THE COLOUR IS GRAY

The Environmental, Biochemical and Nutritional Analytical-Control Research Group, directed by Professors Alberto Fernández Gutiérrez and Antonio Segura Carretero, used the most advanced analytical techniques for a precise study on the antioxidant properties of olive oil, characterized by its polyphenolic composition and its potential to combat degenerative diseases.

The study was completed with the collaboration of the Institut of Nutrition and Food Technology of the Universidad de Granada and the Nutrition Team of the Hospital Virgen de las Nieves (Granada). Together with the Research Group, they have determined that consumption of olive oil rich in polyphenols (natural antioxidants) improves the lives of people suffering from oxidative stress, and is also highly beneficial for the prevention of cell aging and osteoporosis.

This research has stirred the interest of the Control Board of the Designation of Origin Sierra Segura. After analysing samples from 15 olive oil mills, researchers have demonstrated that olive oil is very rich in polyphenols. According to Professors Alberto Fernández and Antonio Segura, "as preventive substances, polyphenols help to combat any oxidative disease associated with the degenerative process."

The Environmental, Biochemical and Nutritional Analytical-Control Research Group of the Universidad de Granada has carried out several related studies, such as the creation of a system aimed at guaranteeing the quality of bee honey and determining its geographical origin, or the polyphenolic characterization of food products such as honey, beer and propolis.

Thousands of mothers whose children have cancer could be at increased risk of developing breast cancer themselves, a study has found.

The mutation of a gene known as p53 – which all of us have and which normally suppresses cancer – could mean that mothers and their children are more susceptible to the disease.

The faulty gene could affect steroid and hormone levels in the womb, which may not only predispose children to cancer but also sensitise mothers' breast tissue.

The potentially groundbreaking study follows research which identified a link between children with soft-tissue sarcomas – a form of cancer usually found in teenagers – and mothers with breast cancer.

But this new research suggests that many more women may be at risk than was previously thought.

The findings shed fresh light on inherited forms of cancer which could eventually lead to better identifying of those most at risk.

It is hoped that the evidence could be used to screen at-risk mothers to catch any tumours at an early stage. And it could lead to the development of drugs to target the faulty gene.

The study, by Manchester University scientists led by Dr Dong Pang, looked at breast cancer cases in the mothers of 2,668 children who were also having treatment for so-called 'solid' tumours where the cancer produces a lump.

The number of instances of breast cancer was compared with the number of expected cases for women of a similar age range across the UK.

The results showed the heightened risk of breast cancer among mothers of children with solid tumours was not uniform across all groups, but was associated with a small number of tumour types and patient characteristics.

Breast cancer cases were found most frequently in mothers of children with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the connective tissues.

Mothers were also more likely to develop breast cancer in cases where the child had skin cancer or a cancer affecting the central nervous system.

Danger: Mother and baby can have the faulty gene

It is thought that the same genetic mechanism may be present in mothers of children with a whole range of other cancers. The Cancer Research UK-funded study is published online today in the peer-reviewed journal ecancermedicalscience.

Professor Jillian Birch, director of Cancer Research UK's paediatric and familial cancer research group at Manchester University, said: "It is thought that most of this increased risk is due to the inheritance of an abnormal copy of a gene called p53, which is present in both the mother and child.

"We think that the high risk of breast cancer may be related to an unusually high level of certain hormones during pregnancy – which is also due to inheriting an abnormal copy of the p53 gene.

"We also think that other related genes may be involved and hope further research will enable scientists to identify what these are.

"Inheritance of such abnormal genes is extremely rare but research like this on these rare families can lead to clues about what might cause breast cancer and childhood cancers more generally."

TREVOR Stagg has terminal cancer, but counts himself pretty lucky.

Mr Stagg was diagnosed last June with asbestos-related mesothelioma – a legacy of working as a semi-trailer driver transporting fibro sheeting for James Hardy in the early 1960s.

He was given a year to live. Six months on, Mr Stagg, 70, is upbeat.

"I've been really great, actually," he said.

Part of that he credits with staying positive and strong support from family, friends, neighbours and his local Catholic church.

"There's an 82-year-old who lives across the road. She hobbles over on a walker with fruit from her tree. That sort of thing is really lovely," he said at his Victoria Point home.

Mr Stagg also believes the expensive chemotherapy he's been receiving has been halting the cancer's progress, increasing survival and giving him an improved quality of life. Research has shown the drug cocktail – a combination of Alimta and cisplatin – increases survival by about three months as well as alleviating pain, reducing fatigue and boosting appetite.

But not every patient has been able to access the recognised "gold standard" treatment. That will change from today when Alimta is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for mesothelioma.

A recent report by the Allen Consulting Group found up to half of Australian mesothelioma patients have been unable to access Alimta because of the cost.

The PBS listing means instead of having to find about $24,000 for six cycles of treatment, the most mesothelioma patients will pay is $31.30 per prescription.

Because Mr Stagg's asbestos exposure was occupational, he has been able to fund the treatment without having to use his own finances.

"We would have mortgaged our home if we had to but we didn't have to touch our own money at all," his wife Eileen said. "We were seeing people who weren't able to have this because they couldn't afford it."

The Alimta listing is the culmination of a campaign fought by the late Bernie Banton, who died of mesothelioma in November.

His wife, Karen, said the PBS listing meant any Australian diagnosed with mesothelioma could access Alimta at an affordable price.

Mr and Mrs Stagg, who celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary last Saturday, said they were living one day at a time.

"The human spirit is just unbelievable when you're faced with this sort of thing," Mrs Stagg said.

Janelle Miles

Cancer specialist Nick Pavlakis said Thalidomide had been shown to inhibit blood vessel growth within tumours and he planned to test its value in mesothelioma patients.

He hopes to recruit about 100 patients Australia-wide for the study, which will compare those receiving chemotherapy with others given the standard treatment as well as Thalidomide.

"We want to find out after they've had chemotherapy . . . if we give Thalidomide can we then control the disease for longer and maintain quality of life for longer?" Professor Pavlakis said.

He said the results of the trial would be combined with a similar study taking place in the Netherlands.

Thalidomide is already listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme as a treatment for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

Studies have found the standard chemotherapy cocktail increases survival of mesothelioma patients by an average of three months as well as improving quality of life.

Professor Pavlakis, of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, said even if Thalidomide extended that to five months, it would be considered significant.

"That doesn't sound like a lot but . . . everything's a stepping stone," Professor Pavlakis said.

"If you look at breast cancer and other diseases where there's been major changes, at any given time point the changes didn't seem as big when they actually were discovered.

"It's the cumulative effect of little changes over time that add up to a big effect."

About 600 Australians are diagnosed with the disease each year but that is expected to double by 2020.

"Everyone acknowledges it's going to get worse . . . based on when the maximum asbestos exposures in the community were," Professor Pavlakis said.

"There's a lag time of 30 to 40 years on average from the time of exposure to the time of disease."

Only about 5 per cent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma were alive five years later, Professor Pavlakis said.

Mesothelioma patient Trevor Stagg, 70, and his wife, Eileen, of Victoria Point, said they were grateful for every extra day they had together after his diagnosis in June.

"I really feel more for the families of people who go out one day, have an accident and don't come home. I wonder how they cope with that," Mrs Stagg said.

"Each day is really precious to us. We've been married 51 years last Saturday. We've even got closer."

The Queensland arm of the Thalidomide trial will be run through Brisbane's Prince Charles Hospital.

Patients wanting to take part should contact the National Health and Medical Research Council's Clinical Trials Centre on 02 9562 5000 or the Australasian Lung Cancer Trials Group on 07 3622 2301.

Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore recorded a verdict that Mr Manns, of Windyridge, Bisley, died of an industrial disease.

His wife Patricia said she had met her husband in Stroud 60 years ago, while she worked in the drapers and he played snooker nearby.

He joined the Navy in November 1943, left in 1947 and they were married in 1949, she said.

He served as a stoker on HMS Duke between December 1943 and January 1944, HMS Victory between March 1944 and April 1944, Then he was aboard HMS Terpsichore from May 1944 to May 1946 and HMS Teazer from June 1946 to May 1947. His final ship was HMS Victory from May 1947 to July 1947.

The inquest heard how he had a number of jobs when he left the seafaring life with small engineering firms around Stroud.

"His last work was in the Bath Road trading estate," said Mrs Manns - where he stopped work aged 65.

He had been in general good health until 1994 when a tumor was removed from his brain and in 2002, he had a hip replacement.

A troublesome prostate had caused problems in latter years, with constant trips to the loo and a catheter was fitted in November last year, said Mrs Manns.

After the operation he was transferred to Stroud hospital to recover but his condition deteriorated and he was taken to Gloucestershire Royal on December 14.

There, consulaltant Dr John Prior said he was admitted with increased breathlessness, lung problems were noted, and mesothelioma was felt to be the likely cause.

A post mortem confirmed the death was due to malignant mesothelioma and a samples of lung tissue showed 191, 832 asbestos fibres per gramme.

Mr Crickmore said the high level proved he had been exposed as anything more than 20,000 fibres (background levels) was unusual.

"During the war time period, vessels of the Royal Navy were heavily lagged with asbestos in its different forms."

The coroner added: "He was working in close proximity with the pipework."

He said he would have come into contact with asbestos and it was more "likely than not" that he had inhaled it.

"I have no doubt at all that Mr Mann's exposure was while he was a stoker.

VERDICT: Industrial disease - malignant mesothelioma