Latest news with #AmericanAssociationforCancerResearch
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
More dying from drinking booze than ever - and one group is most at risk
Alcohol-related cancer deaths have nearly doubled over the past three decades, and according to new research, one part of the population is significantly more at risk A new study has revealed a troubling rise in alcohol-related cancer deaths. According to the research, these deaths have nearly doubled across the United States — from 12,000 in 1990 to over 23,000 in 2021. The findings, set to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago, identify one part of the population as being most at risk. Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and has been linked to at least six types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast. Even moderate drinking increases cancer risk, challenging the common belief that light alcohol use is safe. Despite the evidence, public awareness remains low. A 2024 report from the American Association for Cancer Research found that while over 5% of all cancer cases are linked to alcohol, 51% of Americans are unaware of this connection. While alcohol-related cancer deaths among women rose just 8% during the above period, men experienced a staggering 56% increase, and men aged 55 and older are the most vulnerable group. 'It wasn't surprising that the rates were higher in men, but the magnitude of the difference was unexpected,' said lead author Dr. Chinmay Jani, chief fellow of hematology and oncology at the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, in an interview with NBC News. Researchers suggest this gender gap may be due to men starting to drink at earlier ages, allowing alcohol's long-term carcinogenic effects to accumulate over time. 'The impact of alcohol may not be immediate, but with age and continued consumption, its cancer-causing potential builds up,' Jani explained. In light of the data, health officials are pushing for stronger warning labels on alcoholic beverages and expanded public education campaigns. 'We need to raise awareness of this link — not only among the public but also within the medical community,' Jani emphasised. 'People are well-informed about tobacco and cancer, but alcohol is often overlooked.' Meanwhile, Cancer Research UK has conducted analysis on UK skin cancer data, which suggests that the way people dress when they're in the sun could be influencing where they get melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer. Data from 2018 to 2021 shows that 40% of melanomas in men were diagnosed on the torso (the back, chest and stomach) – more than any other part of the body. That translates to around 3,700 cases of skin cancer every year. In women, the most common area was the lower limbs (from the hips to the feet). More than a third of women's melanomas were diagnosed here – around 3,200 cases a year.
New York Post
09-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
This 20-cent drug lowers colon cancer risk — and may even help treat it: study
A 20-cent 'wonder drug' may do more than manage blood sugar. Researchers are investigating whether a widely used diabetes medication could aid in the fight against colorectal cancer after the disease strikes. Scientists are cautiously optimistic that this decades-old pill could provide a new lifeline to the 150,000 Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year — a growing number of whom are under 50. Advertisement 4 Colon cancer rates have been rising among young Americans. New Africa – What is this 'wonder drug'? Metformin is one of the most widely prescribed drugs on the planet. An estimated 200 million people worldwide take it daily, primarily to treat or prevent type 2 diabetes, according to UCHealth. It's best known for its ability to improve how the body handles insulin, helping lower blood sugar levels — but it's often hailed as a 'wonder drug' by doctors for having many other benefits, including treating fertility issues and PCOS. Studies show that it may also combat obesity, provide anti-aging effects, and protect the cardiovascular and nervous systems. It might even have anti-cancer properties. Advertisement The metformin-cancer connection Previous research indicates that metformin could offer a protective effect against the development of colon cancer. For instance, a meta-analysis of 58 studies found that metformin use was associated with a 37% lower risk of developing the disease compared to type 2 diabetes patients who didn't take the drug. Now, researchers at The Ohio State University are diving deeper, exploring whether metformin could be used in treatment plans once colon cancer has already developed. Advertisement 'Metformin seems like it could have a really interesting supplemental approach to therapy,' Holli Loomans-Kropp, the lead researcher, told Business Insider. 'We're opening up some doors to what this could do.' 4 Metformin is a genetic, off-patent medication commonly prescribed for diabetes. Getty Images Cheap drug, big potential Presented last week at the American Association for Cancer Research conference in Chicago, the ongoing study focuses on how metformin interacts with colon cancer cells that are particularly difficult to treat. Advertisement Early lab tests suggest that metformin has the potential to slow the growth of cancer cells. Researchers believe this could be connected to how the drug functions in diabetics. Metformin regulates glucose production and triggers a 'cleanup process' that helps eliminate damaged cells — an energy shift that may make it harder for colon cancer cells to develop. 'If metformin maybe can be used to redirect or change how the cell uses energy, which then ultimately changes how it divides and how it proliferates, this could be a mechanism to exploit,' Loomans-Kropp said. 4 Metformin helps lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Halfpoint – Scientists noted that while metformin doesn't seem potent enough to treat colon cancer on its own, it could eventually be used to enhance other, more aggressive therapies. An added bonus: Metformin is generally well tolerated and boasts a safety record that spans more than 60 years, according to Healthline. When side effects do occur, they're typically gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. Advertisement The drug can also reduce vitamin B12 absorption and slightly increase the risk of lactic acidosis, a rare but serious condition where the blood becomes too acidic. Another perk? It's an off-patent, generic drug that costs just 10 to 20 cents per pill, making it widely accessible — even for patients without insurance. 4 Colon cancer symptoms include bowel changes, blood in stool and abdominal pain. 9nong – The road ahead The ongoing study by researchers at The Ohio State University is still in its early stages. Advertisement Loomans-Kropp told Business Insider that if initial results from cancer cell tests are promising, she hopes to begin testing metformin as a colon cancer treatment on animals within the next year. Colon cancer is widely considered a pressing public health concern, as it's one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. While the overall incidence has been dropping, particularly among older adults, there has been a troubling rise in cases and deaths among younger people in recent years. In fact, colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in American men under 50 and the second leading cause for women in the same age group.
Business Insider
07-05-2025
- Health
- Business Insider
A 20-cent 'wonder drug' is being studied as a colon-cancer-fighting supplement, and it looks promising
A cheap, widely prescribed diabetes drug that some doctors have called a "wonder drug" may hold promise as a colon-cancer -fighting supplement. Scientists who presented at the American Association for Cancer Research conference in Chicago last week are studying how metformin — the most popular diabetes medication worldwide — interacts with tough-to-treat colon cancer cells. Their research is still early and ongoing. "Metformin seems like it could have a really interesting supplemental approach to therapy," Holli Loomans-Kropp, a gastrointestinal cancer prevention researcher at The Ohio State University, who is leading the ongoing study, told Business Insider. "We're opening up some doors to what this could do." Previous research found that people taking metformin for diabetes have lower colon cancer rates, suggesting the drug may be doing something protective to help prevent cancer from developing. This new study is one of the first to look at whether metformin could actually fight colon cancer cells once the disease develops. Based on what Loomans-Kropp and her team have seen so far in cell-culture dishes, metformin could become a helpful "supplement" to certain cancer treatment regimens in the future. It wouldn't be potent enough to treat cancer on its own, but could be used alongside other treatments. Loomans-Kropp is especially excited about the drug's potential in treating a common type of colon cancer caused by a mutated KRAS gene, which tends to be very tough to treat. Her research is still in the early stages; further animal testing is required before human clinical trials can begin. A drug that changes how the body uses energy One of the big benefits Loomans-Kropp sees to studying metformin for colon cancer treatment is a practical one — it's a drug that's already widely accessible and affordable. "I always like to ask the question: Are there medications or agents that we already know, that are already used, that we have safety/toxicity profiles for, that we can then repurpose for something else?" Metformin has been studied and used by millions of patients worldwide. And as an off-patent, generic drug, it's cheap — it costs 10 to 20 cents per pill. It's sometimes referred to as a " wonder drug" by doctors for its beneficial effects outside blood-sugar control. Scientists have studied it for heart health, cancer prevention, and dementia. Metformin works for diabetes because it changes the way the body processes and produces sugar. Some scientists believe it may hold promise as an antiaging drug. Like exercise or fasting, metformin regulates how the body uses energy and encourages autophagy, a process that allows the body to process old and damaged cells. Loomans-Kropp hopes that metformin could also inhibit colon cancer cells from using energy to grow and develop. "If metformin maybe can be used to redirect or change how the cell uses energy, which then ultimately changes how it divides and how it proliferates, this could be a mechanism to exploit," Loomans-Kropp said. The same energy-shifting mechanism has longevity researchers excited about metformin as a tool for disease prevention. Dr. Nir Barzilai, a leading longevity researcher who suspects metformin may be beneficial for healthy aging, said metformin may be a "suitable" option for cancer prevention. When it comes to fighting cancer, he agrees with Loomans-Kropp that more study is needed. "Let the science lead," he told Business Insider in an email. Loomans-Kropp is hoping that if these initial cancer cell results are successful, she can begin testing metformin as colon cancer treatment on animals within a year.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A 20-cent 'wonder drug' is being studied as a colon cancer-stopping supplement, and it looks promising
Metformin is the most widely prescribed diabetes drug in the world. Scientists have noticed that people who take it may also get some colon cancer prevention benefits. Early research gives hints about how it might be used to help in colon cancer treatment. A cheap, widely-prescribed diabetes drug that some doctors have called a "wonder drug" may hold promise as a colon-cancer-stopping supplement. Scientists who presented at the American Association for Cancer Research conference in Chicago last week are studying how metformin — the most popular diabetes medication worldwide — interacts with tough-to-treat colon cancer cells. Their research is still early and ongoing. "Metformin seems like it could have a really interesting supplemental approach to therapy," Holli Loomans-Kropp, a gastrointestinal cancer prevention researcher at The Ohio State University, who is leading the ongoing study, told Business Insider. "We're opening up some doors to what this could do." Previous research has highlighted how people taking metformin for diabetes have lower colon cancer rates, suggesting the drug may be doing something protective to help prevent cancer from developing. This new study is one of the first to look at whether metformin can actually fight back against colon cancer cells once the disease develops. Based on what Loomans-Kropp and her team have seen so far in cell culture dishes, metformin looks like it could become a helpful "supplement" to certain cancer treatment regimens in the future. It wouldn't be potent enough to treat cancer on its own, but could be used alongside other treatments. She is especially excited about what it might do for a common type of colon cancer with a mutated KRAS gene, which tends to be very tough to treat. Her work, if successful, would require additional positive results in animals and then in people to become a prescription that oncologists can reliably use in the clinic. A drug that changes how the body uses energy Metformin stimulates a key cellular cleanup process called autophagy. Exercise can also induce autophagy, but in a slightly different of the big benefits Loomans-Kropp sees to studying metformin for colon cancer treatment is a practical one — it's a drug that's already widely accessible and affordable. "I always like to ask the question: are there medications or agents that we already know, that are already used, that we have safety/toxicity profiles for, that we can then repurpose for something else?" Metformin has been studied and used by millions of patients worldwide. And it's cheap — an off-patent, generic drug that costs about 10 to 20 cents per pill. It's sometimes referred to as a "wonder drug" by doctors for the beneficial effects it may have on patients who take it, beyond blood sugar control. Scientists have studied it for heart health, cancer prevention, and dementia. Metformin works for diabetes because it changes the way the body processes and produces sugar. Some scientists suspect it may hold promise for improving aging for a similar reason: because it regulates how the body uses energy, and encourages more self-eating (autophagy), much like exercise or fasting. Perhaps metformin could also inhibit the ways that colon cancer finds energy to grow and develop. "If metformin maybe can be used to redirect or change how the cell uses energy, which then ultimately changes how it divides and how it proliferates, this could be a mechanism to exploit," Loomans-Kropp said. It's this same energy-shifting mechanism that has longevity researchers excited about metformin as a tool for disease prevention. Dr. Nir Barzilai, a leading longevity researcher who suspects metformin may be beneficial for healthy aging, says he thinks metformin may be a "suitable" option for cancer prevention. When it comes to fighting cancer, he agrees with Loomans-Kropp that more study is needed. "Let the science lead," he told Business Insider in an email. Loomans-Kropp is hoping that if these initial cancer cell results are successful, she can begin testing metformin as colon cancer treatment on animals within a year. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
07-05-2025
- Health
- Business Insider
A 20-cent 'wonder drug' is being studied as a colon cancer-stopping supplement, and it looks promising
A cheap, widely-prescribed diabetes drug that some doctors have called a "wonder drug" may hold promise as a colon-cancer -stopping supplement. Scientists who presented at the American Association for Cancer Research conference in Chicago last week are studying how metformin — the most popular diabetes medication worldwide — interacts with tough-to-treat colon cancer cells. Their research is still early and ongoing. "Metformin seems like it could have a really interesting supplemental approach to therapy," Holli Loomans-Kropp, a gastrointestinal cancer prevention researcher at The Ohio State University, who is leading the ongoing study, told Business Insider. "We're opening up some doors to what this could do." Previous research has highlighted how people taking metformin for diabetes have lower colon cancer rates, suggesting the drug may be doing something protective to help prevent cancer from developing. This new study is one of the first to look at whether metformin can actually fight back against colon cancer cells once the disease develops. Based on what Loomans-Kropp and her team have seen so far in cell culture dishes, metformin looks like it could become a helpful "supplement" to certain cancer treatment regimens in the future. It wouldn't be potent enough to treat cancer on its own, but could be used alongside other treatments. She is especially excited about what it might do for a common type of colon cancer with a mutated KRAS gene, which tends to be very tough to treat. Her work, if successful, would require additional positive results in animals and then in people to become a prescription that oncologists can reliably use in the clinic. A drug that changes how the body uses energy One of the big benefits Loomans-Kropp sees to studying metformin for colon cancer treatment is a practical one — it's a drug that's already widely accessible and affordable. "I always like to ask the question: are there medications or agents that we already know, that are already used, that we have safety/toxicity profiles for, that we can then repurpose for something else?" Metformin has been studied and used by millions of patients worldwide. And it's cheap — an off-patent, generic drug that costs about 10 to 20 cents per pill. It's sometimes referred to as a " wonder drug" by doctors for the beneficial effects it may have on patients who take it, beyond blood sugar control. Scientists have studied it for heart health, cancer prevention, and dementia. Metformin works for diabetes because it changes the way the body processes and produces sugar. Some scientists suspect it may hold promise for improving aging for a similar reason: because it regulates how the body uses energy, and encourages more self-eating (autophagy), much like exercise or fasting. Perhaps metformin could also inhibit the ways that colon cancer finds energy to grow and develop. "If metformin maybe can be used to redirect or change how the cell uses energy, which then ultimately changes how it divides and how it proliferates, this could be a mechanism to exploit," Loomans-Kropp said. It's this same energy-shifting mechanism that has longevity researchers excited about metformin as a tool for disease prevention. Dr. Nir Barzilai, a leading longevity researcher who suspects metformin may be beneficial for healthy aging, says he thinks metformin may be a "suitable" option for cancer prevention. When it comes to fighting cancer, he agrees with Loomans-Kropp that more study is needed. "Let the science lead," he told Business Insider in an email. Loomans-Kropp is hoping that if these initial cancer cell results are successful, she can begin testing metformin as colon cancer treatment on animals within a year.
