The potentially revolutionary cancer cell separation device being developed by ANGLE’s (LON:AGL) subsidiary Parsortix has separated cells in blood from a patient, the IP firm said today.

It is the first time the device has identified circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in blood taken from someone with cancer.

Previously the Parsortix device had identified cultured breast cancer cells, prostate cancer cells and lung cancer cells in “spiked blood”, where the cells had been added. 

ANGLE said the latest test results are significant because a sample of actual cancer patient blood would be expected to contain only a very small number of CTCs and it was not clear if the patient’s disease would adversely affect the device’s performance. 

ANGLE founder and chief executive, Andrew Newland said: “The successful capture of CTCs in cancer patient blood is a tremendous step forward towards our goal of establishing the Parsortix separation technology as a market-leading product, which is simple, effective and affordable.”

The results are the first from the recent research agreement with the University of Surrey’s oncology department. 

Using facilities at the university, Parsortix undertook a series of small volume separations of the blood of late stage prostate cancer patients.  

The blood passed successfully through the device and in a number of separations captured tumour cells were clearly identified and confirmed by the University of Surrey’s oncology team.  

The results compare favourably with the existing FDA approved antibody-based capture technology, ANGLE added. 

Professor Hardev Pandha at the University of Surrey Oncology Department added: “The University of Surrey is delighted to be working with ANGLE on this novel approach to CTC capture.  Effective monitoring of the level of CTCs in patients’ blood offers great potential for the improvement of cancer treatment.” 

Shares in ANGLE have nearly trebled since last September when it announced Parsortix had been successful in early trials to separate cancer cells using its device.

The group said today the next stages for development will include the validation of the separation device for other cancer types, particularly those where the existing antibody affinity capture technology is unable to capture CTCs, such as ovarian cancer.

ANGLE also said it wants to optimise of the device to allow its easy use in the laboratory and to increase the volume of blood that can be screened and the speed of blood flow.

It will also work to get validation of the performance of the Parsortix device by leading independent cancer research centres.

ANGLE believes the device will have huge ramifications for the way cancer is treated and monitored going forward.

As well as detecting CTCs at a very early stage, the device can also help identify if chemotherapy is working or not, which would mean a huge improvement in the way chemotherapy is administered.

The device also has the potential to monitor patients in remission and to pick up early signs of the return of the cancer ahead of the patient experiencing any symptoms.

A simple blood test using the Parsortix device could also provide routine screening of healthy people to check for early signs of cancer ahead of any symptoms, while it could be possible to use the captured CTCs for molecular profiling to help define tumour biology and risk of progression, ANGLE said.

To be sold for use in hospitals the device requires approval from the all powerful US Food & Drug Administration and a CE Mark here in Europe, but research facilities and laboratories do not need regulatory certification.

ANGLE estimates the potential in the clinical and research markets to be worth conservatively around US$4 billion annually in the United States alone

ANGLE owns 90 per cent of Parsortix.

Businessmen join ‘Movember’ fundraising efforts

4:30pm Wednesday 16th November 2011

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TOWN businessmen have vowed to put down their razors for the whole of November to grow moustaches for charity.

Matt Nicol from Nicol & co Estate Agents and Adam Lerston and Jamie Neville from White Label AV are taking part in the event dubbed Movember, which last year in the UK alone raised over £11.7 million for prostate and testicular cancer.

Mr Nicol said: ” I took part when I first opened the doors for my business in Droitwich back in 2009, the support from friends and family was fantastic and in the end me and some friends raised over £1,200. This year I plan on speaking to vendors and purchasers to try and raise even more money.”

The funds raised in the UK support the number one and two male specific cancers – prostate and testicular cancer. The funds raised are directed to programmes run directly by Movember and other men’s health partners, The Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research.

The other purpose of the event is to also raise awareness towards these cancers. Movember wants men to take responsibility for their health, prevent illness by leading a healthy lifestyle and understand the symptoms and signs in both themselves and others so they can appreciate when and how to seek help if needed.

anyone who would like to give to the charities can simply drop into the office in St Andrews Street, Droitwich, or go online to mobro.co/nicolandmo.

• Spa-based firm Football Business, which sells five and six-a-side football league franchises in the UK, has vowed to donate all the money it makes in November to the Movember cause.

Football Business spokesman Paul Kemp said: “The evils of prostate and testicular cancer are well known. A few of the staff here have lost family members to cancer and we thought this would be a good way to help.

“Most of the players who play in the leagues we sell are young men and it is exactly that group in our society that Movember is attempting to get through to.

“If we can play our small part then we are thrilled to be able to do so.”

for more information contact info@football-business.co.uk or visit football-business.co.uk more information on the Movember initiative see uk.movember.com

Read these Droitwich News stories

Published: Friday, September 23, 2011 at 10:57 p.m. last Modified: Friday, September 23, 2011 at 10:57 p.m.

LAKELAND | Prostate cancer gets the lion’s share of attention when men’s health is the topic of discussion, in large part because so many men are living with it.

Facts CANCER TRIALS IN LAKELAND

Both cancer centers in Lakeland do clinical trials for a variety of cancers, including lung cancer. Center for Cancer Care and Research’s contact number for those trials is 863-688-6826. its information can be found online at watsonclinic.com under clinical trials. Lakeland Regional Cancer Center’s number for clinical trials is 863-904-1900 or go to lrmc.com/cancer-center for information.

Far less is heard about lung cancer, but it kills more men each year in the United States than any other cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates 156,940 people will die this year from cancers of the lung and bronchus — approximately 85,600 men and 71,340 women.

Not only does lung cancer affect a significant portion of the population in the United states, it is also a very unrelenting disease.

“With lung cancer, the survival rate is not as high,” said Robin Stewart, manager of clinical research at Lakeland Regional Cancer Center. “There’s a lot of research going on with lung cancer, but it’s not a disease with survivors pushing for a lot more things.”

Stewart and Dr. Fred Schreiber, a veteran Watson Clinic oncologist, agree on the chief cause of lung cancer and the best prevention.

“The best policy is avoid it, which means don’t smoke,” Schreiber said. “It’s a deadly cancer because it’s usually found in an advanced stage rather than early.”

Lung cancer tends to be faster growing and more prone to spread than prostate cancer, Schreiber said,

That explains in part why lung cancer isn’t detected until the later stages for many patients, said Stewart, an oncology nurse with a doctorate in human services.

Another reason is that people are in denial about their risk of getting lung cancer, said Noreen McGowan, a registered nurse who heads Watson Clinic’s clinical trials programs.

They advocate abstaining from smoking and said for people who do smoke, quitting is the best deterrent.

Those who won’t quit or feel they can’t quit should, at minimum, avoid smoking in enclosed spaces where they will get exposed to both first- and second-hand smoke, Stewart said.

Persistent coughing, shortness of breath and changes in a person’s type of coughing can be symptoms of lung cancer, they said, although those can signal other illnesses as well.

Clinical trials involving various combinations of drugs for lung-cancer treatment take place at both Lakeland cancer centers: LRCC, which has cancer doctors employed by Lakeland Regional Medical Center; and Center for Cancer Care and Research, which has cancer doctors from Watson Clinic and Clark and Daughtrey Medical Group.

Trials often involve combinations of standard chemotherapy and new experimental drugs.

The only trial current enrolling new patients at LRCC pairs an unnamed experimental drug with the now-standard combination of carboplatin, paclitaxel and bevacizumab, Stewart said. It’s for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer is a fast-growing type of lung cancer that spreads much more quickly than non-small cell lung cancer.

Bevacizumab was approved as part of lung-cancer treatment during the past three years, Stewart said, after having been tested in earlier clinical trials.

The experimental drug in LRCC’s still-enrolling clinical trial is targeted therapy, which increasingly is being used in additional to standard chemotherapy.

“Targeted therapy is the wave of the future,” Schreiber said. “We have several (cancer trials) going on involving targeted therapy.”

Targeted drugs are designed to go straight to receptor sites on cancer cells, as opposed to traditional chemotherapy that destroys all rapidly dividing cells, Stewart said.

Eclipse, one of two lung-cancer trials enrolling new patients at the Center for Cancer Care and Research, uses targeted therapy. It’s for some squamous non-small-cell lung cancer patients who are at stage IV, when the cancer is the most extensive, McGowan said.

While hopeful about targeted therapy, Schreiber said he doesn’t want anyone thinking its development changes the realities of lung cancer.

“Therapies are slowly getting better, but avoiding lung cancer is a smarter policy than thinking you can be (successfully) treated,” he said.

The status of lung-cancer patients sought for Center for Cancer Care and Research trials bears that out. along with the stage IV patients treated in its Eclipse study, there’s another drug combination trial for “poor performance status” patients with advanced non small-cell lung cancer.

A trial that recently closed for enrollment there had sought patients with “extensive stage’ small cell lung cancer.

[Robin Williams Adams can be reached at or 863-802-7558. Read her blog at robinsrx.blogs.theledger.com. Follow on Twitter at ledgerROBIN.]

Of all things that could go wrong “down there,” prostatitis is among the least serious.

But tell that to the man suffering from it.

Prostatitis is a urological condition marked by varying degrees of painful inflammation and infection of the prostate – that squishy walnut-shaped gland just below the bladder. It produces the fluid in semen and can trouble men as they age.

Experts say the disease is unrelated to prostate enlargement or prostate cancer. And while all three can coexist, one does not cause the other.

Prostatitis is usually diagnosed by a digital rectal examination, according to the American Urological Association Foundation.

The procedure not only determines whether the prostate is swollen and tender but serves as a barometer for pain and discomfort.

Other tests a doctor may consider using before making a diagnosis include a transrectal ultrasound, urine samples, prostatic fluid specimen, blood and/or semen samples.

Treating prostatitis will depend on the type of infection, from acute bacterial prostatitis – a severe urinary tract infection associated with fever, chills and lower back pain that requires a visit to the doctor or hospital — to the slow-burning symptoms of chronic prostatitis, which is more common.

We asked Dr. Inderbir S. Gill, professor and chairman of the USC School of Urology at the Keck School of Medicine, to shed light on the disease and its treatment.

Q: Is prostatitis a serious condition?

A: Well, acute prostatitis is a serious condition, yes. It can result in pretty high toxicity and fever and has to be treated urgently. Chronic prostatitis, on the other hand, is a smoldering, ongoing pain which is not that serious. Although certainly if you were to ask the patient, it makes their life miserable.

Q: does it affect fertility?

A: It certainly could. People with chronic prostatitis may have erectile dysfunction. Infection can occur in the semen as well. It does not lower sperm count per se, but if one is not in the mood, one is unlikely to make babies.

Q: how is it some men get chronic prostatitis?

A:Infection can occur anywhere in the body, right? so it can potentially occur in the prostate as well. The problem is there is a prostate/blood barrier which decreases the penetration of antibiotics into the prostate. sometimes it is hard to get appropriate antibiotic levels in the prostate and therefore, this infection, once it occurs, is not the easiest thing in the world to get rid of.

Q: can prostatitis be cured or is it just managed?

A: Managed.

Q: how?

A: Frequent ejaculations, antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflammatories, hot sitz baths, etc., etc.

Q: Is surgery ever an option?

A: no. in 20 years I’ve not had a patient do it.

Q: can someone have prostatitis and not know it?

A: It’s unlikely. This thing will get your attention and it will make your life miserable, period.

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Prostate cancer has no or very minimal symptoms. That’s why prevention is the best defense. the key thing is to have a PSA, which is a blood test, every year. It’s recommended men start yearly PSA tests by the age of 50, or 40 if there’s a family history.

There are three different categories of prostate cancer: low, intermediate, and high.

Radiation Oncologist Dr. Hasan Murshed says the good thing is if it can be caught early prostate cancer patients have multiple treatment options. But if the cancer is advanced, the only options are radiation treatment or hormone treatment.

Now the Bay Regional Cancer Center is conducting clinical trials combining the two. the first is for intermediate risk prostate cancer patients who normally only get radiation alone.

Dr. Murshed says, “We’re testing if adding a short course of hormone with radiation would improve the outcome.”

We know from studies that high risk prostate cancer patients getting radiation and hormone benefit from this type of treatment.

The other trial is for patients who’ve had prostectomy and now have as rising PSA. that means after surgery they had a bio chemical failure from the prostate cancer standard treatment, radiation therapy.

Dr. Murshed says, “We’re testing again to see if adding a short course of hormone treatment would improve in patients. these are national studies available at the cancer center so you don’t have to travel to M.D.Anderson or Birmingham. We can offer those cutting edge treatments right here in Panama City.”

For more information just call Dr. Murshed at 747-6972.

If a man is certainly going through recognizable prostate cancer symptoms, commonly the problem has spread beyond the prostate gland. the deadliest, as well as most regular cancer between men, prostate cancer only has a cure price of only twenty to thirty percent. One in six to 8 men will put up prostate cancer in his lifetime with the likelihood escalating because they age (two thirds of prostate cancers are identified in men through the age of 65). because of the latency in prostate cancer symptoms, it is important that men bring preventative measures starting at near to age 30. between the essential measures is a diet and supplementation rich in anti-prostate cancer nutrients.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

In order to have got an improved opportunity in fighting the disease, it is vital that you obtain conscious of the symptoms associated with prostate cancer. basically the most regular prostate cancer symptoms include a lower from the size or pressure or an interrupted urine flow, painful or backing up urination, frequent urination (especially at night) and blood in urine or semen. These symptoms are also associated with an bigger prostate gland (BHP). In its advanced stages, these prostate cancer symptoms include frequent nagging soreness from the hips, back, ribs, and pelvis. This is mostly because the problem has spread for the bones from the pelvis or back.

Causes Of Prostate Cancer

While the exact causes of prostate cancer are not known, you may find quite a few risk factors which may add for the likelihood of contracting the disease. Genetics is known as to take part in a part because prostate cancer symptoms appear to run in some families. possessing an speedy members of the family person (father or brother) with prostate cancer way more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. Diet and life style can also take part in a role. Eating 5 or way more servings of red beef and / or sizeable weight diary products, in conjunction with substandard quantities of fruits and vegetables, have proven a website link to prostate cancer.

Natural avoidance Methods

Without a obvious knowledge of the causes, it is hard to understand the right way to avoid prostate cancer. However, since you have no influence through genetics, it is better to start with the factors you can control. Diet and nutrition are the initially factors to consider when searching at natural remedies for prostate cancer. your diet have to be based over a broad array of foods from plant sources, including, fruit and veggies containing powerful phytonutrients, which often contain anti-cancer properties.

Research studies on phytonutrients have also proven success in preventing and alleviating bigger prostate (BPH) and prostate cancer symptoms. In addition, an anti-cancer diet comprised of brown rice, fresh natural fruits and natural vegetables will not only promote very good health, it’ll give your system the placing up blocks it must fight prostate cancer as well as other diseases.

Supplements for Prostate Health:

Most supplements specifically designed for prostate general health are comprised of several essential herbal treatments and nutrients. since your diet is in all probability to have insufficient quantities of quite a few of these nutrition you need to obtain them because of a multi-nutrient health supplement that balances the dose quantities and requires into account the synergistic reactions they have with one another. the essential players for prostate general health include:

• Beta Sitosterol• Turmeric• Corn Silk• Lycopene• noticed Palmetto• Zinc Citrate and Aspartate

• Grape Seed• Quercetin• Omega 3• eco-friendly Tea• Resveratrol

NOTE: most supplements contain Zinc from the Citrate kind which is very good but it is crucial that additional Zinc is included from the Aspartate kind because this travels directly for the prostate exactly where it is needed!

As an more mature male, it is crucial to have got a powerful knowledge of very good prostate general health as well as being completely prepared to recognize prostate cancer symptoms. equally as important is invariably to adopt preventative health-care measures early in life by eating responsibly, and investing in your general health by getting a quality, science-based health health supplement containing a sizeable number of proven anti-cancer nutrition including all the essential prostate nutrition outlined above.

Would someone please tell me that prostatitis pain in the perineum is the pain that come and go while the prostate cancer pain is a persistent pain. thank you

In the early stages of prostate cancer often no symptoms, meaning the time a person to detect the symptoms that the disease has usually spread to other parts of the body such as bone glands or lymph. it is important that you consult your doctor if you do any of the symptoms outlined in this article, to be sure that you do not have prostate cancer.

Risk factors for prostate cancer that becomes are smoking, high alcohol consumption, family history, exposure to heavy metals, eating high amounts of saturated fat, and an inactive lifestyle. some breeds, particularly African American, are also prone to the disease, which is the most common in men over the age of 70. so age is the major risk factor.

• What is it?

The prostate is a gland found in men’s sexual organs. Men who have one or more of the above risk factors, particularly age, family history and diet of high fat, particular care should be sure they have regular checks, especially since most people do not experience early symptoms of this disease.

Many of the previous samples of prostate cancer are easily confused with other problems such as leg pain or upper back, and urinary problems.

• Prostate Cancer Symptoms

Other disorders of the prostate that can cause similar symptoms, thus confirming the presence of cancer, tests need to be made. the usual symptoms of prostate cancer, however, are as follows: –

• frequent urination
• difficulty urinating (holding it in, or the start)
• a painful, burning urination
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine
• blood in urine or semen
• hurts to ejaculate
• hurts inside

hips, pelvic region, lower back or thighs

If pain is experienced in areas with exception of the area or groin of the prostate, it could be a sign that the cancer has spread to adjacent parts of the body. If you experience this symptom man then matter is very serious, and he needs to see your doctor immediately.

Although these symptoms may also indicate a benign condition, you should still consult your doctor to have them checked out, and confirm whether you do or do not have cause to worry.

• Treatment

If cancer is confirmed and is in its advanced stages, then the outlook is poor. the cancer may be removed by surgery, but this one just buy the patient more time. If cancer is detected early enough, then the treatment can extend your life or even remove the cancer together. Treatment options that can be used together or alone, are as follows.

Surgery: the prostate and surrounding tissue are removed under a procedure known as radical prostatectomy. the sexual life must cease, then surgery may allow the remaining nerve tissue enough so that erections are possible.

Radiation: a beam of radiation is directed onto the prostate outside the body. Alternatively, the doctor may use a needle to plant a radioactive seeds into the prostate. both of these can be experienced as outpatients.

Note: If the patient is older or has other medical problems, then this is usually the approach. a doctor examines the patient regularly, watching for any changes. you take no action unless obvious changes occur.

• What treatment?

Treatments are generally discussed between the patient and family, a doctor or a number of doctors. Weighing up the benefits, side effects and processes, the treatment decision is taken, according to what is generally felt to be the best in each particular case.

Tags: Cancer Symptoms Of, Pancreatic Cancer, Signs Of Symptoms, Stage Of Cancer, Symptoms And Signs —

Our hosts April Fulton and Rebecca Davis like to get where they are going in a hurry, muttering under their breath at slower pedestrians and as they blow past. this week, they learned they are actually exhibiting symptoms of a new syndrome: “sidewalk rage.”

On the show they’ll discuss their pedestrian aggression, as well as American loyalty to fast-food, cheese makers in trouble with the FDA, and a link between baldness and prostate cancer.

Plus: How can you get a 6-year-old to eat his broccoli? and how does learning this kind of self-control now affect his future? We’ve got two stories that seek to answer these questions.

You can listen to the podcast here, or download it to listen on the go. But if you’re out walking on the street – watch out! Our hosts might just knock you over.

You can find the podcast at the bottom of the page under the podcast heading. To subscribe to the your Health podcast click here.

Prostate problems are a common problem among young and old men. these problems can differ from man to man. Although, one thing is for sure, those with prostate problems should be taken very seriously, and they should not be taken lightly.

Some Symptoms of Prostate Problems

There are a few easy-to-spot symptoms of prostate problems, these include: difficulty urinating, difficulty starting urination, frequent urination, burning sensations when urinating, pain behind the scrotum, and painful ejaculations. if these problems occur or persist, it is necessary to seek medical attention. these problems left untreated can lead to much worse conditions.

How many and What Kind of Men have Prostate Problems?

Thousands of men are affected by prostate problems. for older men prostate cancer is a worry, but for younger men prostatitis is a much bigger worry than prostate cancer. Another condition is BPH, this stands for benign prostate hyperplacia. This term refers to an enlarged prostate. Although, prostatitis can affect men of all ages, prostate cancer is more common in men over 50.

The old saying is there are two kinds of men, those who have prostate cancer and those that will have it. This is statement is not always true, due to recent medical breakthroughs that can help detect prostate cancer in its early states. A prostatectomy is an example of this. Prostate problems become more frequent as a man ages. As the man grows older the prostate enlarges and this can cause prostate problems.

Maintaining  a healthy lifestyle and diet is a good preventative measure  and can help to reduce the risk of prostate problems occurring later in life.

What are Some Possible Treatments for Prostate Problems?

In this modern age, there are many different treatments for prostate cancer and prostatitis. A prostatectomy is a process which is used to scrape away prostate tissue to keep prostate cancer from swelling; they only scrape away the infected tissue a prostatectomy is not a removal of the prostate. if you want to avoid surgery, there are a few simple home remedies that can be effective. first, pumpkin seeds are a good solution to painful urination.

These were used by German doctors to help treat painful and difficult urination. A few simple treatments from the refrigerator include: corn silk, fish,and soy. Corn silk was used by the Amish to help treat enlarged prostate. Fish and soy both have chemicals that help fend off cancer, and these chemicals can help prevent prostate problems as well. Tomatoes and watermelon seeds to basically the same thing although they tend to work well over long periods of time.

For more information about Flomax prostate problems solution from Brian Welsch check buyflomax.com

Here are some more sources of information about prostate cancer signs and symptoms and cancer prevention diet

Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

This disease is full of paradoxes. the first is that in its early stages the symptoms of prostate cancer are virtually non-existent and are not easily detected. and yet early detection is critical

Signs and Symptoms

But the symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages are often non-existent if not altogether absent. for both benign and malignant cells the initial signs are similar and usually exhibit urinary problems.

Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

But the symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages are often non-existent if not altogether absent Urinary problems are usually the earliest signs. these could however be misleading

Benign Prostatic Hyperthropy – Enlarged Prostate

Signs & Symptoms: Signs and symptoms may not appear immediately, so many years may go by before treatment is sought for enlarged prostate. Restriction of the urine flow will lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder