Inhibitor of AKT Shows Promising Activity in Colon Cancer

At ASCO in June 2009  a study was presented showing potential benefit of a novel inhibitor of AKT and MAPK in patients with metastatic colon cancer in second and third line chemotherapy.  An update at the 2010 ASCO GI meeting in January further confirmed these promising results.

This was a randomized phase II study comparing Xeloda alone versus a combination of Perifosine and Xeloda. Continue reading…

Posted by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD on February 15th, 2010
Posted in: From the Desk of Dr. Lenz | 2 Comments »
Tags: perifosine, Treating Colorectal Cancer

Heart Drugs used for Congestive Heart Failure and Arrhythmia may have Anti-tumor Activity

Swedish scientists  reported in the American Cancer Society Journal of Natural Products that cardiac glycosides, which are a family of naturally derived drugs which are used to treat congestive heart failure and arrhythmia, show anti-tumor activity against colon cancer cells. Continue reading…

Posted by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD on January 5th, 2010
Posted in: From the Desk of Dr. Lenz | 3 Comments »
Tags: Treating Colorectal Cancer

Physical Activity Reduces Risk for Tumor Recurrence

You may know this already, but we have now more proof that physically activity reduces significantly your risk of tumor recurrence.

The study conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute began in January 1986, included 668 men who’d been treated for stage I, stage II or stage III colon cancer that had not spread (nonmetastatic cancer). Continue reading…

Posted by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD on January 3rd, 2010
Posted in: From the Desk of Dr. Lenz | 3 Comments »
Tags: Living with Colorectal Cancer, physical activity, survivorship

Milk Thistle: A Way to Protect Against Liver Damage

I am using milk thistle for many of my patients, particularly the ones with some liver damage through chemotherapy or cancer.

A  new study, published online in the journal Cancer, showed that milk thistle may help reduce the liver inflammation associated with chemotherapy in children with leukemia who undergo aggressive chemotherapies. Continue reading…

Posted by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD on December 18th, 2009
Posted in: From the Desk of Dr. Lenz | 4 Comments »
Tags: milk thistle, silymarin, Treating Colorectal Cancer

Can Coffee Protect Against Colon Cancer?

Recent data suggest that a compound in coffee has been found to possibly protect against colon cancer.

We have known for a long time that estrogen can protect against colon cancer and that women who take hormone replacement can also prevent polyps and cancer development. We also have recently seen that women do better than men when younger than 45 years old. Continue reading…

Posted by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD on November 26th, 2009
Posted in: From the Desk of Dr. Lenz | 5 Comments »
Tags: coffee, estrogen, Preventing Colorectal Cancer