The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has been a national leader in cancer research for the last forty years. The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is one the only complete cancer treatment facility in the area.
Several forms of cancer spread (metastasize) through the lymphatic system. Elevated levels of the growth factor VEGF-D in human tumors correlate with lymph node metastasis. Breast cancer is one form of cancer that can spread through the lymphatic system.
Research has determined that VEGF-D was linked to prostaglandin pathways and to the lymphatic system through this pathway.
A team of Australian scientists and physicians have found that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce lymphatic vessel dilation and inhibit tumor metastasis through the lymphatic system.
Many NSAIDs can be obtained over the counter.
The researchers are attempting to determine which NSAID has the greatest effect on preventing the spread of cancer through the lymphatic system.
The research was reported in the February 14, 2012, issue of the journal Cancer Cell.
Paper
Authors
Tara Karnezis,1,2,4,10 Ramin Shayan,1,2,4,5,6,10 Carol Caesar,1,2,4 Sally Roufail,1,2,4 Nicole C. Harris,1,2,4,5 Kathryn Ardipradja,1,2,4 You Fang Zhang,1,2,4 Steven P. Williams,1,2,4,5 Rae H. Farnsworth,1,2,4 Ming G. Chai,7 Thusitha W.T. Rupasinghe,3 Dedreia L. Tull,3 Megan E. Baldwin,8 Erica K. Sloan,7 Stephen B. Fox,2,9 Marc G. Achen,1,2,4 and Steven A. Stacker1,2,4,*
1Tumour Angiogenesis Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia 2Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology 3Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Institute for Molecular Science and Biotechnology The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia 4Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia 5Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital 6Jack Brockhoff Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Research Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia 7Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia 8Circadian Technologies Limited, Vegenics Pty Ltd., Toorak, Victoria 3142, Australia 9Department of Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia
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