Cancer Research Journal » Government

Cancer Concerns Halt Prison Computer Recycling Programs

Lisa — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:10:11 +0000

A federal prison in the United States has suspended prisoner work programs after an ongoing Department of Justice investigation revealed hundreds of prisoners, government employees, visitors and family members may have been regularly exposed to dust particles containing carcinogens and other environmental hazards released during recycling projects.

Preliminary findings from a two-year investigation by the Office of the Inspector General indicate hundreds of inmates and staff members who participated in electronics recycling programs may have been exposed to toxic dust particles while they were dismantling computers in a UNICOR warehouse.

According to the report, protective gear was not worn and workers routinely wore their work clothes back to their residences so other prisoners, prison employees, spouses and children who didn’t participate in the dismantling of computers may also have been unknowingly exposed to hazardous materials.

UNICOR is a US government-owned corporation operated by the Federal Prison Industries, Inc. The company employed more than 23,000 inmates last year as part of job rehabilitation programs – about 1,200 of those were employed in recycling programs nationwide.

Occupational health experts warn recycling used electronics can cause health problems if not done properly. Specifically, tearing apart computers or televisions by hand without taking the necessary safety precautions can expose the body to arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury particles that promote cancer and other diseases.

After the Inspector General found recycling facilities at Elkton Federal Correctional Institution in Ohio had 50 times more lead particles in the air than deemed safe by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, Elkton’s recycling facilities voluntarily shut down on June 27, 2008. The IG plans to conduct further inspections of similar operations around the US.

While the final results of the DOJ investigation are still pending, dozens of inmates, staff members, family members and visitors to the UNICOR recycling operation in Marianna have already filed suit in Florida courts seeking damages for cancers, heart and lung conditions, miscarriages, skin lesions and other medical problems associated with heavy metal exposures. Union members at a Texarkana, Texas, prison are considering a similar court action.

If you’d like to learn more about environmental carcinogens, you can visit the American Cancer Society web site at www.cancer.org. If you’d like to learn the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning, there’s some useful information at dermnetnz.org.

Source: ABC News

Candidates Share Cancer Plans at 2008 LIVESTRONG Summit

Lisa — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:05:27 +0000

If you’re a cancer survivor, cancer advocate or oncology professional with time to travel this month, consider a trip to Columbus, Ohio.

Why Columbus?

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) is hosting a major cancer summit at Ohio State University on July 24-27, 2008.

Organizers of the summit are planning to bring together 1,000 leaders from across the country to discuss the future of cancer research in the United States. By bringing together cancer survivors, healthcare professionals, major media outlets and prominent politicians, the event hopes to raise awareness about the importance of legislation funding scientific research related to cancer prevention and treatment.

The summit will also help voters learn candidates’ plans for addressing the cancer epidemic before ballots are cast this fall.

Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain has already confirmed he will attend the 2008 LIVESTRONG Summit. Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama has yet to respond to LAF’s invitation. (If you know him, please encourage him to accept.)

Whether Senator Obama makes the time to attend or not, the summit is an important step in keeping cancer research on the national agenda. As LAF’s famous founder said,

“We have 10,000,000 cancer survivors in this country. If they all came together and said, that’s it, that’s our issue — we’re going to vote that way, we’re going to ask the hard questions, and we’re going to hold our leaders accountable, then that’s how you affect change.”

Lance Armstrong
Champion Cyclist, Testicular Cancer Survivor, Cancer Advocate

To learn more about government funding for the National Cancer Institute, visit the NCI Office of Budget and Finance web site at http://obf.cancer.gov/.

Source: LIVESTRONG Newsletter

Technorati Tags: cancer awareness; government grants; election issues; national health policy; nonprofit organization

Walk-In Cervical Cancer Screening Works Well in Canada

Lisa — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:41:20 +0000

Doctors in British Columbia have found an easy way to encourage more women to get screened for cervical cancer: offer Pap tests on a walk-in basis.

After survey results showed more than a third of young adult women were not being routinely tested for cervical cancer, health officials decided to offer screening without requiring an appointment. To test the idea, the BC Cancer Agency offered Pap tests on walk-in basis at 12 medical clinics for one week in May 2008.

The test program expected to attract women who were skipping annual exams because they didn’t have a family physician, but the clinics were surprised to find many patients who had doctors were also attracted to the program because it was easier to fit into their busy schedules. As the project’s organizer said,

“…they used this opportunity because it was convenient or easy, so maybe the convenience of not having to make an appointment was important.”

Dr Dirk Van Niekirk
BC Cancer Agency

The results of the pilot program were so encouraging the Agency has announced plans to expand the program throughout British Columbia in February 2009.

If you’re a patient in the United States who’d like to learn more about cervical cancer and Pap smears, you can visit the American Cancer Society web site.

Source: CBCNews.ca

Related Video: Barbara Lawton’s Cervical Cancer PSA from YouTube

Technorati Tags: early cancer detection; cancer prevention; gynecological cancers; gynecology; HPV; oncology; reproductive cancers; squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix; women’s health

First Head and Neck Cancer Gene Therapy Faces FDA Review

Lisa — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:03:36 +0000

Introgen Therapeutics, Inc (NASDAQ: INGN) has become the first biotechnology company to seek government approval for a gene therapy to treat recurring head and neck cancers.

The Austin, Texas-based corporation submitted Advexin® for priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday, June 30, 2008. Advexin® is a gene therapy that’s been under development for 14 years and the first gene-based drug to get this far in the US drug approval process.

Introgen Therapeutics, which is partly owned by MD Anderson Cancer Center researcher Dr Jack Roth and the University of Texas, is also seeking approval to market the drug in Europe.

Advexin® uses deactivated cold viruses to insert p53 tumor suppressor genes into cancer cells. It is designed to restore p53 function in patients who have a low levels of the p53 gene so healthy cells can be replenished while malignant cells die. The company’s clinical trials on Advexin® indicated two-thirds of patients with difficult to treat head and neck cancers may be potential candidates for the treatment.

If the FDA accepts the gene therapy for priority review – and if the treatment meets drug safety standards – approval could come in as little as six months. Without priority consideration, the FDA’s decision would likely take closer to a year. Either way, this application is going to be closely tracked by cancer patients, healthcare providers and pharmaceutical industry insiders who are curious about the potential of gene-based treatments. As one securities analyst said,

“It’s a major milestone for gene therapy, because it’s a first-in-class drug.”

Stephen Dunn
Dawson James Securities

Introgen is also evaluating Advexin® for the treatment of certain breast and lung cancers, but this week’s FDA application is only for the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer. Approximately 40,000 people are diagnosed with head, neck and throat cancers in the US each year.

If you’re a patient in the US who’d like to learn more about head and neck cancer treatments, you can visit the National Cancer Institute’s Head and Neck Cancer page.

Source: Austin American-Statesman

Related Links: WebMD.com; seekingalpha.com

Technorati Tags: laryngeal cancer; oncology; oral cancer; oropharyngeal carcinoma; personalized medicine and pharmacogenomics; targeted therapies; orphan drugs

All UK Cancer Patients Will Get Information on Clinical Trials

Lisa — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:58:39 +0000

Health officials in the United Kingdom are implementing a new program to ensure patients with cancer and other serious diseases are kept better informed about ongoing clinical research related to their condition.

The goal of this new government program is to increase patient awareness about clinical trials taking place to advance medical research. The program calls for all patients to be routinely informed about scientific studies relevant to their case.

In addition to keeping individuals updated on new treatment options, the initiative also seeks to make it easier for patients who meet study criteria to participate in clinical trials.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced his plans for the new program at a summit hosted by the Prime Minister commemorating 60 years of research by the National Health Service. During his speech, Secretary Johnson praised the contributions of past patients, clinicians and scientists whose research efforts have helped ensure the health of today’s population. When asked about this new initiative, the head of the UK’s leading cancer charity had this to say,

“It shows a commitment to provide more information about the health research taking place in this country, and to involve and recruit more patients in clinical trials. This is good news for patients, both now and in the future.”

Harpal Kumar
Chief Executive, Cancer Research UK

If you’re a cancer patient in the United States who’d like to learn more about clinical trials being conducted both here and abroad, you can ask your oncologist or visit http://clinicaltrials.gov/.

Source: Cancer Research UK News

Technorati Tags: cancer awareness; health reform; England; outreach programs; patient-centered care; public health education; volunteers

European Partnership Pursues Pocket-Sized Lasers

Lisa — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:38:38 +0000

Public and private organizations across Europe are joining forces to develop the next generation of biomedical lasers. The team’s goal is to expand laser use in the fields of medicine and research by making high-performance lasers smaller and less expensive.

The University of Dundee will lead the four-year project which is being funded by a 10.1M EUR grant from the European Commission. Other partners include the University of Sheffield, The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, M-Squared Lasers Ltd, Alcatel Thales, and Phillips. The group expects to devote nearly 100 man years of research to improve the efficiency of lasers used in cancer treatment, imaging, and research, as well as other applications. As one Dundee professor said,

“This project will revolutionise the use of lasers in the biomedical field, providing both practitioners and researchers with pocket sized ultra high performance lasers at a substantially lower cost which will make their widespread use affordable.”

Dr Edik Rafailov
Division of Electronic Engineering and Physics, University of Dundee (UK)

If you’re a patient in the US who’d like to learn more about how laser technology is used to treat cancer, you can read Lasers in Cancer Treatment from the American Cancer Society.

Source: University of Dundee

FDA to Diabetics: Regranex Foot Cream Raises Cancer Risk

Lisa — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:16:34 +0000

The US Food and Drug Administration is warning doctors and the public that diabetics who use a few tubes of the foot cream REGRANEX™ (becaplermin) are significantly increasing their risk of cancer-related death.

REGRANEX™ is a topical gel cream prescribed to treat leg and foot ulcers in people with diabetes. The product contains recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor, a man-made substance that stimulates cell growth. The medicine is designed to help heal neuropathic ulcers which, if serious enough, can ultimately lead to amputation.

REGRANEX™ has been prescribed more than 750,000 times since it became available.

The new warnings were issued after a retroactive epidemiological study of more than 4,400 patients showed those prescribed three or more tubes of REGRANEX™ were 5 times more likely to die of cancer.

As a result of the study’s findings, the FDA advises physicians to only prescribe the drug when the benefits to the patient outweigh the potential risks and to exercise extra caution when prescribing REGRANEX™/becaplermin to individuals who’ve already been diagnosed with a malignancy.

A boxed warning is also being added to the product’s packaging. It reads,

“WARNING
An increased risk of mortality secondary to malignancy was observed in patients treated with 3 or more tubes of REGRANEX Gel in a post-marketing retrospective cohort study. REGRANEX Gel should only be used when the benefits can be expected to outweigh the risks. REGRANEX should be used with caution in patients with known malignancy.”

Boxed Warning for REGRANEX™
Issued by FDA, June 2008

REGRANEX™ is marketed by Ethicon©, Inc, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). The drug is distributed by Ortho-McNeil™.

Tumors or other adverse events associated with REGRANEX™/becaplermin should be reported to the FDA MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program (telephone 1-800-FDA-1088 or online at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm).

If you’d like other information about Regranex, you can call the company’s Customer Communications Center at 1-888-734-7263.

Source: FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

DFG Establishes 8 New Collaborative Research Centers

Lisa — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:15:37 +0000

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), or German Research Foundation, is establishing 8 new Collaborative Research Centers (CRC) to further scientific studies related to cancer, hadron physics, nanomolecules, space travel and other topics.

Host universities for the new CRCs will include: Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main; Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg; TU Munich; WWU Münster; University of Regensburg; Eberhard Karls University Tübingen; and Julius-Maximilian University Würzburg.

In addition, The National Science Foundation of China has agreed to provide funding for joint research projects being conducted by WWU Münster and Tsinghua University Beijing scientists.

DFG announced they will provide 59.5 million euros to fund to the new centers for four years, beginning on July 1, 2008.

Source: AlphaGalileo.org

UCSF to Firefighters: Consider Bladder Cancer Screenings

Lisa — Tue, 27 May 2008 01:29:38 +0000

A University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study suggests firefighters may face an increased risk of developing transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), a cancer of the bladder.

Firefighters are regularly exposed to smoke and chemical fumes known to be carcinogenic. The body absorbs carcinogens and transfers them to the blood, where they are filtered by the kidneys and expelled in the urine. Chemicals in the urine can damage the lining of the bladder increasing the risk of TCC.

In the UCSF study, researchers screened 1,286 active and retired firefighters and found two retired firefighters with TCC. Since TCC typically occurs at a rate of 36 cases per 100,000 people (after adjusting for age and gender), the findings indicate retired firefighters may be at high-risk for the disease.

No routine screening guidelines currently exist for bladder cancer so UCSF recommends firefighters and their physicians consider regular screenings for TCC. As one SFFD lieutenant said,

“We need to know the potential health hazards of simply reporting for duty so we can be able to do something about it.”

Tom O’Connor
SF Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation

The UCSF Medical Center, the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), and the city of San Francisco have already formed a partnership offering free bladder cancer screening to active and retired SFFD firefighters – the first program of its kind in the US.

Results of the UCSF study were presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association.

If you’re a patient who’d like to learn more about bladder cancer, you can visit MayoClinic.com.

Sources: American Urological Association and the Federation of bladder cancer patients (FBCP)

Technorati Tags: Matritech, Inc; NMP22® BladderChek® Test; oncology; occupational safety; genitourinary cancers; emergency services; urine cytology; Marshall Stoller, MD; job-related cancers; occupational and environmental medicine

President Signs Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

Lisa — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:00:48 +0000

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, President George W. Bush signed HR 493 into law.

HR 493 is The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, commonly referred to as GINA. It prohibits employers and health insurance companies from discriminating against people with genes that make it more likely they will develop cancer (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 for breast and ovarian cancers) or other hereditary diseases.

The Act’s passage is being praised by Americans with genetic test results showing they’re genetically predisposed to cancer, as well as those who’ve been afraid to get DNA tests because they feared losing their health insurance.

Cancer advocacy groups and legislators worked for 13 years to get GINA passed, but now that the law’s enacted, there’s more to be done. As one expert said,

“Our challenge now is to make sure that doctors and patients are aware of these new protections so that fear of discrimination never again stands in the way of a decision to take a genetic test that could save a life.”

Kathy Hudson, PhD
Director, Genetics and Public Policy Center
Johns Hopkins University

If you’d like to read more about the potential uses of genetic information, you can click here to visit the Human Genome Project Information page.

Source: C-SPAN

Technorati Tags: pre-vivor; oncology; genetic counseling; family history; cancer prevention; health policy