Researchers make ‘significant discovery' in treating prostate cancer — what it means for patients
A team of Swedish researchers has discovered that a drug traditionally meant for Type 2 diabetes shows immense promise in keeping prostate cancer at bay.
A team of Swedish researchers has discovered that a drug traditionally meant for type 2 diabetes shows promise in keeping prostate cancer at bay.
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The research — which was published in the journal Molecular Cancer — was based on studies on mice, as well as a retrospective study of 69 prostate cancer patients with type 2 diabetes, all of whom experienced a lack of cancer recurrence while using the drug.
'This is a significant discovery,' Lukas Kenner, a visiting professor at Sweden's Umeå University, said in a press release.
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'For the first time, we have clinical observations showing that prostate cancer patients with diabetes who received drugs targeting the protein [PPARy] remained relapse-free during the period we followed them.'
Pioglitazone — a common anti-diabetic drug — not only slowed down the growth of cancer cells but also hampered their ability to grow back.
'The findings are very promising, but further clinical studies are needed to both confirm the results and to investigate whether the treatment can also be used in patients with prostate cancer who do not have diabetes,' Kenner said.
It's the latest in a series of advances targeting prostate cancer — the second most common cancer among men in the US, after skin cancer.
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'This is a significant discovery,' Lukas Kenner said.
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A UCLA study found that an AI tool identified prostate cancer with 84% accuracy, compared to 67% by physicians, highlighting the potential of AI in improving diagnostic precision.
A new at-home saliva test analyzes DNA for genetic markers associated with prostate cancer, offering a more accurate alternative to traditional blood tests and aiding in earlier detection.
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And — following the shocking news that former President Joe Biden has an 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer — one Manhattan doctor is offering free PSA blood tests at his Midtown East office through the end of June.
While the overall five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is as high as 97%, studies have shown that men who avoid prostate cancer screening appointments are 45% more likely to die from the disease.
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Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
America's Obesity Epidemic Is Finally Easing. Will MAHA Take Credit?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative launched in early 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. framed it as nothing short of a national reset. School meal reforms, bans on artificial dyes and restrictions on sugary drink purchases under SNAP were promoted as the first steps in addressing what Kennedy called a "childhood chronic disease crisis." The administration projected measurable progress within two years: a nation reversing decades of rising obesity. But the first signs of change had already appeared. In 2023, national data showed adult obesity plateauing for the first time in more than a decade. An analysis of 16.7 million health records found the average U.S. body mass index (BMI) dipping slightly from 30.24 to 30.21, while the unweighted obesity rate fell from 46.0 percent to 45.6 percent. Researchers credited one factor: a surge in prescriptions for GLP‑1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. That timeline sets up a political and scientific tension, according to experts consulted by Newsweek. If obesity rates keep dropping into 2026 and beyond, MAHA's policy agenda could be positioned to claim credit for a trend largely driven by pharmaceutical breakthroughs that predate it. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva/ChatGPT 'Good Intentions' "The intention of what RFK Jr. wants in this area is good," said Dr. Robert Klitzman, professor of psychiatry and director of the bioethics program at Columbia University. "In terms of improving Americans' diets and fighting chronic disease, his stated intentions are good. But I'm not convinced the administration will act effectively on those intentions." Klitzman pointed to contradictions between MAHA's public messaging and broader Trump administration policy. While MAHA emphasizes banning dyes, swapping out cane sugar for high-fructose corn syrup and cutting sugary drinks from public programs, the administration has simultaneously cut federal nutrition research, reduced SNAP benefits and eliminated CDC environmental health programs. "The president's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget would cut more than $18 billion in NIH research funding, 40 percent of the budget," the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) warned in a June 2025 report. "In addition, the Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice at the CDC was eliminated as part of a widespread reduction in force of 10,000 employees across HHS." "Good intentions are not enough," Klitzman said. "The real impact on public health remains unclear." Kennedy's high-profile food policy moves—such as urging Coca-Cola to switch back to cane sugar—illustrate the risk. "If people think, 'Oh, we got rid of the food dyes, now junk food is healthy,' they may actually consume more unhealthy food," Klitzman said. "Replacing high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make a product healthier if the calorie count is the same." Research backs this up: FDA and JAMA studies show cane sugar and HFCS have nearly identical metabolic effects when consumed in similar amounts. A 2022 meta-analysis found no significant difference in weight or blood markers between the two. A stock image shows a person holding Ozempic Insulin injection pens for diabetes/ weight loss. A stock image shows a person holding Ozempic Insulin injection pens for diabetes/ weight loss. getty images The GLP‑1 Surge Experts widely agree that the modest nationwide weight-loss trend so far stems from the pharmacological innovation of GLP‑1 drugs, not health policy. Prescriptions for medications like Ozempic rose nearly 600 percent between 2019 and 2024, with roughly 4 percent of U.S. adults using them as of last year, according to FAIR Health/IQVIA data. "GLP‑1s are already showing real results," said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, chief medical advisor at Garage Gym Reviews. "Banning additives or restricting sugary drinks sends a message, sure, but on their own they're unlikely to move the needle in a big way." For dietitians like Dasgupta, GLP‑1 medications delivered what the U.S. had lacked for decades: a treatment that not only helped patients lose weight but also improved key health markers. Clinical trials show users can lose 15 to 25 percent of their body weight while also improving blood sugar control, lowering blood pressure and boosting cardiovascular health. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Washington DC, May 14, 2025. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Washington DC, May 14, 2025. Aaron Schwartz/Sipa via AP Images Yet the surge of Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy has reframed weight loss as a medical intervention—but one largely limited to those who can afford it. Users often regain weight once they stop treatment, and with prices ranging from $1,000 to $1,400 a month and patchy insurance coverage, access remains out of reach for many. In a country where 42 percent of adults live with obesity—a rate that has nearly doubled since the 1980s—the arrival of a drug that actually works is hard to ignore. But Dasgupta warned of a policy risk if future improvements are credited to MAHA's incremental measures. "If obesity rates drop because of GLP‑1 use, but we claim it's because of soda taxes or additive bans, we double down on the wrong things. That kind of misalignment can set us back." Aviva Musicus, science director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told Newsweek the pattern is already emerging. "RFK Jr. recently posted that 'MAHA is winning' in response to a fast-food chain switching to cane sugar in sodas," she said. Studies consistently show sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to higher risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, regardless of the sweetener source, according to the CDC. "Sugary drinks are one of the most harmful products in our food supply. To actually improve health, the administration should focus on less sugar, not different sugar," Musicus added. MAHA's emphasis on prevention has merit, experts say, but its impact will take years to measure. "Prevention takes time—15 to 20 years to see real results," Dr. John Magaña Morton, professor of bariatric surgery at Yale, told Newsweek. "In the meantime, what do we do for patients suffering now? That's where treatment comes in. You need both prevention and treatment. It's like love and marriage—you can't have one without the other." Morton noted that severe obesity (defined as a BMI over 40) continues to rise even as overall rates plateau. "The new drugs are paradigm-shifting, but about 20 percent of patients can't tolerate them or don't see results," he said. "Not everyone wants surgery either. We need metabolic centers to figure out who's most at risk and what other approaches work." A stock image of an obese man seated in a crowd outdoors, August 26, 2016. Obesity rates vary significantly across the U.S., with the highest rates in the Midwest and South. A stock image of an obese man seated in a crowd outdoors, August 26, 2016. Obesity rates vary significantly across the U.S., with the highest rates in the Midwest and South. Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images Setting Up a Future Claim To be sure, Kennedy hasn't explicitly claimed credit for the national weight-loss trend. But MAHA's framing—that its policies will "end the chronic disease epidemic" within years—positions the initiative to take a victory lap if obesity rates decline during its tenure. That's exactly what worries experts. "It's very risky," Klitzman said. "If we credit the wrong things, we risk building future policy on shaky ground. We can't afford to misread what's actually helping people." Musicus shared the same concern. "So far, we haven't seen MAHA use policy to drive real improvements in the food system. Instead, it's leaned on voluntary industry commitments that have failed before," she said. Many of MAHA's pledges—like altering soda recipes—aren't enforceable regulations and historically have had little measurable impact. "If they start taking credit for GLP‑1-driven declines without making structural changes, we risk losing the chance to create lasting, meaningful improvements." CSPI also questioned the administration's approach. "Even when the report outlines a good idea—like increasing consumption of whole, unprocessed foods—the administration's actions since January are at odds with these ideas," the group noted. "Back in March, the administration terminated more than $1 billion in funding that helped small farmers put fresh, local food into schools and food banks." For Morton, the solution lies in balance. "Obesity is a health tax on everything," he said. "We are finally paying attention, which is good. But this is going to require a multi-pronged approach, not a single narrative about who gets the credit." With the MAHA Commission set to release its next policy recommendations in August, the stakes are high: the story America tells itself about reversing obesity could shape public health strategy for decades. A March 2025 JAMA Health Forum article raised similar concerns. "The MAHA commission's priorities depart from the known causes of chronic diseases," it said. "There is no mention of added sugars in food, reducing sodium intake, or the use of alcohol or tobacco. Instead, the charge includes issues that contribute in limited ways, rest on shaky evidence, or reflect the Secretary's long-held views."
NBC News
14 hours ago
- NBC News
Liver cancer cases are projected to double, but more than half could be preventable
At least 60% of liver cancers could be preventable, according to an analysis published Monday in The Lancet. Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, with around 870,000 cases in 2022. That's projected to increase to 1.52 million cases in 2050, the new report found, if no changes are made. The leading cause of liver cancer is viral infections, including the hepatitis B and C viruses. Hepatitis B infections — which are preventable with a vaccine — accounted for 39% of liver cancers in 2022. That's expected to fall slightly, to 36.9%, by 2025. Hepatitis C accounted for 29.1% of liver cancers in 2022 and is also projected to fall, to 25.9%, by 2050. The proportions of alcohol- and obesity-related liver cancers, however, are projected to rise in the next 25 years. Alcohol accounted for 18.8% of liver cancers in 2022, and that is expected to increase to 21.1% in 2050. The share of liver cancers caused by obesity-related disease is projected to increase from 8% to 10.8% by 2050 due to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol and other metabolic risk factors. Dr. Hashem El-Serag, one of the report's co-authors and chair of the department of medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said the public usually thinks of alcohol as the biggest risk factor for liver cancer. 'I think for most people, if you say cirrhosis, they immediately think of a relative, of someone who was a heavy drinker,' El-Serag said. 'I think the vast majority do not make the tie between MASLD, or fatty liver, and cirrhosis and liver cancer.' MASLD, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, affects about 25% of adults in the U.S. It's caused by a buildup of fat in the liver. About 5% of U.S. adults have a more severe form, called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which can lead to scarring, or cirrhosis, of the liver, significantly increasing the risk of cancer. Excess alcohol consumption can also lead to cirrhosis. Liver cancer is still relatively rare in the United States, representing 2.1% of all new cancer diagnoses in 2025. The report estimated that by 2040, U.S. rates of MASLD could more than double, affecting more than 55% of adults. Detecting liver cancer risk factors Earlier detection and effective treatment plans for MASLD can reduce the risk of obesity-related liver cancer, El-Serag said. The most common treatment is weight loss. GLP-1 weight loss drugs, which include Ozempic and Wegovy, are promising, he said. (A clinical trial published in April found that Wegovy treated MASH in about two-thirds of patients.) However, people aren't screened for MASLD like they are for viral hepatitis, El-Serag said. Dr. Arun Jesudian, a hepatologist and the director of liver quality and inpatient liver services at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, said patients are tested for MASLD and/or MASH if they have elevated liver enzymes in their blood. Raising awareness about MASLD among both patients and doctors can lead to more effective testing and diagnosis, Jesudian said. 'I think then we need to make sure that providers who are interacting with these patients are looking at the liver disease component of metabolic syndrome,' he said, referring to patients with a cluster of conditions including high blood sugar, high blood pressure and excess weight. 'So checking liver enzymes, that they know how to assess for fibrosis, even based on these blood test scores.' MASLD and MASH can often be asymptomatic, making self-detection more challenging. 'Right now, it's haphazard. Some people get tested. Others get suspected. Third, who knows?' El-Serag said. Dr. Neehar Parikh, a hepatologist at the University of Michigan who specializes in liver cancer, said he is seeing more patients with MASLD as a driving factor for liver cancer. Patients with MASLD can develop liver cancer without developing cirrhosis, making it even more challenging to detect those cases, Parikh said. Up to 40% of those with liver cancers linked to MASLD don't develop cirrhosis, according to the report. Figuring out who those patients are is the 'million-dollar question,' he said. 'Those patients that develop MASLD that develop liver cancer, you know, how do you screen that population? We don't really know what to do.' Still, Parikh said these types of cases are rare.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Study Reveals a Hidden Benefit of Weight Loss Drugs for Men
New Study Reveals a Hidden Benefit of Weight Loss Drugs for Men originally appeared on Men's Fitness. These days, many folks turn to drugs like Ozempic to help lose weight. But for men, there may be another compelling reason to consider them: a testosterone boost. According to a new study being presented this week at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, researchers at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital found that weight loss medications can help reverse low testosterone levels in men with Type 2 diabetes or obesity. The researchers examined health records of 110 men with Type 2 diabetes or obesity to track hormone changes while using GLP-1 receptor agonists. They tracked testosterone levels before starting the medications and followed up for 18 months during treatment. About half of the participants had low or borderline low testosterone initially, with most achieving normal levels by the end of the study. The average age of the group was 54."The increases we observed were more modest than what you would typically see with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). However, they occurred naturally, without testosterone replacement therapy, and likely reflect the body recovering its normal hormone production as weight and insulin resistance improved," Shellsea Portillo Canales, M.D., lead author of the study, told NBC News. Just as weight loss drugs have surged in popularity, so too has testosterone therapy. Between 2019 and 2024, prescriptions for testosterone reportedly jumped from 7.3 million to over 11 million. "Doctors and their patients can now consider this class of medications not only for the treatment of obesity and to control blood sugar, but also to benefit men's reproductive health," Portillo shared in a Study Reveals a Hidden Benefit of Weight Loss Drugs for Men first appeared on Men's Fitness on Jul 15, 2025 This story was originally reported by Men's Fitness on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
