Monday, December 7, 2015

News digest – tobacco company allegations, cold sores, a jab to prevent cancer and…potatoes?

BBC’s Panorama revealed shocking allegations that people working on behalf of British American Tobacco have offered payments to politicians, civil servants and other Government officials in several African countries. Here’s our analysis.
MPs from across the political spectrum published a report backing the need for measures to tackle childhood obesity – including a sugar tax. The Mail Online and the Guardian were among the many media outlets to cover the report.
A fine balance of genetic damage inside cancer cells could decide how aggressive certain tumours are. New Scientist investigates.
The Express claimed that “cold sores are KEY to destroying cancer tumours”. But the fascinating research featured in the article is actually targeting cancer cells with a modified version of the virus that causes cold sores – the tingling lip lumps themselves can’t destroy tumours.
Our scientists found that spreading cancer cells that arrive in a new part of the body must be able to change their new environment to continue to grow. Here’s our press release with the details.
We asked if it’s possible to develop a jab to prevent cancer.
This Guardian article approached the tough topic of how a parent tells their children they have cancer.
The Telegraph focussed on the challenge of tackling pancreatic cancer.
Could genetics have a part to play in how hard it is to give up smoking? New Scientist explores a recent study.
Scientists moved a step closer to targeting a cancer-causing molecule that has been deemed ‘undruggable’ by many. The Mail Online covered this, but the findings were in mice so it’s definitely too soon to talk of ‘breakthroughs’.
Popular Science picked up on a study testing liquid metal ‘nano terminator’ particles as a way of delivering cancer drugs to tumour cells. But it’s early days as the findings were only shown in mice.
IBM’s data analysis platform – called Watson – could help doctors diagnose and treat cancer patients in India, according to Forbes.
The Mirror featured a fascinating video showing a cancer cell spreading into the bone of a mouse.
A study looking at depression in women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer reinforced the need for patients to speak to their doctor about how they are feeling. The Mail Online has more on this.

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