We will be featuring links and resources to upcoming Clinical test, release of new treatments and more stepping stones to living a healthy lifestyle even during treatments.
- Managing Stress & Coping with Christmas (2015)
- The Impact Of Diagnosis For Patients and Family Adjustment and Coping (2015)
- Exercise following Brain Tumour – Sally Humphrey, Senior Physiotherapist Neurology / Neurosurgery RNSH (2012)
- Molecular Markers in Glioma – Dr Jonathon Parkinson
- Getting to know your medications – Michelle Jeffery (2009)
- The Genetics of Brain Tumours – Dr Kerrie McDonald (2009)
- Exercise Following Brain Tumour – Sally Walters (2009)
- Radiotherapy – Michael Back (2008)
- Healthy Eating and Cancer – Kathy Chapman (2008)
- Neurosurgical Management of Brain Tumours – Nick Little (2008)
Brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease. Read more...
A BREAKTHROUGH treatment that prompts cancer cells to kill themselves is set to revolutionise treatment and could be available within five years.
A new, protein-based treatment from the University of NSW breaks down cancers by destroying their internal protein structures. The approach has been tried before but always resulted in too much damage to muscles and the heart. The new approach allows the new class of drug to attack tumors without damaging normal cells. Professor Peter Gunning said, "Our drug causes the structure of the cancer cell to collapse — and it happens relatively quickly."
Kazia Therapeutics Ltd -has commenced an international phase II clinical trial of its lead program, GDC-0084, a developing brain cancer drug.
GDC-0084 is being developed for glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and most aggressive form of primary brain cancer.
Chemotherapy treatment temozolomide is only effective in one-third of patients.
Furthermore, the median survival rate is 12 to 15 months from diagnosis, meaning there is a demand in the market for superior treatments.
Kazia’s CEO Dr James Garner said: “The need for new therapies in this disease remains immense, and we believe that GDC-0084 may have a valuable role to play in improving outcomes for patients with glioblastoma.”
FDA grant in February paved way for phase II clinical trial
Commencement of the trial follows the decision of the US FDA to grant orphan drug designation to GDC-0084 in glioblastoma in February 2018.
This phase II study will initially be conducted predominantly at leading US-based centres.
The study will commence screening patients after the Easter holidays.
It is anticipated that the study will provide an initial data read-out in early calendar 2019.
Phase II builds on a successful phase I study
Kazia licensed GDC-0084 in late 2016 from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, where it had previously completed a phase I clinical study in 47 patients with advanced glioma.
Genentech’s phase I study demonstrated a favourable safety profile and provided signals of efficacy.
Genentech also conducted an extensive preclinical program which showed encouraging results for GDC-0084 in animal models of glioblastoma.
Two clinical-stage programs
Kazia is an emerging cancer-focused biotech with two clinical-stage programs.
As well as GDC-0084, Kazia is developing Cantrixil to treat ovarian cancer which is currently in phase I trial.
Kazia expects a read-out of maximum tolerated dose and safety from its phase I study in ovarian cancer in the current June half.
Exercise and cancer
Cancer and cancer treatments can bring about physical, mental and social issues that can affect your body and quality of life. Exercise programs can help you to cope with cancer and treatment, and have been shown to be safe, feasible and effective. Read more...
Cancer tumours destroyed by berry found in Queensland rainforest
Scientists have managed to destroy cancerous tumours by using an experimental drug derived from the seeds of a fruit found in north Queensland rainforests.
The drug, called EBC-46, was produced by extracting a compound from the berry of the blushwood tree, a plant only found in specific areas of the Atherton Tablelands. Read more...
There are alot of products out there which can be used to minimise the usage of chemicals around the home and personal usage. Do your research and find the siutable items for you.in the long run you will be helping yourself.
Key facts
- Cancers figure among the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for 8.2 million deaths in 2012 (1).
- Lung, liver, stomach, colorectal and breast cancers cause the most cancer deaths each year.
- The most frequent types of cancer differ between men and women.
- About 30% of cancer deaths are due to the five leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use.
- Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer causing over 20% of global cancer deaths and about 70% of global lung cancer deaths.
- Cancer causing viral infections such as HBV/HCV and HPV are responsible for up to 20% of cancer deaths in low- and middle-income countries (2).
- More than 60% of world’s total new annual cases occur in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. These regions account for 70% of the world’s cancer deaths (1).
- It is expected that annual cancer cases will rise from 14 million in 2012 to 22 within the next two decades (1).
The problem
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 8.2 million deaths in 2012 (1). The most common causes of cancer death are cancers of:
- lung (1.59 million deaths)
- liver (745 000 deaths)
- stomach (723 000 deaths)
- colorectal (694 000 deaths)
- breast (521 000 deaths)
- oesophageal cancer (400 000 deaths) (1).
What causes cancer?
Cancer arises from one single cell. The transformation from a normal cell into a tumour cell is a multistage process, typically a progression from a pre-cancerous lesion to malignant tumours. These changes are the result of the interaction between a person's genetic factors and three categories of external agents, including:
- physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation;
- chemical carcinogens, such as asbestos, components of tobacco smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant) and arsenic (a drinking water contaminant); and
- biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria or parasites.
WHO, through its cancer research agency, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), maintains a classification of cancer causing agents.
Ageing is another fundamental factor for the development of cancer. The incidence of cancer rises dramatically with age, most likely due to a build up of risks for specific cancers that increase with age. The overall risk accumulation is combined with the tendency for cellular repair mechanisms to be less effective as a person grows older.
Risk factors for cancers
Tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are the main cancer risk factors worldwide. Chronic infections from hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and some types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are leading risk factors for cancer in low- and middle-income countries. Cervical cancer, which is caused by HPV, is a leading cause of cancer death among women in low-income countries.
Modifying and avoiding risk factors
More than 30% of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors, including:
- tobacco use
- being overweight or obese
- unhealthy diet with low fruit and vegetable intake
- lack of physical activity
- alcohol use
- sexually transmitted HPV-infection
- urban air pollution
- indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels.