Latest news with #JeffreyMeyerhardt
Euronews
2 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
Exercise boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients, study finds
A three-year exercise programme improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment has shown. With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centres and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity after treatment, knowing they are doing their part to prevent cancer from coming back. "It's an extremely exciting study," said Dr Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who wasn't involved in the research. It's the first randomised controlled trial to show a reduction in cancer recurrences and improved survival linked to exercise, Meyerhardt said. Prior evidence was based on comparing active people with sedentary people, a type of study that can't prove cause and effect. The new study – conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United States – compared people who were randomly selected for an exercise programme with those who instead received an educational booklet. "This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get," said Dr Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). "I love this study because it's something I've been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time". The findings were featured Sunday at ASCO's annual meeting in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Academic research groups in Canada, Australia, and the UK funded the work. Researchers followed 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy. Half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition. The others worked with a coach, meeting every two weeks for a year, then monthly for the next two years. Coaches helped participants find ways to increase their physical activity. Many people, including Terri Swain-Collins, chose to walk for about 45 minutes several times a week. "This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better," said Swain-Collins, a 62-year-old from Kingston, a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Regular contact with a friendly coach kept her motivated and accountable, she said. "I wouldn't want to go there and say, 'I didn't do anything,' so I was always doing stuff and making sure I got it done," Swain-Collins said. After eight years, the people in the structured exercise programme not only became more active than those in the control group, but also had 28 per cent fewer cancers and 37 per cent fewer deaths from any cause. There were also more muscle strains and other similar problems in the exercise group. "When we saw the results, we were just astounded," said study co-author Dr Christopher Booth, a cancer doctor at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Ontario. Exercise programmes can be offered for several thousand dollars per patient, Booth said, "a remarkably affordable intervention that will make people feel better, have fewer cancer recurrence, and help them live longer". Researchers collected blood from participants and will look for clues tying exercise to cancer prevention, whether through insulin processing or building up the immune system or something else. Swain-Collins' coaching programme ended, but she is still exercising. She listens to music while she walks in the countryside near her home. That kind of behaviour change can be achieved when people believe in the benefits, when they find ways to make it fun, and when there's a social component, said paper co-author Kerry Courneya, who studies exercise and cancer at the University of Alberta in Canada. The new evidence, he said, will give cancer patients a reason to stay motivated. "Now we can say, definitively, exercise causes improvements in survival," Courneya said. A ban on disposable vapes came into force across the United Kingdom on Sunday as the British government aims to stem their use by children, reduce litter, and prevent the leaking of harmful chemicals into the environment. The ban makes it illegal for any retailer – online or in-store – to sell vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not. They will still be able to sell reusable vapes. The crackdown follows the soaring use of disposable vapes in schools and a rising tide of trash as users dispose of the vapes. It is estimated that as many as 5 million disposable vapes are thrown in bins or littered every week across the UK, rather than being recycled. A number of countries are seeking to regulate the vape market, which has grown exponentially over the past decade or so. Australia outlawed the sale of vapes outside pharmacies last year in some of the world's toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes, while Belgium became the first European country to ban the use of disposable vapes at the start of this year. California has been at the forefront of bringing in new regulations in the United States. The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said usage among young people remained too high, and the ban would "put an end to their alarming rise in school playgrounds and the avalanche of rubbish flooding the nation's streets". Also known as single-use vapes, disposable vapes are non-refillable and unable to be recharged, and are typically thrown away with general waste or just thrown on the street. Even when they are recycled, they need to be taken apart by hand, while their batteries are a fire risk to recycling facilities and can leak harmful chemicals into the environment and potentially harm wildlife. Businesses were given six months to prepare for the change by selling any existing stock. Rogue traders who continue to sell them risk a fine of £200 (€239) in the first instance, followed by an unlimited fine or jail time for repeat offending. The UK Vaping Industry Association said its members had moved quickly to comply with the June 1 deadline, but warned of "serious unintended consequences" emanating from too much regulation. "We are concerned that this ban will encourage former smokers who have already transitioned from cigarettes, which kill 220 people every day in the UK, to return to combustible tobacco or opt for unregulated vapes," said its director general, John Dunne. Separately, the British government is legislating to potentially restrict the packaging, marketing and flavours of e-cigarettes.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Exercise boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients, study shows
A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment showed. With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity after treatment, knowing they are doing their part to prevent cancer from coming back. 'It's an extremely exciting study,' said Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who wasn't involved in the research. It's the first randomized controlled trial to show how exercise can help cancer survivors, Meyerhardt said. Prior evidence was based on comparing active people with sedentary people, a type of study that can't prove cause and effect. The new study — conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States — compared people who were randomly selected for an exercise program with those who instead received an educational booklet. 'This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,' said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 'I love this study because it's something I've been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time.' The findings were featured Sunday at ASCO's annual meeting in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Academic research groups in Canada, Australia and the U.K. funded the work. Researchers followed 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy. Half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition. The others worked with a coach, meeting every two weeks for a year, then monthly for the next two years. Coaches helped participants find ways to increase their physical activity. Many people, including Terri Swain-Collins, chose to walk for about 45 minutes several times a week. 'This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,' said Swain-Collins, 62, of Kingston, Ontario. Regular contact with a friendly coach kept her motivated and accountable, she said. 'I wouldn't want to go there and say, 'I didn't do anything,' so I was always doing stuff and making sure I got it done.' After eight years, the people in the structured exercise program not only became more active than those in the control group but also had 28% fewer cancers and 37% fewer deaths from any cause. There were more muscle strains and other similar problems in the exercise group. 'When we saw the results, we were just astounded,' said study co-author Dr. Christopher Booth, a cancer doctor at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Kingston, Ontario. Exercise programs can be offered for several thousand dollars per patient, Booth said, 'a remarkably affordable intervention that will make people feel better, have fewer cancer recurrences and help them live longer.' Researchers collected blood from participants and will look for clues tying exercise to cancer prevention, whether through insulin processing or building up the immune system or something else. Swain-Collins' coaching program ended, but she is still exercising. She listens to music while she walks in the countryside near her home. That kind of behavior change can be achieved when people believe in the benefits, when they find ways to make it fun and when there's a social component, said paper co-author Kerry Courneya, who studies exercise and cancer at the University of Alberta. The new evidence will give cancer patients a reason to stay motivated. 'Now we can say definitively exercise causes improvements in survival,' Courneya said. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Exercise boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients, study shows
A three-year exercise program improved survival in colon cancer patients and kept disease at bay, a first-of-its-kind international experiment showed. With the benefits rivaling some drugs, experts said cancer centers and insurance plans should consider making exercise coaching a new standard of care for colon cancer survivors. Until then, patients can increase their physical activity after treatment, knowing they are doing their part to prevent cancer from coming back. 'It's an extremely exciting study,' said Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who wasn't involved in the research. It's the first randomized controlled trial to show how exercise can help cancer survivors, Meyerhardt said. Prior evidence was based on comparing active people with sedentary people, a type of study that can't prove cause and effect. The new study — conducted in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Israel and the United States — compared people who were randomly selected for an exercise program with those who instead received an educational booklet. 'This is about as high a quality of evidence as you can get,' said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 'I love this study because it's something I've been promoting but with less strong evidence for a long time.' The findings were featured Sunday at ASCO's annual meeting in Chicago and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Academic research groups in Canada, Australia and the U.K. funded the work. Researchers followed 889 patients with treatable colon cancer who had completed chemotherapy. Half were given information promoting fitness and nutrition. The others worked with a coach, meeting every two weeks for a year, then monthly for the next two years. Coaches helped participants find ways to increase their physical activity. Many people, including Terri Swain-Collins, chose to walk for about 45 minutes several times a week. 'This is something I could do for myself to make me feel better,' said Swain-Collins, 62, of Kingston, Ontario. Regular contact with a friendly coach kept her motivated and accountable, she said. 'I wouldn't want to go there and say, 'I didn't do anything,' so I was always doing stuff and making sure I got it done.' After eight years, the people in the structured exercise program not only became more active than those in the control group but also had 28% fewer cancers and 37% fewer deaths from any cause. There were more muscle strains and other similar problems in the exercise group. 'When we saw the results, we were just astounded,' said study co-author Dr. Christopher Booth, a cancer doctor at Kingston Health Sciences Centre in Kingston, Ontario. Exercise programs can be offered for several thousand dollars per patient, Booth said, 'a remarkably affordable intervention that will make people feel better, have fewer cancer recurrences and help them live longer.' Researchers collected blood from participants and will look for clues tying exercise to cancer prevention, whether through insulin processing or building up the immune system or something else. Swain-Collins' coaching program ended, but she is still exercising. She listens to music while she walks in the countryside near her home. That kind of behavior change can be achieved when people believe in the benefits, when they find ways to make it fun and when there's a social component, said paper co-author Kerry Courneya, who studies exercise and cancer at the University of Alberta. The new evidence will give cancer patients a reason to stay motivated. 'Now we can say definitively exercise causes improvements in survival,' Courneya said. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Reuters
31-01-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Health Rounds: Old anti-inflammatory may delay colon cancer recurrence
Jan 31 (Reuters) - Patients with colon cancer who still have cancer cells in their blood after surgery may improve their survival odds with daily use of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pill celecoxib, new research suggests. In a large trial, patients with positive blood tests for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) after surgery had worse outcomes in general. But treatment with celecoxib, sold under the brand name Celebrex by Viatris (VTRS.O), opens new tab, significantly prolonged the amount of time they lived without their cancer recurring, according to data presented at the in San Francisco. Celecoxib, which belongs to a class of drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors, has been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal polyps and cancer in earlier trials. In the current study, the 2,526 study participants with cancer confined to the colon and nearby lymph nodes all underwent surgery and received chemotherapy for either three or six months. Patients received either celecoxib or a placebo daily for three years. While the celecoxib did not appear to prevent cancer recurrence, in a subsequent analysis researchers found that in patients with ctDNA, the drug significantly improved disease-free survival, or the time it takes for the cancer to recur. They also found that in this subset, recurrence developed in 61% of the celecoxib group and in 77% of the placebo group. After six years of follow-up and after taking patients' individual risk factors into account, cancer recurrence was 37% less likely with daily celecoxib than with a placebo. 'This is one of the first studies to show that ctDNA status has predictive utility in terms of selecting patients that respond better to a drug,' study leader Dr. Jonathan Nowak of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston said in a statement. 'These findings will help develop a personalized approach to additional therapy for patients with early-stage colon cancer,' Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt of Dana-Farber, who also worked on the study, said in a statement. Off-the-shelf CAR-T cells closer to reality A less expensive 'off-the-shelf' version of revolutionary CAR-T cell blood cancer therapies may someday be possible, a report published on Thursday in Nature, opens new tab suggests. In CAR-T cell therapy, a patient's own immune cells are removed and altered so they will attack cancer cells. These T cells are extracted from the blood, genetically modified to fight the individual's cancer, and then reinfused into the patient, a costly and time consuming process that limits access. Use of cheaper non-personalized, or allogeneic, CAR-T cells has so far not been feasible because the patient's immune system rejects them. To protect allogeneic CAR-T cells from attack by patients' immune cells, researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York studied viruses that have evolved and have proteins that help them survive such an assault. One such protein, or evasin, in the human immunodeficiency virus, called HIV Nef, helps HIV-infected cells evade the immune system. In experiments in mice, HIV nef added to allogeneic CAR-T cells worked via multiple pathways to help the CAR-T cells evade the immune system and continue to function, according to the report. 'Our study illustrates key principles that inform allogeneic CAR-T cell engineering,' the researchers said. 'Virus-like immune escape can harness multiple mechanisms that act in concert to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of allogeneic CAR T cells.' Tiny pieces of plastics block brain arteries in mice Scientists who tracked microplastics moving through the bodies of mice in real time found they eventually become lodged in blood vessels in the brain, according to a report in the journal Science Advances, opens new tab. It is not clear whether such obstructions occur in people, but in the mice the plastics in brain vessels appeared to affect their movement and behavior, researchers said. The researchers gave mice water laced with fluorescent spheres of polystyrene, commonly used in manufacturing of appliances, packaging and toys. They used a fluorescence imaging technique to observe the mouse brains through a transparent window surgically implanted into the skull. Immune cells known as neutrophils and phagocytes ingested the bright plastic specks and traveled through blood vessels to the brain, where they got trapped in tiny blood vessels, the researchers determined. Mice with plastic clots in the brain moved more slowly, and performed cognitive tasks less efficiently, compared to control mice, the researchers said. Most of the clots eventually dissolved during the four-week study, and behavior returned to normal. 'Humans and mice have different immune systems, coagulation systems, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular circulatory systems,' so the findings are not directly applicable to humans, the researchers noted. Some, however - such as people with a history of heart attack or stroke, and those with obesity and clogged blood vessels – might be more vulnerable to plastic clots in blood vessels, they suggested. They called for more research into the potential obstructive effects of microplastics in humans. Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.
