Grim statistics aside, pancreatic cancer researchers look to the future

With Patrick Swayze's death today comes a highly public reminder that the cure rate for pancreatic cancer is abysmal. This year, an estimated 42,470 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease. And an estimated 35,240 will die.

Smoking can increase risk, as can obesity, diabetes, family history and other factors. But there simply aren't obvious signs of the disease in its early stages, and detection can often come too late. (Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer earlier this year; hers was indeed caught fairly early.)

The disease is broken down into two basic types: exocrine tumors and endocrine tumors, as the American Cancer Society explains. Exocrine tumors are the most common and are usually malignant. Endocrine tumors are much more rare and the malignancy rate is more complex. (Steve Jobs was diagnosed with the endocrine type several years ago.)

The National Cancer Institute offers a good overview of the disease. Of special note, it includes a link to clinical trials.

Besides studying genetic factors and trying to improve detection, researchers are trying to improve the effectiveness of the drugs now commonly used to treat cancer of the pancreas -- and to devise new therapies as well.

Here's an overview of new treatment approaches, according to the American Cancer Society. Included targeted therapies that attack only specific types of cells or vessels, immune therapies that bolster the body's ability to fight the disease and more.

Similarly, the Lustgarten Foundation offers descriptions of the Pancreatic Cancer Genome Project and the Pancreatic Cancer Biomarker Initiative specifically. The former identified specific mutations and signaling pathways and is expected to shape research for years to come. The latter aims to find new detection and screening options.

For a truly impressive, or inspiring, database, there's this list of pancreatic cancer researchers and their projects, via the Pancreatic Cancer Research Map. It's searchable by investigator, area of research, state, etc.

And, for a sample of recent research into pancreatic cancer, the Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Johns Hopkins University offers a selection of presentations.

All of which is to say, the work continues.

Dirty Dancing Quotes - North Carolina Remembers Patrick Swayze

American actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, three-time Golden Globe nominee and 1991 People's Sexiest Man Alive, Patrick Swayze, has once captivated America's heart with Ghost, jumped into the spotlight as one of the Wolverines from Red Dawn and dazzled with swift sensual moves in Dirty Dancing.

On camera Swayze portrayed "Johnny Castle" and Jennifer Gray portrayed "Baby", a mismatched pair of dancers that end up a steamy team. It all unfolded in North Carolina, even though some of the film was shot outside of the state.

The 6,000 foot North Carolina mountain peaks to choose from was, and still is, a director's dream. Lake Lure in North Carolina is where Dirty Dancing was filmed as some still recall the late night dance-offs and scene stoppers. All the locals did not enjoy it, however, it still remained the hottest ticket in town in the late eighties. Many have been known to say that behind the scenes were twice as entertaining.

Dirty Dancing quotes were favorable but not like "Nobody puts Baby in the corner". With Patrick Swayze Dirty Dancing turned into gold which in return, in it's unfitted way, put North Carolina in the spotlight (moreso than the Catskills themselves).

With over 40 movies and mini-series on record, Patrick Swayze always pushed forward, even after January of 2008.

Upon January of 2008 Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. A pancreatic tumor called Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) had been identified and Chemotherapy began. Twenty months later, on September 14, 2009, Patrick Swayze died.

Patrick died peacefully with his family by his side in California. Swayze lived for the love of his family, a down-to-earth guy that continues to inspire, even after death.

Thus far during 2009 the world has reached a new level of mourning with the loss of greats such as Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and so much more. However, Patrick Swayze touches the heart of Carolina through Lake Lure.

Patrick Swayze was born on August 18, 1952 and died only 57 years later of pancreatic cancer.

Patrick Swayze Died

Patrick Swayze Dies

Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press Patrick Swayze in 2005.

Patrick Swayze, the balletically athletic actor who rose to stardom in the films “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost” and whose 20-month battle with advanced pancreatic cancer drew wide attention, died Monday. He was 57.

His publicist, Annett Wolf, told The Associated Press in Los Angeles that Mr. Swayze died with family at his side.

Mr. Swayze’s cancer was diagnosed in January 2008. Six months after that, he had already outlived his prognosis and was filmed at an airport, smiling at photographers and calling himself, only half-facetiously, “a miracle dude.” He even went through with plans to star in “The Beast,” a new drama series for A&E, and filmed a complete season while undergoing treatment. Mr. Swayze insisted on continuing with the series.

“How do you nurture a positive attitude when all the statistics say you’re a dead man?” he said to Bill Carter of The New York Times last October. “You go to work.”

The show, on which he plays an undercover F.B.I. agent, had its premiere in January and earned him admiring reviews.

A week before the series began, Mr. Swayze was the subject of a one-hour “Barbara Walters Special” on ABC, talking about his illness. “I keep my heart and my soul and my spirit open to miracles,” he told Ms. Walters. But he said he was not going to pursue every experimental treatment that came along. If he were to “spend so much time chasing staying alive,” he said, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy the time he had left. “I want to live,” he said.

Michael Jackson Halloween Costume Make Everyone Freak on the Halloween

Annie Le Suspect

The Yale graduate student presumed to have been killed in her lab building and stuffed into a wall there was probably not the victim of a random act, police said Monday as they sought to ease fears about student safety.

Police found the body around 5 p.m. Sunday, on what was to have been 24-year-old Annie Le's wedding day. She was reported missing Tuesday, and her ID, money, credit cards and purse were found in her third-floor office at the high-security Yale medical school building where the body was found.

An autopsy was under way Monday to verify the identity of the body, found in the wall chase – an recess where utilities and cables are run. Police would not say Monday whether they have a suspect, but said nobody is in custody.

"We're not believing it's a random act," said Officer Joe Avery, a police spokesman. He would not provide further details but said no one else is in danger.

The building where the body was found is part of the university medical school complex about a mile from Yale's main campus and is accessible to Yale personnel with identification cards. Some 75 video surveillance cameras monitor all doorways.

"It's a frightening idea that there's a murderer walking around on campus," said 20-year-old Muneeb Sultan, a chemistry student. "I'm shocked that it happened in a Yale building that had key-card access. It's really sad."

Police have not provided any details on the condition of the body found or how the woman died.

Yale closed the building Monday so police could complete their investigation, according to a message sent to Yale students and staff. Scientists are being allowed in only to conduct essential research projects, and only under the supervision of a police officer.

Lil Mama on Stage with Jay Z

You know how you can tell this year’s MTV Video Music Awards were extra-crazy/special? Somehow Kanye West vs. Taylor Swift wasn’t even the only unexpected person-leaping-on-stage event last night. No, there was also the odd spectacle of Lil Mama climbing up during Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ show-closing “Empire State of Mind,” attempting to join the performance (?), then standing there awkwardly beside Jay and Alicia in a B-girl stance when the song ended.

The incident promptly became a trending topic last night on Twitter. Shout out to tweet-happy rapper Fabolous for making the #lilmamais hashtag happen. “#lilmamais JayZ’s hypeman, she jus got there late,” joked Fab. “#lilmamais the bird that flew outta Lady Gaga’s nest on her face!!” And so on. But all the hi-larious Twitter punchlines in the world got us no closer to what we all really want to know: What on earth was Lil Mama doing on stage at that moment?!

We’ve reached out to Lil Mama and Jay-Z’s camps to see if they can clarify just what happened there. (UPDATE: A representative for Jay-Z tells EW she has “No clue how it happened.”) In the meantime, watch the encounter again below. Lil Mama’s appearance begins around the 5:07 mark. Warning: You may LOL when you see Jay-Z’s understated yet surprised-seeming body language.

What’s your take? Did you appreciate Lil Mama’s unexpected cameo? New Yorkers, would you have done the same to show your city pride if you’d been sitting in the front rows?

Kanye West Apology to Taylor Swift

It was one of the most awkward moments of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, when Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for her Best Female Video award, and declared that he thought Beyonce Knowles should’ve won.

And in the aftermath of the evening’s events, the “Love Lockdown” rapper apparently saw the error of his ways, as he issued an apology to the 17-year-old country singer.

Via his blog, Kanye repented, saying, “I’m sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom [Andrea]. I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would’ve said. She is very talented! I like the lyrics about being a cheerleader and she’s in the bleachers! I’m in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment!”

He continued, “Beyonce’s video was the best of this decade!!! I’m sorry to my fans if I let you guys down!!!!! I’m sorry to my friends at MTV. I will apologize to Taylor 2mrw. Welcome to the real world!!!! Everybody wanna booooo me but I’m a fan of real pop culture!!! No disrespect but we watchin’ the show at the cribe right now cause…. Well you know!!!! I’m still happy for Taylor!!!! Boooyaawww!!!! You are very talented!!!!! I gave my awards to Outkast when they deserved it over me… That’s what it is!!!! I’m not crazy yall, I’m just real. Sorry for that!!! I really feel bad for Taylor and I’m sincerely sorry!!! Much Respect!!!!!”