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Breast Cancer

Shining a Light on Skin Cancer Risk: Misconceptions and Sociodemographic Factors

Experiencing five or more severe sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 increases the risk of melanoma by 80% and nonmelanoma skin cancer by 68%. This study is among the few to examine the relationship between perceived cancer risk, concern about being diagnosed, confidence in health, sunburn history, and the prevalence of sun protection behaviors, all in relation to sociodemographic factors in U.S. adults. Findings reveal statistically significant associations between the number of sunburns and sociodemographic factors.

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The most common cancer in the United States is skin cancer, with millions of non-melanoma cases and tens of thousands of melanomas diagnosed annually. Treating skin cancer costs the U.S. approximately $8.9 billion annually. Those at higher risk include individuals with fair skin, a history of sun exposure or tanning bed use, and a genetic predisposition.

A study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine explored associations between reported number of sunburns and sociodemographic characteristics, examining prevalence of protective skin behaviors adopted by the U.S. adult population in a nationally representative sample.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, experiencing five or more blistering sunburns between ages 15 and 20 increases one’s melanoma risk by 80% and nonmelanoma skin cancer risk by 68%.

Using data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey 6 (HINTS 6), researchers selected questions focused on respondents’ confidence in their health, perceived cancer risk, and worry about getting diagnosed with cancer, as well as their sunburn experiences over the past year.

Among 6,252 participants surveyed, most respondents felt either very confident (44%) or completely confident (27.3%) about their ability to take good care of their own health. Findings also showed that most respondents had moderate concerns about skin cancer risk, with only 9.1% reporting being extremely worried, while the majority were either somewhat (26.6%) or slightly (25.6%) concerned.

For sunburn and skin protection, 67.6% reported no sunburns in the past year, while 30.3% had 1-5 sunburns. Additionally, 6.4% reported consuming alcohol while sunburned, a known risk factor for increased sunburn incidence.

Using multinomial regression analysis, statistically significant associations were reported between the number of sunburns and sociodemographic factors. Adults (over 40) had lower sunburn risks, as did women. Disabled, unemployed, and multi-occupation participants reported fewer sunburns. Married or partnered individuals had higher risks of sunburn, while divorced or single participants had lower risks.

Higher education levels, being Hispanic, Black, Asian or of mixed race were linked to lower sunburn risks. Higher income groups had significantly higher risks of sunburns, with the highest income group being more than four times more likely to report a sunburn.

“Social determinants such as race/ethnicity, sex, income and employment status are closely linked to sunburn and skin cancer risk,” said Lea Sacca, Ph.D., senior author and assistant professor of medicine at Florida Atlantic University. “Our study underscores the importance of raising awareness about skin cancer susceptibility as we found that all sociodemographic factors were significantly linked to the number of reported sunburns in the past year.”

According to the American Cancer Society and other health organizations, practicing sun safety and skin awareness is vital to preventing skin cancer. Regularly applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, especially when spending time outdoors, and reapplying every two hours is essential as a first step for skin cancer prevention.

Avoiding direct sunlight, particularly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest, and seeking shade whenever possible are also additional preventive strategies to consider to reduce the risk of this disease. Moreover, protecting skin further by wearing long-sleeve clothing, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses with 100% UVA/UVB protection has also been recommended.

It’s also crucial to avoid tanning beds, as they increase the risk of skin cancer. Regular self-exams of the skin for any unusual moles or changes, along with professional skin screenings by a dermatologist, can help with early detection.

Surfaces like water, sand and snow also can reflect UV rays, so reapply sunscreen more frequently in these environments. Finally, staying hydrated supports skin health and resilience against UV damage.

The study co-authors include Nada Eldawy; Sahar Kaleem; Austin Lent; Adrienne Dean; Ayden Dunn; Paige Brinzo; and Samantha Jimenez, all medical students in the Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University.

Breast Cancer

The Fatal Mutation That Lets Cancer Outsmart Our Immune System

Scientists at UC Davis discovered a small genetic difference that could explain why humans are more prone to certain cancers than our primate cousins. The change affects a protein used by immune cells to kill tumors—except in humans, it’s vulnerable to being shut down by an enzyme that tumors release. This flaw may be one reason treatments like CAR-T don’t work as well on solid tumors. The surprising twist? That mutation might have helped our brains grow larger over time. Now, researchers are exploring ways to block the enzyme and give our immune system its power back.

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The UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has made a groundbreaking discovery that may explain why certain immune cells in humans are less effective at fighting solid tumors compared to non-human primates. This finding could lead to more powerful cancer treatments.

Researchers have uncovered an evolutionary change that makes the Fas Ligand (FasL) protein, essential for triggering programmed cell death and killing cancer cells, vulnerable to being disabled by plasmin in humans. This genetic mutation is unique to humans and not found in non-human primates, such as chimpanzees.

“The evolutionary mutation in FasL may have contributed to the larger brain size in humans,” said Jogender Tushir-Singh, senior author for the study and an associate professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. “But in the context of cancer, it was an unfavorable tradeoff because the mutation gives certain tumors a way to disarm parts of our immune system.”

The team discovered that a single evolutionary amino acid change – serine instead of proline at position 153 – makes FasL more susceptible to being cut and inactivated by plasmin. Plasmin is often elevated in aggressive solid tumors, such as triple negative breast cancer, colon cancer, and ovarian cancer.

This means that even when human immune cells are activated and ready to attack the tumor cells, one of their key death weapons – FasL – can be neutralized by the tumor environment, reducing the effectiveness of immunotherapies. The findings may help explain why CAR-T and T-cell-based therapies often fall short in solid tumors.

Blood cancers often do not rely on plasmin to metastasize, whereas tumors like ovarian cancer heavily rely on plasmin to spread the cancer.

Significantly, the study also showed that blocking plasmin or shielding FasL from cleavage can restore its cancer-killing power. This finding may open new doors for improving cancer immunotherapy.

By combining current treatments with plasmin inhibitors or specially designed antibodies that protect FasL, scientists may be able to boost immune responses in patients with solid tumors.

“Humans have a significantly higher rate of cancer than chimpanzees and other primates,” said Tushir-Singh. “There is a lot that we do not know and can still learn from primates and apply to improve human cancer immunotherapies.”

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Anxiety

Single Psilocybin Dose Delivers Long-Term Depression Relief for Cancer Patients

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, might just revolutionize how depression and anxiety are treated in cancer patients. In a groundbreaking trial, a single dose combined with therapy significantly reduced emotional suffering, and these effects often lasted over two years. As follow-up studies expand the research to multiple doses and larger samples, scientists are eyeing a possible new standard of care that merges psychedelics with psychological support.

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A groundbreaking clinical trial has revealed that a single dose of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in mushrooms, can provide sustained reductions in depression and anxiety in individuals with cancer suffering from major depressive disorder. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal CANCER, suggest that this treatment approach may offer long-term relief for cancer patients struggling with depression.

The study involved 28 participants who received psychological support from a therapist prior to, during, and after receiving a single 25-mg dose of psilocybin. Two years later, a significant proportion of these individuals demonstrated lasting reductions in depression and anxiety. Specifically:

* 53.6% (15 patients) showed a sustained reduction in depression.
* 50% (14 patients) experienced remission from depression as well as reduced anxiety.
* 42.9% (12 patients) reported reduced anxiety at the two-year mark.

Building on these promising results, an ongoing randomized, double-blind trial is currently evaluating up to two doses of 25 mg of psilocybin versus placebo for treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients. This study aims to determine whether repeating the treatment can resolve depression for more than half of the participants.

According to lead author Manish Agrawal, MD, from Sunstone Therapies, “One dose of psilocybin with psychological support has a long-term positive impact on relieving depression for as much as 2 years for a substantial portion of patients with cancer. If randomized testing shows similar results, this could lead to greater use of psilocybin to treat depression in patients with cancer.”

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Brain Tumor

Groundbreaking Treatment Breakthrough: Electric Fields Supercharge Immune Assault on Brain Cancer

A breakthrough study from Keck Medicine of USC may have found a powerful new triple therapy for glioblastoma, one of the deadliest brain cancers. By combining Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), which deliver electric waves into tumors, with immunotherapy and chemotherapy, researchers saw a major boost in survival.

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A new study has made a groundbreaking discovery in the treatment of glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer with few effective treatments available. Researchers from Keck Medicine of USC have found that combining Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy with immunotherapy and chemotherapy can significantly extend survival rates among patients diagnosed with glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer, with an average survival rate of only eight months. The National Brain Tumor Society reports that the prognosis for glioblastoma remains poor, even with aggressive treatment. However, this new study has shown promising results, demonstrating a 70% increase in overall survival when TTFields are used alongside immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

TTFields work by delivering targeted waves of electric fields directly into tumors to stop their growth and signal the body’s immune system to attack cancerous tumor cells. This approach is particularly effective for glioblastoma, as it disrupts the tumor’s ability to evade the immune response.

In this study, patients who received TTFields combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy lived approximately 10 months longer than those who had used the device with chemotherapy alone in the past. Those with large, inoperable tumors showed an even stronger immune response to TTFields, living approximately 13 months longer compared to patients who underwent surgical removal of their tumors.

The lead researcher on this study, Dr. David Tran, a neuro-oncologist at Keck Medicine, explained that by using TTFields with immunotherapy, the body is “primed” to mount an attack on the cancer, enabling the immunotherapy to have a meaningful effect in ways it could not before. This approach represents a significant breakthrough in the treatment of glioblastoma.

This study demonstrates that combining TTFields with immunotherapy triggers a potent immune response within the tumor – one that ICIs can then amplify to bolster the body’s own defense against cancer. “Think of it like a team sport – immunotherapy sends players in to attack the tumor (the offense), while TTFields weaken the tumor’s ability to fight back (the defense),” Dr. Tran explained.

The findings of this study have significant implications for the treatment of glioblastoma and offer new hope for patients who previously had limited options. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal role of surgery in this setting, but these results may offer a glimmer of light for those affected by this devastating disease.

As Dr. Tran noted, “Further studies are needed to determine the optimal role of surgery in this setting, but these findings may offer hope, particularly for glioblastoma patients who do not have surgery as an option.” The multicenter Phase 3 clinical trial is currently underway at 28 sites across the United States, Europe, and Israel, with over 740 patients expected to be enrolled through April 2029.

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