Cancer
A new center for the fight against cancer is to be built in Berlin. The German capital has been chosen as one of four new locations for the National Center for Tumor Diseases, as the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) announced on Wednesday. Existing locations are Heidelberg and Dresden.
The Governing Mayor Michael Müller has stated that Berlin "plays a key role in decisively advancing cancer research and developing new approaches in the early detection and treatment of cancer". The new center will have 10,000 square meters and contain research laboratories, an outpatient clinic and an information center.
Scientists from the Monash University School of Clinical Science, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse and Predicine, a biotech company from California have developed a blood test for the diagnosis of prostate cancer in men.
The test is able to profile circulating DNA and RNA shed by cancer cells out of 10ml of blood. This procedure gives insight if cancer has developed and how it is composed, enabling conclusions on which treatment could possibly be the best.
The University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Insitute in Australia have tested a modified strain of cannabis for its abilities to kill or inhibit cancer cells.
Dr Matt Dun researched for three years on the potential treatment of cancer with cannabis containing high levels of cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive component of the plant. The research was in collaboration with the Australian biotech company ANTG (Australian Natural Therapeutics Group).
Dr Dun has states that they "initially used leukaemia cells and were surprised by how sensitive they were" while the substance speared normal bone marrow cells and healthy white blood cells.
Comparing THC and CBD strains Dr Dun stated that "the CBD variety looks to have greater efficacy, low toxicity and fewer side-effects, which potentially makes it an ideal complementary therapy to combine with other anti-cancer compounds".
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US Supreme Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she has been receiving chemotherapy for a recurrence of liver cancer, but assured she was "fully able" to continue her post.
Her statement read as followed: "On May 19, I began a course of chemotherapy (gemcitabine) to treat a recurrence of cancer. A periodic scan in February followed by a biopsy revealed lesions on my liver. My recent hospitalizations to remove gall stones and treat an infection were unrelated to this recurrence.
Immunotherapy first essayed proved unsuccessful. The chemotherapy course, however, is yielding positive results. Satisfied that my treatment course is now clear, I am providing this information.
My most recent scan on July 7 indicated significant reduction of the liver lesions and no new disease. I am tolerating chemotherapy well and am encouraged by the success of my current treatment. I will continue bi-weekly chemotherapy to keep my cancer at bay, and am able to maintain an active daily routine. Throughout, I have kept up with opinion writing and all other Court work. I have often said I would remain a member of the Court as long as I can do the job full steam. I remain fully able to do that."
After being diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in January 2019, the four-year-old boy has successfully recovered from the coronavirus. The boy was in the hospital for six days and is now at home with his parents.