By studying changes in tumor tissue from colon cancer patients whose cancers had not spread to distant organs, researchers were able to isolate a gene mutation that led to a poor outcome.

Stage I through III colon cancer patients whose tumors had a mutation in the PIK3CA gene were more likely to die of colon cancer that patients with normal or wild-type PIK3CA.  About 1 in 5 patients had that mutation in tumor tissue.

After adjusting for other variables that affect death from colon cancer, patients with a PIK3CA mutation were more than twice as likely to die from colon cancer.  This was especially true in KRAS wild-type tumors where a PIK3CA mutation increased risk of death almost four times.  However, in KRAS mutated tumors, the presence of PIK3CA made little difference in cancer-specific survival. Read the rest of this entry »

On March 24, 2009, C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition and The National Coalition for Quality Colorectal Cancer Screening and Care (also known as Preventing Colorectal Cancer.Org) are pleased to host a special briefing on Capitol Hill entitled “The Cost of Failing To Treat The Preventable Cancer.” Read the rest of this entry »

In their new colorectal screening guidelines, the American College of Gastroenterology, says that colonoscopy, beginning at age 50 and performed every 10 years, is the “preferred” screening test for colorectal cancer.  They recommend that physicians first offer this test alone rather than a menu of options.

However, if patients are not willing to have a colonoscopy, they support offering:

• Preferably. a cancer prevention test: Either flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 to 10 years  or CT colonography every 5 years.
• A test primarily for cancer detection: Preferred test is fecal immunohistochemical test for blood (FIT).

They further recommend that African Americans begin testing at 45 rather than 50. Read the rest of this entry »

Registration for the Fourth Annual SCOPE Fun Run is now open.  SCOPE (Sprint for Colorectal Oncology and Prevention) takes place March 28th in Houston.

Sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, SCOPE features both a 5K run and a 1K Kid’s Run.  Special events for cancer survivors will also be held that day. Read the rest of this entry »

I have a patient, in fact a movie producer with metastatic colon cancer, who had liver metastases. He enrolled in a clinical trial (SWOG 80405) and responded very well to chemotherapy. His liver metastases were not resectable at first, but because his tumor shrank so dramatically, he became resectable. He underwent surgery with curative intent, meaning to remove all tumors, which was successful. He finished further chemotherapy and is right now cancer free. He is one of the success stories of aggressive chemotherapy.

He did very well with chemotherapy and he attributes his attitude and very few side effects to his regular tai chi. So I did some research on tai chi and found interesting information I wanted to share with you. Read the rest of this entry »