Snake venom and cancer research, Latino cancer rates, and other cancer news

Written by  Facing Cancer Together
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News in brief 9.20.12

Snakes are able to convert their venom back into harmless molecules that scientists say could help find a cancer cure and be used to treat diabetes.

The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has launched a multibillion-dollar initiative called the Moon Shots program aimed at reducing deaths from 8 types of cancer over the next decade.  Recent advances in genomics and other technologies has laid a foundation for making strides against the disease.

latino-manA new American Cancer Society report shows that heart disease has fallen to second place to cancer for U.S. Latinos.

Scientists at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco have discovered that marijuana compounds have the ability of switching off DNA that cause some cancers to spread.  The compound has proved to stop metastasis of aggressive cancer in animal test and molecular biologists are eager to begin human trials.

 A new study suggests that people who smoke or drink heavily may develop pancreatic cancer at an earlier age than people who do not.  Pancreatic cancer is a disease that is rarely caught early and has a grim prognosis.

rice-arsenicConsumer Reports published a new study yesterday that finds “worrisome” levels of inorganic cancer-causing arsenic in rice products, raising serious questions about widespread contamination from pesticide use.

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Recalcitrant Cancer Act (H.R. 733).  This important bill will bring a strategic scientific and research investment focus on lung cancer and other deadly cancers by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  The bill is now before the U.S. Senate for its consideration and vote this week.

 

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