IBD May Raise Risk of Pancreatic Cancer People With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

People With Inflammatory Bowel Disease May Be at Increased Risk for Pancreatic Cancer, Study FindsBy Charlene LainoWebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MD

People with inflammatory bowel disease -- especially men and those with ulcerative colitis -- may be at increased risk for developing pancreatic cancer, preliminary research suggests.

Up to 1 million Americans have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); the main types are ulcerative colitis Crohn's disease. The inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract becomes inflamed and damaged, causing abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody), weight loss, and rectal bleeding.

A few years ago, University of Utah researchers say they noticed that pancreatic cancer seemed to be developing at higher-than-normal rates in IBD patients and their family members.

To see if there was an association, the researchers studied 2,877 adults treated for IBD at the University of Utah Health System from January 1996 to December 2006. Their records were then compared with information from the Utah Cancer Registry and the Utah Population Database.

That way, they could figure out the rate of pancreatic cancer in the general population as well as the rate of pancreatic cancer in people with IBD and compare the two.

"We had striking and unexpected results," says Jason Schwartz, MD, assistant professor of surgery at the University of Utah.

"We thought there would be an association, but we were surprised at the strength of the association," he tells WebMD.

Compared with what would be expected in the general population:

* People with IBD had a 3.36-fold higher risk of pancreatic cance.
* People with ulcerative colitis had a 4.85-fold higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
* Men with IBD had a 6.22-fold higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
* Women with IBD did not appear to be at increased rrisk of pancreatic cancer.

There did not appear to be an association between Crohn's disease and pancreatic cancer.

The findings were presented at Digestive Disease Week 2010 in New Orleans.IBD Linked to Pancreatic Cancer:

Confirmation NeededSchwartz says that theoretically, repeated bouts of inflammation in the intestinal tract have the potential to cause cancer.

Still, the study does not prove cause and effect. And the results need to be confirmed and upheld in a national study, he says.

Further studies also need to look at whether family members of people with IBD are at increased risk of pancreatic cancer, Schwartz says.

But if corroborated, the findings could open the door for new screening recommendations for pancreatic cancer in patients with IBD and their families, says Craig Fisher, MD, a pancreatic cancer surgeon at Methodist Hospital in Houston.

The goal, he tells WebMD, is earlier identification of pancreatic cancer.

"There will be about 38,000 new diagnoses of pancreatic cancer this year and about the same number of deaths," he says.

The reason the cancer carries such a high death rate, Fisher says, is because it is often diagnosed at a late stage when it can no longer be surgically removed.

"If we can pinpoint patients at higher risk, it could prove [cost-effective] to screen them," perhaps with endoscopic ultrasound or MRI, he says.

Change The Way You Move.

FLEXTIVA® for arthritis treatment is a major breakthrough in stamping out inflammation, rebuilding cartilage, joint space narrowing, and as a popular alternative treatment for joint pain.

Below, we provide brief descriptions of the key ingredients found in FLEXTIVA® and their supporting effects.

Aloe mucilaginous polysaccharides are long chain molecules, composed of individual mannose and glucose molecules connected together. These molecules are extracted from the inner gel of aloe vera, by way of lyophilization. When taken on a consistent basis, Aloe Mucilaginous Polysaccharides control the arthritic inflammation of the lining of the joints and reinforces the body's immune system.

Boswellia (boswellia serrata), has long been recognized in medicine for its anti-inflammatory benefits. Today, scientists studying extracts of boswellia are reporting that it can switch off key cell signalers and pro-inflammatory mediators known as cytokines in the inflammatory cascade.

Bromelain, a natural occurring source, can be beneficial in a vast array of medical conditions. It was first introduced in 1957 and works by blocking proinflammatory metabolites that accelerate and worsen the inflammatory process. It is an anti-inflammatory agent, and therefore can be used in sports injury, trauma, arthritis, and other kinds of swelling. It's main uses are athletic injury, digestive problems, osteoarthritis of the knee, and aiding healing after surgery

Glucosamine (glucosamine sulfate) is an important building block in healthy cartilage, and as we age, our bodies cannot create these compounds as readily. There have been multiple clinical trials of glucosamine as a medical therapy for osteoarthritis and the results have been eye-opening. One three year trial4, with at least 202 patients, demonstrated clear benefit for glucosamine as a treatment. There was not only an improvement in symptoms but also an improvement in joint space narrowing on radiographs.

With the help of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) as a second layer for anti-inflammatory benefit, FLEXTIVA® is able to suppress pain and improve physical function.

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Lactobacillus acidophilus is generally considered to be beneficial because it produces vitamin K, lactase, and anti-microbial substances such as acidolin, acidolphilin, lactocidin, and bacteriocin.

Some strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus have been studied extensively for health effects. A blend of probiotic strains containing Lactobacilli acidophilus decreased the incidence of pediatric diarrhea. Lactobacillus acidophilus led to a significant decrease in levels of toxic amines in the blood of dialysis patients with small bowel bacterial overgrowth. At adequate daily feeding levels, Lactobacillus acidophilus may facilitate lactose digestion in lactose-intolerant subjects.

Antibiotics taken orally will also kill beneficial bacteria, including Lactobacillus acidophilus. After a therapy that includes antibiotics, patients are instructed to take Lactobacillus acidophilus treatment in order to recolonize the gastrointestinal tract.

Blood test to tailor arthritis treatment

Blood test to tailor arthritis treatment.

A simple blood test could soon help medical staff target treatment for suffers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on those most likely to benefit.

Patients with one of two immune system antibodies are more likely to respond to an advanced form of treatment and, following a blood test to check for its presence, these patients alone will be targeted with this particular technique.

RA is a disabling auto-immune disorder in which the immune system attacks the body's own joints. Up to 80% of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are believed to have one of the two antibodies.

Trial results show these have a good chance of being helped by the "biologic" drug rituximab, also known as MabThera, which targets the immune system. However, it may not be worth giving the drug to the 20% of patients who test negative. This could help save time and money being wasted on useless treatment courses.

Professor John Isaacs, from the University of Newcastle, who led the research, said: "This is an important breakthrough in the treatment of this chronic and debilitating condition, heralding the beginning of an exciting new era for patients, physicians and indeed the entire RA community.
"Conventional practice is based on treating the patient population as a whole, leading to some patients cycling on ineffective treatments before achieving the optimum response.

"By identifying in advance which groups are most likely to respond to, or to have an enhanced response to, drugs like rituximab, we can ensure they are treated early enough to prevent irreversible joint damage and disability. Additionally, this will reduce treatment costs by avoiding the use of ineffective drugs."

Source: http://www.sidewaysnews.com/science-technology/blood-test-tailor-arthritis-treatment