Obesity, insulin, and kidney cancer: What’s the connection?

Although a high body mass index (BMI) seems to predispose to the development of renal carcinoma, obesity apparently prolongs survival as long as the cancer has not metastasized, according to this study from Germany. (To get full text from this PubMed abstract, click on “View MedLine abstract on PubMed.gov” and then on “SpringerLink” in the right column of the next screen. It will cost you $34.)

RESULT: Overweight is associated with improved cancer-specific survival in patients with organ-confined renal cell carcinoma
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology (PubMed) | Dec 1, 2009

Looking beyond mere obesity, another study reports that the glycemic index is associated with kidney cancer risk. Clearly insulin is implicated somehow; what’s the connection?

RESULT: Glycemic index, glycemic load and renal cell carcinoma risk
Annals of Oncology | Nov 1, 2009

Search: renal cell carcinoma

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OTHER RECENT SEARCHES ON SEARCHMEDICA

Search: fallopian tube neoplasms

RESULT: Dose-dense paclitaxel once a week in combination with carboplatin every 3 weeks for advanced ovarian cancer: a phase 3, open-label, randomised controlled trial
Lancet | Oct 16, 2009

The Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group reports a new and better treatment option for women with advanced ovarian cancer. Neutropenia was increased in the dose-dense group, but overall and progression-free survival were both improved compared with those receiving conventional treatment.

Search: TRAM flap reconstruction

RESULT: Abdominal wall following free TRAM or DIEP flap reconstruction: a meta-analysis and critical review
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PubMed) | Sep 1, 2009

There are fewer abdominal skin-area complications after deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap surgery for breast reconstruction than after muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap surgery, according to this systematic review of published studies. But the latter is associated with far less fat necrosis and fewer other complications.

Search: melanoma skin cancer

RESULT: Moderate- to low-risk variant alleles of cutaneous malignancies and nevi: lessons from genome-wide association studies
Genome Medicine | Oct 27, 2009

Look for new genetic tests for melanoma risk that help clarify the relationship between pigment factors (hair color, freckles, moles) and skin cancer risk. A team from Harvard Medical School reviews results from recent genome-wide studies that reveal alleles that confer lower risk levels than the genotypes known to be associated with melanoma risk. These tests may help people with “unfavorable” pigment profiles to understand their individual skin cancer risk—but it will be important not to send the wrong message.

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SEARCH TIP: Synonyms

There was no need for this person to type both “melanoma” and “skin cancer” into the search box.

The lexicon includes a wide range of synonyms and will deliver results for either term.

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