Manitoba government announces new rural cancercare hubs, new front-line staff for faster cancer testing, treatment

To ensure cancer patients receive the fastest treatment in Canada, the provincial government in Manitoba is adding 50 new health professionals and launching four new regional CancerCare hubs, Premier Greg Selinger has announced. Building on the first CancerCare hub launched in Morden/Winkler in 2011, the four new hubs are part of an expansion of 16 rural chemotherapy sites throughout the province, said Selinger. The four new hubs, which will be opened over the next year, will better co-ordinate testing, referrals, diagnosis and treatment for rural Manitobans. Read more here.

Pharmacare 2020 symposium, Vancouver, 26-27 February 2013

Pharmacare 2020 is a national symposium on the future of prescription drug coverage in Canada: an evidence- and experience-informed conversation on issues of innovation, equity, and affordability. It will bring together diverse participants from across Canada to explore the policy pharmaceutical challenges and innovations of today and map out what Canadians want from the system in the future. Pharmacare 2020’s lineup of high profile panelists will kick off an essential national debate on Canada’s future drug coverage system. It will bring together academics, policy makers, stakeholders, and patients in a unique forum designed with many opportunities for participation. Read more here.

Steep cigarette tax hike could save lives, money: report

A 50-cent increase in the U.S. tax on cigarettes could have a big impact on public health, though the benefits for the national wallet are less clear, new estimates from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office show. Reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that such a steep hike in the federal cigarette tax could result in more than 3 million more nonsmokers by 2085 -- by either spurring people to quit or keeping would-be smokers from ever lighting up. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Baumgardner JR, et al. Cigarette taxes and the federal budget--report from the CBO. N Engl J Med. 2012 Nov 29;367(22):2068-70. PMID: 23190219

Connect to the full CBO report, Raising the excise tax on cigarettes: effects on health and the federal budget, here.

Obesity complicates lung cancer surgery: study

Lung cancer surgery takes longer and is more costly if a patient is obese, a new study shows. Researchers analyzed data from more than 19,000 U.S. patients who had a portion of lung surgically removed due to lung cancer between 2006 and 2010. For every 10-unit increase in body-mass index, the time required in the operating room rose by 7.2 minutes. This was true even in hospitals experienced in caring for obese patients, according to the study, which was published in the December issue of the journal Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Read more here.

Study mentioned: St Julien JB, et al. Obesity increases operating room time for lobectomy in the society of thoracic surgeons database. Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 Dec;94(6):1841-7. PMID: 23040822

COUP-TFII sparks prostate cancer progression

Prostate cancer presents a dilemma for patients and the physicians who treat them. Which cancers are essentially indolent and present no risk and which are life threatening? Which can be watched and which need aggressive treatment? Drs. Ming-Jer and Sophia Tsai, both professors in the department of molecular and cellular biology at Baylor College of Medicine, think a receptor called COUP-TFII that they have long studied may point the way to an answer. In a study that appears online in the journal Nature, they show that high levels (overexpression) of COUP-TFII can overcome a natural barrier to progression of prostate cancer, allowing tumor cells to grow and spread throughout the body. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Qin J, et al. COUP-TFII inhibits TGF-β-induced growth barrier to promote prostate tumorigenesis. Nature. Published online 28 November 2012.

Combined RB and PTEN loss identifies DCIS primed for invasive breast cancer

The combined loss of two tumor suppressor genes, retinoblastoma (RB) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was shown to be strongly associated with progression of DCIS to invasive breast cancer, according to a study published November 28 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Knudsen ES, et al. Retinoblastoma and Phosphate and Tensin Homolog Tumor Suppressors: Impact on Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Progression. J Natl Cancer Inst. Online first November 28, 2012.

Refusal of the marketing authorization for romidepsin

On 19 July 2012, the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a negative opinion, recommending the refusal of the marketing authorization for the medicinal product romidepsin (Istodax), intended for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. The company that applied for authorization is Celgene Europe Ltd. The applicant requested a re-examination of the opinion. After considering the grounds for this request, the CHMP re-examined the initial opinion, and confirmed the refusal of the marketing authorization on 15 November 2012. Read more here.

More cancers may be missed under latest US mammogram guidelines

The contentious U.S. guidelines that recommend fewer mammograms for most women could lead to lower screening rates and a dip in breast cancer detection, two new studies suggest. The two new studies, to be presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago, tried to look at the potential impact of the task force guidelines. Read more here.

Aspirin may reduce risk of liver cancer, death from liver disease

Aspirin use seems to be associated with a decreased risk of liver cancer and death from chronic liver disease, according to a large new study. This study included more than 300,000 people aged 50 to 71, who reported their aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and were followed for 10 to 12 years. During that time, more than 400 participants died from chronic liver disease and 250 were diagnosed with liver cancer. Read more here.

Boys with undescended testicles at higher risk for testicular cancer: study

Boys whose testes have not descended at birth have an increased risk of developing testicular cancer later in life, a new study says. The findings raise the question of whether these boys should be regularly monitored to lower their potential risk for testicular cancer, the researchers said. Read more here.

New DNA-based blood test may spot signs of cancer

A new study raises the possibility of a DNA-based blood test that doctors could routinely use to determine whether a patient has cancer. There are many caveats. The research is preliminary, and the test is not cheap. Even if it does detect cancer, the test -- like the one currently used to detect prostate cancer -- could raise big questions about how to deal with the results. Even so, a genetic test for cancer would be a major advance, experts say. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Leary RJ, et al. Detection of Chromosomal Alterations in the Circulation of Cancer Patients with Whole-Genome Sequencing. Sci Transl Med 28 November 2012.

Quality care cancer advances: news from the 2012 Quality Care Symposium

This newsletter provides the latest cancer research news presented at the 2012 Quality Care Symposium held November 30 – December 1 in San Diego, California. This new ASCO symposium brings together top leaders in the field to share strategies and methods for measuring and improving the quality of cancer care. Read more here.

Ponatinib acts against the most resistant types of chronic myeloid leukemia

A previously invincible mutation in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has been thwarted by an investigational drug in a phase I clinical trial reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. All 12 patients in the trial with chronic phase CML and the T315I mutation had a complete hematologic response (absence of CML cells in the blood) after treatment with ponatinib. Eleven had a major reduction in CML cells in the bone marrow and nine achieved a complete cytogenetic response – no cells in the marrow. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Cortes JE, et al. Ponatinib in Refractory Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive Leukemias. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:2075-2088.

Most women who have double mastectomy don't need it

About 70 percent of women who have both breasts removed following a breast cancer diagnosis do so despite a very low risk of facing cancer in the healthy breast, new research from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds. “Women appear to be using worry over cancer recurrence to choose contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. This does not make sense, because having a non-affected breast removed will not reduce the risk of recurrence in the affected breast,” says Sarah Hawley, Ph.D., associate professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School. Hawley will present the findings Nov. 30 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Quality Care Symposium. Read more here.

Researchers report first success of targeted therapy in most common genetic subtype of non-small cell lung cancer

A new study by an international team of investigators led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists is the first to demonstrate that chemotherapy and a new, targeted therapy work better in combination than chemotherapy alone in treating patients with the most common genetic subtype of lung cancer. Published in The Lancet Oncology, the combination of chemotherapy and the targeted drug selumetinib was more effective than chemotherapy alone in a clinical trial involving patients with a form of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that carries a mutation in the gene KRAS – a variety that represents about 20 percent of all NSCLC cases. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Jänne PA, et al. Selumetinib plus docetaxel for KRAS-mutant advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study. The Lancet Oncology, Early Online Publication, 28 November 2012.

New mechanism for cancer progression discovered by UNC and Harvard researchers

University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Harvard researchers have discovered an alternative mechanism for activating Ras that does not require mutation or hormonal stimulus. In healthy cells, Ras transmits hormone signals into the cell that prompt responses such as cell growth and the development of organs and tissues. A mutation on the RAS gene can chronically activate those signals, leading to tumor initiation and progression. In an article published on-line in a November issue of Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, the UNC and Harvard teams discovered that modification of Ras at a specific site with a small protein known as ubiquitin can also lock Ras into an active signaling state. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Baker R, et al. Site-specific monoubiquitination activates Ras by impeding GTPase-activating protein function. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2012 Nov 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23178454

KRAS and BRAF mutation screening in metastatic colorectal cancer costly in relation to benefits

Researchers report that screening for KRAS and BRAF mutations can reduce the cost of anti-EGFR treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer but with a very small reduction in overall survival according to a new study published on November 28 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Behl AS, et al. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Screening for KRAS and BRAF Mutations in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. First published online November 28, 2012.

Health Canada says thermography machines not approved for breast cancer screening

Health Canada is warning Canadians and their health-care providers that thermography machines are not approved for use in Canada for breast cancer screening. The department says it is not aware of any scientific evidence that supports use of the thermal imaging machines as a screening tool for early detection of breast cancer. Read more here.

Patient’s own immune cells may blunt viral therapy for brain cancer

Doctors now use cancer-killing viruses to treat some patients with lethal, fast-growing brain tumors. Clinical trials show that these therapeutic viruses are safe but less effective than expected. A new study led by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute shows that the reason for this is in part due to the patient’s own immune system, which quickly works to eliminate the anticancer virus. The findings, published in the journal Nature Medicine, show that the body responds to the anticancer virus as it does to an infection. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Alvarez-Breckenridge CA, et al. NK cells impede glioblastoma virotherapy through NKp30 and NKp46 natural cytotoxicity receptors. Nat Med. 2012 Nov 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23178246

Possible new treatment for a childhood cancer

Discovery of a new drug with high potential to treat Ewing sarcoma, an often deadly cancer of children and young adults, and the previously unknown mechanism behind it, come hand-in-hand in a new study by researchers from Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah. The report appears in today’s online issue of the journal Oncogene. “Ewing sarcoma is almost always caused by a cancer-causing protein called EWS/FLI,” said Stephen Lessnick, M.D., Ph.D. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Sankar S, et al. Mechanism and relevance of EWS/FLI-mediated transcriptional repression in Ewing sarcoma. Oncogene. 2012 Nov 26. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23178492

Provocative questions in cancer research: National Cancer Institute science writers’ seminar

Join the National Cancer Institute for a science writers' seminar December 10, 2012, to discuss various aspects of one of NCI’s signature efforts -- the Provocative Questions project. Discussion will focus on the scientific research that surrounds some of these questions. The seminar will allow ample time for Q&A and interaction during the talks. Read more here.

Metabolic protein launches sugar feast that nurtures brain tumors

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have tracked down a cancer-promoting protein's pathway into the cell nucleus and discovered how, once there, it fires up a glucose metabolism pathway on which brain tumors thrive. They also found a vital spot along the protein's journey that can be attacked with a type of drug not yet deployed against glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and lethal form of brain cancer. Published online by Nature Cell Biology, the paper further illuminates the importance of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in cancer development and progression. Read more here.

Study mentioned:  Yang W, et al. ERK1/2-dependent phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of PKM2 promotes the Warburg effect. Nat Cell Biol 2012 Nov 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23178880

European Medicines Agency recommends a new indication for abiraterone in the treatment of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer

The European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion recommending a variation to the terms of the marketing authorization for the medicinal product abiraterone (Zytiga). The CHMP adopted a new indication as follows: "ZYTIGA is indicated with prednisone or prednisolone for: the treatment of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer in adult men who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic after failure of androgen deprivation therapy in whom chemotherapy is not yet clinically indicated". Read more here.

Researchers identify physiological evidence of 'chemo brain' by PET/CT brain imaging

Chemotherapy can induce changes in the brain that may affect concentration and memory. Using positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT), researchers were able to detect physiological evidence of chemo brain, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The chemo brain phenomenon is described as 'mental fog' and 'loss of coping skills' by patients who receive chemotherapy. According to Rachel Lagos, DO, diagnostic radiology resident at the West Virginia University School of Medicine and West Virginia University Hospitals in Morgantown, USA, because this is such a common patient complaint, healthcare providers have generically referred to its occurrence as 'chemo brain' for more than two decades. Read more here.

Study: chest CT scans may increase breast cancer risk

Use of medical imaging has surged in the past decade, and now a new study suggests the trend carries a risk: Having multiple cardiac and chest CT scans may increase the chances of breast cancer, researchers report.

The risk appears higher for younger women, the preliminary research showed. For example, for a girl or young woman under age 23 who has two high-dose cardiac or chest CT scans, the risk of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years doubles, the researchers found. 

The study, scheduled for presentation Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at the Radiology Society of North America annual meeting in Chicago, included data on radiation exposure from the Group Health insurance database. The researchers reviewed CT scan-dose data on more than 1,600 females between 2000 and 2010, and used a statistical modeling technique to estimate the average radiation doses they received.

Read more here. 

Women with dense breasts open to additional cancer screening: study

Women with dense breasts who undergo routine mammograms would be open to additional screening tests for breast cancer, a new study finds.

The researchers questioned 105 women undergoing a routine mammogram at a radiology clinic. The women were asked if they knew whether or not they had dense breast tissue. After informing the women about the link between dense breasts and breast cancer, they were asked if they would be interested in additional screening for breast cancer, such as automated whole-breast ultrasound or contrast-enhanced mammography, if they were told they had dense breasts.

The research was to be presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, in Chicago. 

Read more here.

The danger of combining grapefruit juice and certain anti-cancer agents

Eating a grapefruit or consuming its juices while taking certain medications could lead to gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney failure, depressed breathing and sudden death, warns a new paper in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. More than 40 drugs, including anti-cancer agents, heart drugs and central-nervous-system drugs used to treat pain, schizophrenia and other conditions, can lead to significant problems if people on them consume grapefruit. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Bailey DG, et al. Grapefruit-medication interactions: forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences? CMAJ. Online first November 26, 2012.

Notice of Decision for OxyNEO™

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance to Purdue Pharma for the drug product OxyNEO. OxyNEO contains the medicinal ingredient oxycodone hydrochloride which is an opioid analgesic. Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic which exerts an agonist effect at specific, saturable opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) and other tissues. Read more here.

A new discovery about DNA packaging

A new discovery from researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah concerning a fundamental understanding about how DNA works will produce a “180-degree change in focus” for researchers who study how gene packaging regulates gene activity, including genes that cause cancer and other diseases. The discovery, by Bradley R. Cairns, PhD, Senior Director of Basic Science at HCI and a professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences, is reported in this week’s online issue of the journal Nature. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Clapier CR, Cairns BR. Regulation of ISWI involves inhibitory modules antagonized by nucleosomal epitopes. Nature. 2012 Nov 11. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23143334

Pathway identified in human lymphoma points way to new blood cancer treatments

A pathway called the "Unfolded Protein Response," or UPR, a cell's way of responding to unfolded and misfolded proteins, helps tumor cells escape programmed cell death during the development of lymphoma. Research, led by Lori Hart, Ph.D., Constantinos Koumenis, Ph.D., and Davide Ruggero, Ph.D., shows for the first time that the UPR is active in patients with human lymphomas and mice genetically bred to develop lymphomas. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hart LS, et al. ER stress-mediated autophagy promotes Myc-dependent transformation and tumor growth. J Clin Invest. 2012 Nov 12. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23143306

Fox Chase researchers find that most Medicare patients wait weeks before breast cancer surgery

Although patients may feel anxious waiting weeks from the time of their first doctor visit to evaluate their breast until they have breast cancer surgery, new findings from Fox Chase Cancer Center show that these waits are typical in the United States. Results were published on Monday, November 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Bleicher RJ, et al. Preoperative Delays in the US Medicare Population With Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Nov 19. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23169513

Delayed treatment for advanced breast cancer has 'profound effect'

Results from a new study conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) show women who wait more than 60 days to begin treatment for advanced breast cancer face significantly higher risks of dying than women who start therapy shortly after diagnosis. Read more here.

Study mentioned: McLaughlin JM, et al. Effect on Survival of Longer Intervals Between Confirmed Diagnosis and Treatment Initiation Among Low-Income Women With Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Nov 19. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23169521

Novel breast screening technology increases diagnostic accuracy

The addition of three-dimensional breast imaging—a technology called tomosynthesis—to standard digital mammography significantly increases radiologists' diagnostic accuracy while reducing false positive recall rates, according to the results of a study published in Radiology. "This is the first major advance in breast imaging and breast cancer screening since the development of breast MRI," said lead researcher Elizabeth A. Rafferty, M.D., director of Breast Imaging at the Avon Comprehensive Breast Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Rafferty EA, et al. Assessing Radiologist Performance Using Combined Digital Mammography and Breast Tomosynthesis Compared with Digital Mammography Alone: Results of a Multicenter, Multireader Trial. Radiology. 2012 Nov 20. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23169790

MicroRNA makes triple-negative breast cancer homesick

In a recent PLOS ONE paper, first author Erin Howe, PhD, cultured triple-negative breast cancer cells in forced suspension – detached from a substrate. This most aggressive form of breast cancer didn't care – it had learned to be anoikis-resistant. But then the group reintroduced miR-200c, which had been lost in these cells. MicroRNAs regulate genes, turning them on or off, and sure enough in this case, the group saw that miR-200c directly turned off the neuronal protein TrkB. With miR-200c added, TrkB turned off the cells died of homesickness. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Howe EN, et al. miR-200c Targets a NF-κB Up-Regulated TrkB/NTF3 Autocrine Signaling Loop to Enhance Anoikis Sensitivity in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. PLoS ONE 7(11): e49987.

MicroRNAs can convert normal cells into cancer promoters

Unraveling the mechanism that ovarian cancer cells use to change normal cells around them into cells that promote tumor growth has identified several new targets for treatment of this deadly disease. In Cancer Discovery, a team of researchers from the University of Chicago Medicine and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine show that ovarian cancer cells induce nearby cells to alter their production of three microRNAs—small strands of genetic material that are important regulators of gene expression. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Mitra AK, et al. MicroRNAs Reprogram Normal Fibroblasts into Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Ovarian Cancer. Cancer Discov. 2012 Nov 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23171795

A code of silence in acute myeloid leukemia

The development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with a variety of genetic changes. Some of these alterations are epigenetic, wherein the sequence of the genes is unchanged, but chemical modifications to the DNA alter gene expression. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers led by Daniel Tenen at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that a transcriptional regulator known as C/EBPG was highly expressed in a subset of AML samples that had an epigenetically silenced C/EBPA gene. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Alberich-Jordà M, et al. C/EBPγ deregulation results in differentiation arrest in acute myeloid leukemia. J Clin Invest. 2012 Nov 19. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23160200

European Medicines Agency recommends granting a marketing authorization for aflibercept

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 Zaltrap, 25 mg/ml, concentrate for solution for infusion, intended, in combination with irinotecan/5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (FOLFIRI) chemotherapy, for the treatment of adults with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) that is resistant to or has progressed after an oxaliplatin-containing regimen. The applicant for this medicinal product is Sanofi-Aventis Groupe. Read more here.

Conference co-chairs announce what you can expect from IMPAKT 2013

IMPAKT (IMProving cAre and Knowledge through Translational research) 2013 co-chairs invite breast cancer doctors, whatever their specialty, to join a fascinating discussion on how to translate cancer biology right into the lives of patients, with special focus on heterogeneity of the disease, issues around biopses and others, aiming to improve the clinics. Watch the video here.

What can medical students learn from art?

Robert Pope, Dalhousie medical school's first artist in residence, painted his journey with cancer. His work was displayed for medical students so that they could learn from what he went through and is now on exhibition for the public in Halifax. Access the CBC news broadcast here.

Book mentioned: Pope, Robert. Illness & healing : images of cancer, 1991.

Canadian Cancer Society: annual report 2011/12

In 2012, it is estimated that 177,800 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer and about 75,000 Canadians will die from the disease. As well, about 750,000 Canadians are living with cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society works with Canadians to fight cancer by: funding excellent research to outsmart cancer, providing information and delivering programs and services to prevent cancer and to support people living with cancer, their families and caregivers, advocating on behalf of Canadians on important health and cancer issues. Read more here.

Download the annual report and financial statements here.

Upcoming webinar: Integrative medicine for cancer survivors during and after treatment

The John Hopkins Breast Cancer Suvivorship Program will be holding a webinar on December 17 2012, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. MST entitled, Integrative Medicine: How Acupuncture, The Mind/Body Connection, Holistic Eating, Chinese Medicine, and Other Modalities can help Cancer Survivors During and After Treatment. 

Topics include an explanation of integrative medicine, when it should be used, how it may reduce side effects associated with treatment options, importance of the mind/body connection, and a healthy diet for cancer survivors.

For more information on the John Hopkins Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Program, click here.

To register for the webinar, click here 

Bowel cancer and GIST patients could benefit from novel oral drug

Two phase 3 trials, published in The Lancet, have shown that a novel oral drug called regorafenib could offer survival benefits to people with bowel (colorectal) cancer or gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) following failure of existing treatments. In one trial, led by Professor Eric Van Cutsem, at the University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium, and Professor Axel Grothey at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, researchers assessed the effect of regorafenib on patients with bowel cancer which was progressing after the patients had received all available standard therapies (classic chemotherapy, and other targeted agents). In another trial, researchers led by Professor George Demetri, at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA, examined the effect that regorafenib had on patients with GIST which was worsening, despite prior treatment with both imanitib and sunitinib. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Grothey A, et al. Regorafenib monotherapy for previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (CORRECT): an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 22 November 2012.

Study mentioned: Demetri GD, et al. Efficacy and safety of regorafenib for advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours after failure of imatinib and sunitinib (GRID): an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 22 November 2012.

Mammograms lead to breast cancer overdiagnosis

More than a million women have been treated for cancers that never would have threatened their lives, researchers of a new study estimate. Up to one-third of breast cancers, or 50,000 to 70,000 cases a year, don't need treatment, the study suggests. It's the most detailed look yet at overtreatment of breast cancer, and it adds fresh evidence that screening is not as helpful as many women believe. Mammograms are still worthwhile, because they do catch some deadly cancers and save lives, doctors stress. And some of them disagree with conclusions the new study reached. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Bleyer A, Welch HG. Effect of Three Decades of Screening Mammography on Breast-Cancer Incidence. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1998-2005.

Signaling pathways in Cancer 2013 conference

Signaling Pathways in Cancer 2013: Targeting the HER/EGFR family: Focus on breast, lung and colorectal cancers, March 1 - 2 2013, Sitges, Spain

ESMO aims to implement a series of symposia on signalling pathways for academic clinical researchers and industry researchers. The first of such symposia will focus on the HER family of receptors across lung, breast and colorectal cancers. Read more here.

An open access future? Report from the European Science Foundation’s EMRC

This is a new report that assesses open access in biomedical research across Europe. The report entitled ‘Open Access in Biomedical Research’ highlights the need to accelerate the adoption of open access to research articles in the biomedical sciences across Europe. Some of the key recommendations include: 1. There is a moral imperative for open access Research papers should be made freely available to all to read, use and re-use, with appropriate acknowledgement, in order to maximise the value of biomedical research, build on the body of knowledge, accelerate the process of discovery and improve human health. 2. Individual agencies must work together to raise awareness of the moral imperative for open access Agencies and organisations that fund and perform research, libraries, publishers and researchers must work collectively to raise awareness of the moral imperative for open access publishing. Enhanced efforts towards national, European and international partnerships are the basis for the successful achievement of open access to research outputs. The Science Policy Briefing can be viewed here .

IARC participation in a conference in Kiev, Ukraine, entitled: "Chrysotile Asbestos: Risk Assessment & Management"

The Agency is about to participate in a conference in Kiev, Ukraine. Our agreement to participate has caused some concerns to which the Agency is sensitive. The peer-reviewed work to be presented is an analysis of data from 55 asbestos cohorts from around the world which concludes that most types of asbestos fibres kill at least twice as many people through lung cancer as through mesothelioma. Read more here.

Study mentioned: McCormack V, et al. Estimating the asbestos-related lung cancer burden from mesothelioma mortality. Br J Cancer 2012;106(3):575-84.

The Canadian Cancer Society is investing nearly $1 million in Quebec to help adolescents quit smoking

A team led by Dr Jennifer O’Loughlin, a researcher with the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) will receive $970,000 in funding from the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute for a four-year study focussing on improving smoking cessation interventions aimed at adolescents aged 12 to 17. Read more here.

Break it off

It’s a bad relationship, one that needs to end. The time has come to DUMP cigarettes. That’s the message the Canadian Cancer Society is sending to young adults on P.E.I. According to recent results from the Canadian Tobacco Usage Monitoring Survey (CTUMS), more than 30% of 20 – 24 year-olds in this province are smokers. That’s the highest rate of smoking in Canada. Throughout the month of November, the Canadian Cancer Society, PEI Division, is reaching out to young smokers with a campaign called Break It Off. Read more here.

Ontarians fear cancer above many other diseases, and more than one-quarter delay medical attention fearing what the doctor might find

The Canadian Cancer Society launched The FearLess Project to help change the way Ontarians think about, talk about and deal with cancer. The project provides Ontarians with a place to share and acknowledge their fears as a first step to addressing them at www.thefearlessproject.ca. A recent survey showed that 70% of Ontarians fear cancer ahead of numerous other diseases, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Read more here.

Financial hardship of cancer in Canada: a call for action

Nine out of ten Canadian families touched by cancer report some form of financial challenge as incomes decline and household costs rise. For some, a cancer diagnosis begins a financial tailspin that pushes ordinary people over the edge resulting in debt, distress, bankruptcy and even a lifetime on social assistance. Read more here.

Read the full report here.

Super resolution microscope brings cells to life

Steffen Lawo, Monica Hasegan and Gagan Gupta in Dr Laurence Pelletier’s laboratory at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto are using state-of-the-art microscopes to view the inner workings of the cell. This is one of the first studies using super resolution imaging to determine the organizational structure of a centrosome, the part of the cell that controls cell growth, a fundamental process in cancer initiation. Read more here.

Improving palliative care for cancer patients requires a multidisciplinary approach

According to a new study, Canadian oncologists are referring patients too late to specialized palliative care services. While 80% of doctors refer terminally ill cancer patients to palliative care, most patients are referred in the last few months or weeks of life, and many are only referred in the last days. “What we really need is a rebranding of palliative care,” says Dr Camilla Zimmermann, who led the study and is Head of Palliative Care at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Wentlandt K, et al. Referral Practices of Oncologists to Specialized Palliative Care. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Oct 29. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23109708

More Ontarians encouraged to get screened for cancer

Cancer Care Ontario is pleased to launch “Time to Screen,” a call to action for at least 100,000 additional residents to screen for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer over the next six months. “Time to Screen” also encourages Ontarians to have open conversations with their family and friends about getting screened, as cancer screening will help save countless lives by enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment. Included in the initiative are creative e-cards about cancer screening for Ontarians to share with their loved ones. Residents are also encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider about being screened or visit the Time to Screen tool to find out the right time to be screened. Read more here.

Potential new technique for anticancer radiotherapy could provide alternative to brachytherapy

A promising new approach to treating solid tumors with radiation was highly efficacious and minimally toxic to healthy tissue in a mouse model of cancer, according to data published in Cancer Research. "The use of brachytherapy is limited by several factors," said Wenge Liu, M.D., Ph.D., associate research professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University in Durham, N.C. "The most prominent factor is the need for surgical implantation and removal of the seeds. We set out to develop an alternative approach to brachytherapy that would eliminate the need for surgery." Read more here.

Study mentioned: Liu W, et al. Brachytherapy using injectable seeds that are self-assembled from genetically encoded polypeptides in situ. Cancer Res. 2012 Nov 15;72(22):5956-65. PMID: 23155121

Study offers clues to cause of kids’ brain tumors

Insights from a genetic condition that causes brain cancer are helping scientists better understand the most common type of brain tumor in children. In new research, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a cell growth pathway that is unusually active in pediatric brain tumors known as gliomas. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kaul A, et al. Pediatric glioma-associated KIAA1549:BRAF expression regulates neuroglial cell growth in a cell type-specific and mTOR-dependent manner. Genes Dev. 2012 Nov 14. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23152448

Call for abstracts for IMPAKT 2013

Abstract submission categories for the IMPAKT (IMProving cAre and Knowledge through Translational research) Breast Cancer Conference, 2-4 May, 2013, in Brussels, Belgium: Detection and diagnosis, Early breast cancer systemic therapy, Loco-regional therapy, Advanced breast cancer systemic therapy, Genomics and proteomic analysis of breast cancer, Biomarkers in breast cancer (prognostic, predictive and pharmacodynamic), Breast cancer host immune and stromal biology, Imaging (preclinical and clinical), Preclinical breast cancer biology, Breast cancer target identification and validation and preclinical models, New drug development, Miscellaneous. Read more here.

Smartphones and high-tech laboratories to reveal health effects of environmental pollutants

Two projects will be launched jointly, addressing complementary aspects of the “exposome”. The exposome is the sum of all of the environmental components, including lifestyle factors and chemicals we are exposed to, that influence our health over the course of a lifetime. The new projects will develop high-tech tools to improve our ability to measure the exposome, with a particular focus on multiple chemical exposures in food, air, and water during critical periods of life. This joint launch marks the EU’s biggest investment in environmental health research to date. Read more here.

Breast cancer, workplace link found

A woman’s occupation could pose more of a risk to developing breast cancer than smoking or alcohol use, local researchers have found. Results from a study involving more than 2,000 women in Windsor-Essex and Kent County show a strong link between breast cancer risk and work in jobs classified as “high exposure” to breast cancer-causing substances and hormone disruptors. These jobs include farming, automotive plastics, food canning, metalworking, and bars, casinos and racetracks. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Brophy JT, et al. Breast cancer risk in relation to occupations with exposure to carcinogens and endocrine disruptors: a Canadian case--control study. Environmental Health 2012, 11:87 (19 November 2012)

Inequalities add to risks from cancer

Social inequalities are putting thousands of cancer patients at greater risk of dying from the disease, researchers from Cambridge University suggest. The team found 5,600 people suffering from one of seven common cancers are being diagnosed at a late stage due to their gender, income, age and the type of cancer they have, reducing their chance of survival. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lyratzopoulos G, et al. Socio-demographic inequalities in stage of cancer diagnosis: evidence from patients with female breast, lung, colon, rectal, prostate, renal, bladder, melanoma, ovarian and endometrial cancer. Ann Oncol. 2012 Nov 12. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23149571

Black women more likely to die from breast cancer: report

Doctors have made great strides in fighting breast cancer, but not everyone is benefiting equally: Black women, in particular, are 40 percent more likely to die from the disease than any other racial or ethnic group. Although breast cancer rates have been dropping during the past 20 years, "black women are diagnosed with breast cancer at lower rates than white women, and yet [blacks] have higher death rates," according to CDC deputy director Ileana Arias. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Vital signs: racial disparities in breast cancer severity-United States, 2005-2009. MMWR. 2012; 61(45):922-926.

Expertise transfer fellowship

The IARC is offering an Expertise Transfer Fellowship to enable an established investigator to spend normally from six to twelve months in an appropriate host institute in a low- / medium-resource country in order to transfer knowledge and expertise in a research area relevant for the host country and related to the Agency's programmes. The major areas of activity are focused on understanding cancer etiology (including infections, nutrition, lifestyle, environment, radiation, genetics), developing strategies for cancer prevention (primary prevention, screening) and elucidating the underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis through studies of molecular and cell biology, molecular genetics, epigenetics and molecular pathology. Read more here.

Summary basis of decision for JAKAVI

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., for the drug product Jakavi. Jakavi contains the medicinal ingredient ruxolitinib, an antineoplastic agent that functions as a Janus Associated Kinase 1 (JAK1) and JAK2 inhibitor. As a JAK inhibitor, ruxolitinib is the first drug in this class of agents to receive marketing authorization in Canada. Jakavi is indicated for the treatment of splenomegaly and/or its associated symptoms in adult patients with primary myelofibrosis (also known as chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis), post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis or post-essential thrombocythaemia myelofibrosis. Read more here.

Herceptin may carry higher heart risks for older women

A new study conducted at the Yale University School of Medicine indicates that taking Herceptin may cause a higher risk of heart failure for women over the age of 67 with breast cancer.  While Herceptin improves disease-free and overall survival, Dr. Jersey Chen, lead researcher in this study states that for older age women who are administered Herceptin, the risk of heart failure increases by 1.6%; when Herceptin is "given with the anti-cancer drugs known as anthracyclines [this] raises the risk of wither heart failure or cardiomyopathy by about 9 percent in tyhe first year compared to no chemotherapy."  As with any treatment regimen, Dr. Chen advises that women should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctors.

To read more about this study click here

Head and neck cancer ICHNO 2013 registration

The European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), the European Head and Neck Society (EHNS) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) with other European partners have the pleasure to invite you to participate in the fourth edition of the International Conference on Innovative Approaches in Head and Neck Oncology (ICHNO) which will be held from 7-9 February 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. Read more and register here.

Stereoscopic mammography could reduce recall rate

A new three-dimensional (3-D) digital mammography technique has the potential to significantly improve the accuracy of breast cancer screening, according to a study published in Radiology. A novel technique called stereoscopic digital mammography (SDM) addresses the limitations of two-dimensional x-ray mammography by mimicking the way that human eyes work together to form a 3-D image. The technique uses digital mammography equipment that's been modified to allow the X-ray tube to move separately from the cassette. The resulting images are viewed on two monitors mounted one above the other. Read more here.

Study mentioned: D'Orsi CJ, et al. Stereoscopic Digital Mammography: Improved Specificity and Reduced Rate of Recall in a Prospective Clinical Trial. Radiology. 2012 Nov 13. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23150865

Gene sequencing project identifies abnormal gene that launches rare childhood leukemia

Research led by the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project has identified a fusion gene responsible for almost 30 percent of a rare subtype of childhood leukemia with an extremely poor prognosis. The finding offers the first evidence of a mistake that gives rise to a significant percentage of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) cases in children. AMKL accounts for about 10 percent of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The discovery paves the way for desperately needed treatment advances. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Gruber TA, et al. An Inv(16)(p13.3q24.3)-Encoded CBFA2T3-GLIS2 Fusion Protein Defines an Aggressive Subtype of Pediatric Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia. Cancer Cell, 2012; 22(5):683-697.

Detection, analysis of 'cell dust' may allow diagnosis, monitoring of brain cancer

A novel miniature diagnostic platform using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology is capable of detecting minuscule cell particles known as microvesicles in a drop of blood. Microvesicles shed by cancer cells are even more numerous than those released by normal cells, so detecting them could prove a simple means for diagnosing cancer. In a study published in Nature Medicine, investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Systems Biology (CSB) demonstrate that microvesicles shed by brain cancer cells can be reliably detected in human blood through a combination of nanotechnology and their new NMR-based device. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Shao H, et al. Protein typing of circulating microvesicles allows real-time monitoring of glioblastoma therapy. Nat Med. 2012 Nov 11. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23142818

Genome sequencing of Burkitt lymphoma reveals unique mutation

In the first broad genetic landscape mapped of a Burkitt lymphoma tumor, scientists at Duke Medicine and their collaborators identified 70 mutations, including several that had not previously been associated with cancer and a new one that was unique to the disease. Findings from the genetic sequencing of Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive form of lymphoma, could be used to develop new drugs or aim existing therapies at mutations known to be susceptible. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Love C, et al. The genetic landscape of mutations in Burkitt lymphoma. Nat Genet. 2012 Nov 11. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23143597

Study shows how chronic inflammation can cause cancer

A hormone-like substance produced by the body to promote inflammation can cause an aggressive form of leukemia when present at high levels, according to a new study by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The study shows that high levels of interleukin-15 (IL-15) alone can cause large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukemia, a rare and usually fatal form of cancer, in an animal model. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Mishra A, et al. Aberrant Overexpression of IL-15 Initiates Large Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia through Chromosomal Instability and DNA Hypermethylation. Cancer Cell. 2012; 22(5):645-655.

Targeting downstream proteins in cancer-causing pathway shows promise in cell, animal model, Penn study finds

The cancer-causing form of the gene Myc alters the metabolism of mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse, making it dependent on the amino acid glutamine for survival. In fact, 40 percent of all “hard-to-treat” cancers have a mutation in the Myc gene. Accordingly, depriving cells of glutamine selectively induces programmed cell death in cells overexpressing mutant Myc. Using Myc-active neuroblastoma cancer cells, a team led by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator M. Celeste Simon, identified the proteins PUMA, NOXA, and TRB3 as executors of the glutamine-starved cells. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Qing G, et al. ATF4 Regulates MYC-Mediated Neuroblastoma Cell Death upon Glutamine Deprivation. Cancer Cell. 2012; 22(5):631-644.

Cancer drug improves survival in patients with metastatic melanoma

Results of a University of Arizona Cancer Center’s scientist-led clinical trial show that a drug already approved for breast and lung cancer improved progression-free survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. The findings of the Phase III study of nab-paclitaxel, brand name Abraxane®, therapy compared to standard dacarbazine therapy were presented at the Society for Melanoma Research in California. Read more here.

Earlier end of life care discussions are linked to less aggressive care in final days of life, study shows

A large population- and health systems-based prospective study reports earlier discussions about end of life (EOL) care preferences are strongly associated with less aggressive care in the last days of life and increased use of hospice care for patients with advanced cancer. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, provides the first-of-its-kind scientific evidence that timing of EOL care discussions affects decisions about EOL care. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Mack JW, et al. Associations Between End-of-Life Discussion Characteristics and Care Received Near Death: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Published online November 13, 2012.

Exercise reduces tiredness

Aerobic exercise can help relieve the fatigue often associated with cancer and cancer treatment, according to Cochrane researchers. Their updated systematic review strengthens findings from an earlier version on cancer-related fatigue published in The Cochrane Library. 56 studies involving a total of 4,068 people with cancer were included. Half of the studies were carried out in people with breast cancer. Those with solid tumours benefited from aerobic exercise, such as walking or cycling, both during and after cancer treatment. Other forms of exercise, including resistance training, did not significantly reduce fatigue. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Cramp F and Byron-Daniel J. Exercise for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults. Cochrane Library. Published online 14 Nov 2012.

Strong tobacco control policies in Brazil credited for more than 400,000 lives saved

High cigarette prices, smoke-free air laws, marketing restrictions and other measures, all part of Brazil’s strong tobacco control policies, are credited for a 50 percent reduction in smoking prevalence between 1989 and 2010. The reduction contributed to an estimated 420,000 lives saved during that time period. Those are the findings of a new study published in PLOS Medicine by a team of researchers from Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Brazilian National Cancer Institute. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Levy D, et al. The Brazil SimSmoke Policy Simulation Model: The Effect of Strong Tobacco Control Policies on Smoking Prevalence and Smoking-Attributable Deaths in a Middle Income Nation. PLoS Med. 2012 Nov;9(11):e1001336. Epub 2012 Nov 6. PMID: 23139643

Drug trio improved effectiveness of cancer treatment, protected heart

Combining cancer medication with a drug for erectile dysfunction and one for heart transplants helped kill cancer cells and protected the heart from damage, in a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2012. For decades, doxorubicin has been a powerful anti-cancer treatment for various human cancers, including breast, ovarian, colon and prostate. But its use has been limited due to harmful, possibly irreversible effects on the heart. In this study, using cell and animal models, researchers found that sildenafil alone or in combination with rapamycin (an immunosuppressant used to prevent post-transplant organ rejection) significantly improved the anti-cancer effects of doxorubicin while protecting the heart. The combination of all three medications showed the most powerful effect, researchers said. Read more here.

Temple researchers show targeted cancer drug may stunt heart's ability to repair itself

Scientists for the first time have evidence showing how a widely used type of "targeted" cancer drug can be dangerous to the heart. Studying mice with the equivalent of a heart attack, researchers found that the drug sorafenib (Nexavar) – which inhibits proteins called tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs), and is used in kidney and liver cancer treatment – can interfere with heart stem cell activity, affecting the heart's ability to repair itself after injury. The findings suggest that sorafenib and other similar drugs that target these kinds of protein receptors may raise the risk for heart attack for some cancer patients with underlying heart disease, as well as affect the heart's ability to repair damage. The findings were reported at the Late-Breaking Basic Science Session at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Los Angeles. Read more here.

Increased risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Chernobyl cleanup workers

A new study found a significantly elevated risk for chronic lymphocytic leukemia among workers who were engaged in recovery and clean-up activities following the Chernobyl power plant accident in 1986. Radiation has been long known to increase the risk of various types of leukemia. Earlier studies of Chernobyl cleanup workers suggested there might be an increased risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (a less aggressive form of leukemia) associated with radiation exposure, and this new study provided stronger evidence to support this association. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Zablotska LB, et al. Radiation and the Risk of Chronic Lymphocytic and Other Leukemias among Chornobyl Cleanup Workers. Environmental Health Perspectives. Online November 8, 2012.

Rethinking body mass index for assessing cancer risk

A study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University suggests that body mass index (BMI)—the most commonly used weight-for-height formula for estimating fatness—may not be the best measure for estimating disease risk, and particularly the risk of certain types of cancer. The study was published in the online edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kabat GC, et al. Scaling of Weight for Height in Relation to Risk of Cancer at Different Sites in a Cohort of Canadian Women. Am J Epidemiol. 2012 Nov 7. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23139246

Black patients with kidney cancer have poorer survival than whites

Among patients with the most common form of kidney cancer, whites consistently have a survival advantage over blacks, regardless of patient and tumor characteristics or surgical treatment. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in CANCER. The study's results suggest that additional efforts are needed to prolong the survival of all patients with kidney cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Chow WH, et al. Racial disparity in renal cell carcinoma patient survival according to demographic and clinical characteristics. Cancer. 2012 Nov 12. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23147245

Summary basis of decision for ARZERRA™

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance with conditions under the Notice of Compliance with Conditions (NOC/c) Policy to GlaxoSmithKline Inc., for the drug product, Arzerra. The product was authorized under the NOC/c Policy 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. Arzerra contains the medicinal ingredient ofatumumab, which is an antineoplastic agent. Ofatumumab is a recombinant human monoclonal antibody (IgG1κ) that binds specifically to the CD20 molecule expressed on B lymphocytes. Binding of Arzerra to the CD20 molecule induces tumour cell death. Read more here.

Summary basis of decision for INLYTA™

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance to Pfizer Products Inc., for the drug product Inlyta. Inlyta contains the medicinal ingredient axitinib which is a kinase inhibitor and an anti-tumour agent. Inlyta is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of clear cell histology after failure of prior systemic therapy with either a cytokine or the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), sunitinib. Read more here.

New monoclonal antibody inhibits tumor growth in advanced solid tumors in phase I clinical trial

A newly developed antibody targeting a signalling pathway that is frequently active in solid tumors has shown encouraging signs of efficacy in its first trial in humans, researchers reported at the 24th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Dublin, Ireland (6-9 November 2012). A patient with advanced malignant melanoma has shown signs of tumor shrinkage and has been receiving treatment for more than 30 weeks without any serious adverse side-effects. Other patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), mesothelioma, renal-cell cancer and biliary tract cancer also have had extended treatments with stable disease. Read more here.

Society-funded research sheds light on lung cancer

More than 226,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2012, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society. It is the leading cancer killer in the US, claiming both smokers and nonsmokers alike. But new research funded by the American Cancer Society is helping scientists uncover more about what makes a lung tumor thrive – and what it will take to incapacitate this obstinate cancer. "The work we're funding is not only helping us understand how lung cancer develops, but could one day lead to more tailored treatments for lung cancer," said Karl Saxe, PhD, Director of the Society’s Program in Cancer Cell Biology and Metastasis. Saxe and his colleagues are instrumental in helping the Society identify promising young investigators and projects. Read more here.

Canadian study on workplace exposure to carcinogens

A new study, funded by the Canadian Cancer Society, will examine the human and economic impact of workplace exposure to 44 known or suspected carcinogens and their links to 27 types of cancer. The study’s main goals are to quantify – for the first time – how serious the problem is in Canada by estimating the number of new cancer cases and cancer deaths that can be attributed to workplace factors, and also to weigh the economic impact. Read more here.

Canada ranks 4th in International Cigarette Health Warnings report, with Australia in the lead

Following the implementation of new Canadian warnings covering 75% of cigarette packages, Canada’s world ranking for package health warnings has improved to fourth in 2012 from fifteenth in 2010, according to an international report released today by the Canadian Cancer Society. Read more here.

Read the full report here.

Mind the (smoking) gap: those who want to quit and those who actually do

"For those who have traveled London's Underground, or Tube, the term "Mind the Gap" will be familiar. It's the warning for riders to be aware that there is a gap of several inches between the station platform and the train cars. In the public health community, we also have a gap: the gap between the number of smokers who want to quit and those who actually succeed. The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 15, is an opportunity to remind us that we also need to "mind the gap." In the United States, this gap is very wide. Nearly 70% of the country's 43.8 million smokers say they would like to quit smoking; 52% report making at least one serious attempt to quit each year; but a disappointingly low 4% are actually successful in doing so." Continue reading the American Cancer Society Expert Voices blog here.

Molecular screening for cancer treatment

Researchers in France are taking advantage of the progress in genetic and molecular characterization to analyse the profile of individual cancer patients' tumors and, using this information, assign them to particular treatments and phase I clinical trials. In research presented at the 24th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Dublin, Ireland (6-9 November 2012), Dr Christophe Massard, a medical oncologist and senior consultant in the early drug development unit at the Institut Gustave Roussy in Villejuif, France, described how he and his colleagues have successfully incorporated ‘molecular triaging’ into their phase I clinical trial unit, with results of patients' molecular analyses being made available within three weeks of a sample being taken. Read more here.

Heavily pretreated patients with mutations in PIK3CA and aberrations in PTEN respond to drugs that inhibit PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Cancer patients with mutations or variations in PIK3CA and PTEN, who have failed to respond to several, standard treatments, respond significantly better to anti-cancer drugs that inhibit PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, according to research presented at the 24th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Dublin, Ireland (6-9 November 2012). Dr Filip Janku, assistant professor in Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA, reported at plenary session that mutations in PIK3CA and aberrations (loss of function or mutation) in PTEN were present in a wide range of tumors and were thought to be involved in the development of cancer. These two genes act via a pathway known as the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and so inhibiting the pathway could improve the patients' response to treatment. Read more here.

Genetic link to lung cancer risk in Asian women

International researchers have linked 3 genetic regions to an increased risk for lung cancer among Asian women who have never smoked. The finding adds to growing evidence that lung cancer risk among nonsmokers may be associated with genetic factors that distinguish it from lung cancer in smokers. Co-author Stephen J. Chanock, MD, said, “This is an exciting and important paper because it represents the next generation of gene studies better suited to account for environmental exposure.” Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lan Q, et al. Genome-wide association analysis identifies new lung cancer susceptibility loci in never-smoking women in Asia. Nat Genet. 2012 Nov 11. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23143601

Patients with aberrations in two genes respond better to drugs blocking a well-known cancer pathway

Cancer patients with mutations or variations in two genes -– PIK3CA and PTEN -– who have failed to respond to several, standard treatments, respond significantly better to anti-cancer drugs that inhibit these genes' pathways of action, according to research presented at the 24th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Dublin, Ireland. Read more here.

Spread of human melanoma cells in mice correlates with clinical outcomes in patients

UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists led by Dr. Sean Morrison, director of the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, have developed an innovative model for predicting the progression of skin cancer in patients. In a new study published in Science Translational Medicine, Stage III human melanoma cells from 20 patients were implanted into specially selected mice with compromised immune systems. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Quintana E, et al. Human Melanoma Metastasis in NSG Mice Correlates with Clinical Outcome in Patients. Sci Transl Med. 2012 Nov 7;4(159):159ra149. PMID: 23136044

New targeted therapy for advanced prostate cancer shows anti-tumor activity in clinical trials

At the 24th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Dublin, Ireland, researchers will report that a new drug that specifically targets a protein found on the surface of prostate cancer cells has performed well in a phase I clinical trial, and a phase II trial has started. The drug reduced levels of circulating tumour cells (CTC) and levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), a marker for tumour activity, in patients who had already failed previous chemotherapy and hormone treatments. Read more here.

Discovery of gene switch important in cancer

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Helsinki in Finland have shown that the switches that regulate the expression of genes play a major role in the development of cancer. In a study, published in Science, they have investigated a gene region that contains a particular single nucleotide variant associated with increased risk for developing colorectal and prostate cancers, and found that removing this region caused dramatic resistance to tumor formation. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Sur IK, et al. Mice Lacking a Myc Enhancer That Includes Human SNP rs6983267 Are Resistant to Intestinal Tumors. Science. 2012 Nov 1. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23118011

Scientists test 5,000 combinations of 100 existing cancer drugs to find more effective treatments

Scientists in the United States have tested all possible pairings of the 100 cancer drugs approved for use in patients in order to discover whether there are any combinations not tried previously that are effective in certain cancers. Dr Susan Holbeck, a biologist in the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the National Cancer Institute (USA), reported at a plenary session of the 24th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics that she and her colleagues have completed testing the 100 drugs, with 300,000 experiments to test the 5,000 possible drug combinations in a panel of 60 cell lines developed by the National Cancer Institute. The goal is to identify novel drug combinations that are more active than the single agents alone. Since these are all approved agents, there is the potential to rapidly translate these combinations into the clinic. Read more here.

Scientists find a master control gene for blood stem cells

Canadian and Italian scientists say they have identified “a master control” gene for turning on blood stem cells, which could lead to a greatly expanded supply of these precious cells for medical treatments. The discovery, published in the journal Cell: Stem Cell, follows another major development in 2011, when the Canadian researchers first isolated a human blood cell in its purest form a single stem cell capable of regenerating the entire blood system. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Eric R. Lechman, et al. Attenuation of miR-126 Activity Expands HSC In Vivo without Exhaustion. Cell: Stem Cell. Online first, November 8, 2012.

Statin use linked to reduced cancer deaths

A study by Danish researchers suggests that people who take statin drugs to lower their cholesterol are less likely to die from cancer than people who have never taken statins. The data also suggest they are less likely to die from any cause. The study did not look for a link between statin use and the likelihood of developing cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Nielsen SF, et al. Statin use and reduced cancer-related mortality. N Engl J Med. 2012 Nov 8;367(19):1792-802. PMID: 23134381

CDC: Adult smoking rates remain steady

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the number of adult smokers in the United States has barely changed. According to the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 19% of adults smoked cigarettes in 2011, compared to 19.3% in 2010. The number of adult smokers in the U.S. declined slightly but continuously between 2005 and 2011. However, 43.8 million people still smoke, and tobacco use is still the largest preventable cause of death and disease in the US. Read more here

Read the full Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report here.

Green tea may reduce digestive cancer risk

Drinking green tea may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and stomach cancer in women, according to a study. Researchers analyzed data from the Shanghai Women's Health Study conducted between 1996 and 2000, including middle-aged and older Chinese women. The team set out to determine if green tea consumption could be linked to any possible protective effects from cancers of the digestive system. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Nechuta S, et al. Prospective cohort study of tea consumption and risk of digestive system cancers: results from the Shanghai Women's Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Nov;96(5):1056-63. PMID: 23053557

High-carb diet linked to colon cancer recurrence in study

Adding to evidence that lifestyle affects disease progression, new research suggests that late-stage colon cancer patients face a higher risk of cancer recurrence or death if they consume a diet rich in carbohydrates. The same seems to be true of patients whose diet is generally at the higher end of so-called glycemic load intake levels, which includes high consumption of items such as breads, potatoes and baked goods, the researchers said. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Meyerhardt JA, et al. Dietary glycemic load and cancer recurrence and survival in patients with stage III colon cancer: findings from CALGB 89803. J Natl Cancer Inst, first published online November 7, 2012.

NIH study finds leisure-time physical activity extends life expectancy as much as 4.5 years

Leisure-time physical activity is associated with longer life expectancy, even at relatively low levels of activity and regardless of body weight, according to a study by a team of researchers led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study, which found that people who engaged in leisure-time physical activity had life expectancy gains of as much as 4.5 years, appeared in PLoS Medicine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Moore SC, et al. Leisure Time Physical Activity of Moderate to Vigorous Intensity and Mortality: A Large Pooled Cohort Analysis. PLoS Medicine. November 6, 2012.

The reflected light of Steve Jobs: a brigher future for pancreatic cancer

"Back in May something amazing happened. A 15-year-old high school freshman from Crownsville, MD, Jack Andraka, won the National Intel Science Fair for creating a more sensitive and much less expensive device to detect pancreatic cancer. This is a remarkable achievement for a high school freshman and could be a game-changing discovery for a deadly cancer if it proves successful in future clinical testing, expected to be a number of years away. Only a few months before that, 17-year-old Angela Zhang from Cupertino, CA, won the Siemens Prize for creating laser-activated nanoparticles which kill cancer cells. Clearly, a bright light of innovation is growing in our next generation of young scientists." Continue reading the American Cancer Society Expert Voices blog here.

Community clinical consultation in advanced breast cancer: hormone-receptor-positive disease

This free online CME/CE activity offered through Medscape is intended for oncologists, oncology nurses, pathologists, and other healthcare practitioners who care for women with advanced/metastatic breast cancer.

The goal of this activity is to foster personalized treatment decisions for patients with hormone-receptor-positive advanced/metastatic breast cancer, taking into consideration patient factors, tumor status, efficacy, and quality of life.

Log in here.
First time users, follow the link to create a free account.

Click here for more information.

Revisiting your myeloma mindset: unique challenges in managing relapsed and refractory myeloma

This free online CME/CE activity offered through Medscape is intended for hematologists, oncologists, and pathologists involved in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma. The goal of this activity is to use a case-based approach to teach clinicians to identify and evaluate relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and take an evidence-based approach to treatment.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
Discuss common patient challenges in the relapsed/refractory setting
Outline management and monitoring recommendations for patients in the relapsed/refractory setting

Log in here.
First time users, follow the link to create a free account.

Click here for more information.

What is the Liverpool Care Pathway?

There have been several recent news stories about the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) – a programme for delivering palliative care to people with a terminal illness. The LCP is a scheme that is intended to improve the quality of care in the final hours or days of a patient’s life, and to ensure a peaceful and comfortable death. It aims to guide doctors, nurses and other health workers looking after someone who is dying on issues such as the appropriate time to remove tubes providing food and fluid, or when to stop medication. However, its use for some has become controversial, with relatives reportedly claiming it has been used without consent, and some saying it is used inappropriately. Read more here.

FREE registration to continuing education opportunities through Medscape

Complete medical education (CME/CE) and training with online courses is available across 1000+ topics in a variety of formats by registering for a free account to Medscape.

Access the list of oncology training opportunities here.

Click on one of the courses to log in. First time users, follow the link in the shaded 'log in' box to create a free account.

For more help, please contact us at tbccinfo@ucalgary.ca.

The truth about kids and smoking

Every day, more than 3,800 children ages 12 to 17 in the United States smoke their first cigarette, according to the 2012 US Surgeon General’s report, Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults, putting themselves at risk for nicotine addiction and the many diseases associated with smoking, including lung cancer.

Among the report’s key statistics:
-About 3 million high school students and 624,000 middle school students smoke.
-One out of 4 high school seniors is a regular cigarette smoker.
-Among those who continue to smoke, about half will die earlier than their non-smoking peers, losing on average about 13 years of life.
-88% of adults who smoke daily started smoking by age 18; 99% started by age 26.

Read the American Cancer Society news release here.
Read the full report here.

Stereotactic radiosurgery shows promise for kidney cancer

A first-of-its-kind clinical trial conducted at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center Seidman Cancer Center has shown encouraging results for the use of stereotactic radiosurgery to treat kidney cancer. This non-invasive treatment technique may represent a potential new non-surgical option for patients with this deadly disease who have limited treatment options. Rod Ellis, MD, and Lee Ponsky, MD, presented results of a Phase 1 clinical trial in 20 patients with localized primary renal cancer at the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston. Read more here.

Laser-light testing of breast tumor fiber patterns helps show whose cancer is spreading

Using advanced microscopes equipped with tissue-penetrating laser light, cancer imaging experts at Johns Hopkins have developed a promising, new way to accurately analyze the distinctive patterns of ultra-thin collagen fibers in breast tumor tissue samples and to help tell if the cancer has spread. The Johns Hopkins researchers say their crisscrossing optical images, made by shining a laser back and forth across a biopsied tissue sample a few millionths of a meter thick, can potentially be used with other tests to more accurately determine the need for lymph node biopsy and removal in women at risk of metastatic breast cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kakkad SM, et al. Collagen I fiber density increases in lymph node positive breast cancers: pilot study. J Biomed Opt. 2012 Nov 1;17(11):116017. PMID: 23117811

Feedback loop maintains basal cell population

Notch—the protein that can help determine cell fate—maintains a stable population of basal cells in the prostate through a positive feedback loop system with another key protein TGF beta (transforming growth factor beta), said Baylor College of Medicine researchers in the journal Cell Stem Cell. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Valdez JM, et al. Notch and TGFβ Form a Reciprocal Positive Regulatory Loop that Suppresses Murine Prostate Basal Stem/Progenitor Cell Activity. Cell Stem Cell. 2012 Nov 2;11(5):676-88. PMID: 23122291

Male fertility can be restored after cancer treatment, says Pittsburgh team

An injection of banked sperm-producing stem cells can restore fertility to male primates who become sterile due to cancer drug side effects, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute. In their animal study, published in Cell Stem Cell, previously frozen stem cells restored production of sperm that successfully fertilized eggs to produce early embryos. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hermann BP, et al. Spermatogonial stem cell transplantation into rhesus testes regenerates spermatogenesis producing functional sperm. Cell Stem Cell. 2012 Nov 2;11(5):715-26. PMID: 23122294

Team uses antisense technology that exploits gene splicing mechanism to kill cancer cells

Cancer cells grow fast. That’s an essential characteristic of what makes them cancer cells. They’ve crashed through all the cell-cycle checkpoints and are continuously growing and dividing, far outstripping our normal cells. To do this they need to speed up their metabolism. CSHL (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a private, not-for-profit institution on the north shore of Long Island) Professor Adrian Krainer and his team have found a way to target the cancer cell metabolic process and in the process specifically kill cancer cells. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Wang Z, et al. Manipulation of PK-M mutually exclusive alternative splicing by antisense oligonucleotides. Open Biology. Published online October 31, 2012.

A prescription for safer care: Medication reconciliation

November 1, 2012 – Ottawa
Accreditation Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada released a report today entitled Medication Reconciliation in Canada: Raising the Bar.

Some of the insights found in the report include:

•  In 2009 – 2010, the estimated economic burden of preventable patient safety incidents in acute care in Canada was $397 million. Medication reconciliation was identified as key to reducing this burden. 
• One quarter of seniors have three or more chronic conditions that often need to be treated with multiple medications. These seniors are at higher risk of adverse events related to medication use, and unplanned visits to emergency departments and hospitals. 
• Of the 288 health care organizations surveyed by Accreditation Canada in 2011, only 60% had a process for medication reconciliation at admission, and 50% had a process for medication reconciliation at transfer or discharge. 
• Medication reconciliation practices showed the highest improvement from 2010 to 2011, yet continue to be one of the greatest patient safety challenges. 
• The National Medication Reconciliation Strategy, co-led by CPSI and ISMP Canada, is actively developing curriculum for health care practitioners, as well as tools, resources, and technology supports - including medication checklists, a mobile app to help patients better manage their own medications, and an interactive web-based map of innovative medication reconciliation resources by region. 

More is here. 

Genetic test results for Lynch syndrome improved with new computer program

Many patients who have genetic testing for Lynch syndrome receive the inconclusive result "variants of uncertain clinical significance." This can be a problem, as people with Lynch syndrome have a much higher probability to develop colon cancer, and often develop colon cancer at an earlier age than is common among the general population; consequently, they need to begin screening at a much younger age. Now, between two-thirds and three-fourths of these genetic variants can be classified into categories that indicate the most appropriate screening and treatment guidelines, according to two complementary papers published in Human Mutation. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Thompson BA, et al. Calibration of Multiple In Silico Tools for Predicting Pathogenicity of Mismatch Repair Gene Missense Substitutions. Hum Mutat. 2012 Sep 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22949387

Study mentioned: Thompson BA, et al. A Multifactorial Likelihood Model for MMR Gene Variant Classification Incorporating Probabilities Based on Sequence Bioinformatics and Tumor Characteristics: A Report from the Colon Cancer Family Registry. Hum Mutat. 2012 Sep 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22949379

Health Canada urges radon testing in homes

You can’t see it and you can’t smell it. But radon in your home, seeping up through the foundation, could be a serious risk to your health. Since it’s a risk that can be mitigated, Health Canada wants homeowners to measure the radon in their dwellings and take steps to lower levels if they are high. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, responsible for about 16 per cent of lung cancer cases among Canadians. Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer in Canada for both men and women. Read more here.

Mixing drugs and herbal remedies may pose a major health risk, researchers warn

Canadians wary of antidepressants may rely on St. John’s wort, an age-old herbal remedy, to keep mood disorders at bay. But while the yellow-flowering plant is potent enough to relieve mild to moderate depression, it is also the herbal medicine most likely to interfere with pharmaceutical drugs, researchers have found. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Tsai HH, 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

New video for skin cancer self-exam

The American Academy of Dermatology has released a new video explaining how to conduct a skin cancer self-exam.  The most common cancer in the United States, it is estimated that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer at some point in their lives. 

The video identifies 5 key identifying skin factors to be aware of, particularly when checking moles for melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer: asymmmetry of a spot; irregular, poorly defined border; spots of varying colors, diameter, and whether or not the mole or spot is evolving.  According to dermatologist Dr. Thomas Rohrer, "examining your skin only takes a few minutes, but it could save your life." 

Click here to view the video and learn more.

Memantine protects cognitive function after whole brain irradiation

Memantine, a drug normally prescribed for slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease, can help to preserve cognitive function in cancer patients who have undergone whole brain irradiation, a study showed. In a phase III trial, patients with brain metastases were randomly assigned to take 20 mg memantine (Namenda) or placebo daily for 24 weeks after whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT). The memantine cohort had a 17% relative reduction in cognitive decline compared with patients who got a placebo, Dr. Nadia N. Laack reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology. Read more here.

Cardiac toxicity not seen 25 years after breast radiation

Here’s heartening news that physicians can convey to breast cancer survivors: Modern breast irradiation did not appear to cause late-term cardiac toxicity in a study that examined women a quarter of a century after they were treated. Investigators found no significant differences in Framingham Heart Study risk scores, hemodynamic parameters, pericardial thickening, or heart failure among 50 women who had been randomized in the 1970s and 1980s to either mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and radiation, Dr. Charles B. Simone II reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology. Read more here.

Some cancer survivors reported poor health-related quality of life years after diagnosis

Survivors of many common cancers enjoy a mental and physical health-related quality of life equal to that of adults who have not had cancer, but survivors of other cancers are in poorer health, according to results published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Patient-reported, health-related quality of life was assessed using the 10-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Health Scale (PROMIS Global 10). This tool allows researchers to measure, from the patient perspective, health outcomes like physical functioning, depression, pain and fatigue. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Weaver KE, et al. Mental and Physical Health-Related Quality of Life among U.S. Cancer Survivors: Population Estimates from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2012 Oct 30. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23112268

Fox Chase researchers connect multifocal/multicentric breast cancer to a patient's increased risk of local recurrence

Not all women diagnosed with operable breast cancer present with a single tumor, some have multifocal disease appear in the breast—which means multiple tumors all arising from the same primary tumor. Others face a diagnosis of multicentric disease, where multiple tumors have formed independently in the breast. Standard radiation treatment is not tailored to the number of tumors found in the breast, so patients with multifocal or multicentric disease do not receive radiation after mastectomy and if they undergo lumpectomy, they receive the same dose and extent as patients presenting with a single mass. Read more here.

Age tied to spread of rectal cancer to lymph nodes

Rectal cancer is more likely to spread to the lymph nodes in younger patients, according to new findings that Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers will be presenting on October 29 at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s 54th Annual Meeting. The results—which are the first of their kind—suggest that doctors should search for spreading more aggressively in these patients. Read more here.