Dr. Judah Folkman died after doing important research for 40 years on angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels.) He died, unexpectedly, on 14 Jan., 2008. His discoveries have changed our ideas about tumor treatment, tumor growth, and other diseases. As a young surgeon, Dr. Folkman was interested in tumor growth and invented techniques whereby […]

Patrick, in Summary #375 writes that thyroid disease, including cancer and autoimmune disease, is rapidly increasing. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl) environmental pollutants are associated with thyroid cancer. They are still in fish, even in salmon from Alaska. Patrick, in Summary #387 writes that low iodine increases cancer of the thyroid. Low iodine increases the uptake of […]

Condyloma acuminata (CA) is a disease causing warts, with increased growth of new blood vessels and increased cell proliferation. This study was done to see if vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are involved in this disease process. Microvascular density (MVD) was used to evaluate the abnormal blood vessel growth seen in these […]

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of blindness in the elderly. New drugs are being tested to work against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a natural chemical in the body that causes neovascularization (the growth of new blood vessels) in the eye. Corticosteroids, which prevent the growth of new blood vessels, are used […]

Extracellular pH in many tumors has been shown to be lower, or more acidic, than in surrounding tissues. The present study was done to evaluate the role of pH in metastatic disease. Mice with metastatic melanoma to the lungs were studied. Cancer cells were cultured in acidic culture as compared to more alkaline environments.

Multifocal Angiostatic Therapy (MAT) is a treatment method that attempts to prevent cancers from growing new blood vessels. Angiogeneis is the growth of new blood vessels and Angiostatic treatments are aimed at slowing cancer growth. Cancers need new blood vessels to grow larger and cancers produce chemicals that change endothelial cells into blood vessel cells. […]