting
that long-term caloric restriction might ward off a number of illnesses and
significantly extend the lifespan.
Now,
part of a major project funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute will seek
to discover whether reducing daily caloric intake can reduce the risk for
cancer in humans. As described July 14 in the NCI Cancer Bulletin, the
$54 million, 5-year Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC)
initiative is a collaboration between nutritionists, molecular biologists,
epidemiologists and others, focused on the diet-exercise-cancer nexus.
Caloric
restriction "is the most potent broadly acting dietary intervention we know
of that actually prevents cancer in experimental models," Dr. Stephen
Hursting, former deputy director of the NCI's Division of Cancer Prevention and
now chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Texas,
told the
Bulletin.
As
part of the TREC initiative, Drs. Cornelia Ulrich and Anne McTiernan of the
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, are looking at whether women
who undergo months of caloric restriction show alterations in certain
cancer-linked markers in the blood. Women in the diet arms of the study will be
asked to consume between 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day-well below the typical
1,700 to 1,800 daily calories per day consumed by older women in the general
population, as noted in a recent CDC survey.
The
goal is to have women in the caloric-restriction cohort lose 10 percent of
their weight within the first 6 months of the study, and then use blood samples
to check for changes in markers of DNA damage and lymphocyte repair, as well as
markers of inflammation such as interleukin 6, serum amyloid A and C-reactive
protein.
The
above markers have been linked to increased cancer risk and poorer prognosis
after a cancer diagnosis. "We want to know whether health benefits for
cancer can be achieved if women exercise regularly, even if they do not lose
much weight or, alternatively, if weight loss is essential, which is achieved
more easily through caloric restriction," Dr. Ulrich told the Bulletin. "We can also figure out
whether body fat loss or other changes in body composition are critical to
reduce risk factors for cancer, or whether an increase in fitness is equally
important."
A
prior study did find vigorous exercise to be linked to a decrease in C-reactive
protein, while more sedentary participants showed a rise in the inflammatory
marker.
The
NCI-funded team should have more answers soon: the first results from the
Seattle-based TREC trial are due to be reported early in 2010.
..............................................................................................................
01 December 2009
2010 UICC World Cancer Congress -
Pre-Conference Workshop
Facilitated by the International
Cancer Information Service Group in cooperation with the UICC
"Setting Up a Cancer Information Service" - August 18, 2010
A Cancer Information Service (CIS)
provides accurate and up-to-date information to cancer patients, their families
and friends, health care professionals, and the public by telephone, email, the
internet, or in person.
At the 2010 UICC World Cancer
Congress in Shenzhen, China, a pre-conference workshop will be presented by the
International Cancer Information Service Group (ICISG) in collaboration with
the UICC. ICISG is an organization of more than 50 member organizations from
30+ countries. It provides assistance to cancer organizations interested in
starting or expanding Cancer Information Services.
This workshop will present a basic
framework and key elements of a successful CIS based on world-wide experience.
The workshop is designed for organizations interested in starting a cancer
information service or enhancing an existing CIS.
Expert facilitators include Marion
Morra, Director, Morra Communications , USA, Assoc Professor Michael Jefford,
Consultant, Doreen Akkerman, Director, Dr Amanda Hordern, Deputy Director,
Cancer Information and Support Service, Cancer Council Victoria, Martin
Ledwick, Head Nurse, Cancer Research UK. Mobnika Presley, Manager, German
Cancer Research Centre. All have many years experience developing
and maintaining cancer information services including educating staff to
help them achieve gold standard practice.
This workshop is especially
helpful for developing countries that may need more assistance. Board Members
of the ICISG then provide a mentor program for new cancer information services.
Participation is free, but the
course is limited to 50 people who have registered for the UICC Congress.
Participants should have good English language skills. For more information, go
to www.icisg.org.
To pre-register, contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Preparations for the 2010 World
Cancer Congress are well on the way and excitement is growing as we prepare to
open on 30 November 2009 online registrations, abstract submissions and travel
grant applications. For the 1st time in 16 years, the World Cancer Congress is
returning to Asia with a scientific programme that will address the world's
current and future challenges in cancer prevention, cancer treatment, patient
care and tobacco control. A broad and diverse curriculum will be presented by
leading international and regional experts with emphasis on placing
presentations in the context of the World Cancer Declaration targets. The
fascinating town of Shenzhen (just outside Hong Kong) will be host to this
milestone congress where international, regional and national cancer
professionals will meet, learn and exchange ideas and knowledge to take us all
one step closer to eliminating cancer as a major life threatening disease for
future generations. We invite you to:
Discover
highlights of the programme
Four tracks
developed around the eleven targets of the World Cancer Declaration will take
delegates to get insights into the latest developments in prevention,
treatment, patient care and tobacco control. New in 2010 is the introduction of
cross-track sessions which have a broader scope and approach issues from a
multidisciplinary perspective. Finally plenaries will explore evidence on which
frameworks can be built and thereafter action plans developed to eliminate
cancer as a life threatening disease for future generations
Read more <http://2010.worldcancercongress.org/scientificprogramme3011>
Radical hysterectomy better than
radiotherapy for early cervical cancer 2009-11-27 NEW
YORK (Reuters Health) - For women with early-stage cervical cancer, outcomes
and survival are better with surgery than with radiation treatment, according
to researchers. However, the advantage is limited to women with tumors 6 cm in
size or less. Dr. Jason D. Wright, of Columbia University College of Physicians
and Surgeons, New York, and colleagues used data from the Surveillance,
Epidemiology, and End Results database to compare survival for women with
early-stage (stage IB1-IIA) cervical cancer who were treated with primary
radiation or radical hysterectomy. The report was published in the November
issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2009;201:485e1-9.
Read more
Disagreement over USPSTF Recommendation
to Discontinue PSA Screening in Men at Age 75 2009-11-27 - Researchers
from Duke University have concluded that 78% of men 75 years of age or older
disagree with the recommendations of the U.S. Preventative Task Force (USPSTF)
to not screen with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer. They
also pointed out that men aged >/= 75 years had higher risk disease and
poorer survival than younger men. The details of this study were published
early online in
Urology on October 6, 2009.
Read more
H. pylori eradication does not eliminate
cancer risk with chronic atrophic gastritis 2009-11-27 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Although
Helicobacter pylori eradication markedly delays the development of gastric
cancer, people with extensive chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) remain at high
risk for gastric cancer after the organism has been cleared, researchers from
Japan report. "H. pylori eradication is considered to be an effective
strategy for reducing the risk of gastric cancer development. However, H.
pylori eradication does not tell the whole story," Dr. Masao Ichinose, of
Wakayama Medical University, told Reuters Health. The investigators report in
the December 15 issue of the International
Journal of Cancer. 2009;125:2697-2703.
Read more
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18 November 2009
Major Advances in Clinical Cancer
Research in 2009: A Report From ASCO November 17, 2009 - This year's annual report on clinical
cancer advances from the America Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) highlights
15 studies described as "major advances" and 51 studies considered to
be "notable advances." Each of the studies highlighted has
"significantly altered the way a cancer is understood or had an important
impact on patients care," the report notes.
Read more
Folic Acid Fortification Might Boost
Cancer Risk TUESDAY, Nov. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Although folic acid
fortification of foods can prevent many birth defects, it may also increase the
risk for developing cancer, Norwegian researchers report. Since 1998, many
countries have mandated folic acid (vitamin B9) fortification of foods to
decrease the incidence of neural-tube defects in newborns. By October 2009, the
flour produced in these countries, plus the flour that is fortified
voluntarily, represented 30 percent of the world's wheat flour produced in
large mills. In addition, some 40 percent of those living in the United States
also take dietary supplements containing folic acid, the researchers noted. The
report is published in the Nov. 18 issue of the Journal of the American
Medical Association.
Read more
Folate levels affect breast cancer risk
with MTHFR variant 2009-11-16NEW YORK (Reuters
Health) - High plasma folate levels increase breast cancer risk among women
with the MTHFR 677T polymorphism, say researchers from Sweden in the November American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In a study of 313 women with breast cancer and 626 matched
controls, Dr. Ericson's team examined whether plasma folate could be related to
the MTHFR 677C-T and 1298A-C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and whether
plasma folate was associated with invasive breast cancer in subgroups of women
according to these SNPs. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90:1380-1389.
Read more
Texting helps people get sun-smart 2009-11-17 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Texting
people to remind them to wear sunscreen daily actually works, research shows.
People who got text messages each morning with a brief local weather report
followed by a prompt like "slap on some sunscreen today" were twice
as likely to use sunscreen as people who didn't get the texts, Dr. April W.
Armstrong of the University of California-Davis Health System in Sacramento and
her colleagues found. Study participants who received the reminders still went
without sunscreen a lot of the time -- about 4 in 10 days, on average, the
researchers report in
the Archives of Dermatology, November
2009.
Read more
Lyrica® Decreases Hot Flashes in Women
with Breast Cancer 2009-11-17-
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have reported that Lyrica® (pregabalin,
[S]-3-[aminomethyl]-5-methylhexanoic acid) is effective for the treatment of hot
flashes in women with breast cancer. The details of this study appeared in an
early online publication on November 9, 2009 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Read more
..............................................................................................................
13 November 2009
Thyroid cancer may be more common near volcanoes 2009
-11-10 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who live in volcanic areas may have
an elevated risk of developing thyroid cancer, a new study suggests.Journal of
the National Cancer Institute.
Read more
Breast MRI best for finding mammographically occult cancers
2009 -
11-09
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - MRI of the breast has the
greatest potential, compared with digital mammography or whole-breast
ultrasound, for detecting cancers missed by film screen mammogram, study
findings indicate. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2009.
Read more
Cancer recurs in 'dense' breasts 2009- 11 -09 BBC News -- Women treated for breast cancer are at a higher risk of a
relapse if they have "dense" breasts, say researchers. Those with
denser breasts are four times more likely to see their cancer return, compared
to women with less dense breasts, says the journal Cancer.
Read more
Bubbles used to find cancer cells
2009 - 11-09 BBC News
--- A new technique using tiny bubbles to detect cancer has been developed by
clinicians at a hospital in Kent. The
results, which were published in the British Journal of Surgery, suggested that
breast cancer patients could avoid repeat surgery.
Read more
Cholesterol may affect prostate cancer 2009
-11-09 Brisbane Times --- Men may protect more than their hearts if they
control their cholesterol: Their chances of getting aggressive prostate cancer
may be lower, new research suggests.
Read more
..............................................................................................................
04 November 2009
Women with Small HER2-Positive Breast
Cancers Have Significantly Greater Risk of Recurrence, Metastasis and May
Benefit from Adjuvant Trastuzumab Therapy - November 2, 2009 - Two retrospective studies led by
researchers in the United States and Italy report that women with HER2-positive
breast cancers 1 cm or less in diameter that have not spread to the lymph nodes
("node-negative" tumors) have a risk of recurrence that is two to five times greater
than that of women with HER2-negative breast cancers. The U.S. study also
identified an increased risk of metastasis among women with small HER2-positive
tumors, compared to those with HER2-negative tumors. two studies being
published online November 2, 2009, in the Journal
of Clinical Oncology
Read more
Working with poultry linked to certain
cancers
2009-11-02 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Poultry
workers may be at particularly high risk of developing several forms of cancer,
according to a new study that points to viruses carried by birds as a possible
cause. The findings come from an ongoing effort by researchers to identify
job-related illnesses in the nation's 250,000 poultry processing workers. It
found higher than expected rates of cancers of the sinuses, mouth and blood, as
well as other forms of the disease, in poultry plant employees. Cancer Causes & Control, Published Online October 22,
2009.
Read more
Many doctors overuse Pap testing: survey Nov 2, 2009 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many U.S. primary
care doctors are out of step with guidelines on Pap testing for cervical cancer
-- largely because they overuse the test, according to a study published
Monday. In a survey of more than 1,200 primary care doctors nationwide,
government researchers found that less than one-quarter made Pap-test
recommendations that were fully consistent with major guidelines. And the
problem appeared not to be that doctors were failing to recommend testing, but
that they were overusing it, according to the researchers, led by Dr. K. Robin
Yabroff of the U.S. National Cancer Institute. They report the findings in the
latest issue of the
Annals of Internal Medicine.
Read more
Iron infusions do not cut blood
transfusions with colorectal cancer surgery 2009-11-02 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Intravenous
infusions of iron sucrose before planned colorectal cancer surgery do not
reduce perioperative blood transfusions, according to a report in the British Journal of Surgery for October 9. 2009;96:1122-1128.
Read more
Addition of Capecitabine and Gemcitabine
Improves Outcomes in Pancreatic Cancer 2009-11-02 - Researchers affiliated with the Swiss Group for
Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) and the Central European Cooperative Oncology
Group (CECOG) have reported that the addition of capecitabine (Xeloda®) to gemcitabine
(Gemzar® ) improves outcomes of patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic
cancer. The details of this study appeared early online October 26, 2009 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Read more
Treatment: Leukaemia drug hunts killer
cells
Scientists have discovered a drug they
say can kill malignant leukaemia cells. Tests show PBOX-15 can even destroy
cancerous cells from adults whose health outlook is poor because of the
disease's resistance to existing treatments. Laboratory experiments found it is
effective at killing malignant cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic
leukaemia (CLL), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, while it spares normal
cells.Researchers at Trinity College Dublin, in partnership with University of
Siena, Italy, say the findings show "significant potential" as the
first of its kind.
Professor Mark Lawler, of TCD's School of Medicine, said:
"We are still at an early stage. We have to move it on to see if there are
any side effects and bring it forward as a potential therapy for patients. But
it's very exciting. We want to give hope to cancer patients." However, he
warned that it could take three to five years for the drug to be able to save
lives. The new study, published in the international journal Cancer Research,
shows that PBOX-15 works by interfering with the structure of cancerous cells,
activating a mechanism which kills the cells, even chemotherapy-resistant
cells.
Courier Mail, 4/11/09, p15
Psycho-oncology (UK) Information &
Help: The site was designed to offer useful
resources for healthcare professionals and patients and families to best detect,
measure and treat psychological distress www.psych-oncology.info
Low cholesterol may be sign of
undiagnosed cancer 2009-11-03 CHICAGO (Reuters) - Low total
cholesterol may be a sign of cancer rather than a cause, as some researchers
have suggested, and men who have low cholesterol actually have a lower risk of
developing high-risk prostate cancer, two teams reported on Tuesday. Both
studies, reported in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, shed new light on the role of cholesterol and cancer. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention Online Nov. 3, 2009
Read more
Smoking Cessation Leads to Reduction in
Risk of Head and Neck Cancer
2009-11-03 - Researchers
involved in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium have
reported that smoking cessation for one to four years resulted in a 30%
reduction in the risk of head and neck cancer. A benefit of cessation of
alcohol drinking, however, was not observed until after 20 years or more. The
details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the International Journal of Epidemiology on October 5, 2009.
Read more
Hormones Plus Radiation Ups Survival in
Prostate Cancer
November 03, 2009 CHICAGO -- Short-term androgen deprivation
therapy significantly improved survival when added to radiation therapy for
intermediate-risk prostate cancer, data from a large, multicenter clinical
trial showed. The four-month hormonal regimen plus radiation therapy was
associated with a 10-year survival of 62% compared with 57% among men who
received radiation therapy alone. The results provided an answer to a question that
had persisted for years.The study was presented at the American Society for
Radiation Oncology meeting.
Read more
Holding on to hope may not bring
happiness 2009-11-03 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Sometimes,
when living with a serious illness, the best hope for happiness may be simply
to give up hope. That's according to a group of researchers who discovered a
"dark side of hope" studying a group of adults who had new
colostomies: their colons were removed and they had to have bowel movements in
a pouch that lies outside their body. Sometimes the procedure can be reversed
after the bowel has healed. But depending on the reason for bowel surgery, the
procedure may be permanent. The report was published in the latest issue of Health Psychology, November 2009
Read more
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02 November 2009
NSAIDs linked to lower mortality after colorectal cancer diagnosis
2009-10-29 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who regularly use nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have better survival after a colorectal cancer
(CRC) diagnosis, research indicates. "A wide body of evidence links use of
NSAIDs to a reduced risk of CRC," Dr. Jason A. Zell, from the University
of California, Irvine, and colleagues note in the October 13 online issue of
Cancer. Until now, however, "potential survival benefits associated
with NSAID use" had not been established.
Read more
Anticonvulsants thought to inhibit chemotherapy actually prolong
glioblastoma survival
2009-10-28 NEW YORK (Reuters
Health) - Glioblastoma patients treated for seizures with enzyme-inducing
anticonvulsant (EIAC) drugs survive longer and have slower disease progression
than patients treated with other anticonvulsants. This paradoxical finding,
reported in the Oomes from a cross-sectional
analysis of data from three nonsimultaneous trials involctober issue of Neurology, cving glioblastoma
patients, all administered by the Mayo Clinic. Neurology 2009;73:1207-1213.
Read more
Knowledge Deficits Limit Use of HPV Vaccine in Young Women 2009-10-29 - Researchers from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Upstate
Medical University and the State University of New York at Buffalo have
reported that knowledge and risk perceptions among college students limits
vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV). The details of this study appeared
in an early on-line publication in Sexually
Transmitted Infections on October 19, 2009
Read more
Using ice cream to combat side effects of chemo 2009-10-29 WELLINGTON
(Reuters Life!) - New Zealand scientists are developing an ice cream that is so
good for you, it could come with a doctor's prescription. Researchers at the
University of Auckland are working with dairy giant Fonterra to create a
"medical dessert" which has shown encouraging signs in combating the
side effects of chemotherapy in cancer sufferers. The ice cream, called
ReCharge, is using active ingredients from dairy products to relieve diarrhoea,
anemia and lack of appetite in people undergoing chemotherapy.
Read more
Liquid-based cytology not better than Pap test at detecting
cervical neoplasia
2009-10-27 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Liquid-based cytology is no better
than conventional Pap tests in detecting cervical cancer precursors, according
to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association for
October 28. Liquid-based cytology was developed as an alternative to
conventional cervical cytology, in the hopes of reducing the false-negative and
false-positive test results seen with the older method, Albertus G. Siebers,
from Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands, and colleagues
note. In addition, because of how it is performed, liquid-based cytology allows
reflex human papillomavirus testing and other molecular tests to be done as
well. JAMA 2009;302:1757-1764,1809-1810.
Read more
HPV Vaccination Not Cost-effective for Women over 30 Years of Age
2009-10-27 Researchers from
the Harvard School of Public Health have reported that human papillomavirus
vaccination for prevention of cervical cancer is not cost-effective in women
between the ages of 35 and 45 years. The details of this report appeared in the
October 20, 2009 issue of the Annals of
Internal Medicine 2009;151:538-545.
Read more
Nulliparity, late age at first childbirth linked to aggressive
breast cancer 2009-10-28NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Nulliparity and late-life first childbirth are associated with more aggressive
breast cancer, according to Swedish researchers. "We found that
nulliparous women had a statistically significant high risk of grade III and
HER2 over-expressing tumors," Dr. Salma Butt, of Malmo University Hospital,
Sweden, and colleagues write in the October 15th issue of the International Journal of Cancer 2009;125:1926-1934.
Read more
Families with Lynch syndrome have 8-fold higher risk of pancreatic
cancer 2009-10-27 NEW YORK (Reuters
Health) - The risk of pancreatic cancer in families with Lynch syndrome is more
than 8 times higher than in the general population, according to a paper in the
October 28 issue of the Journal of the
American Medical Association. 2009;302:1790-1795.
Read more
Scientists say curry compound kills cancer cells 2009-10-28LONDON (Reuters) - A molecule
found in a curry ingredient can kill esophageal cancer cells in the laboratory,
suggesting it might be developed as an anti-cancer treatment, scientists said
on Wednesday. Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Center in Ireland treated
esophageal cancer cells with curcumin -- a chemical found in the spice
turmeric, which gives curries a distinctive yellow color -- and found it
started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours. The cells also began to digest
themselves, they said in a study published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Read more
American Cancer Society Focuses on Risks of Pollution
October
28, 2009 - Although many carcinogens have been removed from working and living
environments, many potential hazards remain, including building materials,
additives or contaminants in food and water, and pollutants, indoors and out,
the American Cancer Society reported in a major statement on environmental
dangers. The statement is part of an ACS program to explore and elucidate the
links between pollution and cancer, including a position statement outlining
the organization's methods, goals, and overall role in prevention. Elizabeth
T.H. Fontham, DrPH, of Louisiana State University in New Orleans, and
colleagues wrote in November/December issue of CA: A
Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Read more
Data Suggest IBD Link to Skin Cancer
October
27, 2009 SAN DIEGO -- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases the risk of
nonmelanoma skin cancer by 60%, most of which comes from patients treated with
thiopurine drugs, according to a study reported here. The findings provide
objective data to support speculation that patients with inflammatory bowel
disease might have an increased risk of skin cancer. The findings of a new
retrospective cohort study was presented at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2009 Annual
Scientific Meeting.
Read more
..............................................................................................................
23 October 2009
Low income linked to poorer breast cancer survival 2009-10-19 NEW YORK (Reuters
Health) - Lower-income women appear less likely to survive breast cancer than
their more-affluent counterparts, and later diagnosis may largely explain why,
a new study suggests. Using data on more than 100,000 U.S. women diagnosed with
breast cancer between 1998 and 2002, the study found that those living in
economically depressed areas had poorer survival rates through the end of 2005.
These latest findings suggest that later diagnosis may largely explain why,
according to study author Dr. Xue Qin Yu, a researcher at Cancer Council New
South Wales, Australia. The findings were published in the online journal
BMC Cancer October 13, 2009.
Read more
Bowel disease drugs increase cancer risk: study 2009-10-19 LONDON (Reuters)
- Some treatments for inflammatory bowel disease increase the risk of
infection-related cancers, French scientists said on Monday, but the benefits
of the drugs still outweigh the risks. Thiopurine drugs -- immunosuppressive
medicines that inhibit the body's immune system -- are regularly used to treat
inflammatory bowel disease, the researchers said, but can increase the risk of
cancers linked to viral infections. The
Lancet, online October 19, 2009.
Read more
Premature delivery common after cancer diagnosis 2009-10-19 NEW YORK (Reuters
Health) - Iatrogenic preterm delivery is common among women diagnosed with
invasive cancer during pregnancy, a new multicenter study shows The study,
published online in the Journal of Clinical
Oncology, involved 215 women who received
diagnoses of invasive cancers during pregnancy between 1998 and 2008.
Read more
Obesity: obesity link to cancer could help us lose appetite
Cancer of the oesophagus comes with a statistic that
is hard to swallow - its incidence has surged 400 per cent in 40 years. While
the figure is dramatic, Associate Professor Ian Norton says at least one reason
is easy to identify. The rise in new cases had occurred as waistlines expanded
across affluent western countries. "We think that a lot of the
attributable increasing risk is due to increasing obesity...at least 50 per
cent or more of the increase [in incidence]," Dr Norton, who is director
of the endoscopy unit at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, said. "Why
it has gone up so much and so dramatically, I can't explain the entire
increase...but obesity has a lot to do with it." There is another factor
that points to the role of obesity. There are two types of cancer of the
oesophagus - squamous cell cancer, which is caused by smoking, and
adenocarcinoma that is linked to chronic reflux. The rise in cases is only seen
in adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. It accounts for the bulk of Australia's
1000 new cases of oesophageal cancer every year, while reduced levels of
smoking have led to fewer cases of the other type. Hobart Mercury, 20/10/09, p15; AAP Newswire, 20/10/09; Daily
Telegraph, 20/10/09, p7
..............................................................................................................
22 October 2009
Adjuvant Radiotherapy May Improve Survival in Stage III Node-positive Uterine Cancer 16/10/09 -Researchers from the University of California at San Francisco have reported that adjuvant radiotherapy improves survival of women with stage III node-positive uterine cancer. The details of this study appeared in the November, 2009 issue of Gynecologic Oncology 2009;115:239-43.
Read more
Mice study gives clue to how breast cancer spreads Oct 18, 2009 LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists who watched tumor cells spread in living mice said on Sunday they had found a gene signal controlling how cancer cells move, which could help companies design new drugs to fight the disease. Scientists working for Cancer Research UK used hi-tech imaging techniques to watch how breast cancer cells spread in mice. They found that a genetic signal, known as TGF-beta, was crucial to whether cells moved as single entities or in clumps. The study was reported in the journal Nature Cell Biology.
Read more
Testicular Cancer Treatment Creates Its Own Problems October 16, 2009 Although it is usually clinically successful, treatment for testicular cancer can create a variety of short- and long-term problems for patients, many unrelated to the original disease, a literature review revealed. Testicular cancer survivors face elevated mortality rates unrelated to their primary malignancy and higher risk of serious long-term effects, including cardiovascular morbidity and second cancers, according to Sophie D. Fosså, MD, of the Norwegian Radium Hospital at the University of Oslo, Norway, and colleagues. The study was reported in the November issue of British Journal of Urology International 2009; 104; 1418-22.
Read more
Second HPV Vaccine Approved in U.S. October 16, 2009 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Cervarix®, a vaccine against two high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), for prevention of cervical cancer and cervical precancers. This is the second HPV vaccine to be approved in the United States.
Read more
Risk: mobiles health risk
French health authorities have recommended reducing exposure to mobile phones and other portable wireless devices, pre-empting the release of a major study into the health risks of radio frequency fields.
But Australian scientists attacked the response as a "cultural reaction" not based on science. Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffects Research executive officer Professor Rodney Croft said the French were responding to public concern, not scientific evidence.
"In terms of actual research showing if even the higher levels [of radio frequency] we are exposed to have any relationship to health, there really isn't anything at the moment," he said.
"This is an attempt to take a precautionary principle, not based on science but on people's general motivation to be as healthy as possible." Existing studies had shown "no realistic possibility" of long-term problems, he said.
French Health and Security Agency director Martin Guespereau this week said "the time for inaction has passed" on mobile and wireless devices.
He pointed out that despite patchy scientific evidence for any problems, the technology bad been widely used for barely a decade not long enough to study long-term impacts from exposure.
The French agency has recommended parents limit the exposure of children particularly.
Australia's Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency said there was no clear evidence of a public health hazard from the devices. But it had not ruled out the possibility of a "small risk" from mobile phone use. It recommended worried users spend less time on the phone, use phones with external antennas and hands-free attachments.
Monash University epidemiologist Professor Michael Abramson said being as cautious as possible was generally good advice.
The Interphone study, a major study, overseen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, is expected to be released by the end of the year. Daily Telegraph, 17/10/09, p18
International Brain tumour Association (IBTA)
Awareness Week and World Walk: The International Brain Tumour Awareness Week (1-7 November) is almost upon us. We wish to thank the record number of 176 brain tumour and cancer-related organisations who have supported the IBTA's Week and Walk this year. Dozens of events have been planned (see: www.theibta.org <http://www.theibta.org/>) . With a combined total of 150,598 walking kms achieved to date we are in sight of our World Walk target of 200,000 kms (five times around the World at the Equator).
Oncology Update:
Women on HRT with breast tenderness were 50% more likely to develop breast cancer. New-onset breast tenderness a marker for breast cancer risk
Postmenopausal women who experience new-onset breast tenderness after starting combination hormone therapy may face increased risk for breast cancer, researchers say. The study examined data on 17,000 Women's Health Initiative participants who were randomised to receive oestrogen-progestin or placebo daily.
Women with new-onset breast tenderness (NOBT) at 12 months who were taking hormones were almost 50% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer during 5.6 years' follow-up, compared to those without tenderness, the researchers reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine. In the placebo group, breast cancer risk was not significantly associated with new-onset breast tenderness. The sensitivity and specificity of breast tenderness for predicting cancer risk were 41% and 64%, respectively - which the authors said were similar to values for the
Gail model and raised the possibility that breast tenderness during therapy with conjugated equine oestrogens plus medroxyprogesterone may identify high-risk women. The study authors said the association between NOBT and breast cancer has biological plausibility. "Breast discomfort may be a clinical manifestation of increased proliferation that is manifest radiographically as increased breast density," they said. Their findings "should be considered by ... prescribing physicians to inform decisions regarding continued combined hormone therapy," they concluded. Arch Intern Med 2009; 169:1684-1691.
High intensity exercise reduces fatigue:
High intensity exercise is safe for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and is associated with a range of emotional, functional and physiological benefits, a Danish study concludes. Researchers allocated 269 cancer patients to a supervised exercise regime of high and low intensity training nine hours weekly or conventional care.
At 6 weeks, those in the exercise group had less fatigue and reported improved vitality, aerobic capacity and physical and functional activity. They were also stronger and had better general and emotional wellbeing.
By the end of the study period, patients in the exercise group were also able to partake in demanding activities without health related constraints and also showed significant improvement in terms of mental health. In line with other recent studies, no participants reported significant improvements to their quality of life, which shows high intensity exercise is "not able to overcome the overall complexity of patients' negatively affected situation", the study authors wrote in the BMJ. They noted that a limitation of the study was the 71% adherence rate and a 53% recruitment rate. Furthermore, they said the good performance status (WHO 0-1) of the study group and the exclusion of
people with brain or bone metastases meant the intervention may need to be modified in patients with a performance status of 2 or greater. "Our results show small to medium effect sizes across a broad spectrum of physical and emotional wellbeing scales...we found a reduction in fatigue which we consider to be of importance to the patients' daily lives," they concluded. BMJ 2009;339:b3410
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14 October 2009
Cancer Capacity Building Fund - deadline for submission 31 October 2009
Let's us help you to be successful!
UICC has just launched its third call for projects in the framework of Cancer Capacity Building Fund.
The Fund offers grants for development of communication tools, information distribution including translation and adaptation of materials, community awareness events, radio and TV related activities, patient information advocacy and/or peer support, grant-writing skills, volunteer development, advertisement and marketing. The projects should address key needs and challenges that local communities face in cancer prevention.
The Fund is restricted to voluntary organizations that are located in resource-constrained countries.
Applications can be sent also in French and Spanish!
For more information, please visit: www.uicc.org/capacityfund
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Unnecessary Mastectomies Called Uncommon October 13, 2009 Mastectomy may not be as overused as commonly thought, according to a population-based survey showing that doctors recommend and attempt local resection in most early stage breast cancer cases. While one-third of patients surveyed ultimately had a mastectomy, physicians initially attempted breast conserving surgery on 75% of women overall, Monica Morrow, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and colleagues reported in the Oct. 14 Journal of the American Medical Association 2009;302:1551-1556.
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Pros and cons seen with minimally invasive vs. open radical prostatectomy 2009-10-13NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - While minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP) offers certain advantages over open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP), such as a shorter hospital stay, it also suffers from disadvantages, such as a higher rate of genitourinary complications, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction, new research shows. The study was reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association for October 14 2009;302:1557-1564.
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First-line chemo for colon cancer should not include planned discontinuation 2009-10-13NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In patients receiving first-line treatment for metastatic colon cancer, planned complete discontinuation of chemotherapy had a negative impact on duration of disease control and progression-free survival in the multicenter GERCOR OPTIMOX2 study. The objectives of discontinuing chemotherapy include avoiding the toxicity of oxaliplatin and improving patients' quality of life, the authors explain in the September 28th Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Mother can pass on cancer in womb 12 October 2009 - Scientists have proved that it is possible for a mother's cancer cells to be passed to her unborn child. There are very rare cases where a mother and child appear to share the same cancer, but in theory the child's immune system should block the cancer. However, an analysis by a British-led team of one such case shows the cells which caused leukaemia in the child could only have come from the mother. The study appears inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Certain Prophylactic Medications Reduce Risk for Breast Cancer but May Increase Other Risks October 13, 2009 - Medications used prophylactically to reduce the risk for primary breast cancer are linked to an increased risk for thromboembolic events (tamoxifen, raloxifene), endometrial cancer (tamoxifen), or stroke (tibolone), according to the results of a systematic review reported in the September 14 Online First issue and will appear in the November 17 print issue of theAnnals of Internal Medicine.
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Detection: spider pill creeps up on cancer in the gut
A new way to scan for diseases, including stomach or colon cancers, using a remote control "spider pill" camera with moving legs has been hailed by scientists in Italy. Experts believe the device, which is swallowed by the patient and controlled by doctors using a wireless connection, could transform the difficult and invasive process of diagnosing serious conditions. The pill, which contains a tiny camera, is also fitted with tiny legs that can be activated remotely once it is inside the colon or intestine. The legs protrude outwards and are movable in order to make the device "crawl" inside the patient like a spider. It can be moved back and forth, giving doctors more flexibility during the examination.
University Hospital Tor Vergata cancer specialist Enrico Grasso said the invention could reduce the use of endoscopes, that many patients find so uncomfortable they refuse treatment.
Pills containing cameras already exist but this is believed to be the first that can be controlled after it has been swallowed. Once the examination has finished, the spider pill exits the body naturally. It has been successfully tested on pigs but more trials are needed before it can be used by doctors.West Australian, 14/10/09, p48
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08-09 October 2009
Free screening for bowel cancer in Australia boosts detection and saves 05/10/09 The Australian - Nearly one-third of people diagnosed with bowel cancer aged 55 and 65 found out they had the disease only because they took up the offer of a free screening test -- a decision likely, in at least some cases, to save their lives. The first attempted evaluation of the national bowel cancer screening program shows that 29 per cent of patients aged 55 and 65 who were diagnosed with bowel cancer within the first two years of the scheme's launch in 2006, were picked up as a result of their participation. The research was published in the Medical Journal of Australia
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Novel breast tissue feature may predict woman's cancer risk 05/10/09 ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Mayo Clinic researchers have found that certain structural features within healthy breast tissue can indicate a woman's individual cancer risk. The findings appear online today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study shows that acini (AS-ih-nye), the small milk-producing elements in breast lobules, can be counted in sample biopsies. The percentage of acini present per lobule at a given age indicates cancer risk. Researchers say this method is more accurate in predicting risk for an individual than the Gail model (see National Cancer Institute).
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No major pregnancy complications seen in childhood cancer survivors 2009-10-05 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men and women who had cancer as children or adolescents are not generally at increased risk for major complications during pregnancy or for infant malformations or death, according to two papers in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine for October. 2009;163:879-894.
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Clothing size may serve as a proxy measure for body size 2009-10-05 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Self-reported clothing size correlates well with waist circumference and hip circumference in men and women, according to Dutch researchers. Furthermore, clothing size appears to predict cancer risk independently of body mass index. "Waist and hip measurement reflect intra-abdominal fat accumulation, which is an important risk factor for a number of diseases," Dr. Laura A. E. Hughes, of Maastricht University, the Netherlands, and colleagues write in the September issue of Epidemiology. 2009;20:673-676.
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Study Backs Deferred Brain Irradiation for Metastases October 05, 2009 Cancer patients with brain metastases had a significant decline in cognitive function when whole-brain radiation therapy was added to stereotactic radiosurgery, a small randomized study showed. On the basis of that analysis, investigators ended the trial prematurely, with about two-thirds of the planned enrollment, according to a report published online in The Lancet Oncology.
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High fiber intake linked to reduced risk of breast cancer 2009-10-02 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - As total dietary fiber intake increases, the risk of breast cancer, primarily ER-/PR- tumors, decreases, according to study findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition for September 2009;90:664-671.
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First-Ever Comprehensive Safety Standards for Chemotherapy in the US October 5, 2009 - National standards for safe administration of chemotherapy drugs in the outpatient setting have been issued for the first time in the United States. Details are outlined in a paper published online September 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Detection: chip will help test for cancer
A more accurate test for prostate cancer could be on the horizon, after Canadian scientists claimed promising results from an electronic device sensitive enough to detect tell-tale genetic changes from a sample of blood or urine. The device uses a microchip the size of a fingertip, fitted with nanometre-sized wires woven into a mesh that are sensitive enough to pick up signs of cancer within individual cells. The Canadian researchers claimed their device could analyse a sample within 30 minutes, much faster than existing tests, using equipment no bigger than a BlackBerry mobile phone. It also appears to be sensitive enough to differentiate between aggressive and more benign types of prostate cancer. If that promise is fulfilled, it could solve one of the biggest problems with current methods of detecting prostate cancer.
Cancer Council Australia chief executive Ian Olver welcomed the Canadian development, reported in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, saying it was the way of the future for cancer diagnostics. Weekend Australian, 3/10/09, p3
Research: aspirin may cut cancer risk
People with a genetic susceptibility to colon cancer could cut their chances of developing the disease in half by taking a daily dose of aspirin, researchers say. The finding might lead to other treatments by helping researchers understand how aspirin combats colon cancer, one of the top three cancers in rich countries. Canberra Times, 6/10/09, p6
CYP2D6 genetic variants influence tamoxifen treatment outcome 2009-10-06 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Tamoxifen is less effective in breast cancer patients who have polymorphisms associated with lower CYP2D6 activity, a new report out in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirms. The paper by Dr. Brauch and her colleagues points out that because cytochrome P450 activity is largely responsible for forming tamoxifen's active metabolites, 4-hydroxytamoxifen and particularly endoxifen, it makes sense that CYP2D6 genotype would determine the outcome of tamoxifen treatment. JAMA 2009;302:1429-1436.
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Key cancer spread gene found 5 October 2009 - Scientists have pinpointed a gene linked to more than half of all breast cancers. The gene, NRG1 (neuregulin-1), is also thought to play a role in many bowel, prostate, ovarian and bladder tumours. The University of Cambridge team said the breakthrough should provide "vital information" about how cancer spreads. The finding was published in the journal Oncogene.
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Preop Lymph Node Ultrasound Prevents Second Surgeries October 06, 2009 SAN FRANCISCO -- Ultrasound of axillary lymph nodes before breast cancer surgery, with fine-needle aspiration for confirmation of metastases, could spare many early-stage patients from sentinel node biopsy and reoperation, researchers here said. This strategy picked up 29.8% of macrometastases in women scheduled for lumpectomy, with an overall accuracy of 84.4%, Bedanta Baruah, MD, of Cardiff University in Cardiff, U.K., and colleagues reported at and colleagues reported at the ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium.
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30 September 2009
Does estrogen help women survive colon cancer? 2009-09-29 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Estrogen could help women diagnosed with advanced colon cancer to survive longer, a new study out in the journal Clinical Cancer Research suggests. While younger, presumably premenopausal women lived longer after being diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer than men of the same age, women 55 and older had worse survival than their male peers, Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz of the Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles and his colleagues found. Clinical Cancer Research, October 15, 2009.
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Moderate exercise may lower prostate cancer risk 2009-09-29 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Ready for another reason to exercise? Men who exercise at even moderate levels may have a lower risk of prostate cancer than sedentary men, a new study suggests. Exercise has been shown to have numerous health benefits, but studies have come to conflicting conclusions as to whether a lower risk of prostate cancer is one of them. Dr. Jodi A. Antonelli and colleagues at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, report the findings in the Journal of Urology online September 16, 2009.
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Novel Agent Promising in Refractory RCC September 29, 2009 CHICAGO -- An inhibitor of protein kinase B may offer patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma the possibility of additional clinical benefit after failure of multiple therapies, according to data reported here. Treatment with perifosine led to one partial response and stable disease in half of a small group of patients who progressed after treatment with at least two prior therapies, Thomas E. Hutson, DO, PharmD, of Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, said at the International Kidney Cancer Symposium.
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Prevention: Girl's death prompts UK vaccination probe
An urgent investigation has been launched after a schoolgirl died soon after receiving a cervical cancer vaccination. The 14-year-old girl from Coventry died in hospital after receiving a school-administered dose of the Cervarix vaccine, which offers protection against two strains of a cancer-causing viral infection.
Natalie Morton was a student at Blue Coat Church of England School where she was given the human papilloma virus jab on Monday. She was taken to Coventry University hospital, where she died at lunchtime. A letter to parents posted on the school's website by the head teacher, Julie Roberts, said a girl had suffered a "rare but extreme reaction" after being given the vaccine. The precise cause of her death remains unknown. Three other girls from the school are reported to have experienced possible side effects of dizziness and nausea after receiving the Cervarix jab, which was given to female pupils as part of a national immunisation program against HPV. Their symptoms were described as mild arid none was taken to hospital. Although no link has yet been made between Natalie's death and the HPV vaccine, NHS Coventry said it had quarantined the batch as a "precautionary measure" and had contacted the parents of other children at the school who may have been affected. AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce said, "It would be wrong to jump to conclusions to say that this is something Australian women should be worried about but it would also be wrong to say it had nothing to do with the vaccine. "We need to find what the cause of death of this young woman in the UK was from, and then we can comment more. "But there have been millions of doses of the vaccine given around the world without anything like this happening before, so I would tend to err on the side of not panicking." Although national programs also exist in other European countries, Britain is the only one to have opted to use Cervarix, rather than Gardasil. Canberra Times, 30/9/09, p7; Australian, 30/9/09, p3; Daily Telegraph, 30/9/09, p3; Courier Mail, 30/9/09, p7; Northern Territory News, 30/9/09, p12; Herald Sun, 30/9/09, p10
Treatment: Healthy breast removal doubles
More women are having both breasts removed after cancer is diagnosed in one, even though there is little evidence that a double mastectomy can improve survival, a study shows. Researchers at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in New York state found that between 1995 and 2005 the number of women who had the healthy breast removed after cancer was diagnosed in the other more than doubled. More than 680 women underwent the procedure, called a contralateral mastectomy, in 2005 compared with fewer than 300 in 1995, researchers for the American Cancer Society's journal, Cancer, said. The number of women who did not have cancer at all but had breasts removed also rose during the same period, from 106 to 128, said the study. While the total number of women undergoing a mastectomy to treat cancer fell from nearly 6800 in 1995 to 4936 in 2005, the percentage who had a "protective", or prophylactic mastectomy rose from 5.6 per cent to just over 14 per cent during the period. Adelaide Advertiser, 30/9/09, p34
Ultrasonography not a reliable replacement for sentinel lymph node biopsy 2009-09-28 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - For patients with primary cutaneous melanoma, targeted high-resolution ultrasound should not be used as a substitute for excisional sentinal lymph node biopsy, new research indicates. However, "ultrasound is of value in preoperative sentinel lymph node assessment and postoperative monitoring," Dr. John F. Thomson at the Melanoma Institute Australia in N. Sydney, New South Wales, and co-investigators report in the September 28th online issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Men hear little about negative aspects of PSA testing 2009-09-28 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Few men about to be tested for prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels cannot make an informed choice because their healthcare providers fail to address both the pros and cons of testing, according to results from two studies reported in the September 28 Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009;169:1557-1559,1603-1618.
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Income affects prostate cancer survival 2009-09-28 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Wealthy men with prostate cancer may receive better care than poor men with the disease and may live longer as a result, a study released today hints. In the study conducted in Geneva, Switzerland, researchers found that prostate cancer patients with lower incomes were more likely to die than their counterparts with higher incomes. Several prior studies on "socioeconomic status" and death from prostate cancer have been conducted in North America, particularly the United States, Dr. Elisabetta Rapiti of the University of Geneva and her colleagues note in the journal Cancer, online September 28, 2009.
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Erratum regarding news item sent on 18 September entitled "Tobacco: Smoke 'em out (international)"
On Daily Cancer News, 18 September 2009, we published:
Tobacco: Smoke 'em out (international)
New Yorkers may be reduced to hiding in the bushes to smoke if new rules go through on lighting up outdoors. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's health commissioner, Thomas Farley, declared yesterday he wants to take the war on smokers to the city's beaches and parks. Smoking has been illegal in offices, train stations and other indoor public places since 2003, forcing the Big Apple's one million smokers to head outdoors. But Mr Farley's proposal to "expand smoke-free spaces to include city parks and public beaches" would mean there were even fewer places to light up. Although Mr Bloomberg's 2003 ban proved popular, he is criticised by many for attempting to erect a nanny state. Smoking in most restaurants and bars was banned in 1995. About 6.9 per cent of adults smoke in New York. That's down from 21.5 per cent in 2002. About 7500 residents die each year from smoking-related diseases. Canberra Times, 17/9/09, p16; Sydney Morning Herald, 17/9/09, p9
According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City has reached its lowest rate of smoking on record (15.8%), with less than 1 million adult smokers in the city - 350,000 fewer than in 2002. (Source: Community Health Survey 2008).
For more information please read the press release:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr2009/pr023-09.shtml.
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