Next post will be January 2, 2013

Edmonton Community Foundation takes the wheel in the fight against cancer

The Edmonton Community Foundation has made a generous grant to the Canadian Cancer Society to support the Volunteer Driver Program in Edmonton. This grant will fund transportation service for the most vulnerable cancer patients as well as develop the long-term volunteer capacity of the Society. Read more here.

Cancer Care Ontario appoints Aboriginal patient navigators and regional cancer leads in four regions

Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) has announced an important step in improving cancer care among Ontario’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis (FNIM) communities with the appointment of Aboriginal Patient Navigators and Regional Aboriginal Cancer Leads in four key regions of the province that are home to significant FNIM populations. The Navigators and Leads are dedicated healthcare workers offering individualized assistance to help residents overcome healthcare system barriers and facilitate timely access to care for FNIM patients and families in the Champlain, North West, North East and Erie St. Clair regions. Read more here.

Withdrawal of the marketing authorization application for ridaforolimus

European Medicines Agency has been notified about the withdrawal of application for a marketing authorization for ridaforolimus for the maintenance treatment of patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma or bone sarcoma previously treated with chemotherapy. Read more here.

No association seen between exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields and risk of relapse or overall survival in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

In a collaborative study led by IARC’s Section of Environment and Radiation and the Danish Cancer Society Research Center, published online in Blood Cancer Journal, researchers investigated whether exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (50/60 Hz), as occurs for instance in the vicinity of high-voltage power lines, increases the risk of relapse in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) or has an impact on their survival probability. Connect to IARC here.

Study mentioned: Schüz J, et al. Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and survival from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an international Q1 follow-up study. Blood Cancer Journal (2012) 2, e98; published online 21 December 2012.

Delaying treatment increases risks for advanced breast cancer patients

Researchers at Ohio State University have found that women who don’t receive treatment until 60 days after being diagnosed with more advanced breast cancer are at a significantly higher risk of dying. In their study, in women whose cancer had spread to lymph nodes or distant sites, a delay of more than 60 days was linked with an 85% higher likelihood of breast cancer-related death, and a 66% higher likelihood of death overall, compared with women who were treated sooner. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, was an analysis of 1,786 low-income women enrolled in the North Carolina Medicaid system. 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 Dec 20;30(36):4493-500. PMID: 23169521

'Dialogue' with normal cells helps cancer cells spread, study says

Canadian scientists have made a major discovery about how cancer spreads: tumour cells appear to co-opt normal cells around them, in effect "talking" them into helping the cancer set up shop in other parts of the body.
Working with human breast cancer cells in the lab, Jeff Wrana,
a molecular biologist at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute in Toronto, and colleagues found that tumour cells get sets of instructions in the form of protein "messages" passed between healthy and cancerous cells. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Luga V, et al. Exosomes Mediate Stromal Mobilization of Autocrine Wnt-PCP Signaling in Breast Cancer Cell Migration. Cell. 2012; 151(7):1542-1556.

Clinical benefit seen when investigational agent is combined with letrozole

The combination of the investigational agent PD 0332991 and letrozole significantly improved median progression-free survival in patients with advanced estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, according to results from this phase II study. PD 0332991 is a novel oral selection inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 that prevents cellular DNA synthesis by blocking cell cycle progression. This research was presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read more here.

Clinical cancer advances 2012: ASCO's annual report on progress against cancer

Each year, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conducts an independent review of advances in clinical cancer research that have the greatest potential impact on patients’ lives. This year’s report, “Clinical Cancer Advances 2012: Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer from the American Society of Clinical Oncology,” features 87 studies, 17 of which the Report’s editors have designated as major advances. Read the full report here.

European Medicines Agency recommends granting marketing authorization for pertuzumab

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 pertuzumab (Perjeta), 420 mg, concentrate for solution for infusion intended for use in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel in adult patients with HER2-positive metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable breast cancer, who have not received previous anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for their metastatic disease. The applicant for this medicinal product is Roche Registration Ltd. Read more here.

Treatment of advanced NSCLC in the elderly: E-learning module

This E-learning module from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) summarizes data on anticancer treatments in the elderly NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) population and serves as excellent educational tool for the interpretation of data from clinical studies and on how treatment decisions could be made from currently available evidence. Read more here.

Summary basis of decision (SBD) 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: 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 Symptomatic chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who have received no prior treatment. Read more here.

CWRU School of Medicine researchers discover new molecule linked to late-stage breast cancer

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have identified a molecule linked to more aggressive forms of breast cancer – a discovery that could point the way to potential cures. "This work, published in the most important journal for patient-based discoveries, points us in the direction of a new genetic change in women with high-risk breast cancer," said Stanton Gerson, MD, director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This research will impact the field by focusing us on new targets for treating and preventing metastasis in patients with breast cancer." Read more here.

Study mentioned: Taylor MA, et al. TGF-β upregulates miR-181a expression to promote breast cancer metastasis. J Clin Invest. 2012 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23241956

Harnessing the ID in glioma

Gliomas are the most common form of brain tumor. In the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers led by Antonio Iavarone at Columbia University report on the role of ID proteins in glioma. Using a mouse model of glioma, Iavarone and colleagues found that ID proteins were also responsible for retaining GICs in the extracellular niche that allowed them to maintain their cancer promoting properties. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Niola F, et al. Mesenchymal high-grade glioma is maintained by the ID-RAP1 axis. J Clin Invest. 2012 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23241957

Mayo Clinic-led study unravels biological pathway that controls the leakiness of blood vessels

A research team led by scientists at Mayo Clinic in Florida have decoded the entire pathway that regulates leakiness of blood vessels — a condition that promotes a wide number of disorders, such as heart disease, cancer growth and spread, inflammation and respiratory distress. They say their findings, published online in the Journal of Cell Biology, suggest that several agents already being tested for other conditions might reverse vessel leakiness. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ngok SP, et al. VEGF and Angiopoietin-1 exert opposing effects on cell junctions by regulating the Rho GEF Syx. J Cell Biol. Published December 17, 2012.

New technology allows scientists to capture and preserve cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream

Scientists from the RIKEN Advanced Science Institute in Japan and University of California Los Angeles report a new nanoscale Velcro-like device that captures and releases tumor cells that have broken away from primary tumors and are circulating in the bloodstream. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hou S, et al. Capture and Stimulated Release of Circulating Tumor Cells on Polymer-Grafted Silicon Nanostructures. Advanced Materials. Article first published online: 17 Dec 2012.

Top 10 Canadian Cancer Society research of 2012

Canadian Cancer Society-funded researchers continue to discover ways to reduce cancer incidence and mortality and enhance the quality of life for Canadians living with and beyond cancer. Read the top 10 research stories of 2012 here.

Blood test accurately predicts lymphedema, study shows

Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a set of proteins circulating in blood whose levels accurately flag the presence of lymphedema. The findings, reported in PLoS ONE, spur optimism that this common but relatively neglected condition, which affects an estimated 10 million people in the United States, finally will be amenable to detection (and, eventually, treatment) with 21st-century techniques. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lin S, et al. Prospective Transcriptomic Pathway Analysis of Human Lymphatic Vascular Insufficiency: Identification and Validation of a Circulating Biomarker Panel. PLoS ONE 7(12): e52021.

Mayo Clinic researchers identify enzyme linked to prostate cancer

Researchers at Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida have identified an enzyme specifically linked to aggressive prostate cancer, and have also developed a compound that inhibits the ability of this molecule to promote the metastatic spread of the cancer. Their study, published in Molecular Cancer Research, is the first to link the enzyme PRSS3 to prostate cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hockla A, et al. Angiogenesis, Metastasis, and the Cellular Microenvironment PRSS3/Mesotrypsin Is a Therapeutic Target for Metastatic Prostate Cancer. Mol Cancer Res. December 2012;10:1555-1566.

New technology may enable earlier cancer diagnosis

Finding ways to diagnose cancer earlier could greatly improve the chances of survival for many patients. One way to do this is to look for specific proteins secreted by cancer cells, which circulate in the bloodstream. However, the quantity of these biomarkers is so low that detecting them has proven difficult. A new technology developed at MIT may help to make biomarker detection much easier. The researchers, led by Sangeeta Bhatia, have developed nanoparticles that can home to a tumor and interact with cancer proteins to produce thousands of biomarkers, which can then be easily detected in the patient’s urine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kwong GA, et al. Mass-encoded synthetic biomarkers for multiplexed urinary monitoring of disease. Nat Biotechnol. 2012 Dec 16. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23242163

Cancer cells co-opt immune response to escape destruction

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that tumor cells use stress signals to subvert responding immune cells, exploiting them to actually boost conditions beneficial to cancer growth. The findings are published in the journal PLOS ONE. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Mahadevan NR, et al. Cell-Extrinsic Effects of Tumor ER Stress Imprint Myeloid Dendritic Cells and Impair CD8+ T Cell Priming. PLoS ONE 7(12): e51845.

Immediate health risk must be weighed against radiation-induced cancer risk

The lifetime risks of cancer from medical radiation may be overemphasized relative to more immediate health risks, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. Radiation exposure from computed tomography (CT) and other medical sources has drawn considerable media attention in recent years. Stories warning of the dangers often focus on the lifetime risk estimates of radiation-induced cancer from repeat examinations. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Pandharipande PV, et al. Patients with Testicular Cancer Undergoing CT Surveillance Demonstrate a Pitfall of Radiation-induced Cancer Risk Estimates: The Timing Paradox. Radiology. 2012 Dec 18. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23249573

To revert breast cancer cells, give them the squeeze

Researchers at the UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have put the squeeze — literally — on malignant mammary cells to guide them back into a normal growth pattern. The findings, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in San Francisco, show for the first time that mechanical forces alone can revert and stop the out-of-control growth of cancer cells. This change happens even though the genetic mutations responsible for malignancy remain, setting up a nature-versus-nurture battle in determining a cell’s fate. Read more here.

Study uncovers mechanism used by BRCA1 to suppress tumors

A new study by Georgetown University Medical Center researchers reveals how a well-known tumor suppressor gene may be functioning to stop cancer cell growth. The findings, published in Oncogene, focus on the gene BRCA1, which is mutated in a majority of families who have hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancers, according to senior author Ronit I. Yarden, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Human Science at the School of Nursing & Health Studies. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Shabbeer S, et al. BRCA1 targets G2/M cell cycle proteins for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Oncogene. 2012 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23246971

New form of cell division found

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center have discovered a new form of cell division in human cells. They believe it serves as a natural back-up mechanism during faulty cell division, preventing some cells from going down a path that can lead to cancer. "If we could promote this new form of cell division, which we call klerokinesis, we may be able to prevent some cancers from developing," says lead researcher Dr. Mark Burkard, an assistant professor of hematology-oncology in the Department of Medicine at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Burkard will present the finding at the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in San Francisco. Read more here.

Study examines risk reduction and screening for ovarian cancer among women following BRCA testing

Following BRCA testing, many women who are non-BRCA carriers undergo risk-reducing procedures and additional ovarian cancer screenings, despite limited data to determine the effectiveness of these interventions among the general population, according to a report published by Archives of Internal Medicine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Mannis GN, et al. Risk-Reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy and Ovarian Cancer Screening in 1077 Women After BRCA Testing. Arch Intern Med. 2012 Dec 17:1-8. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23247828

New immune therapy successfully treats brain tumors in mice

Using an artificial protein that stimulates the body’s natural immune system to fight cancer, a research team at Duke Medicine has engineered a lethal weapon that kills brain tumors in mice while sparing other tissue. If it can be shown to work in humans, it would overcome a major obstacle that has hampered the effectiveness of immune-based therapies. In six out of eight mice with brain tumors, the treatment resulted in cures, according to findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Choi BD, et al. Systemic administration of a bispecific antibody targeting EGFRvIII successfully treats intracerebral glioma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23248284

Natural Standard training

Sign up for a free online training session to learn more about Natural Standard's decision-support tools. Natural Standard provides high-quality, evidence-based information about integrative therapies to help healthcare professionals and consumers make safer, more educated decisions about health. Guided tours, available December 20 to January 15, will demonstrate how to navigate the various databases and cross reference medical conditions and therapies. Read more here.

Drinking coffee may reduce the risk of oral cancer

A new study has linked coffee consumption with a reduced risk of developing oral cancer. In a recent study, researchers found that individuals who consumed more than four cups of caffeinated coffee daily had a 49 percent reduced risk of oral or pharyngeal cancer when compared to those who drank no coffee. Additionally, the researchers found that with each cup of coffee consumed, risk of oral or pharyngeal cancer risk reduced further. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hildebrand JS, et al. Coffee, Tea, and Fatal Oral/Pharyngeal Cancer in a Large Prospective US Cohort. Am J Epidemiol. 2012 Dec 9. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23230042

9/11 cancer study won't settle debate over risks

The most comprehensive study of potential World Trade Center-related cancers raises more questions than it answers and won't end a debate over whether the attacks were really a cause. The study suggests possible links with prostate, thyroid and a type of blood cancer among rescue and recovery workers exposed to toxic debris from the terrorist attacks. But there were few total cancers and even the study leaders say the results "should be interpreted with caution." Read more here.

Study mentioned: Le J, et al. Association Between World Trade Center Exposure and Excess Cancer Risk. JAMA. 2012;308(23):2479-2488.

Despite hype, costly prostate cancer treatment offers little relief from side effects

Prostate cancer patients receiving the costly treatment known as proton radiotherapy experienced minimal relief from side effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction, compared to patients undergoing a standard radiation treatment called intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), Yale School of Medicine researchers report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Yu JB, et al. Proton Versus Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: Patterns of Care and Early Toxicity. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Dec 14. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23243199

Low adiponcetin associated with increased pancreatic cancer risk

Low prediagnostic levels of circulating adiponectin were associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. In order to determine if prediagnostic plasma levels of adiponectin were linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, Ying Bao, M.D., Sc.D., Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and colleagues, pooled the data from five prospective U.S. cohort studies, and matched 468 pancreatic cancer case subjects with 1,080 healthy control subjects by cohort, year of birth, smoking status, fasting status, and month of blood draw. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Zhang J, Hochwald SN. Plasma Adiponectin: A Possible Link Between Fat Metabolism and Pancreatic Cancer Risk. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Dec 14. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23243204

Ibrutinib has 'unprecedented' impact on mantle cell lymphoma

An international study of ibrutinib in people with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) continues to show unprecedented and durable results with few side effects. Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center presented interim findings of the multi-center Phase 2 study at the 54th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition. "I believe we are witnessing a breakthrough in mantle cell lymphoma. This is great news for patients," said Michael Wang, M.D., associate professor in MD Anderson's Departments of Lymphoma and Myeloma and Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Wang is lead author of the study. Read more here.

2012 Cancer System Performance Report shows progress and emerging trends in Canada's cancer system

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer has released a report discussing the Canadian cancer system's performance in a number of areas, including prevention, patient experience, and outcomes.  With contributions from cancer programs across the country, the report seeks to identify best practices and areas for improvement.  According to Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minister of Health, "having high-quality data on the performance of the cancer system and using it to plan and make decisions is critical to reducing the impact of cancer on Canadians." 

To access the full report, click here

Older and younger chronic leukemia patients may need different therapy

Doctors should use different therapies when treating older and younger patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, according to 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 (OSUCCC – James). Age is usually not considered when determining treatment for people with CLL, but this study indicates that older people with CLL may not respond as well to the therapy used for most patients. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Woyach JA, et al. Impact of Age on Outcomes After Initial Therapy With Chemotherapy and Different Chemoimmunotherapy Regimens in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Results of Sequential Cancer and Leukemia Group B Studies. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Dec 10. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23233702

Yale team identifies successful combination drug therapies for melanoma mutations

Yale Cancer Center researchers have identified several effective combinations of therapies that inhibit melanomas driven by two of the most formidable cancer genes. Some combinations include cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. The study appears in the journal Cancer Discovery. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Held MA, et al. Genotype-Selective Combination Therapies for Melanoma Identified by High-Throughput Drug Screening. Cancer Discov. 2012 Dec 13. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23239741

Rural dwellers less likely to follow cancer screening guidelines

People who reside in rural areas of Utah are less likely to follow colorectal cancer (CRC) screening recommendations than their urban counterparts, according to researchers from Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah. This geographic disparity is evident across all risk groups, including those who have a family history of the disease. Kinney is a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah, a Jon and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professor in Cancer Research, and an HCI investigator. The research team's findings are reported in an article in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Anderson AE, et al. Rural vs Urban Residence Affects Risk-Appropriate Colorectal Cancer Screening. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 Dec 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23220166

Vegetable compound could become ingredient to treating leukemia

A concentrated form of a compound called sulforaphane found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables has been shown to reduce the number of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in the lab setting, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine. The findings appear in the current edition of PLOS ONE. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Suppipat K, et al. Sulforaphane Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells. 2012. PLoS ONE 7(12): e51251.

Delaying childbirth may reduce the risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer in younger women, study suggests

Younger women who wait at least 15 years after their first menstrual period to give birth to their first child may reduce their risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer by up to 60 percent, according to a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study. The findings, by Christopher I. Li, M.D., Ph.D., a member of the Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutch, are published online in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Li CI, et al. Reproductive factors and risk of estrogen receptor positive, triple-negative, and HER2-neu overexpressing breast cancer among women 20-44 years of age. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Dec 9. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23224237

'Two-faced' cells discovered in colon cancer

Northwestern Medicine researchers have discovered a "two-faced" group of cells at work in human colon cancer, with opposing functions that can suppress or promote tumor growth. These cells are a subset of T-regulatory (Treg) cells, known to suppress immune responses in healthy individuals. In this previously unknown Treg subset, the presence of the protein RORγt has been shown to differentiate between cancer-protecting and cancer-promoting properties. The Northwestern team, led by Khashayarsha Khazaie, recently reported their findings in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Blatner NR, et al. Expression of RORγt Marks a Pathogenic Regulatory T Cell Subset in Human Colon Cancer. Sci Transl Med. 2012. 4:164ra159. Online first.

Researchers find new culprit in castration-resistant prostate cancer

Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have discovered a molecular switch that enables advanced prostate cancers to spread without stimulation by male hormones, which normally are needed to spur the cancer's growth. They say the finding could lead to a new treatment for prostate cancers that are no longer controlled by hormone-blocking drugs. The researchers report in Science that the molecular switch occurs in a protein, EZH2, which is increased in these tumors, termed castration-resistant prostate cancers (CRPC). Read more here.

Study mentioned: Xu K, et al. EZH2 oncogenic activity in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells is Polycomb-independent. Science. 2012 Dec 14;338(6113):1465-9. PMID: 23239736

Young Oncologists' Journal Club: Combination of anastrozole and fulvestrant in metastatic breast cancer

Hormone receptor positive breast cancer represents the most common type of breast cancer, with endocrine therapy remaining a cornerstone of the treatment for patients with metastatic disease. The fulvestrant-anastrozole combination has been shown to be superior to any either alone in a xenograft breast cancer model. In August 2012, the results of a randomized phase III study investigating the combination of anastrozole and fulvestrant in metastatic breast cancer patients were published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Read the complete ESMO journal club article here.

Study mentioned: Mehta RS, et al. Combination anastrozole and fulvestrant in metastatic breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2012 Aug 2;367(5):435-44. PMID: 22853014

Ponatinim wins early FDA nod

The FDA has approved ponatinib (Iclusig), a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, to treat two forms of drug-resistant leukemia, the agency said. The approved indications include chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults. Approval was based on a single phase II trial, results of which were reported last week at the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting. Read more here.

Weekly dose reduces targeted drug's side effects, but not its activity against acute lymphocytic leukemia

A potent chemotherapy agent wrapped within a monoclonal antibody selectively destroys the malignant cells responsible for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in either weekly or monthly dosing, researchers report at the 54th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition. "The CD22 antigen is a specific marker for B-cell malignancies and is expressed in more than 90 percent of patients who have acute lymphocytic leukemia," said Susan O'Brien, M.D., professor in The University of Texas MD Anderson Department of Leukemia. "The antigen's specificity for B-cell cancers makes it a promising therapeutic target for intervention." Read more here.

Anti-aging gene identified as tumor suppressor in mice, research finds

A new study sheds more light on how an anti-aging gene suppresses cancer growth, joint University of Michigan Health System and Harvard Medical School research shows. Loss of the SIRT6 protein in mice increases the number, size and aggressiveness of tumors, according to the new research published in the scientific journal Cell. The study also suggests that the loss of SIRT6 promotes tumor growth in human colon and pancreatic cancers. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Sebastián C, et al. The Histone Deacetylase SIRT6 Is a Tumor Suppressor that Controls Cancer Metabolism. Cell. 2012 Dec 7;151(6):1185-99. PMID: 23217706

Drug resistant stem cells may be source of genetic chaos, DNA damage, in leukemia

An international team of scientists, led by researchers from Temple University School of Medicine, has found that a source of mounting genomic chaos, or instability, common to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) may lie in a pool of leukemia stem cells that are immune to treatment with potent targeted anticancer drugs. Findings were presented at the 54th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta. Read more here.

Tumour DNA alone doesn’t explain cancer, study shows

In a new study, scientists found that despite having identical genetic mutations, colorectal cancer cells behaved as differently as if they were genetic strangers. The findings challenge the prevailing view that genes determine how individual cells in a solid tumour behave, including how they respond to chemotherapy and how actively they propagate. If DNA is not the sole driver of tumours’ behaviour, said molecular geneticist John Dick of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, who led the study, it suggests that, to vanquish a cancer entirely, drugs will have to target their non-genetic traits too, something few drug-discovery teams are doing. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kreso A, et al. Variable clonal repopulation dynamics influence chemotherapy response in colorectal cancer. Science. Published online 13 December 2012.

Consultation on Health Canada's public clinical trials database

Health Canada intends to provide access to its clinical trial database starting in April 2013. Health Canada's clinical trial database is generally updated by about 800 clinical trials per year, for the study of drugs (including biologics) in patients. Providing access to a central database of these clinical trials will help fulfill an existing information gap. With this proposal, patients, healthcare professionals and the public may be able to independently confirm when and if Health Canada has authorized access to a drug in a clinical trial setting. Read more here.

Personalized Treatment for breast cancer patients: new E-learning module

This new E-Learning module from ESMO critically evaluates genomic signatures and immunohistochemistry, with the aim to distinguish patients who can be cured without chemotherapy, and those who are not cured by optimal adjuvant therapy. It also tries to summarize the current evidence on the development of tests that predict drug-specific efficacy, as well as the most rational strategy for patients having a high risk for disease relapse. Read more here.

Database of cases launched

Every 36 hours the NHS treats a million people. Across the world there are billions of interactions between patients and health systems every year. Each of those patients is a “case,” and the potential learning from those cases is huge. Unfortunately most of the learning is lost, unrecorded and unshared. But now the launching of a database of cases by BioMed Central opens up the potential of capturing much of that lost learning. Read more here.

Access Cases Database here.

Breast-cancer survivors at higher risk for diabetes

Women who survive breast cancer have an increased risk of developing diabetes, especially if they have been treated with chemotherapy, a new study shows. The research, published in the medical journal Diabetologia, shows that women with breast cancer saw their risk of diabetes rise modestly (by 7 per cent) two years after diagnosis. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lipscombe L, et al. Incidence of diabetes among postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. Diabetologia. Online first 2012.

New transplant technique may benefit blood cancer patients

Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center believe that their technique of multipying umbilical cord blood cells may improve recovery for patients requiring blood stem cell transplants. While the study is still in the experimental stage, research lead Dr. Marcos de Lima states that umbilical cord blood is more easily matched in patients than donor bone marrow. Nevertheless he refuses to speculate, at this point, on how this new initiative will affect cure rates.

To read more about this study, click here.

New disease pathway maps released by Cancer Care Ontario

Disease Pathway Maps (pathways) are a quality improvement tool for the Ontario cancer system. The pathways are flowcharts that show a high-level overview of the care a cancer patient in Ontario should receive. The pathways focus on one type of cancer, during a specific phase of the cancer journey, with the understanding that the patient journey differs from one cancer to another. The pathways are intended for cancer system and medical community stakeholders, including healthcare providers and administrators. The pathways may also serve as a resource for individuals who are new to the cancer system, such as medical students. The pathways are not meant to be educational resources for patients. Pathways are currently available for lung cancer and prostate cancer. Read more here.

Biologists engineer algae to make complex anti-cancer 'designer' drug

Biologists at UC San Diego have succeeded in genetically engineering algae to produce a complex and expensive human therapeutic drug used to treat cancer. Their achievement, detailed in a paper in this week's early online issue of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, opens the door for making these and other "designer" proteins in larger quantities and much more cheaply than can now be made from mammalian cells. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Tran M, et al. PNAS Plus: Production of unique immunotoxin cancer therapeutics in algal chloroplasts. PNAS 2012 ; published ahead of print December 10, 2012.

Experimental graft-versus-host disease treatment equivalent to standard care in phase 3 trial

An experimental drug combination for preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was not significantly better than the standard regimen on key endpoints, according to a report of a phase 3 trial at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting. The combination of two immunosuppressive compounds – tacrolimus plus sirolimus – did not provide a statistically significant, GVHD-free survival benefit over the long-used standard of care, tacrolimus plus methotrexate, said researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who led the multi-center trial. Read more here.

UCLA cancer scientists identify liposarcoma tumors that respond to chemotherapy

Using a strategy that tracks cancer cells' consumption of nucleosides, a team of researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Center has identified a group of liposarcoma tumors that can be imaged by PET scanning using a tracer substance known as FAC. Furthermore, they have found that these tumors are sensitive to chemotherapy. The team's findings are published online in the journal Cancer Discovery. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Braas D, et al. Metabolomics Strategy Reveals Subpopulation of Liposarcomas Sensitive to Gemcitabine Treatment. Cancer Discov. 2012 Dec;2(12):1109-1117. PMID: 23230188

Blood levels of immune protein predict risk in Hodgkin disease

Blood levels of an immunity-related protein, galectin-1, in patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma reflected the extent of their cancer and correlated with other predictors of outcome, scientists reported at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting. In a study of 315 patients from a German database, researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that serum galectin-1 levels "are significantly associated with tumor burden and additional adverse clinical characteristics in newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients." Read more here.

Intensified chemotherapy shows promise for children with very high-risk form of leukemia

Young patients with an aggressive form of leukemia who are likely to relapse after chemotherapy treatment can significantly reduce those odds by receiving additional courses of chemotherapy, suggest the findings of a clinical trial led by investigators at Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center in Boston. The trial leaders will present the results of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ALL Consortium study, which involved nearly 500 patients under age 18 with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference. Read more here.

Educational video helps terminal cancer patients decide whether to receive CPR

Patients with terminal cancer who viewed a three-minute video demonstrating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were less likely to indicate a preference for receiving CPR in the event of an in-hospital cardiac arrest than were patients who only listened to a verbal description of the procedure. The study, appearing in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, is a follow-up to a smaller, 2009 study and includes a more diverse group of patients with many forms of cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Volandes AE, et al. Randomized Controlled Trial of a Video Decision Support Tool for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Decision Making in Advanced Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Published online on December 10, 2012.

Drug combination acts against aggressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia

A two-prong approach combining ibrutinib and rituximab (Rituxin®) to treat aggressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) produced profound responses with minor side effects in a Phase 2 clinical trial at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Researchers presented the results at the 54th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Read more here.

Researchers identify therapeutic targets in neurofibromatosis

In the latest issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, three independent groups of researchers report that MAPK hyperactivation is a critical mediator of disease pathogenesis in neurofibromatosis. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that hyperactivation of MEK and ERK underlies NF1-associated disorders and provide a rationale for testing MEK and ERK inhibitors in neurofibromatosis patients. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Staser K, et al. Normal hematopoiesis and neurofibromin-deficient myeloproliferative disease require Erk. J Clin Invest. 2012 Dec 10. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23221339

Study mentioned: Chang T, et al. Sustained MEK inhibition abrogates myeloproliferative disease in Nf1 mutant mice. J Clin Invest. 2012 Dec 10. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23221337

Study mentioned: Jessen WJ, et al. MEK inhibition exhibits efficacy in human and mouse neurofibromatosis tumors. J Clin Invest. 2012 Dec 10. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23221341

Study: Coffee may reduce risk of oral cancer

A new study by the American Cancer Society finds a link between drinking coffee and reduced risk of death from oral/pharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancer. People who drank more than 4 cups of caffeinated coffee a day were about half as likely to die from oral/pharyngeal cancer as people who drank coffee only occasionally or not at all. The study was published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hildebrand JS, et al. Coffee, Tea, and Fatal Oral/Pharyngeal Cancer in a Large Prospective U.S. Cohort. American Journal of Epidemiology. Published online December 9, 2012.

Researchers discover regulator linking exercise to bigger, stronger muscles

Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have isolated a previously unknown protein in muscles that spurs their growth and increased power following resistance exercise. They suggest that artificially raising the protein's levels might someday help prevent muscle loss caused by cancer, prolonged inactivity in hospital patients, and aging. Mice given extra doses of the protein gained muscle mass and strength, and rodents with cancer were much less affected by cachexia, the loss of muscle that often occurs in cancer patients, according to the report in the journal Cell. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ruas JL, et al. A PGC-1α Isoform Induced by Resistance Training Regulates Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy. Cell 2012; 151(6):1319-1331.

Protein tied to cancer drug resistance in mice

Blocking a specific protein renders tumors more vulnerable to treatment in mice, suggesting new therapies could eventually achieve the same in humans, according to new research from Fox Chase Cancer Center to be presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. "Hopefully, with further testing, this research could one day result in a new therapy that blocks the effect of this protein and, in turn, boosts the effects of cancer drugs," says study author Elizabeth Hopper-Borge, PhD, Assistant Professor at Fox Chase. Read more here.

Vanderbilt study finds diverse genetic alterations in triple-negative breast cancers

Most triple-negative breast cancer patients who were treated with chemotherapy to shrink the tumor prior to surgery still had multiple genetic mutations in their tumor cells, according to a study by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) investigators. Finding multiple mutations instead of just one primary mutation that can be targeted for therapy sheds more light on the challenges of treating triple-negative breast cancer. The study, led by Justin Balko, Pharm.D., Ph.D., and research faculty in the laboratory of Carlos Arteaga, M.D., director of the Breast Cancer Program at VICC, was presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 4-8. Read more here.

Existing drugs may help more with breast cancer

More patients can benefit from highly effective breast cancer drugs that are already available, according to DNA sequencing studies by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and other institutions. The investigators found that some women with the HER2 negative subtype may benefit from anti-HER2 drugs even though standard tests don’t indicate they are candidates for the drugs. Ron Bose, who treats patients at Washington University’s Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, is presenting the data at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read more here.

New small molecule inhibitor could be a safe and first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer

Mesupron® is a new small molecule inhibitor, taken as a pill, that inhibits the uPA system. The results from a recent phase II clinical study suggest that the drug could be a safe and first-line treatment that extends progression-free survival for metastatic breast cancer patients, when combined with the chemotherapeutic drug Capecitabine. Results will be presented by Lori J. Goldstein, MD, Director of the Breast Evaluation Center at Fox Chase Cancer Center, at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read more here.

Obesity and overeating during menopause together promote breast tumor growth and progression

Obese women might be able to eliminate their increased risk for postmenopausal breast cancer by taking measures during perimenopause to prevent weight gain and to therapeutically control the metabolic effects of their obesity, according to the results of a preclinical study published in Cancer Research. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Giles ED, et al. Obesity and Overfeeding Affecting Both Tumor and Systemic Metabolism Activates the Progesterone Receptor to Contribute to Postmenopausal Breast Cancer. Cancer Research. Published online first December 7, 2012.

Mayo Clinic IDs genes that predict whether trastuzumab will work for breast cancer patients

Adding the drug trastuzumab to chemotherapy prevents cancer recurrence and improves survival in a large number of women with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer. But trastuzumab does not stop tumors from returning in about 25 percent of patients — and oncologists haven't been able to identify these women before treatment. This situation may soon change, according to a Mayo Clinic study being presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read more here.

FDA approves use of prostate cancer bill before chemo

The Food and Drug Administration has expanded approval of Johnson & Johnson's prostate cancer pill Zytiga for men with an earlier stage of the disease. The agency says Zytiga is now approved for late-stage prostate cancer patients who have not yet received chemotherapy, based on study results showing it can extend life by up to five months when taken by men in that group. Read more here.

Phase III study did not show superiority of eribulin mesylate compared with capecitabine in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes

A phase III open-label, randomized, multicentre study of eribulin mesylate in women with previously treated metastatic breast cancer failed to meet its co-primary endpoints of improved progression-free survival and overall survival compared with capecitabine, according to data presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held 4-8 December. Read more here.

Personalised cancer medicine: a new strategic horizon for ESMO

The ESMO President and the ESMO Personalised Medicine Task Force Chair consider how to move from current stratified oncology to a more personalised cancer medicine by dissecting the heterogeneity of the tumours and the complexity of molecular pathways with new powerful technologies. Watch the video here.

International Agency for Research on Cancer: IARC monographs in PDF

The term ‘carcinogenic risk’ in the IARC Monographs series is taken to mean that an agent is capable of causing cancer. The Monographs evaluate cancer hazards, despite the historical presence of the word ‘risks’ in the title. Inclusion of an agent in the Monographs does not imply that it is a carcinogen, only that the published data have been examined. Equally, the fact that an agent has not yet been evaluated in a Monograph does not mean that it is not carcinogenic. Similarly, identification of cancer sites with sufficient evidence or limited evidence in humans should not be viewed as precluding the possibility that an agent may cause cancer at other sites - from the Note to the Reader.

Volume 101: Some Chemicals Present in Industrial and Consumer Products, Food and Drinking-water. The complete volume of 18 Monographs is now available online here.

Chemo-free regimen works in one leukemia

A regimen that does not use standard chemotherapy to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in patients who are not high-risk led to 2-year event-free, disease-free, and overall survival approaching 100%, outperforming a conventional cytotoxic regimen, results of a randomized trial showed, as presented at the American Society for Hematology meeting. Patients treated with the combination of arsenic trioxide (ATO) and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) had an event-free survival of 97% compared with 86.7% for patients who received ATRA plus idarubicin followed by anthracycline-based maintenance and consolidation therapy. Read more here.

Attitudes predict ability to follow post-treatment advice

Women are more likely to follow experts' advice on how to reduce their risk of an important side effect of breast cancer surgery—like lymphedema—if they feel confident in their abilities and know how to manage stress, according to new research from Fox Chase Cancer Center to be presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read more here.

UT MD Anderson study finds link between statins and improved survival in inflammatory breast cancer

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found statins, the commonly used drug to lower cholesterol, improved progression-free survival in patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). The retrospective study was presented in a poster discussion at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and follows a previously reported Danish study indicating there is some evidence to suggest the anti-inflammatory properties of statins could reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Still, the overall effects of statins have not been examined in relation to IBC. Read more here.

Protein controlling glucose metabolism also a tumor suppressor

A protein known to regulate how cells process glucose also appears to be a tumor suppressor, adding to the potential that therapies directed at cellular metabolism may help suppress tumor growth. In their report in the Dec. 7 issue of Cell, a multi-institutional research team describes finding that cells lacking the enzyme SIRT6, which controls how cells process glucose, quickly become cancerous. They also found evidence that uncontrolled glycolysis, a stage in normal glucose metabolism, may drive tumor formation in the absence of SIRT6 and that suppressing glycolysis can halt tumor formation. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Sebastian C, et al. The histone deacetylase SIRT6 is a tumor suppressor that controls cancer metabolism. Cell. 2012; 151(6):1185-1199.

Women with higher carotenoid levels have reduced risk of breast cancer

Women with higher circulating carotenoid levels are at a reduced risk of breast cancer according to a study published December 6 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. In order to determine the associations that specific carotenoids have with breast cancer, A. Heather Eliassen, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and colleagues, conducted a pooled analysis of eight cohort studies, which gathered over 80% of the world's published prospective data on plasma or serum carotenoids and breast cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Eliassen AH, et al. Circulating carotenoids and risk of breast cancer: pooled analysis of eight prospective studies. J Natl Cancer Inst. First published online December 6, 2012.

A comprehensive genetic approach shows that skin cancer risk includes more than UV exposure

It is common knowledge that excessive UV exposure from sunlight raises chances for skin cancer, but predicting whether someone will actually develop skin cancer remains difficult. In a new research report, scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of Wisconsin–Madison show that the risk for skin cancer involves numerous genetic factors including family history, ethnicity, and genetic variations specific to each individual. Using these factors, the researchers developed a more precise model for assessing risk, which is published in the journal Genetics. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Vazquez AI, et al. A comprehensive genetic approach for improving prediction of skin cancer risk in humans. Genetics. 2012 Dec;192(4):1493-502. PMID: 23051645

Young Oncologists' Journal Club: Lapatinib plus capecitabine in patients with previously untreated brain metastases from HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

"The LANDSCAPE trial is a valuable addition to the sparse literature on brain metastases and will hopefully motivate and facilitate more research groups to accept the challenge of conducting brain metastasis trials in breast cancer, but also in other tumor types with frequent CNS involvement such as lung cancer and melanoma. A randomized trial of lapatinib/capecitabin versus whole-brain radiotherapy in patients with brain-metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer is warranted and needed to validate the findings of the LANDSCAPE trial." Read the complete ESMO journal club article here.

Study mentioned: Bachelot T, et al. Lapatinib plus capecitabine in patients with previously untreated brain metastases from HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (LANDSCAPE): a single-group phase 2 study. Lancet Oncol. 2012 Nov 1. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23122784

Experimental treatment reprograms patient’s own cells to kill cancer

Desperate to save Emma, then 6, her parents sought an experimental treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, one that had never before been tried in a child or in anyone with the type of leukemia Emma had. The experiment, in April, used a disabled form of the virus that causes AIDS to reprogram Emma’s immune system genetically to kill cancer cells. Read the complete news article here.

AACR launches new journal: Cancer Immunology Research

The American Association for Cancer Research has announced the launch of its newest peer-reviewed journal, Cancer Immunology Research, which will publish groundbreaking original articles on major advances in cancer immunology along with exciting feature articles. Cancer Immunology Research is now receiving manuscripts for consideration for publication through the journal’s online site. It will launch online at the 2013 AACR Annual Meeting and offer continuous online publication, followed by a monthly in print issue beginning in June 2013. Read more here.

New release of the IARC TP53 Database

The Molecular Mechanisms and Biomarkers Group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer is pleased to announce the release of a new version of the IARC TP53 Database. This R16 release compiles the occurence of 29575 somatic mutations, 635 germline mutations, functional data on 2314 mutant proteins and TP53 gene status of 2708 cell-lines. Read more here.

African American women with breast cancer less likely to have newer, recommended surgical procedure

African American women with early stage, invasive breast cancer were 12 percent less likely than Caucasian women with the same diagnosis to receive a minimally invasive technique, axillary sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, years after the procedure had become the standard of surgical practice, according to research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The study was presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium by Dalliah Mashon Black, M.D., assistant professor in MD Anderson's Department of Surgical Oncology. Read more here.

Less invasive surgery detects residual breast cancer in lymph nodes after chemotherapy

Most patients whose breast cancer has spread to their lymph nodes have most of the lymph nodes in their armpit area removed after chemotherapy to see if any cancer remains. A study conducted through the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group and led by Judy Boughey, M.D. a breast surgeon at Mayo Clinic, shows that a less invasive procedure known as sentinel lymph node surgery successfully identified whether cancer remained in lymph nodes in 91 percent of patients with node-positive breast cancer who received chemotherapy before their surgery. The findings are being presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read more here.

Canadian Cancer Society disappointed federal government voted against asbestos motion

"The Canadian Cancer Society is deeply disappointed and frustrated that a motion to protect Canadians from asbestos was defeated in the House of Commons on December 5. The Society has been actively lobbying the federal government for several years to protect Canadians and people around the world from asbestos and we will continue to work hard to end exposure to asbestos.In particular we will maintain pressure on the federal government to fulfill its promise to no longer oppose the inclusion of chrysotile asbestos on the Rotterdam Convention’s list of hazardous substances when the vote takes place in Spring 2013". Read more here.

Food-cancer links may be misleading, report says

Researchers created a list of 50 random food items, then found studies from the last 35 years that claimed risks or benefits. But most of the claims were based on weak evidence. The average effect shown in each study was about a doubling of cancer risk or a halving of risk, depending on which direction the association went for a particular ingredient in a particular report. However, the data backing those claims was usually unconvincing, according to authors, Jonathan Schoenfeld, Harvard Medical School, and John Ioannidis, Stanford Prevention Research Centre. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Schoenfeld JD, Ioannidis JP. Is everything we eat associated with cancer? A systematic cookbook review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Nov 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23193004

Mayo study: Common diabetes drug may treat ovarian cancer

Diabetic patients with ovarian cancer who took the drug metformin for their diabetes had a better survival rate than patients who did not take it, a study headed by Mayo Clinic shows. The findings, published early online in the journal Cancer, may play an important role for researchers as they study the use of existing medications to treat different or new diseases. Metformin is a widely prescribed drug to treat diabetes, and previous research by others has shown its promise for other cancers. The Mayo-led study adds ovarian cancer to the list. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kumar S, et al. Metformin intake is associated with better survival in ovarian cancer: A case-control study. Cancer. 2012 Dec 3 [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23208739

International breast cancer research conference under way

Breast cancer researchers from all over the world head to Texas this week for the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). Now in its 35th year, the conference showcases the latest in breast cancer research. The event, which runs from December 4th through the 8th, is co-sponsored by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), and the Baylor College of Medicine. This year’s schedule will focus on emerging treatments in hard-to-treat populations, such as patients with triple-negative breast cancer, and new knowledge on biologic targets and prevention. Read more here.

Health Canada suspends license of chemical testing laboratory for providing falsified results

Health Canada has suspended the Establishment Licence of Chemi Pharmaceutical Inc. of Mississauga, Ont., after uncovering falsified testing results during the course of an inspection. Health Canada is verifying the nature and use of testing done by Chemi Pharmaceutical Inc. with the company's customers. Our survey of clients to date indicates that only a portion of the company's work involved testing of final products before they entered the Canadian market. However, as a precautionary step, companies that have had testing done by Chemi Pharmaceutical are being asked to temporarily halt sales of those products until their safety can be confirmed. Read more here.

Breast cancer drug more effective when taken for 10 years: study

Breast cancer patients taking the drug tamoxifen can cut their chances of having the disease come back or kill them if they stay on the pills for 10 years instead of five years as doctors recommend now, a major study finds. In the new study, presented Wednesday at a breast cancer conference in San Antonio, researchers found that women who took tamoxifen for 10 years lowered their risk of a recurrence by 25 per cent and of dying of breast cancer by 29 per cent compared to those who took the pills for just five years. Read more here.

Unexpected toughness may mark out cancer cells in the blood

A surprising discovery about the physical properties of cancer cells could help improve a new diagnostic approach —a liquid biopsy— that detects, measures, and evaluates cancer cells in blood. Cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream can form metastases. Detecting these rare circulating cancer cells in a blood sample is much less invasive than a standard tumor biopsy, and could prove useful for monitoring cancer progression and detecting recurrence. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Barnes JM, et al. Resistance to Fluid Shear Stress Is a Conserved Biophysical Property of Malignant Cells. PLoS ONE. 2012; 7(12):e50973.

Omega-3 fatty acids and CoQ10 may lower PSA levels

New research indicates that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may reduce levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein that suggests an increased risk of prostate cancer. The recent study included 504 healthy men with serum PSA levels lower or equal to 2.5 nanograms per milliliter. The participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Each group corresponded to a different supplement, either omega-6 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10 or placebo. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Safarinejad MR, et al. Effects of EPA, γ-linolenic acid or coenzyme Q10 on serum prostate-specific antigen levels: a randomised, double-blind trial. Br J Nutr. 2012 Nov 30:1-8. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23199523

New experimental drug may delay progression of advanced breast cancers

A study conducted at the University of California Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has been experimenting with a new drug, known as PD 0332991, that, when used in combination with the hormone therapy Femara (letrozole), may slow development of advanced breast cancer.  According to lead researcher Dr. Richard Finn, women administered the combination therapy treatment exhibited a longer period of progression-free survival (26 months), compared to those receiving Femara alone (8 months). 

While the safety and ultimateness effectiveness of this new therapy is awaiting validation by the American Cancer Society, preliminary findings are scheduled to be presented today (December 5th) at the 2012 San Antonia Breast Cancer Symposium in Texas. 

To read more about this study, click here.

Scientists find 'bully' genes in common childhood tumor

In a genome sequencing study of 74 neuroblastoma tumors in children, scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that patients with changes in two genes, ARID1A and ARID1B, survive only a quarter as long as patients without the changes. The discovery could eventually lead to early identification of patients with aggressive neuroblastomas who may need additional treatments. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Sausen M, et al. Integrated genomic analyses identify ARID1A and ARID1B alterations in the childhood cancer neuroblastoma. Nat Genet. 2012 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23202128

Cell surface transporters exploited for cancer drug delivery

Whitehead Institute scientists report that certain molecules present in high concentrations on the surfaces of many cancer cells could be exploited to funnel lethal toxic molecules into the malignant cells. In such an approach, the overexpression of specific transporters could be exploited to deliver toxic substances into cancer cells. Although this finding emerges from the study of a single toxic molecule and the protein that it transports, Whitehead Member David Sabatini says this phenomenon could be leveraged more broadly. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Birsoy K, et al. MCT1-mediated transport of a toxic molecule is an effective strategy for targeting glycolytic tumors. Nat Genet. 2012 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23202129

Lung cancer patients developing areas of drug-resistance prolong disease control by using focused radiation to weed the garden

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology shows that when pockets of resistant cancer develop, it’s often possible to zap these resistant pockets with focused, targeted radiation while continuing crizotinib or erlotinib to maintain control of the majority of the disease that continues to depend on the primary mutation. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Weickhardt AJ, et al. Local ablative therapy of oligoprogressive disease prolongs disease control by tyrosine kinase inhibitors in oncogene-addicted non-small-cell lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol. 2012 Dec;7(12):1807-14. PMID: 23154552

Postdoctoral opportunity: International Agency for Research on Cancer

Within the Section of Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, the aim of the Molecular Mechanisms and Biomarkers Group is to develop mechanistic understanding of tumorigenesis and to generate information on cancer etiology that can be translated into cancer prevention practice. Emphasis is on identifying early molecular changes and phenotypic effects that drive tumor formation, and on their association with established and suspected environmental risk factors. A postdoctoral opportunity is available for one year and is open to study the mechanisms and biomarkers of urothelial carcinogenesis associated with exposure to highly carcinogenic aristolochic acid. Read more here.

Study helps resolve debate about how tumors spread

A team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, has shown for the first time how cancer cells control the ON/OFF switch of a program used by developing embryos to effectively metastasize in vivo, breaking free and spreading to other parts of the body, where they can proliferate and grow into secondary tumors. The findings are published in the journal Cancer Cell. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Tsai JH, et al. Spatiotemporal Regulation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Is Essential for Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastasis. Cancer Cell, online first 29 November 2012.

Study sheds light on how pancreatic cancer begins

Research led by scientists at the University of California, San Diego and UC San Francisco Schools of Medicine examined the tumor-initiating events leading to pancreatic cancer (also called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or PDA) in mice. Their work, published in the journal Cancer Cell, may help in the search for earlier detection methods and treatments. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kopp JL, et al. Identification of Sox9-Dependent Acinar-to-Ductal Reprogramming as the Principal Mechanism for Initiation of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell, Online first 29 November 2012.

Selumetinib in combination with docetaxel for KRAS-mutant advanced NSCLC

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 drug - selumetinib, work better in combination 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. Previously, no targeted agent, either alone or in combination with another drug, had proven beneficial in a study involving patients with this type of NSCLC. The study results were published in The Lancet Oncology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Janne 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.

Cancer patients should be wary of needless tests and treatments

When the diagnosis is cancer, many people understandably want to pull out all the stops to treat it. But some tests, treatments and procedures not only are unnecessary but also can be harmful. “Sometimes less really is more,” says Lowell E. Schnipper, chief of hematology-oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and clinical director of the Boston institution’s cancer center. “It’s important to assess if what you are doing will help you stay well longer.” Schnipper heads an expert task force that is identifying cancer-related tests and treatments that are not supported for most patients by evidence. The panel was convened by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Read more here.

How reliable is your health news?

The reliability of health news is a serious matter. The inclination of medical journals and media outlets to only publish studies that have dramatic or controversial results fuels the trend toward sensationalism in health reporting. “You can give very misleading ideas about what’s important in health and what isn’t,” said John Briffa, a British doctor who focuses on issues related to nutrition. Read more here.