New biomarker could play important role in colon cancer diagnosis

Author: Jamie Francis

Researchers have discovered a new biomarker that could play a key role in helping doctors to identify patients suffering from bowel or colon cancer.

According to a report by The Aurora Sentinel newspaper, researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Centre (UCCC) have found an enzyme that can help improve diagnosis rates for bowel cancer. A total of 40 people known to be suffering from the cancer were tested for the biomarker, known as ALDH1B1. Results of the study revealed that high levels of the enzyme were discovered in 39 of those patients.

David Orlicky, a researcher at the UCCC, said that although other biomarkers for colon cancer have been identified in the past, none have been present in such high levels as ALDH1B1, nor have they been present in such a high percentage of the cancer cells.

And because of the high levels found, the researchers believe the enzyme could play an important role in helping the cancer to grow. If the enzyme was simply a by-product of the disease, then the levels of the enzyme would be lower. If the biomarker can help to accurately show at an early stage which patients are likely to suffer from bowel cancer, it could prove to be massively beneficial to millions of people around the world. The sooner a patient can start receiving treatment, the better the prognosis.

Further research is now being carried out in Colorado in order to discover more about the enzyme and how it might be used to help in the fight against colon cancer. Vasilis Vasiliou, PhD, professor of molecular toxicology at the UCCC, said the team at the university is now focused on drug development. They want to create a substance that could turn into a toxic compound when it reacts with the enzyme, killing the cancer cells.

Statistics show that almost 40,000 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK in 2008. This equates to an average of 110 people every single day, making the disease the third most common form of cancer in Britain today. Across the world, an estimated 1.24 million people were diagnosed with the disease in 2008.

But there is also good news. Five-year survival rates for bowel cancer have doubled over the last 40 years, and half of all patients diagnosed with the disease now survive for at least 10 years.

New cancer href="http://science.thomsonreuters.com/info/biomarkers/">biomarkers are being found all the time thanks to biomarker research and more is being understood about the disease as a result.

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Colon Cancer, Treatment and Prognosis

Author: Trenton Singleton

Colon cancer is also called as colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is referred as malignant tumor in which there will be an unusual growth of cells inside the colon or rectum than the required rate. Colon cancer starts from the inner lining of the large intestine, this is the common part for the occurrence of colon cancer. So removal of these colonic polyps can prevent from the occurrence of colon cancer.

It is often referred to as colorectal cancer. Colon cancers usually are adenocarcinomas, which mean that they begin in cells releasing mucus and other type of fluids.

Colon cancer is responsible for most of the deaths elated to cancer, but doctors say that an early diagnosis can reduce the risk. Immediate action can also lead to full cure of a patient. The risk of having colon cancer increases, if you have cancer elsewhere in your body.

Apart from the above stated reasons, the risk of having colon cancer also depends on your diet. Doctors say that chances of colon cancer may increase, if you are having red meat and a high fat with low fibre diet. Some genetic syndromes may be also responsible in developing colon cancer.

There is not an absolute method for preventing colon cancer. Still, there are steps an individual can take to dramatically lessen the risk or to identify the precursors of colon cancer so that it does not manifest itself. People who turn age 50, and all of those with a history of colon cancer in their families, should speak with their physicians about the most recent screening recommendations from physician and cancer organizations.

Colon cancer is preventable. The most important step towards preventing colon cancer is getting a screening test. Colon cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the lining of the bowel. Usually small lumps called polyps begin to form.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer killer overall and third most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States in both males and females. Who is at risk for colorectal cancer. It is most common in people over age 50. Colon cancer is easily treated, and even cured in some cases, if lesions are caught early. The problem is that most people don't know they are harboring cancerous growths, since the disease has very few symptoms.

While you are doing your colon cleanse, make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and exercise. Exercise is believed to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Light exercise is also a good way of getting the blood circulating in your body. Gentle, no-impact exercise safe and beneficial for people of all ages. There are tons of exercise programs and plans out there, or just walking for at least 12-15 minutes a day is beneficial to the colon function.

A significant protective factor is adequate dietary calcium intake during the period of maximum growth, ages 9 and 25 years, so that proper peak bone mass is achieved by age 20and 30 years and maintained until mid-life, with only slow bone loss in the following years. As already noted, dietary surveys indicate a significant gap between the recommended calcium intake and the actual intake in the United States in the critical years of adolescence and young adulthood and later in life.

Resource:

Symptoms and Treatments of Colon Cancer
Symptoms and Treatments of Colon Cancer

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For more information, visit Colon cancer inforrmation site