The range of Sheffield cancer treatments available to patients is substantial, but new research is going on all the time that may increase it, including what may prove a high significant new discovery.

Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London have identified a ‘traffic light’ epigenetic mechanism within cells that controls genetic activity, determining how a gene is translated into a protein.

The science of epigenetics is still barely understood, but this breakthrough has answered a key question as to how epigenetic proteins work to determine when and how DNA should be read and made into proteins.

A key signal called H3K4me3 works to ensure the translation occurs at the right time and in the right way, with researchers drawing an analogy between this and traffic lights in controlling the flow of gene transcription like traffic on a busy road.

Crucially, understanding this could explain how a breakdown in this regulation takes place and leads to the development of cancer cells, in particular in relation to leukaemia, breast, bowel and pancreatic cancers. These cancers arise when something goes wrong in the gene regulation and it has been known for around 20 years that H3K4me3 was involved.

The upshot of this is that such understanding could lead to new cancer drugs being developed to tackle various cancers, by blocking the activities of cancer-causing cells through altering the ‘traffic light’ actions of epigenetic cells.

Professor Kristian Helin, the chief executive of the ICR, commented: “We have solved a 20 year puzzle,” adding: “Because the enzymes determining the level of H3K4me3 in the cell frequently are found mutated in cancer, our studies could have implications for understanding and treating cancer.”

Epigenetics has already been linked with environmental influences that can combine with genetics to influence areas like childhood development, Harvard University has claimed.

This may also mean that environmental impacts can increase cancer risks in ways not hitherto understood. However these combinations develop, therapies based on the understanding of H3K4me3 may now offer a crucial way to reverse them.

The number of people being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is rising, particularly in Black women. According to a recent study by scientists from Cedars-Sinai Cancer, rates of pancreatic cancer are increasing.

Their research, which was published in the journal Gastroenterology, found rates among women under 55 were 2.4 per cent higher than men of the same age. It also revealed rates for young Back women were 2.23 per cent greater than for young Black men. It is thought the type of tumour and its location could be to explain for more cases being detected.

Men had historically been linked to pancreatic cancer more than women, with many experts believing this could be to smoking more tobacco, which increases their risk. Other lifestyle habits that raise the chances of developing pancreatic cancer include diets high in red or processed meats and saturated fats; a lack of physical activity; and drinking lots of coffee and alcohol.

This study could encourage more people to change their lifestyle to reduce their risk of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Srinivas Gaddam, associate director of Pancreatic Biliary Research at Cedars-Sinai, said: “The data shows us a small increase in risk of pancreatic cancer. And that awareness might refocus people on the need to stop smoking, reduce alcohol use, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and manage their weight.”

Anyone who is experiencing abdominal pain that radiates to the back, unexplained weight loss and a loss of appetite, jaundice, dark-coloured urine or light-coloured stools, itchy skin, blood clots, or fatigue should seek a Sheffield oncology diagnosis as soon as possible to rule out pancreatic cancer.

We all know the importance of eating a well-balanced diet, but a recent report has shown consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is linked with an increased risk of developing certain types of cancers.

The Lancet recently published a study looking at how the two are connected, examining the impact of UPF consumption on cancer risk and mortality in British adults.

Looking at the diets of 197,426 people aged between 40 and 69 over nearly ten years, the researchers discovered 15,921 participants developed cancer.

It found the mean UPF consumption was 22.9 per cent of the total diet. For every ten per cent increase in UPF consumption, there was a two per cent higher incidence of any cancer and a 19 per cent greater risk of ovarian cancer.

The report also revealed every ten-percentage point rise in UPF consumption resulted in a six per cent higher risk of cancer-related mortality, which increased to 30 per cent for ovarian cancer and 16 per cent for breast cancer.

Dr Kiara Chang, who was one of the authors of the study, told The Independent: “Ultra-processed foods are everywhere and highly marketed with cheap price and attractive packaging to promote consumption. This shows our food environment needs urgent reform to protect the population from ultra-processed foods.”

To reduce the risk of cancer, people should cut down on their UPF consumption and eat more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and pulses. UPFs include pre-packaged meals, industrialised bread, breakfast cereals, reconstituted meat products, confectionary, biscuits, pasties, buns, cakes, chips, soft drinks, tinned soups, salty snacks, sauces and dressings.

If you have recently been diagnosed with cancer, call our private oncology clinic for more information about treatment options.

Shocking statistics have been published that show almost a third of women in England have not been screened for cervical cancer or are not up to date with their tests.

Despite being the 14th most common form of cancer among females and 3,197 new cases having been diagnosed between 2016 and 2018, not enough women are being tested for the condition.

NHS England data shared with the Guardian has shown 4.6 million females between 25 and 64 years old in England have not been checked or their tests are now out of date. This represents the highest proportion in ten years, sparking concern that diagnosis rates could rise if people do not get themselves looked at.

Samantha Dixon, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust charity, told the publication: “We want to see the government step up and commit to eliminating cervical cancer in the UK.”

She noted that other nations are further ahead of Britain in fighting this form of cancer, particularly as there is the HPV vaccination available for adolescents that means developing cervical cancer is highly preventable.

However, take-up for the jab dropped by seven per cent for girls and by 8.7 per cent for boys in year 8 in 2021/22.

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has revealed only 16 per cent and 20 per cent think enough is being done by the government to encourage screenings and HPV vaccinations respectively.

Cervical cancer incidences have declined substantially over the last few years, dropping by 25 per cent since the 1990s, according to Cancer Research UK. However, this is only possible through regular tests and high vaccination rates.

If you have received a diagnosis for cervical cancer and want immediate treatment, our private oncology clinic could provide the care you need. Call us today for more information on action plans.

The European Medicines Agency has approved a drug that has been used in the United States to help treat breast cancer, giving a private oncologist more options for treatment.

The AstraZeneca drug Enhertu was approved for use by the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) after the results of a Phase III clinical trial suggested it reduce the progression of the disease or death by as much as half compared to chemotherapy.

It has been approved as a single therapy for treating metastatic breast cancer that cannot be removed with surgery for people who have just received or are in the process of receiving chemotherapy treatment, particularly for those diagnosed with HER2-low cancer.

The term HER2-Low refers to low amounts of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 proteins (HER2), that ordinarily help to control breast cell and tissue growth and maintain their health.

Some breast cancers (up to 20 per cent) have very high levels of HER2, which makes them aggressively divide and grow, and can be treated using targeted therapies that reduce the level of HER2 such as trastuzumab, a drug approved in 1998.

However, there are other tumours that have low levels of HER2, which cannot be targeted with those specific drugs, but thanks to clinical trials such as DESTINY-Breast04, have a much-improved chance of survival.

Enhertu has also been approved for use in treating gastric cancer, and two other cancer medications have also received marketing authorisation in the EU for advanced-stage lung and liver cancers.

A combination treatment using the drugs Imfinzi and Imjudo has received positive opinions as the result of a pair of Phase III clinical trials, which helps to offset the disappointment AstraZeneca felt when the latter struggled to be effective as a single-drug therapy.

However, more options for patients with cancer are always an important step, as it allows for alternatives to be used if a first-line treatment proves unsuitable.