Private MD News
Home |
News |
Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers
Drug testing study shows reduced occurrence of brain tumors
Updated: 2009-10-13 22:11:16 CST Category: Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers
by Brendan Missett
Lab testing of the drug vorinostat demonstrated that the medication is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce the occurrence of metastatic tumors in mice.
The new study, which appears in the September 29 online issue of Clinical Cancer Research, demonstrated that vorinostat reduced the development of large metastatic tumors in mice by 62 percent compared a group of mice that did not receive the drug.
For humans, vorinostat has been FDA approved for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, but has only been used experimentally as treatment of other cancers. The researchers, from the National Cancer Institute, say that this study may provide insight regarding the prevention of breast cancer's spread to the brain in diseased patients. Brain metastases of breast cancer have been untreatable because of the blood-brain barrier.
"Drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce the size and incidence of metastatic tumors are urgently needed," said Dr Patricia S. Steeg, the study's author. Researchers believe the drug works by breaking strands of DNA and lowering the function of a repair gene, preventing cancer cells from restoring and metastasizing.
The National Institutes of Health determined that about 20 percent of breast cancer patients diagnosed with brain metastases survive past one year.

Related Articles from Private MD:
Share on Facebook
Subscribe to Private MD Health News RSS Feed: 
News Categories:
Advanced Lipid Treatment I
Allergy Testing
Anemia and RBC disorders
Autoimmune Diseases
Bariatric Lab Testing
Blood and Blood Diseases
Breast
Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers
Celiac Disease Testing
Chlamydia
Coagulation and blood clotting disorders
Colon
Diabetes
DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing
Drug Screening
Environmental Toxin Testing
Female Specific Tests
Gastrointestinal Diseases
General Health
General Wellness
Heart Health and Cholesterol
Herpes
HIV
HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos
Hormones and Metabolism
Infectious Diseases
Infertility Testing-Male
Infertitlity Hormone Testing
Kidney Diseases
Leukemia and WBC disorders
Liver
Liver Diseases
Lyme Disease
Male Specific Tests
Menopause/Peri-Menopausal Diagnosis
Organ Specific Testing
Ovarian
Prostate
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Thyroid Diseases
Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment
Visit the Health News Archive: Click Here
Questions about online blood testing or how to order a lab test? Click
here to get started or call us toll-free at
1.877.283.7882. Our certified professionals are ready to assist
you.