What's New With Colon Cancer

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[edit] What's New With Colon Cancer

There are some newer developments on several fronts regarding colon cancer that could become significant in the near future:

There are a number of biomarkers that are expressed on the cell surface of colon cancer cells that can be utililized for sensitive sreening tests. We may not get a single reliable biomarker test like the PSA test for prostate cancer. Rather there may be a future test involving a combination of three or more markers, which would be a sensitive screen for colon cancer (see Ref. 4).

• The immunostimulator levamisole has been tested in combination with the chemotherapy agent 5-flurouracil and the cancer response rate is encouraging. This combination is much better tolerated than chemotherapy alone. Such a combination makes sense to me as the toxic side-effect of the chemotherapy is partially reversed while the cancer combating force is not diminished, but even enhanced (Ref. 5).
• Radiotherapy sensitizers such as xanthenes are starting to show some promise as is discussed in Ref. 6. With these caffeine related chemicals tumor cells are arrested in the cell division cycle at a point where radiation can become more effective and the tumor kill cell rate is increased resulting in better clinical survival rates.This concept is not new and has been talked about in the 1970's, however, it has matured now to the point where it can be utilized.
• There is a lot of progress being made in imaging studies such as a virtual colonoscopy, where the patient never gets a colonoscope introduced through the rectum (Ref. 7). Instead CT scan images of the colon are analyzed by computer and translated into a "virtual colonoscopy".

There is no requirement for a cleansing procedure any more, just a special low residue diet two days prior to the procedure. A thin rectal probe is inserted only 1 inch into the rectum and carbon dioxide is introduced in order to distend the colon. CTscan X-ray films are then taken. This procedure takes only 10 to 15 minutes and the results are instantly known. Polyps of 6 mm (=1/4") in diameter can be detected, which is more than adequate to find colon cancer before it is invasive.

• Finally, as mentioned in the introduction, colon cancer prevention
  is better than a cure: Food and vitamins have been shown to be very effective in cutting down the colon cancer rate in man (Ref. 8). Unfortunately, man is the only creature on earth who is deliberately denying this truth and manages to foul up the hormone balance until the immune system finally breaks down and cancer occurs. I would suggest that one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal in terms of prevention is to go on a permanent zone diet (Ref.8).

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Colon cancer

[edit] Summary re. colon cancer

• Colon cancer is silent.
• Early detection of colon cancer through stool tests for occult blood and colonoscopy saves lives.
• Low fat and low cholesterol food intake will significantly reduce the risk for colon cancer.
• Vegetables, fruit and other fiber intake binds carcinogens from the stool and prevents colon and rectal cancer.
• A Toronto University study has shown that Vit. C and E can cut the colon cancer rate in half (antioxidant effect of these vitamins).
• Recent studies showed that exercise reduces the risk for colon and other cancers significantly (see this link).

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Cancer overview

Colon cancer

References:

1. Cancer: Principles &Practice of Oncology, 4^th edition, by V.T. De Vita,Jr., et. al J.B. Lippincott Co.,Philadelphia, 1993. Vol1. Chapter on Cancer of the colon.

2. Cancer: Principles&Practice of Oncology. 5th edition, volume 1. Edited by Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. et al. Lippincott-Raven Publ., Philadelphia,PA, 1997. Chapter 32, Section 7: Cancer of the colon.

3. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 34, page 328-330.

4. S Srivastava et al. Clin Cancer Res 2001 May;7(5):1118-1126.

5. RF Holcombe et al. Cancer Detect Prev 2001;25(2):183-191.

6. S Kinuya et al. J Nucl Med 2001 Apr;42(4):596-600.

7. D Chen et al. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 2000 Dec;19(12):1220-1226.

8. B. Sears: "The age-free zone".Regan Books, Harper Collins, 2000.