Even after eliminating known pancreatic cancer risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, blacks still had a 42 percent higher risk of dying from the disease than their white counterparts, according to a WUSTL-led study, which appears online in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

References:

1. Sept. 2, 2009 — Pancreatic Cancer Deaths Higher for Blacks in the U.S. News & World Report online

and 9 others.

For years, dietary factors have been debated as either boosting or reducing the risk of breast cancer, with research yielding conflicting results. But in the new research, scientists could not conclude that meat, eggs or dairy product intake as an adult raised breast cancer risk. Connie Diekman, a registered dietitian and director of university nutrition at WUSTL comments.

References:

1. Aug. 28, 2009 — Meat, Dairy Won't Up Odds for Breast Cancer in the U.S. News & World Report online

and 8 others.

Medical tests are no fun, so why take them twice? People often end up with inadvertently skewed results, but some simple prep work will ensure that your numbers are accurate. Includes advice from WUSTL researchers on how not to skew the PSA (prostate cancer screening) exam.

References:

1. Aug. 23, 2009 — Take charge of your checkup in the MSNBC.com

Another report on the use of nanobees -- tiny particles designed to destroy cancer cells by delivering a synthesized version of toxin called melittin that is found in bees.
Samuel Wickline, director of WUSTL's Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence, explains how it works.
Nanobees are one of the latest examples of how nanotechnology may change the way diseases are treated.

References:

1. Aug. 18, 2009 — Ultra-tiny 'bees' target tumors in the CNN International

and 1 others.

Decoding the genome of a man with acute myeloid leukemia revealed genetic mutations that may be common among other cancer patients. The findings could help scientists understand the genetic basis of cancer. Includes comments by WUSTL researchers Richard Wilson, co-author and director of the Genome Center, and Timothy Ley, study senior author and medicine professor.

References:

1. Aug. 5, 2009 — Genome of Leukemia Patient Reveals Common Mutations in the U.S. News & World Report online

and 13 others.

In December 2006, New York City required that artificial trans fats be phased out of restaurant food, and the mandate was in full effect by November 2008. Connie Diekman, director of university nutrition at WUSTL and a past president of the American Dietetic Association, said that banning fats is not enough.

References:

1. July 20, 2009 — In New York City, Trans Fat Ban Is Working in the U.S. News & World Report online

and 7 others.

Eric Wolbert has been a non-smoker for 30 days. He quit his pack-a-day habit because he has watched cigarettes hurt too many people, including his grandparents, who died of lung cancer, he said. As part of his third attempt at quitting, Wolbert signed up for a seven-week group therapy program called "Freedom From Smoking" at WUSTL.

References:

1. July 5, 2009 — How to quit smoking in the Chicago Tribune

and 1 others.

WUSTL biochemists Elaine Mardis and Richard Wilson helped decode the human genome and are now working to find genetic mutations associated with acute myeloid leukemia.

References:

1. June 30, 2009 — Elaine Mardis and Richard Wilson: Taking Cancer's Genetic Measure in the U.S. News & World Report online

Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave from Apple Inc. since January to treat an undisclosed medical condition, received a controversial liver transplant in Tennessee about two months ago. The chief executive has been recovering well and is expected to return to work on schedule later this month, though he may work part-time initially. WUSTL pancreatic and gastrointestinal surgery professor William Hawkins and surgery professor William Chapman both comment.

References:

1. June 20, 2009 — Jobs Had Liver Transplant in the The Wall Street Journal

A genetic marker for aggressive endometrial cancer has been identified by U.S. researchers, who said their finding could lead to more targeted and risk-appropriate treatments. WUSTL gynecologic oncologist Israel Zighelboim comments on the study that appears online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

References:

1. May 27, 2009 — Gene Mutation May Up Risks of Endometrial Cancer in the U.S. News & World Report online

and 8 others.

A drug already sold for other prostate problems significantly cut the chances of prostate cancer being found in men with an increased risk of the disease, doctors reported Monday. The U.S. study was led by WUSTL urologic surgeon Gerald Andriole, who comments.

References:

1. April 27, 2009 — Study: Drug lowers risk of getting prostate cancer in the Associated Press

and 52 others.

WUSTL scientists led by WUSTL radiology professor David Piwnica-Worms and lead author and postdoctoral fellow Shimon Gross say they've discovered luminol -- a compound used at crime scenes to make blood residue glow -- can also identify immune inflammation.

References:

1. March 23, 2009 — Luminol used to ID immune inflammation in the United Press International

and 5 others.

Richard Knox reports on the results of two prostate cancer screening studies that were designed to answer the question: Would men who got regular PSA tests have less risk of dying from prostate cancer? The answer — maybe. The author of the new U.S. study, WUSTL urologic surgery professor Gerald Andriole, comments.

References:

1. March 18, 2009 — No Clear Answer In Studies of Prostate-Cancer Test in the NPR All Things Considered

The PSA blood test, used to screen for prostate cancer, saves few lives and leads to risky and unnecessary treatments for large numbers of men, two large studies have found. The findings, the first based on rigorous, randomized studies, confirm some longstanding concerns about the wisdom of widespread prostate cancer screening. Includes comments by WUSTL urologic surgery professor Gerald Andriole, lead author of the U.S. study.

References:

1. March 19, 2009 — Studies Show Prostate Test Saves Few Lives in the The New York Times

and 1 others.

Science is not shy about ambiguity, never more so than when it comes to medical advice. New research has found seemingly contradictory conclusions of prostate cancer screenings. WUSTL urologic surgery professor Gerald Andriole, who participated in one of the studies, comments.

References:

1. March 19, 2009 — Prostate Exams: When Are They Necessary? in the Time

Some doctors say they're disappointed that experts are offering men relatively little guidance about whether to be screened for prostate cancer and shifting the decision onto men who may have trouble making sense of such complicated research. Lead author of the U.S. study, WUSTL urologic surgery professor Gerald Andriole, comments.

References:

1. March 19, 2009 — Studies cast doubt on leading prostate cancer test in the USA Today

Some genetic traits are easier to defy than others. Others, such as cancer or diabetes, are not so simple to escape. Advice on how you can reduce your risk with proven tips for protecting your health from head to toe. WUSTL surgery professor Ming You, director of the Chemoprevention Program at WUSTL's Siteman Cancer Center, comments on the role heredity plays in asthma, allergies and lung cancer.

References:

1. March 12, 2009 — Control your DNA destiny in the MSNBC.com

The days of one-size-fits-all cancer treatment are numbered: A rush of new research is pointing the way to tailor chemotherapy and other care to what's written in your tumor's genes. WUSTL oncologist Matthew Ellis, co-inventor of a different breast cancer genetic approach, comments.

References:

1. Feb. 16, 2009 — Push is on to tailor cancer care to tumor's genes in the Associated Press

and 122 others.

More than 100,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer in the U.S. each year. Researchers at WUSTL and Harvard University have found that regular exercise cut people's risk of developing colon cancer by 24 percent.

References:

1. Feb. 13, 2009 — Another Good Reason to Exercise in the The Washington Post blog

A new study led by cancer prevention specialist and lead author Kathleen Wolin at WUSTL, showed that being physically active can reduce the risk of colon cancer by a quarter.

References:

1. Feb. 12, 2009 — Being physically active can reduce the risk of colon cancer by a quarter, a review of research has found in the Telegraph.co.uk (UK)