Fundings for three cancer and chronic disease prevention projects will continue through the CPAG's CLASP initiative

Moving from promise to impact in just three years, a trio of cancer and chronic disease prevention projects will continue to make headway, thanks to renewed funding through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer’s Coalitions Linking Action and Science for Prevention (CLASP) initiative. The three projects confirmed for renewed funding are: - Project: Collaborative Action on Childhood Obesity - Project: BETTER Project (Building on Existing Tools to Improve Chronic Disease Prevention & Screening in Family Practice) - Project: Healthy Canada by Design

Lactation protein suppresses tumors and metastasis in breast cancer

A protein that is necessary for lactation in mammals inhibits the critical cellular transition that is an early indicator of breast cancer and metastasis, according to research conducted at the University at Buffalo and Princeton University and highlighted as the cover paper in November issue of Nature Cell Biology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Chakrabarti R, et al. Elf5 inhibits the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mammary gland development and breast cancer metastasis by transcriptionally repressing Snail2. Nat Cell Biol. 2012 Oct 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23086238

Researchers identify unique immune gene signature across thousands of patients' solid tumors

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have discovered a unique immune gene signature that can predict the presence of microscopic lymph node-like structures in metastatic melanoma. The presence of these immune structures, the researchers said, appears to be associated with better survival and may indicate the possibility of selecting patients for immunotherapy based solely on the immune-related makeup of their tumors as an approach to personalized medicine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Messina JL, et al. 12-Chemokine Gene Signature Identifies Lymph Node-like Structures in Melanoma: Potential for Patient Selection for Immunotherapy? Sci Rep. 2012;2:765. Epub 2012 Oct 24. PMID: 23097687

Genome analysis of pancreas tumors reveals new pathway

The latest genomic analysis of pancreatic tumors identified two new pathways involved in the disease, information that could be capitalized on to develop new and earlier diagnostic tests for the disease, said a Baylor College of Medicine physician-scientist who was part of the local team that took part in the international effort. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Biankin AV, et al. Pancreatic cancer genomes reveal aberrations in axon guidance pathway genes. Nature. 2012 Oct 24. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23103869

Researchers identify mutations that may drive serous endometrial cancer

Researchers have identified several genes that are linked to one of the most lethal forms of uterine cancer, serous endometrial cancer. The researchers describe how three of the genes found in the study are frequently altered in the disease, suggesting that the genes drive the development of tumors. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Gallo ML, et al. Exome sequencing of serous endometrial tumors identifies recurrent somatic mutations in chromatin-remodeling and ubiquitin ligase complex genes. Nat Genet. 2012 Oct 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23104009

The quest to shorten time to early clinical development

Drug companies looking to increase the efficiency and productivity of their research and development pipelines are turning to a host of techniques and approaches aimed at shortening the time from nonclinical to early clinical development—with promising results—according to a panel of leaders from the research-based drug industry convened by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD). Read more here.

Panel: For every life saved with a mammogram, 3 women are overtreated

Breast cancer screening for women over 50 saves lives, an independent panel in Britain has concluded, confirming findings in U.S. and other studies. But that screening comes with a cost: The review found that for every life saved, roughly three other women were overdiagnosed, meaning they were unnecessarily treated for a cancer that would never have threatened their lives. The expert panel was commissioned by Cancer Research U.K. and Britain's department of health and analyzed evidence from 11 trials in Canada, Sweden, the U.K. and the U.S. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Independent UK Panel on Breast Cancer Screening. The benefits and harms of breast cancer screening: an independent review. The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 30 October 2012.

Viagra can help prostate cancer patients maintain sex lives: study

Prostate cancer patients who received Viagra before and after their radiation therapy had improved sexual function, according to a new study. The study included patients with prostate cancer that had not spread who underwent external-beam radiation therapy and/or permanent implantation of radioactive "seeds." The study was to be presented Monday at ASTRO's annual meeting in Boston. Read more here.

FDA and tobacco regulation three years later

"As the official sponsor of birthdays, the American Cancer Society has every reason to be proud of a "toddler" celebrating its third birthday this year. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act - aka the Tobacco Control Act - was strongly supported by ACS and ACS CAN and signed into law by President Barack Obama on June 22, 2009. For the first time and after nearly 2 decades of debate, this historic legislation gave the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products. In doing so, Congress enabled the FDA to establish the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), which is charged with regulating the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products in order to reduce tobacco use by children under 18 and protect public health." Continue reading the American Cancer Society Expert Voices blog here.

Researchers identify a molecular basis for doxorubicin-induced heart failure

Doxorubicin, a 50-year-old chemotherapy drug still in widespread use against a variety of cancers, has long been known to cause cardiotoxicity in some patients. Scientists have identified an unexpected mechanism via the enzyme Top2b that drives the drug's attack on heart muscle, providing a new approach for identifying patients who can safely tolerate doxorubicin and for developing new drugs. A team led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports its findings in the journal Nature Medicine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Zhang S, et al. Identification of the molecular basis of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Nat Med. 2012 Oct 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23104132

Flu shot should be mandatory, journal says

Health-care professionals dedicate their lives to helping those who are sick. But if they refuse to get a flu shot, they are putting the very patients they are trying to protect at risk. It might sound controversial, but according to an editorial published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, health care workers should be subject to mandatory flu immunization programs in order to prevent the spread to patients who could become seriously ill or die as a result. Read more here.

Editorial mentioned: Flegel K. Health care workers must protect patients from influenza by taking the annual vaccine. CMAJ. Online first October 29, 2012.

Researchers challenge postmarketing trial practices

Without oversight systems, phase IV trials will continue to be used by drug companies to market products without generating the information that clinicians and policy makers can use to improve care and maintain a more cost-effective health system. Efforts tied to the current focus of research ethics on protecting study participants fail to prevent problems that undermine the social value of research, according to bioethicists from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and McGill University in Montreal. Alex John London, Jonathan Kimmelman and Benjamin Carlisle argue that current research ethics frameworks do not flag drug trials that, while not putting patients at risk, produce biased evidence. Read more here.

Study mentioned: London AJ, et al. Research ethics. Rethinking research ethics: the case of postmarketing trials. Science. 2012 May 4;336(6081):544-5. PMID: 22556237

Understanding hormone therapy

In the search for newer and better ways to treat disease, doctors and scientists have learned that our own bodies sometimes hold the keys to new medicine. A case in point is hormone therapy, a type of treatment that relies on the natural properties of hormones, a type of chemical substance the body manufactures through the endocrine system. Hormones, such as the male hormone testosterone and the female hormone estrogen, travel through our bloodstream to help set certain bodily processes in motion. Hormone therapies work with the natural properties of these substances to relieve symptoms and even fight diseases, including cancer. Read more here.

Does being overweight cause breast cancer?

"Reports from both the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Cancer Research Fund conclude that there is convincing evidence that being obese or overweight causes breast cancer after menopause. And a 2006 study from the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-II found that gaining weight as an adult was an even more important risk factor than current weight for post-menopausal breast cancer. The study found that women who gained 60 or more pounds after age 18 had double the risk of being diagnosed with post-menopausal breast cancer compared to women who maintained their weight over the same time period. Other studies have reported similar findings." Continue reading the American Cancer Society Expert Voices blog here.

Healthier doctors, healthier patients

NEWS, October 25, 2012, from CMAJ: "Burnout affects doctors. Would it not affect their work performance? If doctors are unwell, it has serious consequences for them, for their work and relationships. But it also has serious consequences for the health care system," says Lemaire, who has suggested with colleagues that physician wellness be routinely measured in health systems as a quality indicator (Lancet 2009;374:1714-21). Experts in the area hope to address that issue when they gather for three days at the International Conference on Physician Health in Montréal, Que. The joint effort of the CMA, the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association commences today.

FDA approves Synribo for chronic myelogenous leukemia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Synribo (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) to treat adults with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a blood and bone marrow disease. “Today’s approval provides a new treatment option for patients who are resistant to or cannot tolerate other FDA-approved drugs for chronic or accelerated phases of CML,” said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Synribo is the second drug approved to treat CML in the past two months.” Read the FDA news release here.

Early surgical treatment of low-grade glioma brain tumor associated with better survival than watchful waiting

In a comparison of strategies for treating low-grade gliomas (brain tumors), patients in Norway treated at a hospital that generally favored early surgical resection (removal) had better overall survival than patients treated at a hospital that favored biopsy and watchful waiting, according to a study appearing in JAMA. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Jakola AS, et al. Comparison of a Strategy Favoring Early Surgical Resection vs a Strategy Favoring Watchful Waiting in Low-Grade Gliomas. JAMA. 2012;():1-8. Published online.

Calgary’s Catholic schools review ban on HPV vaccine

Calgary’s Catholic school district will review its policy against allowing students to be vaccinated for the virus that causes cervical and other types of cancers. Four years ago, the district said no to the HPV vaccine, a position that was strongly supported by Calgary Bishop Fred Henry, who opposed the vaccine being given in Catholic schools on moral and religious grounds. The district’s board of trustees now says because of recent medical studies it will consult with parents about offering the vaccine to Grade 5 girls. Read the full news article here.

Dietary supplements may interact with drugs

New research highlights the potential adverse interactions between certain dietary supplements and drugs. In the recent study, researchers evaluated 85 studies including 1,491 different supplement and drug combinations. Data analysis showed that in half of the interactions, the dietary supplements affected the drug's break down, absorption or elimination. Researchers found the dietary supplements St. John's Wort, magnesium, calcium, iron and ginkgo had the greatest number of reported drug interactions. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Tsai HH, Lin HW, Simon Pickard A, et al. Evaluation of documented drug interactions and contraindications associated with herbs and dietary supplements: a systematic literature review. Int J Clin Pract. 2012 Nov;66(11):1056-1078. PMID: 23067030

Quebec last by far: 89,000 children are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke

Because their parents smoke or allow others to smoke in the house or car, over 89,000 Quebec children (nearly one out of ten) are still regularly exposed to second-hand smoke. The 6th Smoke-Free Family campaign was launched this month in order to make parents aware of the dangers of second-hand smoke to the health of children. Read more here.

Visit the Smoke-Free Family website here.

Noninvasive assay monitored treatment response in patients with metastatic prostate cancer

Deciding the ideal treatment for patients with metastatic prostate cancer that stops responding to initial therapy could be guided by certain analyses of cancer cells isolated from the patients' blood, according to data published in Cancer Discovery. "The growth and survival of prostate cancer cells are very dependent on signals that the cancer cells receive through a protein called the androgen receptor," said Daniel A. Haber, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston and project leader of the Stand Up To Cancer Bioengineering and Clinical Applications of Circulating Tumor Cell Chip Dream Team. "Treatments that deprive the androgen receptor of its signals are initially highly effective in most patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Unfortunately, prostate cancer, like all cancers, undergoes evolution during therapy, and this can confer resistance to treatment." Read more here.

Study mentioned: Miyamoto DT, et al. Androgen Receptor Signaling in Circulating Tumor Cells as a Marker of Hormonally Responsive Prostate Cancer. Cancer Discov. 2012 Oct 23. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23093251

Blood chromosome differences are linked to pancreatic cancer

A new study published today by scientists at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center and Mayo Clinic shows that a blood marker is linked to pancreatic cancer. First author Dr. Halcyon Skinner, assistant professor of population health sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, says the study is the first time pancreatic cancer risk has been linked to differences in telomeres’ length in blood cells. “This suggests a new avenue to identify those with pancreatic cancer or those at risk of developing the cancer in the future,’’ he says. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Skinner HG, et al. Telomere Length and Pancreatic Cancer: A Case-Control Study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2012 Oct 23. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23093543

Cancer patients often overestimate value of chemo

Most patients getting chemotherapy for incurable lung or colon cancers mistakenly believe that the treatment can cure them rather than just buy them some more time or ease their symptoms, a major study suggests. Researchers say doctors either are not being honest enough with patients or people are in denial that they have a terminal disease. The study highlights the problem of overtreatment at the end of life - futile care that simply prolongs dying. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Weeks JC, et al. Patients' Expectations about Effects of Chemotherapy for Advanced Cancer. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1616-1625.

Aspirin’s impact on colorectal cancer

Aspirin therapy can extend the life of colorectal cancer patients whose tumors carry a mutation in a key gene, but it has no effect on patients who lack the mutation, Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists report in the Oct. 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. “For the first time, we have a genetic marker that can help doctors determine which colorectal cancers are likely to respond to a particular therapy”, said the study’s senior author, Shuji Ogino of Dana-Farber, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Xiaoyun L, et al. Aspirin Use, Tumor PIK3CA Mutation, and Colorectal-Cancer Survival. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1596-1606.

Older breast cancer patients see more complications with brachytherapy

The breast cancer treatment brachytherapy — heralded for its low complication rates — actually results in more complications than whole-breast radiation one year after treatment, according to researchers. “This treatment method seems ideal in theory, but we found it concerning that such an important clinical decision that affects so many women was being made on the basis of theory, rather than scientific evidence,” said the study’s lead author Dr. Cary P. Gross, associate professor of internal medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Presley CJ, et al. Patterns of Use and Short-Term Complications of Breast Brachytherapy in the National Medicare Population From 2008-2009. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Oct 22. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23091103

Aggressive brain tumors can originate from a range of nervous system cells

Scientists have long believed that glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive type of primary brain tumor, begins in glial cells that make up supportive tissue in the brain or in neural stem cells. In a paper published in Science, however, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have found that the tumors can originate from other types of differentiated cells in the nervous system, including cortical neurons. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Friedmann-Morvinski D, et al. Dedifferentiation of Neurons and Astrocytes by Oncogenes Can Induce Gliomas in Mice. Science. 2012 Oct 18. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23087000

European Medicines Agency recommends granting a marketing authorization for Imatinib Teva

The European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for the medicinal product Imatinib Teva film-coated tablet 100mg and 400mg and Imatinib Teva capsules 100mg and 400mg intended for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The applicant for this medicinal product is Teva Pharma B.V. Read more here.

Acupuncture relieves symptoms of a dry mouth caused by radiotherapy for head and neck cancers

Patients who have received radiotherapy for head and neck cancer often suffer from the unpleasant and distressing side-effect of a dry mouth, caused by damage to their salivary glands from the radiation. Now, a new study has shown that acupuncture can relieve the symptoms of dry mouth (known as xerostomia). The findings from the largest trial yet to investigate this are published in the cancer journal Annals of Oncology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Simcock R, et al. ARIX: a randomised trial of acupuncture v oral care sessions in patients with chronic xerostomia following treatment of head and neck cancer. Annals of Oncology. doi:10.1093/annonc/mds515

Mechanisms of action for green tea extract in breast cancer prevention identified

An oral green tea extract, Polyphenon E, appears to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor, both of which promote tumor cell growth, migration and invasion. Researchers made this discovery during a secondary analysis of a phase Ib randomized, placebo-controlled study of Polyphenon E in a group of 40 women with hormone receptor-negative breast cancer. Katherine D. Crew, M.D., assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, N.Y., presented the data at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012. Read more here.

Study shows breastfeeding reduced risk for ER/PR-negative breast cancer

Breast-feeding reduces the risk for estrogen receptor-negative and progesterone receptor-negative breast cancer, according to a study conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Researchers examined the association between reproductive risk factors — such as the number of children a woman delivers, breast-feeding and oral contraceptive use – and found an increased risk for estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor- (ER/PR) negative breast cancer in women who do not breast-feed. The paper was presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research. Read more here.

Blood hormone levels can predict long-term breast cancer risk

Blood hormone tests can predict a woman's risk for developing postmenopausal breast cancer for up to 20 years, according to a study led by Xuehong Zhang, MD, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) Department of Medicine. The findings will be presented at the 11th Annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research. Using data from the Nurses' Health Study, Zhang , Susan Hankinson, ScD, Channing Division of Network Medicine, BWH Department of Medicine and colleagues analyzed 796 patients with postmenopausal breast cancer who had not received hormone therapy. Read more here.

Breast Cancer Surgery in Canada, 2007–2008 to 2009-2010

Published by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the report Cancer Surgery in Canada, 2007–2008 to 2009-2010, examines the surgical care of breast cancer patients within one year of initial surgery – both mastectomy and lumpectomy (also known as breast-conserving surgery) – and provides the most recent pan-Canadian data on trends and variations in surgical breast treatment and related outcomes. The report also reveals cross-country variations in rates of mastectomy and rates of subsequent surgery following lumpectomy, pointing to the need for clinicians and policy makers to look further to understand what lies behind these trends so that they may respond appropriately.

3-D mammograms may be safer and more accurate

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles have created a new technique for producing 3-D images of breast tissue. It is believed that 10%-20% of breast tumors are not detected via a standard mammogram; the 3-D approach is believed to produce images "two to three times sharper than current hospital CT scans with a lower radiation dose." Thus far, five independent radiologists have evaluated this method, which has proven favourable.

To read more about this approach, click here

University of Minnesota researchers develop new drug to target and destroy tumor cells

A new drug created at the University of Minnesota may hold the answer to defeating pancreatic cancer, according to results published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The study is based on successful outcomes in a mouse model – results researchers expect to carry over to human patients when the drug potentially begins human trials in 2013. The drug, Minnelide, is a type of injectable chemotherapy designed to target tumor cells. The drug works by inhibiting a heat shock protein, HSP 70, which has been proven to aid the growth of tumor cells. By stopping HSP 70 from working, Minnelide disperses the cells integral to the tumor’s growth and the cancer disintegrates. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Chugh R, et al. A preclinical evaluation of minnelide as a therapeutic agent against pancreatic cancer. Sci Transl Med. 2012 Oct 17;4(156):156ra139. PMID: 23076356

Green tea reduced inflammation, may inhibit prostate cancer tumor growth

Men with prostate cancer who consumed green tea prior to undergoing prostatectomy had reductions in markers of inflammation, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Oct. 16-19, 2012. “Our study showed that drinking six cups of green tea affected biomarkers in prostate tissue at the time of surgery,” said Susanne M. Henning, Ph.D., R.D., adjunct professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. “This research offers new insights into the mechanisms by which green tea consumption may reduce the risk for prostate cancer by opposing processes such as inflammation, which are associated with prostate cancer growth.” Read more here.

A new light on the progression and invasiveness of ductal breast cancer

A new study has found that despite an enormous degree of intercellular heterogeneity in both DCIS and IDC, the evolution from non-invasive to invasive disease is determined by recurrent patterns of genomic imbalances in most cases. For patients with cancer, the transition from locally controlled disease to a disseminated stage and metastases is probably the most critical threshold, because that transition makes surgical intervention considerably less likely to succeed, according to study lead investigator Thomas Ried. The researchers looked at gene copy number changes during the transition from DCIS to IDC and, if so, what patterns of genetic imbalances drive this process. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Heselmeyer-Haddad K, et al. Single-Cell Genetic Analysis of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ and Invasive Breast Cancer Reveals Enormous Tumor Heterogeneity yet Conserved Genomic Imbalances and Gain of MYC during Progression. Am J Pathol. 2012 Oct 8. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23062488

Whole-genome sequencing finds a genetic basis for everolimus sensitivity

David Solit, Gopa Iyer and collaborators were intrigued by the results of a phase II clinical trial assessing the mTOR inhibitor everolimus, as a single agent in the treatment of progressive, metastatic bladder cancer, in which one patient showed a complete response to the drug within 1 year of treatment initiation. They hypothesized that a specific genetic lesion within this patient's tumor was responsible for such response. To test their hypothesis the researchers used whole-genome sequencing of DNA derived from both tumor and peripheral blood from this patient. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Iyer G, et al. Genome sequencing identifies a basis for everolimus sensitivity. Science. 2012 Oct 12;338(6104):221. PMID: 22923433

Increased flavonoid intake reduced risk for aggressive prostate cancer

A high total intake of flavonoids, a group of compounds found in plants, was inversely associated with the risk for highly aggressive prostate cancer, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held in Anaheim, Calif. Oct. 16-19, 2012. "Incorporating more plant-based foods and beverages, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs and tea, into the diet may offer some protection against aggressive prostate cancer," said Susan E. Steck, Ph.D., M.P.H, R.D., associate professor at the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. Read more here.

Leading bone marrow transplant expert recommends significant change to current practice

One of the world's leading bone marrow transplant experts is recommending a significant change to current transplant practice for patients who need marrow or adult stem cells from an unrelated donor to treat hematologic malignancies. Fred Appelbaum, M.D., director of the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, asserts that bone marrow -- not circulating, peripheral blood, which is the current norm -- should be the source for unrelated donor adult stem cells for most patients who require a transplant. Read more here.

Editorial: Appelbaum FR. Pursuing the goal of a donor for everyone in need. N Engl J Med. 2012 Oct 18;367(16):1555-6. PMID: 23075182

Original article: Anasetti C, et al. Peripheral-blood stem cells versus bone marrow from unrelated donors. N Engl J Med. 2012 Oct 18;367(16):1487-96. PMID: 23075175

Adhering to lifestyle guidelines reduced mortality in elderly female cancer survivors

Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, staying physically active and maintaining a healthy diet improved survival after cancer diagnosis in an elderly female cancer survivor population, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held in Anaheim, Calif. Oct. 16-19, 2012. Read more here.

Race, socioeconomics had impact on emergency colorectal cancer diagnosis

Twenty-nine percent of patients with colorectal cancer in a nationally representative sample were diagnosed after an emergency, such as an obstruction or perforation of the bowel, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012. In addition, African-Americans and those living in high-poverty areas were more likely to present with an emergency diagnosis. Read more here.

Nearly four out of 10 lesbians not routinely screened for cervical cancer, study shows

Nearly 38 percent of lesbians polled in a national survey were not routinely screened for cervical cancer, putting them at risk of developing a highly preventable cancer, according to a University of Maryland School of Medicine study being presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research. The percentage of lesbians not being screened as recommended is higher than for women overall. According to information compiled by the Centers for Disease Control’s Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 13 percent of women have not had a Pap test in the last three years. Read more here.

Depression and shortened telomeres increased bladder cancer mortality

The combination of shortened telomeres, a biological marker of aging associated with cancer development, and elevated depression significantly impacted bladder cancer mortality, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012. "We found that patients with bladder cancer with shorter telomeres and high levels of depression symptoms have a threefold increased risk for mortality," said Meng Chen, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Read more here.

Moffitt Cancer Center researchers study ‘ACT TIL’ approach to treating metastatic melanoma

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have carried out a clinical trial in which patients with metastatic melanoma were given chemotherapy and an immunotherapy of adoptive cell transfer (ACT) with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Tumor tissues were surgically removed from patients, minced and grown in culture. The treatment combined chemotherapy, then ACT with TIL, followed by interleukin-2 (IL-2). The combination therapy drew a high response rate from some patients. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Pilon-Thomas S, et al. Efficacy of Adoptive Cell Transfer of Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes After Lymphopenia Induction for Metastatic Melanoma. J Immunother. 2012 Oct;35(8):615-20. PMID: 22996367

Two components of red meat combined with alteration in DNA repair increase risk for bladder cancer

Two components of red meat — dietary protein and dietary iron — may combine to form powerful carcinogens, N-nitroso compounds, which increase risk for bladder cancer. Moreover, individuals with reduced ability to reverse the effects of N-nitroso compounds because of a genetic variation in their RAD52 gene could be at particularly high risk. Chelsea Catsburg, a doctoral student at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, presented these data at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012. Read more here.

Epigenetic analysis of gastric cancer finds new disease subtypes

Researchers at the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore have identified numerous new subtypes of gastric cancer that are triggered by environmental factors. Reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the findings are based on the science of epigenetics. In the study, Dr. Patrick Tan and colleagues used 240 primary tumors and cell lines to conduct the first full survey of the DNA methylation landscape in gastric cancer, known as the methylome. Their goal was to identify new molecular subgroups of gastric cancer not caused by primary genetic mutations, particularly those that might be targeted with therapies. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Zouridis H, et al. Methylation subtypes and large-scale epigenetic alterations in gastric cancer. Sci Transl Med. 2012 Oct 17;4(156):156ra140. PMID: 23076357

New safety information: Interaction of proton pump inhibitors with methotrexate

Health Canada is informing Canadians and Canadian health care practitioners that the labelling for methotrexate and Proton Pump Inhibitors is being updated to include information on a potential interaction between these products. The new information will be in the "Warnings and Precautions" section of the methotrexate and the PPIs labelling. Methotrexate is used in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases and proton pump inhibitors are acid reducers used in the treatment of heartburn or acid indigestion. The use of these two products at the same time by patients may increase the amount of methotrexate in the blood leading to side effects. Read more here.

Post-op radiation may boost results for prostate cancer patients

A new study conducted at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire A Michallon, France supports radiation therapy after prostate cancer surgery as a means of preventing recurrence in high-risk patients. According to this study, patients receiving radiation therapy within 4 months of surgery remained cancer-free in 61% of cases. While several factors, including patient age and tumor status, play a considerable role in deciding whether or not post-surgery radiotherapy is appropriate, this method does appear particularly effective in men under 70.

To read more about the study, click here.

New trial alert: Dose escalated radiation therapy for men with high risk prostate cancer

A new trial, sponsored by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is looking at the use of hormone therapy (including steroid 17alpha-monooxygenase TAK-700), together with radiation therapy in treating patients with prostate cancer. The primary objective is thus centered on evaluating "the difference in overall survival of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer with unfavourable prognostic features between standard treatment (ADT and radiotherapy) and standard treatment with the addition of 24 months of TAK-700."

To read more about this trial, click here.

Cold viruses point the way to new cancer therapies

Adenovirus, a type of cold virus, has developed molecular tools—proteins—that allow it to hijack a cell's molecular machinery, including large cellular machines involved in growth, replication and cancer suppression. The Salk scientists identified the construction of these molecular weapons and found that they bind together into long chains (polymers) to form a three-dimensional web inside cells that traps and overpowers cellular sentries involved in growth and cancer suppression. The findings suggest a new avenue for developing cancer therapies by mimicking the strategies employed by the viruses. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ou HD, et al. A Structural Basis for the Assembly and Functions of a Viral Polymer that Inactivates Multiple Tumor Suppressors. Cell. 2012 Oct 12;151(2):304-19. PMID: 23063122

Expanded recall of contaminated foaming hand soap

Avmor Ltd. has expanded its recall of Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Soap (Triclosan 0.3%) to include 19 additional lots of this product. As a precautionary measure, Avmor Ltd. is also recalling 21 lots of the product X3 Clean Alcohol-Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer (Benzalkonium chloride 0.13%). Read the updated Health Canada advisory here.

Strawberries may lower esophageal cancer risk

New research suggests that strawberry powder may reduce the likelihood of esophageal cancer in those individuals at high risk for the disease. The strawberry fruit is high in fiber, vitamin C, folate, potassium and antioxidants. Epidemiological studies indicate that strawberry ingestion may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Preliminary research also indicates that strawberry may be useful as an anti-inflammatory and for iron absorption enhancement. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Chen T, et al. Randomized phase II trial of lyophilized strawberries in patients with dysplastic precancerous lesions of the esophagus. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2012 Jan;5(1):41-50. PMID: 22135048

Why some parents still won't give daughters the HPV vaccine

Although a major U.S. study this week challenged an oft-cited argument that the vaccine makes girls more sexually active, the possibility of sexual promiscuity is actually low on the list of many parents’ anxieties about the injections. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Bednarczyk RA, et al. Sexual Activity–Related Outcomes After Human Papillomavirus Vaccination of 11- to 12-Year-Olds. Pediatrics. Published online first October 15, 2012.

Multivitamins modestly lower risk of cancer in middle-aged and older men, study finds

Multivitamins modestly lowered the risk for cancer in healthy male doctors who took them for more than a decade, the first large study to test these pills has found. In the new study, multivitamins cut the chance of developing cancer by eight per cent. That is less effective than a good diet, exercise and not smoking, each of which can lower cancer risk by 20 per cent to 30 per cent, cancer experts say. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Gaziano, JM et al. Multivitamins in the Prevention of Cancer in MenThe Physicians' Health Study II Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2012;():1-10. Online first.

New DNA test promising for detecting colon cancer

Researchers at Exact Sciences in Madison, Wisconsin have developed a new DNA test for colorectal cancer that seems to be accurate and non-invasive.  According to study author Graham Lidgard, senior vice president of research and deveopment and chief science officer at Exact Sciences, the DNA tests is comprised of three components: identification of methylation, DNA mutations in the K-ras gene, and blood in the stool.

Currently awaiting approval by the FDA, the test is seen as a possible viable alternative to colonoscopies.

To read more about this study, click here. 

Sports bra could detect early signs of breast cancer

A sports bra designed by Dr. Elias Siores of the University of Bolton (United Kingdom), and currently being developed by First Warning Systems, may be able to detect early signs of breast cancer. Having already undergone a clinical trial on 650 subjects, the sports bra works on the principles of thermography, where "the bra can detect slight temperature changes that could signal the development of tumors." While not expected to reach the European market until 2013, and the U.S. market in 2014, the bra is believed to have the potential to detect tumors earlier and thus cut down on the number of false positives and negatives. It may even be able to replace breast self-exams.

To read more on this report, click here.

The product video is available here.

An update on colorectal cancer screening in Canada

This Snapshot presents results from the 2011 Colon Cancer Screening in Canada survey. Initially conducted in 2009, the 2011 survey provides follow-up information on the impact that CRC screening programs and national awareness campaigns have had on Canadians’ knowledge and attitudes about CRC screening.

New report provides valuable information on breast cancer control across Canada

Breast Cancer Control in Canada: A System Performance Special Focus Report is part of the System Performance Initiative, which aims to make available meaningful and useful information on the performance of the cancer control system. The need for this work was identified in 2007 by the cancer control community and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer has been facilitating its implementation together with provincial cancer agencies and programs, and national partners including Statistics Canada, the Canadian Cancer Registry and the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), among others.

Magnesium intake linked to reduced colon cancer risk

Consuming more magnesium may reduce the risk for colon cancer, according to a recent study. Researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search for well-designed clinical trials evaluating the potential association between magnesium intake and colorectal cancer risk. Eight studies including 338,979 individuals were ultimately identified for inclusion. From the 338,979 study participants, 8,000 colorectal cancer cases were reported. Through data analyses, the researchers found that individuals with the highest magnesium intake had an 11 percent reduced risk of colorectal cancer when compared to those with the lowest. Furthermore, high magnesium intake was associated with a 19 percent reduced risk and six percent reduced risk for colon cancer and rectal cancer, respectively. Read more here.

Study mentioned: 1.Chen GC, Pang Z, Liu QF. Magnesium intake and risk of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012 Oct 3. PMID: 23031849

Calgary boy who died from rare brain cancer may provide gift of life for other children

For parents of a two-year-old boy who died of a rare brain cancer, the heart wrenching decision to donate his tumour has turned into a potentially lifesaving gift. On Oct. 23, 2010, Alexander Brown died from a childhood brain cancer called ETANTR, or Embryonal Tumour with Abundant Neuropil and True Rosettes. His parents, Tara and Jonathan Brown, made the difficult decision to donate his brain and tumour to the University of Calgary. And now, even in his death, their son is contributing to helping other kids fight the disease after the first ever cell line for ETANTR has been derived from his tumour, a key for researchers to help find a cure. Read the news article here.

Global burden of cancer in 2008

The burden of cancer is high in every world region, concludes a study led by scientists of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In the study, Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram and colleagues derived the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 27 cancers in 184 countries in 12 world regions. DALYs is an indicator that integrates the commonly used measures of cancer burden (incidence, mortality, and survival) with measures of disability due to cancer. DALYs is calculated by adding the time lost due to premature mortality (years of life lost, or YLL) and the duration lived with disability in survivors (years lived with a disability, or YLD). Read more here.

Study mentioned: Soerjomataram I, et al. Global burden of cancer in 2008: a systematic analysis of disability-adjusted life-years in 12 world regions. Lancet 2012. Early online publication, October 16.

Jonsson Cancer Center researchers discover mechanism to revive hope in promising lymphoma treatment

Researchers at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered the mechanism by which an experimental drug, GCS-100, removes a protein from lymphoma cells that prevents the cells from responding to chemotherapy. This discovery revives hope in GCS-100, a drug that had begun in clinical trials years before but had been delayed indefinitely. The researchers hope GCS-100 can be combined with chemotherapy to create an effective treatment for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Clark MC, et al. Galectin-3 binds to CD45 on diffuse large B cell lymphoma cells to regulate susceptibility to cell death. Blood. 2012 Oct 12. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23065155

Folic acid, vitamins B6 and 12 do not affect colorectal adenoma risk

Combined folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 supplements had no statistically significant effect on the risk of colorectal adenoma among women who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a recently published study. "Our findings do not support recommending B-vitamin supplementation for the prevention of colorectal adenomas," the researchers write, adding more evidence is needed in order to verify their findings. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Song Y, et al. Effect of Combined Folic Acid, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12 on Colorectal Adenoma. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Oct 12. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23066166

Contaminated foaming hand soap recalled due to dangerous bacteria

Avmor Ltd. is voluntarily recalling one lot of its Antimicrobial Foaming Hand Soap (Triclosan 0.3%) due to microbial contamination. Product testing undertaken by Health Canada detected bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) that may pose serious health risks to people, especially those with weakened immune systems. This product is used in private and public settings (offices, schools and hospitals) by individuals. Read the complete Health Canada advisory here.

The antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab emtansine (TDM-1) significantly prolongs survival in HER2 positive advanced breast cancer

The results of the EMILIA randomized Phase III study have been published. In this study, patients with HER2 positive advanced breast cancer and previous exposure to a taxane and trastuzumab were randomly assigned to receive T-DM1 or the combination of lapatinib-capecitabine. The primary end points were progression-free survival (per independent review), overall survival, and safety. 991 patients were enrolled. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Verma S, et al. Trastuzumab Emtansine for HER2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2012 Oct 1. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23020162

Surgery or radiation, not monitoring, most often sought for low-risk prostate cancer, Mayo finds

Few physicians recommend active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer rather than pursuing surgery or radiation, according to a Mayo Clinic study being presented at the North Central Section of the American Urological Association's annual meeting Oct. 10–13 in Chicago. Mayo Clinic urologists also are discussing findings on enlarged prostates, bladder cancer and other research and will be available to provide expert comment to journalists on others' studies. Read more here.

Notice of decision for Treanda®

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance to Lundbeck Canada Inc., for the drug product Treanda. Treanda contains the medicinal ingredient bendamustine hydrochloride (HCl) which is an antineoplastic alkylating agent. Treanda is indicated for patients with: 1. Relapsed indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who did not respond to or progressed during or shortly following treatment with a rituximab regimen; or 2. Symptomatic chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who have received no prior treatment. Read more here.

Summary basis of decision (SBD) for Prochymal®

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance under the Notice of Compliance with Conditions (NOC/c) Guidance to Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., for the drug product Prochymal. The product was authorized under the NOC/c Guidance on the basis of the promising nature of the clinical evidence, and the need for confirmatory studies to verify the clinical benefit. Patients should be advised of the fact that the market authorization was issued with conditions. Prochymal [remestemcel-L, adult human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) for intravenous infusion] is a liquid cell suspension of ex vivo cultured adult hMSCs. The hMSCs are derived from the bone marrow of unrelated and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-unmatched healthy adult donors. Prochymal is indicated in the management of acute Graft versus Host Disease (aGvHD) in paediatric patients. Read more here.

HPV shots don’t lead to increase in teen promiscuity, study finds

Shots that protect against cervical cancer do not make girls promiscuous, according to the first study to compare medical records for vaccinated and unvaccinated girls. The researchers didn’t ask girls about having sex, but instead looked at “markers” of sexual activity after vaccination against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, or HPV. Specifically, they examined up to three years of records on whether girls had sought birth-control advice; tests for sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy; or had become pregnant. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Bednarczyk RA, et al. Sexual Activity–Related Outcomes After Human Papillomavirus Vaccination of 11- to 12-Year-Olds. Pediatrics. Published online first October 15, 2012.

Carolinas healthcare system receives $8 million NIH grant to conduct first-ever study of its kind

Carolinas Medical Center has been awarded an $8 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to study dental and oral medicine outcomes of patients who have received high-dose radiation to the head and neck region. “Currently, dental management of these patients is largely based on expert opinion and there are no evidence based guidelines available to inform the healthcare team who manage patients before or after radiation therapy,” said Michael Brennan, DDS, MHS, Co-Principal Investigator of this grant. “The data we collect will lead to a better understanding of the oral and dental sequelae experienced by these patients after radiation therapy, which will lead to protocols for patients with head and neck cancer that are based on data from this five year study.” Read more here.

Generic drug prices in Canada

The Centre for Health Services and Policy Research at the University of British Columbia has published a paper demonstrating that Ontario pays nearly a quarter of a billion dollars more every year for the top 100 generic drugs compared to prices in other countries. Since Ontario has the lowest prices in Canada, this means every other province is overpaying too, according to author Michael Law. Read the working paper here.

Revised Therapeutic Products Directorate's (TPD) drug submission performance annual report fiscal year 2011-2012

A revised version of the Therapeutic Products Directorate's (TPD) Drug Submission Performance Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2011-2012 is now available. The original version was dated May 29th 2012 and the revised version is dated Sept 27 2012. Read more here.

Safety warning or recall common with new drugs in Canada, study finds

Nearly a quarter of the new drugs approved in Canada eventually get a serious safety warning or have to be pulled from the market for safety reasons, according to a new study. And for medications that get the fast-track “priority review” by the country’s health regulator, the chance that a serious safety concern will surface is as high as a third, said Dr. Joel Lexchin. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lexchin J. New Drugs and Safety: What Happened to New Active Substances Approved in Canada Between 1995 and 2010? Arch Intern Med. 2012 Oct 8:1-2. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23044937

Wide variation in mastectomy rates across Canada

A new report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer shows that substantial variations exist in the use of surgical breast cancer treatments across the country. The study, Breast Cancer Surgery in Canada, 2007-2008 to 2009-2010, examines surgical care for women with invasive breast cancer and those with the non-invasive form of the disease, ductal carcinoma in situ. Based on three years' worth of data (2007-2008 to 2009-2010), the report follows the surgical treatment of approximately 22,000 women for one year starting from the date of their initial surgery. Read more here.

Download the free report here.

How cancer cells break free from tumors

Although tumor metastasis causes about 90 percent of cancer deaths, the exact mechanism that allows cancer cells to spread from one part of the body to another is not well understood. One key question is how tumor cells detach from the structural elements that normally hold tissues in place, then reattach themselves in a new site. A new study from MIT cancer researchers reveals some of the cellular adhesion molecules that are critical to this process. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Reticker-Flynn NE, et al. A combinatorial extracellular matrix platform identifies cell-extracellular matrix interactions that correlate with metastasis. Nat Commun. 2012 Oct 9;3:1122. PMID: 23047680

Launch of SPLIT web site - Study of HPV and precancerous lesions in the tonsil

The Study of human Papillomavirus and precancerous Lesions In the Tonsil (SPLIT) project is an observational study started in 2012. The SPLIT project is funded by Institut National du Cancer (INCa), Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC), and Ligue contre le Cancer as part of the French "Programme d'Actions Intégrées de Recherche – Cancers des Voies Aéro-Digestives Supérieures (PAIR – VADS) 2011". Head and neck surgeons and pathologists from 17 recruiting centres and biologists from 7 research laboratories across France are collaborating to address the question of the natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the tonsil. Visit the website here.

Fighting cancer with your knife and fork

What foods should you eat when fighting cancer? What foods should you avoid? And what food can people eat to help prevent cancer? These are all questions that will be addressed on Oct. 16 when the University of Calgary hosts a free public lecture with Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, a leading world expert in dietary factors and cancer prevention and control. The talk goes from 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. in the Libin Lecture Theatre at the Foothills campus. Admission is free and no RSVP is required. Read more here.

HIV infection connected to rising anal cancer rates in men in the U.S.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection contributes substantially to the epidemic of anal cancer in men, but not women in the United States, according to new research from NCI. Anal cancer is rare, with an estimated 6,230 cases in 2012 but incidence rates in the U.S. have risen steadily over the past several decades. This new study documents that among men, half of this increase is explained by cases occurring in those who are HIV-positive. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Shiels MS, et al. Impact of the HIV Epidemic on the Incidence Rates of Anal Cancer in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Oct 5. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23042932

HIV drug shows efficacy in treating mouse models of HER2+ breast cancer

The HIV protease inhibitor, Nelfinavir, can be used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer in the same capacity and dosage regimen that it is used to treat HIV, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The researchers found that Nelfinavir inhibited the growth of HER2-positive tumors in mice. They also found that the concentrations of Nelfinavir needed to inhibit HER2-positive cancer cells in vitro are consistent with dosage regimens used for HIV patients. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Shim JS, et al. Selective Inhibition of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Cells by the HIV Protease Inhibitor Nelfinavir. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Oct 5. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23042933

Gene variant linked to lung cancer risk

A variation of the gene NFKB1, called rs4648127, is associated with an estimated 44 percent reduction in lung cancer risk. When this information, derived from samples obtained as part of a large NCI-sponsored prevention clinical trial, was compared with data on a different sample collection from NCI’s genome-wide association studies (GWAS), lung cancer risk was still estimated to be lower, but only by 21 percent. While this variation of gene NFKB1 had not previously been linked to lung cancer risk, a protein produced by the NFKB1 gene has been associated with several important roles in immunity, inflammation, and cell proliferation. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Shiels MS, et al. Genetic variation in innate immunity and inflammation pathways associated with lung cancer risk. Cancer. 2012 Oct 8. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23044494

New gene test predicts people at risk for mouth cancer

Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London have developed a new gene test to identify people at risk for mouth cancer. Using the Malignancy Index Diagnostic System test to detect precancerous cells in paients with benign-looking mouth lesions, earlier diagnosis leads to earlier treatment regimens for patients, improving chance of survival. While only 5%-30% of mouth lesions result in cancer, mouth cancer nonetheless affects more than 500,000 people worldwide, and is often caused by smoking, chewing tobacco, or drinking alcohol. In preliminary studies using this gene test, "it had a cancer detection rate between 91 percent and 94 percent."

To read more about this study, click here.

Study mentioned: Teh MT et al. Exploiting FOXM1-Orchestrated molecular network for early squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis and prognosis. Int J Cancer. 2012 Oct 4 [EPub ahead of print]. PMID 23034676

Health Canada endorsed important safety information on ZOFRAN® (ondansetron hydrochloride dihydrate, ondansetron)

GlaxoSmithKline Inc., in collaboration with Health Canada, would like to notify you of new information regarding the risk of electrocardiographic QT interval prolongation associated with ZOFRAN® (ondansetron). ZOFRAN® (ondansetron) is indicated in adults of all ages for the prevention of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and in adults ≤65 years of age for the prevention and treatment of post-operative nausea and vomiting. ZOFRAN® (ondansetron) is also indicated in children 4 years of age and older for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Read more here.

Cancer prevention: ‘More testing is not always better’

Last year, new guidelines recommended against routine mammograms for non-high-risk women in their 40s because the chance of false positives and unnecessary treatment is far greater than saving a life. For similar reasons, a blue-ribbon task force in the United States declared the PSA test useless last year. In August, Ontario joined other provinces when it declared sexually active women should undergo Pap tests starting at 21 instead of within three years of first sexual activity, and that routine screening could be done on three-year intervals instead of every one or two years. Yet a year on, it’s clear we’re still grappling with the new guidelines. Last week, the Canadian Cancer Society in Ontario released a survey that found more than 40 per cent of women believe routine mammograms should start when a woman is in her 40s, even though guidelines recommend beginning screenings after age 50. As this later-may-be-better approach runs counter to everything we believe about cancer detection, these guidelines have sparked confusion, uncertainty and fear. Read the complete news article here.

High fructose corn syrup and pancreatic cancer

The latest issue of the Natural Medicine Journal, an open-access, peer-reviewed e-journal for integrative healthcare practitioners, as well as students and faculty who focus on the field of natural medicine, is now available online here. The October issue features an article-High fructose corn syrup and pancreatic cancer by Lena Suhaila, ND-which reports that a diet high in fructose was associated with an increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer; however, no statistically significant association was found between intakes of total carbohydrates, sucrose glycemic index, or glycemic load and pancreatic cancer. Read more here.

New report provides valuable information on breast cancer control across Canada

A just-released report presents cancer control leaders with today’s most comprehensive data measuring cancer control from prevention and screening through diagnosis and treatment to patient experience and end of life care, directing improvements to breast cancer care for women tomorrow. Breast Cancer Control in Canada: A System Performance Special Focus Report is the first report compiling data from provinces and territories on key indicators across the breast cancer continuum.

Scientists ID genetic signatures for aggressive prostate cancer

U.S. and British researchers have identified two separate genetic signatures, namely two distinctive patterns of RNA that seem to predict whether patients are afflicted with a mild or aggressive form of prostate cancer. These findings are significant, particularly as castration-resistant prostate cancer does not respond to standard androgen-deprivation therapy. According to the researchers, "patients with a distinctive nine-gene pattern characteristic of aggressive prostate cancer survivied an average of 9.2 months, compared with 21.6 months for those without the gene pattern."

To read more about this study, click here.

Lack of oxygen in cancer cells leads to growth and metastasis

While it may appear that tumors deprived of oxygen will shrink, researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center have conducted several studies indicating that tumor hypoxia is linked to more aggressive tumors and poorer prognosis.  According to Dr. Dan Theodorescu, director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center and lead researcher in this study, protein HIF-1a along with cancer stem cell marker CD24 is overexpressed in tumors.  As a result, "rather than succumbing to gently hypoxic conditions, the lack of oxygen commonly created as a tumor outgrows its blood supply signals a tumor to grow and metastasize in search of new oxygen sources." 

To read more about this study, as well as other features in the October 2012 issue of Artemis, the Breast Cancer Newsletter, click here.

Study mentioned: Thomas S et al. CD24 is an effector of HIF-1 driven primary tumor growth and metastasis. Cancer Res. 2012 Aug 27. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID 22926560

Breast cancer discoveries on the horizon

What if there was an easier, faster way to find out whether a breast tumor was malignant or benign? What if a weak spot was finally found in triple-negative breast cancer? What if we knew how breast cancer spreads to bone—and how to stop it? With funding from the American Cancer Society, scientists are making medical discoveries that could one day turn these what-ifs into reality. Read the American Cancer Society news release here.

Blocking tumor-induced inflammation impacts cancer development

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report the discovery of microbial–dependent mechanisms through which some cancers mount an inflammatory response that fuels their development and growth. “The tumor-associated inflammatory reaction is an emerging and vibrant field for biomedical studies. It may hold the keys for future preventive and therapeutic measures,” said Sergei Grivennikov, PhD, noting that studies of long-term users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, have revealed that general inhibition of inflammation reduces the risk of cancer death by up to 45 percent, depending on the type of cancer. “So inhibition of inflammation during cancer development may be beneficial.” Read more here.

Study mentioned: Grivennikov SI, et al. Adenoma-linked barrier defects and microbial products drive IL-23/IL-17-mediated tumour growth. Nature. 2012 Oct 3. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23034650

Digitial mammography superior to film screen mammography in early detection of breast cancer

In a study conducted by the National Expert and Training Centre for Breast Cancer Screening in the Netherlands, digital mammography was able to detect high-grade ductal carcinoma (DCIS)58.5% of time, compared to a 50.5% detection rate with traditional film mammography. Researchers in the U.S. also support digital screening, particularly in women under 50 with dense breasts. Of interest is the varied screening approaches between the Netherlands and the United States: "the Dutch focus is on a balance between detection, recall and false-positives...the U.S. focus...is more on high detection rates, which means higher recall and false-positive rates."

For more information on these findings, click here.

Study mentioned: Bluekens AM et al. Comparison of digital screening mammography and screen-film mammography in the early detection of clinically relevant cancers: A multicenter study. Radiology 2012 Oct. 2 [Epub ahead of print]. PMID 23033499

Tanning beds linked to non-melanoma skin cancer

Indoor tanning beds can cause non-melanoma skin cancer — and the risk is greater the earlier one starts tanning, according to a new analysis led by UCSF. Indoor tanning is already an established risk factor for malignant melanoma, the less common but deadliest form of skin cancer. Now, the new study confirms that indoor tanning significantly increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancers, the most common human skin cancers. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Wehner MR, et al. Indoor tanning and non-melanoma skin cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2012 Oct 2;345:e5909. PMID: 23033409

Scientists find missing link between players in the epigenetic code

New research from UNC has established the first link between the two most fundamental epigenetic tags -- histone modification and DNA methylation -- in humans. This study implicates a protein called UHRF1 in the maintenance of these epigenetic tags. Because the protein has been found to be defective in cancer, the finding could help scientists understand not only how microscopic chemical changes can ultimately affect the epigenetic landscape but also give clues to the underlying causes of disease and cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Rothbart SB, et al. Association of UHRF1 with methylated H3K9 directs the maintenance of DNA methylation. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2012 Sep 30. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23022729

Adding chemo improves outcomes from bladder cancer radiation

British researchers have found that combining radiation with 2 chemotherapy drugs helped bladder cancer patients live longer than those who had radiation alone. In the study, 360 people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer were randomly assigned to radiation alone, or radiation with the chemo drugs fluorouracil and mitomycin. Most of the patients had their bladder tumors removed first. In the chemo-radiation group, 48% of the patients lived at least 5 years, as compared with 35% in the group treated with radiation alone. In addition, 67% of those in the radiation-chemo group had no evidence of cancer in their bladder after 2 years, compared to 54% in the radiation-only group. Read more here.

Study mentioned: James ND, et al. Radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. N Engl J Med. 2012 Apr 19;366(16):1477-88. PMID: 22512481

National strategy in the works on ‘orphan drugs’

After years of debate, Canada is set to create a national framework to improve access to “orphan drugs” for people who suffer from rare disorders. The new framework, announced by federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, will provide a national strategy for authorizing and monitoring the use of orphan drugs as well as helping to spur research and development of new drugs to treat rare diseases. Aglukkaq also announced that Canada will launch Orphanet, a site dedicated to improving diagnosis, care and treatment of rare diseases. Read the complete news article here.

Gastric cancer – a heterogeneous disease in need of a refined approach

At a Presidential Symposium during ESMO 2012 in Vienna, Professor Florian Lordick from the University Clinic Leipzig and the University Cancer Center (UCCL), Leipzig, Germany, presented data from the open-label randomized, controlled Phase 3 EXPAND trial of cetuximab in combination with capecitabine and cisplatin as first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer (LBA3). Read more here.

Data fails to support routine use of doxorubicin and ifosfamide combination for soft tissue sarcoma

Survival data from the EORTC Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group presented at ESMO 2012 Presidential Symposium was received with great interest. This was a randomized phase 3 trial (EORTC 62012), designed to evaluate single agent doxorubicin versus doxorubicin plus ifosfamide as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. Professor Winette van der Graaf from Nijmegen, The Netherlands, explained that “the study was initiated to address concerns that previous studies comparing these agents in soft tissue sarcomas had used suboptimal doses of ifosfamide”, adding that “non-randomized data had suggested that a higher dose of this drug could increase response rate and progression-free survival”. Read more here.

Antivirals and chemotherapy: Managing cancer patients with hepatitis

In a special symposium at ESMO 2012 Vienna on ‘Key topics in supportive care’, Dr John Lubel of Eastern Health, Melbourne, Australia, presented strategies and approaches to dealing with patients infected by HBV and HCV who are undergoing chemotherapy. Different strategies are necessary for their effective treatment, he said, because the two viruses differ significantly in virology, natural history and therefore management approaches. Read more here.

Managing the costs of emerging oncology therapies

ESMO as an organization is conscious of the growing need to address issues of health economics in the field of oncology. The Young Oncologist’s breakfast session, which took place on Monday Oct. 1st at ESMO 2012, was a forum exploring the management of the costs of emerging therapies. Read more here.

First results of TURANDOT Trial

Professor Christoph Zielinski from the Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Vienna, Austria, presented the first efficacy results from the phase 3 study run by the Central European Cooperative Oncology Group (CECOG). The presentation was entitled the ‘capeciTabine and bevacizUmab Randomised Against avastiN anD taxOl Trial’ (TURANDOT). The study compared two bevacizumab-containing regimens as first-line therapy for HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer. Read more here.

Treatment with bevacizumab beyond progression: A new standard in mCRC?

In proffered papers session at ESMO 2012 in Vienna, Dr Gianluca Masi from the University Hospital of Pisa, Italy, presented data from a randomized Phase 3 trial, conducted by the Gruppo Oncologico Nord Ovest (GONO), which evaluated the continuation of bevacizumab beyond progression in patients with mCRC who had received bevacizumab as part of their 1st-line therapy. In this trial, 184 patients who had progressed following 1st-line chemotherapy (FOLFOX, FOLFIRI or FOLFOXIRI) + bevacizumab were randomized to receive 2nd- line treatment with chemotherapy alone (either FOLFOX or mFOLFIRI) or in combination with bevacizumab 5 mg/kg every 2 weeks. Read more here.

Is there an opportunity for personalized medicine in HCC?

Commenting on an increasing tally of negative Phase 3 trials in advanced HCC, Professor Roberto Labianca from Riuniti Hospital, Bergamo, Italy, said “we’ve been conducting the same trials for 15 years – it’s time we started selecting our patient populations based on the molecular target profile of the agents being studied, as has been done so successfully in other areas, for example, with trastuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer”. Suggestions that this may indeed be the way forward in HCC were strengthened at ESMO 2012 when Dr Bruno Daniele from Rummo Hospital, Benevento, Italy, presented final results from a randomized Phase 2 trial of the MET inhibitor, tivantinib (formerly known as ARQ 197), as 2nd-line therapy in unresectable HCC. Read more here.

Maintenance treatment with MGN1703 following standard first-line treatment prolongs progression-free survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

MGN1703 is a synthetic DNA-based immunomodulator with TLR-9 agonist activity. The results of the study on maintenance therapy with MGN1703 following successful standard first-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were reported by Dr Dirk Arnold at the proffered papers session of the Gastrointestinal, Colorectal Cancer program track of the ESMO 2012 Congress in Vienna. Read more here.

Final results of the TEMAVIR ANOCEF study in patients with unresectable glioblastoma

A French team of investigators evaluated whether irinotecan and bevacizumab added to temozolomide-based chemoradiation would improve the prognosis of patients with unresectable glioblastoma. The study results show a trend towards improved progression-free survival and are presented by Dr B. Chauffert at the ESMO 2012 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Vienna. Read more here.

Doxorubicin remains the gold standard in the first line chemotherapy for patients with advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma

The EORTC 62012 trial attempted to resolve controversy regarding whether ifosfamide had been previously tested at too low dose when used with doxorubicin by evaluating whether a higher dose of ifosfamide plus doxorubicin could improve response rate and progression free survival (PFS) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic, grade 2 or 3 soft tissue sarcoma (STS). The results are presented by Dr Winette van der Graaf at the Presidential symposium of the ESMO 2012 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Vienna. Read more here.

Patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma show no benefit from adding erlotinib to sorafenib

The researchers tested whether adjunct erlotinib, a direct and reversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, could have synergistic or additive antitumor effects when used with sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The approach did not improve overall survival or time to progression according to the study report at the ESMO 2012 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Vienna. Read more here.

No gain from adding cetuximab to FOLFOX4 in patients with resected stage III colon cancer

Final results of the PETACC8 Intergroup phase III trial showed that adding cetuximab to FOLFOX4 does not improve overall survival in patients with resected stage III colon cancer whose tumors express KRAS-wild type (-wt) and KRAS/BRAF-wt, but a certain benefit is observed in several subgroups of patients. The study results are reported by Dr Julien Taieb on behalf of the PETACC researchers at the Presidential Symposium of the ESMO 2012 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Vienna. Read more here.

PM01183: A promising new drug for ovarian cancer

In platinum resistant/ refractory ovarian cancer PM01183 (lurbinectedin) produced an overall response rate of 27%, reported the results of a phase 2 trial presented in the proffered papers session for gynecological cancers at ESMO 2012 in Vienna. PM01183 is a new synthetic entity belonging to the tetrahydroisoquinoline family, which binds to the DNA minor groove inducing DNA breaks and transcription blockage. Read more here.

New trial results on pazopanib have important implications for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

Three urgently awaited and highly ranked randomized phase III trials in the area of advanced renal cell carcinoma are being presented at the ESMO 2012 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Vienna. All three studies are important, although only one of is positive. The COMPARZ trial allows defining a standard option in the front line treatment of renal cell carcinoma, because the study data prove that pazopanib is non-inferior to sunitinib. In addition, being treated with pazopanib, patients experienced fewer side-effects and an increased quality of life. Read more here.

Successes and failures: Do targeted therapies live up to their promise?

ESMO teamed up with the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) for a joint symposium to explore recent progress in the development of targeted therapies in oncology. The session provided a brief snapshot of just a few novel results in this exciting landscape. Read more here.

New weapons in the fight against cancer

The increase in our knowledge and understanding of molecular pathways is leading to the identification of novel and appealing targets in oncology. As such, new drug ‘weapons’ to target these are currently under evaluation and there has been an increase in the assessment of these novel agents at an early stage of clinical development. With molecular evidence accumulating at an exponential rate, there will be a surge in the development of targeted cancer preventions and interventions over the next decade. Some studies presented at this year’s ESMO Congress have provided a first glance at some new drugs that may improve cancer treatment in the coming years even further. Read more here.

PHARE trial results comparing 6 to 12 months of adjuvant trastuzumab in early breast cancer

An academic randomized, non-inferiority trial conducted by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) has compared a shorter trastuzumab exposure of 6 months versus the standard 12 months treatment. The PHARE trial addressed the question of duration of adjuvant treatment by trastuzumab in HER2-positive early breast cancer. The results are presented at Presidential Symposium of the ESMO 2012 Congress in Vienna. Read more here.

Extending trastuzumab for 2 years does not improve outcomes versus 1-year treatment

One year of adjuvant treatment with the targeted drug trastuzumab is as good as two years of treatment, for women with HER2-positive early breast cancer who have already received initial treatment with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy as needed, HERA study researchers have found. The updated results of the study are reported at the ESMO 2012 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Vienna. Read more here.

SAFIR01: First large scale trial of whole-genome cancer testing for clinical decision-making

For the first time, researchers have conducted a large trial in which they tested the entire genome from a biopsy of a metastatic lesion prospectively for individual patients with metastatic breast cancer to help personalize treatment. They presented their findings at the European Society for Medical Oncology's ESMO2012 Congress in Vienna. Read more here.

How to hunt for a primary tumor site

An educational session at the 2012 ESMO Congress in Vienna explored a range of options that clinicians could adopt to manage cancer patients where the primary tumor site is unknown. Read more here.

Bone treatments: what to use and when

During a Special Symposium, held on Sunday Sep. 28th at ESMO 2012, on the medical treatment of advanced prostate cancer, Dr Chris Parker, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, UK, reviewed data for the various existing and emerging bone treatments for prostate cancer and provided his expert opinion regarding how we can best use these agents to improve overall survival (OS) and quality of life (QoL) and to delay SREs and bone metastases. Read more here.

Adding cetuximab to adjuvant chemotherapy offers no benefit to patients with resected stage III colon cancer

The rationale for this adjuvant study was based on previous finding that adding cetuximab to FOLFOX was beneficial in patients with metastatic KRAS wt colon cancer. However, PETACC8 is the second trial to test cetuximab in the adjuvant setting, with findings from the US N0147 trial (cetuximab + mFOLFOX6) also failing to show any benefit. Read more here.

Targeting the cancer microenvironment

Dr Giuseppe Curigliano from the European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy, made the strong case for more research to be performed into cancer microenvironments. Cancer cells interact with normal host stromal cells (e.g. endothelial cells, fibroblasts, various immune cells) with a complex extracellular matrix secreted by both the normal and neoplastic cells embedded in it. Read more here.

ESMO Congress, Vienna, September 28-October 2, 2012

The ESMO is releasing daily summaries of the 2012 ESMO Congress. View Saturday's Congress Daily here and Sunday's Congress Daily here.

First use in patient of conditionally reprogrammed cells delivers clinical response

Using a newly discovered cell technology, Georgetown University Medical Center researchers were able to identify an effective therapy for a patient with a rare type of lung tumor. The single case study provides a snapshot of the new technology’s promising potential; however, researchers strongly caution that it could be years before validation studies are completed and regulatory approval received for its broader use. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Yuan H, et al. Use of reprogrammed cells to identify therapy for respiratory papillomatosis. N Engl J Med. 2012 Sep 27;367(13):1220-7. PMID: 23013073

New insights on control of pituitary hormone outside of brain has implications for breast cancer

The hormone prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain and then travels via the bloodstream to cells throughout the body, where it exerts multiple reproductive and metabolic effects, most notably on the breast where it is the master regulator of lactation. Prolactin has long been thought to play a role in human breast cancer, however this has typically been assumed to be due to circulating prolactin produced by the pituitary. Since the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway is commonly activated in human cancers, this new finding suggests the important possibility that prolactin produced by the breast itself may play a role in breast cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Chien-Chung Chen, et al. Autocrine prolactin induced by the Pten–Akt pathway is required for lactation initiation and provides a direct link between the Akt and Stat5 pathways. Genes Dev. 2012; 26:2154-2168.

Current duration of Herceptin treatment upheld by studies

Even as Herceptin has become a hugely successful breast-cancer drug, doctors have been troubled by a nagging question that has billion-dollar implications: How long should patients be treated with it? Now the results of two closely watched studies announced Monday at a European cancer conference suggest an answer: Neither a shorter nor a longer duration of treatment is better at staving off a recurrence of cancer than the current standard of one year. Read the news article here.

Antiandrogens and hepatotoxicity

The October 2012 Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter includes a section on antiandrogens and hepatotoxicity. Antiandrogens are a class of drugs used in androgen deprivation therapy for the treatment of advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. They are classified into two groups. Both groups work by competing with circulating androgens for receptor sites within the prostate cell, thus promoting apoptosis and inhibiting prostate cancer growth. Read the newsletter here.

Smallpox vaccinia virus may help fight lethal breast cancer

Researchers at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California have conducted research on mice suggesting that a form of smallpox virus may be used to infect and kill tumor cells of triple-negative breast cancer. Dr. Sepideh Gholami, lead author of this study, explains that the decision to focus this treatment on triple-negative breast cancer is due to the lack of viable long-term treatment options for patients. Triple-negative breast cancer occurs in about 10-20% of cases, and is particularly prevalent in women under 35. Dr. Gholami further notes that "smallpox vaccine has been given to millions of people to eradicate smallpox...as such, it should be safer than other agents."

To read more about this study, click here.

T-DM1 drug therapy shows promise for breast cancer

Dr. Sunil Verma, medical oncologist at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre explains how a new experimental drug combining trastuzumab (existing breast cancer drug) and emtansine (cancer-cell-destroying agent) appears to be effective in prolonging the life and reducing tumor growth in women in the late stages of HER2-positive breast cancer.  By attacking cancer cells, yet preventing the release of chemotherapy until the drug reaches its target, "the treatment attacks cancer with greater power and effectiveness, yet less toxicity, so patients experience fewer side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, hair loss and infections."

To read more about this study, click here

Study mentioned: Verma S et al. Trastuzumab emtansine for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2012 Oct 1. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 23020162 

New treatment may delay cancer progression in advanced melanoma patients

Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center have discovered that a combination of two drugs delays treatment resistance in patients afflicted with advanced melanoma. Dabrafenib and trametinib, kinase inhibitor drugs, "postponed the development of drug resistance in patients with BRAF-positive metastatic melanoma." Considered to be the most serious form of skin cancer, the researchers state that drugs which inhibit BRAF activity can stop, even reverse tumor growth in 90% of melanoma patients. Unfortunately however, this response is temporary in the majority of cases, with tumor growth resuming after 6 or 7 months.

To read more about this study, click here.