Biology in the News Explained

Tumor evolution and chemotherapy resistance

Changing the way we deliver effective chemo drugs could considerably extend the lives of advanced cancer patients.

Why chemotherapy doesn’t work

The chemotherapy madness will only stop when doctors and patients admit up front that chemo doesn't work. These are the main reasons why.

Chemotherapy does not, and will never, cure cancer

The clinical oncological community is in collective, utter denial about the uselessness of chemotherapy as a cancer treatment.

Routine mammograms continue to harm many and help few

Breast cancer screening will continue to be a lottery system for institutionalized torture until we spend some money and effort figuring out who actually needs to be treated and how. Why are the loudest voices arguing over screening instead of trying to fix the real underlying problem?

The lesson for all cancer treatment that we should learn from ocular melanoma

It is way past time for cancer patients to have their own cancer cells tested to see which chemotherapy, if any, will actually work.

Cancer patients will soon get help from parasitic wasps

Researchers in London are working on a new flexible needle technology modeled on the ovipositors of woodwasps.

Will we finally dump chemotherapy in favor of immune-system-based cancer treatments?

Targeted cancer therapies are finally getting some of the attention they deserve, now that it's becoming clear that chemotherapy is a barbaric dead-end for most people.

How are cancer deaths defined?

Cancer death statistics could actually be useful in fighting cancer, rather than just for propaganda, if they were true. But they aren't.

Evidence-based medicine includes listening to the patient

We explain "evidence-based medicine," and what you should understand about it before you discuss treatment options with a doctor.

Stripping away cancer’s armor

A research article hot off the press demonstrates a possible new tactic in our quest to stop cancer's uncontrolled growth.

Does coffee prevent prostate cancer?

Overall, it's looking good for coffee-drinkers and cancer risk. Just remember there are a lot more variables in the equation that we do not yet understand.

Progress in getting our genes back from biotech companies

The U.S. government finally has taken the position that unmodified genes are a "natural product" that are not patent-eligible. The District Court rules soon on the class-action suit that should return to you the 20% of your genome now owned by corporations.