I love to write about new studies combining drugs to improve survival of any kind of cancer. When I read these articles I immediately want to write about them. The reason is because having had breast cancer, I'm always afraid of a recurrence. Knowing that new treatment combinations are working, keeps my anxiety at bay.

An article recently published in the Annals of Oncology says that treatment consisting of Doxil and carboplatin may improve survival in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer.

Researchers in France conducted a clinical trial to evaluate Doxil plus carboplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer that had relapsed following prior platinum and taxane based regimens.

Anticancer responses occurred in 63 percent of patients. Complete disappearances of cancer occurred in 38 percent of patients. The researchers conclude that the combination of Doxil/carboplatin appears highly effective for women with advanced ovarian cancer.

Mushrooms can help prevent breast cancer, says a study published in Cancer Research, by suppressing estrogen production in the body. Controlling estrogen levels in women can help limit or prevent cancer growth.

Researchers confirmed the presence of anti-aromatase chemicals in white button mushrooms. The chemical found called conjugated linoleic acid has previously been found to have anti-cancer properties. In mice, these compounds stopped the growth of breast cancer cells.The mice that were fed mushroom extract had a 58 percent reduction in breast tumor growth.

They tested other mushrooms and found that although white button mushrooms had the strongest effect, shiitake, portobello, crimini, and baby button mushrooms also had significant anti-aromatase effects.

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Medicinal mushrooms: cancer treatment cancer prevention

Recipe for Healthy Living: Mushroom Garlic Soup

Patients with breast cancer that have disease progression after being treated with chemotherapy drugs, anthracyclines and taxanes, are left with limited treatment options. Researchers are always looking to find new drugs to keep the drug arsenal full for these women so they don't run out of treatment options. One chemotherapy might stop working on the cancer and it can become resistant so we need to have a plan B, C, D, E ...etc.

An article published in the British Journal of Cancer says that vinflunine provides anticancer activity among women who's cancer has recurred or progressed following prior therapy. This new chemotherapy drug is classified as a vinca alkaloid. The study showed that the anticancer response rate was 30 percent.

The positive results of this study will prompt further studies. Patients with recurrent breast cancer may wish to speak to their physician regarding their individual risks and benefits of participating in a clinic trial further evaluating vinflunine.

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have received a $1.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study how specific nutrients in broccoli, and other vegetables known to provide an anti-cancer benefit, work to fight cancer.

"Everyone knows broccoli is good for you and that it contains compounds known to lessen the occurrence of some types of cancer. We want to know how these compounds work and what their specific targets may be," says Janet V. Cross, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

By discovering exactly what the nutrients in foods like broccoli are accomplishing in the prevention of cancer, there is a potential for using the same compounds in a supplement form in cancer prevention. You can listen to Dr. Cross discuss her research in audio files available here.

When cancer originates in the liver it is called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In advanced HCC the cancer has spread to distant places in the body.

Biological pathways that are believed to be associated with cancer growth and spread can be targeted by Nexavar. A clinical trial was conducted consisting of 137 patients who have received no prior therapy and were unable to undergo the surgical removal of their cancer.

According to the article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Nexavar may provide anticancer activity in some patients with liver cancer and is well tolerated.

Also, a measure of 18 genes that were identified can help predict who will benefit from the drug Nexavar. Future clinical trials are being planned to evaluate the use of Nexavar in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients.