Although a large majority of head and neck cancers have a deregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, data recently published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, indicated that deregulation of this pathway does not necessarily signify that the tumor is dependent on it for survival and…

Documenting a cancer patient’s family history (CFH) of cancer is important in establishing risk for primary and secondary cancer and identifying individuals who may be candidates for genetic counseling and genetic testing. Prior studies have demonstrated low rates of family history documentation and low referral rates for genetic counseling and genetic testing.



In 2011, the American Society for Clinical Oncology's (…

A targeted delivery combination selectively crosses the tight barrier that protects the brain from the bloodstream to home in on and bind to brain tumors, a research team led by scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.



In experiments with…

Scientists at Duke Cancer Institute have discovered that genetic mutations found in brain tumors can alter tumor metabolism. This work could help lead to new designs for anti-cancer drugs based on the unique properties of these tumors.



"Malignant glioma appears to be at least two large subclasses of diseases, one that involves mutations in the IDH1 and IDH2 genes and one that doesn't," said Hai Yan, MD, PhD, an associate professor in the Duke Department of…

Temoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy represents a major advance in the treatment of head and neck cancer, yielding complete response rates comparable with those published for surgery or radiotherapy, according to phase II data reported here last week during ECCO 11, the European Cancer Conference.

Temoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy (Foscan PDT) is an "effective and well-tolerated treatment" and can be administered without surgery, said Dr. Colin Hopper, a consultant…