NY Times Opinionator: A plan to fix cancer care

In a recent New York Times Opinionator essay, Ezekiel J. Emanuel is joined by more than 20 prominent members of the oncology community in outlining five major changes to be made to the health care system to ensure sustainability of care. Read more here.

European Medicines Agency recommends granting a marketing authorisation for ponatinib

The European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for the medicinal product ponatinib (Iclusig) 15 mg and 45 mg film-coated tablets intended for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia and Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Read more here.

Garlic intake may not affect colorectal cancer risk

Increased garlic intake may not reduce the risk of colorectal cancer as previous research has suggested, according to a study. In the current study, scientists collected data from 76,208 women who had participated in the Nurses' Health Study and from 45,592 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. They followed subjects for up to 24 years and collected information on garlic intake and the use of garlic supplements with regard to risk of colorectal cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Meng S, et al. No association between garlic intake and risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Epidemiol. 2013 Apr;37(2):152-5. PMID: 23265869

Call for more proactive breast cancer campaigns

Less than one-third of Arab women living in Qatar participate in breast cancer screening activities though a majority are aware of the disease, according to a study. Conducted by the Hamad Medical Corporation, University of Calgary - Qatar, and Primary Health Care, the study covered 1,063 participants. Though 90.7% of the respondents were aware of breast cancer, only 7.6% were assessed with having basic knowledge of breast cancer screening. Read more here.

Genetic alterations linked with bladder cancer risk, recurrence, progression, and patient survival

A new analysis has found that genetic alterations in a particular cellular pathway are linked with bladder cancer risk, recurrence, disease progression, and patient survival. Published early online in CANCER, a peer- reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings could help improve bladder cancer screening and treatment. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lee EK, et al. Genetic variations in regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) confer risk of bladder cancer. Cancer. 2013 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23529717

Study finds molecular 'signature' for rapidly increasing form of esophageal cancer

The first extensive probe of the DNA of esophageal adenocarcinomas (EACs) has revealed that many share a distinctive mix-up of letters of the genetic code, and found more than 20 mutated genes that had not previously been linked to the disease. The research, led by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Broad Institute, and other research centers, may offer clues to why EAC rates have risen so sharply. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Dulak AM, et al. Exome and whole-genome sequencing of esophageal adenocarcinoma identifies recurrent driver events and mutational complexity. Nat Genet. 2013 Mar 24. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23535077

New chemo drug gentler on fertility, tougher on cancer

A new gentler chemotherapy drug in the form of nanoparticles has been designed by Northwestern Medicine® scientists to be less toxic to a young woman’s fertility but extra tough on cancer. This is the first cancer drug tested while in development for its effect on fertility using a novel in vitro test. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ahn RW, et al. Nano-Encapsulation of Arsenic Trioxide Enhances Efficacy against Murine Lymphoma Model while Minimizing Its Impact on Ovarian Reserve In Vitro and In Vivo. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58491. Epub 2013 Mar 20. PMID: 23526987

Monoclonal antibody targets, kills leukemia cells

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center have identified a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets and directly kills chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences represent a potential new therapy for treating at least some patients with CLL, the most common type of blood cancer in the United States. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Zhang S, et al. Targeting chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells with a humanized monoclonal antibody specific for CD44. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23530247

UNC research probes how pancreatic cancers metastasize

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered that a protein found in the cells surrounding pancreatic cancers play a role in the spread of the disease to other parts of the body. In a finding to be published in Oncogene, researchers in the lab of Carol Otey, PhD, found that the protein palladin enhances the ability of cancer-associated fibroblasts to assemble organelles known as invadopodia to break down the barriers between cells and create pathways for tumors to spread throughout the body. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Goicoechea SM, et al. Palladin promotes invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by enhancing invadopodia formation in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Oncogene. 2013 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23524582

Some breast cancer treatments linked to joint pain

Some treatments for breast cancer may increase the likelihood of aches, pain, and stiffness in muscles and joints, a study reported. Scientists set out to compare the prevalence of symptoms of aches and pains in breast cancer patients and in healthy women of a similar age. About 62 percent of women with breast cancer reported that they currently experienced pain, compared to 53 percent without the disease. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Fenlon D, et al. A Survey of Joint and Muscle Aches, Pain, and Stiffness Comparing Women With and Without Breast Cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2013 Mar 15. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23507130

Scientists ID genetic markers tied to breast, prostate, ovarian cancer

A huge international effort involving more than 100 institutions and genetic tests on 200,000 people has uncovered dozens of signposts in DNA that can help reveal further a person’s risk for breast, ovarian or prostate cancer, scientists reported Wednesday. It’s the latest mega-collaboration to learn more about the intricate mechanisms that lead to cancer. Read more here.

Seniors five times more likely to be hospitalized for adverse drug reactions

One in 200 seniors was hospitalized because of an adverse drug reaction (ADR) in 2010–2011, compared with 1 in 1,000 of all other Canadians. This translates to approximately 27,000 people age 65 and older, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Blood thinners, often used to prevent heart attack and stroke, were the drug class most commonly associated with ADR-related hospitalizations among seniors (12.6%). This was followed by chemotherapy drugs (12.1%) and opioids, a class of strong pain killers (7.4%). The most likely reasons for hospitalization varied based on the drug class. They included bleeding from blood thinners, low white blood cell count from chemotherapy drugs and constipation from opioids. Read more here.

Source mentioned: Canadian Institute for Health Information. Adverse Drug Reaction-Related Hospitalizations Among Seniors, 2006 to 2011. Ottawa. 2013 Mar 26. Download report.

Tofu diet may help women with lung cancer live longer

A new study conducted in collaboration with the Shanghai Cancer Institute and the Vanderbilt University Medial Center in Nashville has posited that a tofu and soy-rich diet may increase life expectancy of women afflicted with lung cancer.  According to study author Dr. Gong Yang, associate professor of medicine, division of epidemiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, this study, conducted among 75,000 women in Shanghai indicated that "patients with the highest soy food intake had better overall survival compared with those with the lowerst intake."  While this research focussed on soy intake before a lung cancer diagnosis, thus rendering a recommendation to increase soy intake specifically for lung cancer survival as perhaps too superficial at this point, it does offer new perspectives into alternative medicine for lung cancer, "the leading cause of death among women in the world."

To read more about this study, click here

Source mentioned: Yang G, et al. Prediagnosis soy food consumption and lung cancer survival in women. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Mar 25. PMID: 23530109

New guides available to boost two key components of person-centred care

Expanded implementation guides for the growing fields of patient navigation and screening for distress are now available from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer to help improve the cancer journey for patients. Read more here.

UCLA, Caltech research on immune-cell therapy could strengthen promising melanoma treatment

A new study of genetically modified immune cells by scientists from UCLA and the California Institute of Technology could help improve a promising treatment for melanoma, an often fatal form of skin cancer. The melanoma treatment uses T cells — immune cells that play a major role in fighting infection — taken from patients with melanoma. The cells are then genetically modified in the laboratory so that when they are reintroduced into a patient's bloodstream, they specifically attack melanoma tumors. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ma C, et al. Multifunctional T-cell Analyses to Study Response and Progression in Adoptive Cell Transfer Immunotherapy. Cancer Discov. 2013 Mar 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23519018

How good is your drug insurance? Comparing federal, provincial and private-sector plans, 2004-2011

The objectives of this report are to compare benefits under Canada’s public drug programs in terms of the number of new drugs approved for public insurance, as well as the time that patients must wait for insured access to new medicines, and to compare public drug programs against benchmarks set by private-sector drug insurance in Canada. Read the full report here.

Manitoba provincial parks first in Canada to have smoke-free public beaches, children's playgrounds

The hundreds of thousands of Manitoba families and tourists who visit Manitoba’s parks each year will be able to enjoy smoke-free public beaches and playgrounds beginning in the summer of 2014, Water Stewardship and Conservation Gord Mackintosh and Healthy Living, Seniors and Consumer Affairs Minister Jim Rondeau has announced. Read more here.

False-positive mammograms can trigger long-term distress

Women who have a false-positive mammogram result -- when breast cancer is first suspected but then dispelled with further testing -- can have lingering anxiety and distress up to three years after the misdiagnosis, a new study finds. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Brodersen J, Siersma VD. Long-term psychosocial consequences of false-positive screening mammography. Ann Fam Med. 2013 Mar;11(2):106-15. PMID: 23508596

Statins tied to lowered liver cancer risk with hepatitis C

People infected with chronic hepatitis C are less likely to develop liver cancer if they are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, new research from Taiwan suggests. The report doesn't prove statins ward off cancer, and one researcher not involved in the study says it's not reason enough to recommend using the popular medications solely for liver cancer prevention. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Tsan YT, et al. Statins and the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23509319

New imaging agent enables better cancer detection, more accurate staging

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have shown that a new imaging dye, designed and developed at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, is an effective agent in detecting and mapping cancers that have reached the lymph nodes. The radioactive dye, called Technetium Tc-99m tilmanocept, successfully identified cancerous lymph nodes and did a better job of marking cancers than the current standard dye. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Wallace AM, et al. Comparative Evaluation of [99mTc] Tilmanocept for Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Breast Cancer Patients: Results of Two Phase 3 Trials. Ann Surg Oncol. 2013 Mar 17. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23504141

Key take-home messages from the lung cancer session, ESMO Signalling Pathways Symposium on targeting the HER/EGFR family

This text presents the key points from the lung cancer session held during the ESMO Signalling Pathways Symposium on targeting the HER/EGFR family of receptors in breast, lung and colorectal cancer (1-2 March 2013, Sitges, Spain). Prof Rolf Stahel, session moderator, summarises the key topics of the interactive discussion. Read more here.

Liquid biopsy: new opportunities to capture the entire heterogeneity of cancer?

In this short YouTube video, Alberto Bardelli discusses emerging techniques that could revolutionize the way we gain insights on cancer, with benefits for both doctors and patients. This topic was discussed at the ESMO 2013 Personalised Medicine Symposium "Signalling Pathways, Targeting the HER/EGFR family: Focus on breast, lung and colorectal cancers" (1-2 March 2013, Sitges, Spain). View the presentation here.

Canadian Cancer Society welcomes action on roll-your-own tobacco tax loophole, announced in the federal budget

The Canadian Cancer Society applauds the federal government for introducing a tax increase on roll-your-own tobacco in today’s federal budget. The increase addresses a longstanding loophole. “We welcome this increase because higher tobacco taxes are the most effective way to reduce tobacco use among Canadians, especially for young people who will be less likely to buy higher priced tobacco products,” says Rob Cunningham, Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Cancer Society. Read more here.

New study says less frequent mammograms don’t increase cancer risks after age 50

In the latest installment in the mammogram debate, a new study finds that getting a mammogram every other year instead of annually did not increase the risk of advanced breast cancer in women aged 50 to 74, even in women who use hormone therapy or have dense breasts, factors that increase a woman’s cancer risk. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kerlikowske K, et al. Outcomes of Screening Mammography by Frequency, Breast Density, and Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy.
JAMA Intern Med. Published online March 18, 2013.

New therapy shows ‘life-saving potential’ in adults with leukemia

An experimental therapy that tweaks cancer patients’ immune cells to recognize an often-deadly form of leukemia has shrunk tumours and sent the cancer into remission in adults, according U.S. researchers. Scientists said the finding, which was based on a study of five adults, had “life-saving potential.” The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Brentjens RJ, et al. CD19-Targeted T Cells Rapidly Induce Molecular Remissions in Adults with Chemotherapy-Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Sci Transl Med. 2013 Mar 20;5(177):177ra38. PMID: 23515080

The rare disease search engine that outperforms Google

A powerful new search engine designed to help diagnose rare diseases could prove a boon for both medics and the public.  In the late 1940s, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine coined an unusual phrase to describe unexpected diagnoses. “When you hear hoofbeats behind you, don’t expect to see a zebra,” he said. The phrase stuck and today, medics commonly use the term “zebra” to describe a rare disease, usually defined as one that occurs in less than 1 in 2000 of the population. Read more here.

A step closer to drugging the p53 tumour suppressor pathway

At the recently held 11th International Congress on Targeted Anticancer Therapies (TAT) in Paris, K. Wiman from the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, reported on findings from his more than a decade long research efforts on drugging the p53 pathway. Read more here.

Key take-home messages from the colorectal cancer session, ESMO Signalling Pathways Symposium on targeting the HER/EGFR family

This text presents the key points from the colorectal cancer session held during the ESMO Signalling Pathways Symposium on targeting the HER/EGFR family of receptors in breast, lung, colorectal cancer (1-2 March 2013, Sitges, Spain). Prof Eric Van Cutsem, session moderator, summarises the key topics of the interactive discussion. Read more here.

Study shows how vitamin E can help prevent cancer

Researchers have identified an elusive anti-cancer property of vitamin E that has long been presumed to exist, but difficult to find. In this new work, researchers showed in prostate cancer cells that one form of vitamin E inhibits the activation of an enzyme that is essential for cancer cell survival. The loss of the enzyme, called Akt, led to tumor cell death. The vitamin had no negative effect on normal cells. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Huang PH, et al. Vitamin E Facilitates the Inactivation of the Kinase Akt by the Phosphatase PHLPP1. Sci Signal. 2013 Mar 19;6(267):ra19. PMID: 23512990

Skepticism about proposed medical marijuana rules not limited to MDs: poll

A poll conducted for the Canadian Medical Association indicates that Canadians share physicians' skepticism about the federal government's proposals for revising its approach to the use of medical marijuana. The online poll of 1,000 Canadians, which was conducted in late February, found that 85% of respondents believe that the drug "should go through the same rigorous testing and approval as other medicines." As well, 70% said Health Canada would be failing to meet its responsibility to Canadians if it ended its role in authorizing the use of medical marijuana. Read more here.

Movement of PAs into Canadian health care still going strong

The ongoing integration of physician assistants (PAs) into the Canadian health care system continues, with roughly 300 PAs now employed across the country. Given the continuing growth and evolution within the relatively new profession, the CMA and Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) have updated and revised their joint Physician Assistant Toolkit. The resource was first published in 2010 to provide information for physicians who were considering employing PAs in their practices or on health care teams. The updates include information on legislation and regulation, education and certification, liability issues, and funding and employment opportunities. Read more and access the Toolkit here.

Toolbox helps MDs improve referral practices

The CMA, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada have joined forces to create a Referral and Consultation Process Toolbox. The four tools - Intraprofessional Communications, Measuring Wait One, Central Intake and Physician Directories - have been tried and tested and proven to improve referral and consultation processes. All are based on initiatives that have been implemented successfully across Canada. Read more and access the Toolbox here.

How some prostate tumors resist treatment -- and how it might be fixed

Hormonal therapies can help control advanced prostate cancer for a time. However, for most men, at some point their prostate cancer eventually stops responding to further hormonal treatment. In a study published in Cancer Cell, a team led by researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute found a mechanism at play in androgen-insensitive cells that enables them to survive treatment. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Qi J, et al. The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Siah2 Contributes to Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer by Regulation of Androgen Receptor Transcriptional Activity. Cancer Cell. 2013; 23(3):322-346.

Processed meat linked to higher risk of mortality

A recent study reports that eating red and processed meat may be linked to a higher risk of mortality. The study used data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). In particular, processed meat increased the morality risk from heart disease and cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Rohrmann S, et al. Meat consumption and mortality - results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. BMC Med. 2013 Mar 7;11:63. PMID: 23497300

Researchers say NSAIDs can boost stem cells for transplants for cancer patients

Scientists say that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be a boon to doctors gathering stem cells for transplants to treat patients with blood or bone marrow cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The compounds, known as NSAIDs and which include aspirin, ibuprofen and other painkillers, increased the number of stem and progenitor cells harvested from the blood in animal testing and a small human study, according to work published by a research team led by Indiana University School of Medicine scientists. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hoggatt J, et al. Differential stem- and progenitor-cell trafficking by prostaglandin E2. Nature. 2013 Mar 13. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23485965

European Union regulatory workshop on medication errors

The European Union Regulatory workshop on Medication Errors was organised by the European Union regulatory network with an aim to raise awareness of this important public-health issue, discussing the new legal requirements for reporting medication errors and developing best practice among stakeholders. The presentations given at this EU regulatory workshop held at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on 28 February–1 March 2013 are now available on the EMA website and can be found here.

Melatonin may not reduce weight loss in cancer patients

Contrary to previous findings, a recent study suggests that melatonin supplementation may not increase appetite or reduce weight loss in advanced cancer patients. Researchers found that significant differences were lacking for weight loss, appetite and quality of life between melatonin and placebo groups following 28 days of treatment. The authors concluded that melatonin may not improve these symptoms in advanced cancer patients. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Del Fabbro E, et al. Effects of Melatonin on Appetite and Other Symptoms in Patients With Advanced Cancer and Cachexia: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Feb 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23439759

New scope 'maps' colon for cancer using Google technology

Researchers have taken a page out of Google's book to develop an advanced scope that may enable doctors to look deeper into the colon and with more precision to better detect signs of cancer. The scope would not only allow doctors performing a colonoscopy to get the standard forward-looking view, but would also capture images of the sides of the large bowel, similar to the way Google Street View provides a 360-degree picture of a road and its buildings. Read more here.

How a healthy heart can keep cancer at bay

Following a heart-healthy lifestyle can also lower the risk of cancer, according to a new U.S. study that looks at how adhering to recommendations by the American Heart Association can do more than just fend off cardiovascular disease. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Rasmussen-Torvik LJ, et al. Ideal Cardiovascular Health is Inversely Associated with Incident Cancer: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Circulation. Published online before print March 18, 2013.

Cancer risk factors in Ontario

Cancer Risk Factors in Ontario: Evidence Summary reviews the epidemiologic evidence linking a broad range of risk factors to various types of cancer in Ontario. The report focuses on the following risk categories: behavioural (tobacco, alcohol, etc.), reproductive and hormonal, environmental (ultraviolet radiation, fine particulate matter, etc.), occupational, infectious, genetic, medical conditions and treatment. Read more here.

Access the full report here.

Key take-home messages from the breast cancer session, ESMO Signalling Pathways Symposium on targeting the HER/EGFR family

ESMO presents the key points from the breast cancer session held during the ESMO Signalling Pathways Symposium on targeting the HER/EGFR family of receptors in breast, lung and colorectal cancer (1-2 March 2013, Sitges, Spain). Prof Martine Piccart, session moderator, summarises the key topics of the interactive discussion. Read more here.

Widespread flaws found in ovarian cancer treatment

Most women with ovarian cancer receive inadequate care and miss out on treatments that could add a year or more to their lives, a new study has found. “If we could just make sure that women get to the people who are trained to take care of them, the impact would be much greater than that of any new chemotherapy drug or biological agent,” said Dr. Robert E. Bristow, the director of gynecologic oncology at the University of California, and lead author of the new study presented at a meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology in Los Angeles. Read more here.

Free-floating DNA from tumor could provide early warning

In a recent study, researchers looked at a new way to track a cancer's growth: measuring the amount of DNA that shakes loose from a cancer cell and floats freely in the blood, called circulating tumor DNA. Doctors hope to use these measurements to assess how a patient's tumor responds to treatment, according to the study, which included 30 women with advanced breast cancer and was led by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Dawson SJ, et al. Analysis of Circulating Tumor DNA to Monitor Metastatic Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2013 Mar 13. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23484797

Despite evidence, parents’ fears of HPV vaccine grow

More U.S. parents of teen girls not fully vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) are intending to forgo the shots altogether – a trend driven by vaccine safety concerns, new research suggests. That’s despite multiple studies showing the vaccine isn’t tied to any serious side effects but does protect against the virus that causes cervical cancer, researchers said. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Darden PM, et al. Reasons for Not Vaccinating Adolescents: National Immunization Survey of Teens, 2008–2010. Pediatrics. Published online March 18, 2013.

USC researchers show increase of cell mutations with age

Like an old car that gradually rusts as it ages, even if there is no lethal damage to a critical part of the car, a human body accumulates genetic damage as it becomes older. For the first time, research at the Keck School of Medicine of USC showed evidence that cell mutations increase with age, causing supposedly identical cells to diverge genetically. The report is featured in the journal Aging Cell. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hsieh JC, et al. Large chromosome deletions, duplications, and gene conversion events accumulate with age in normal human colon crypts. Aging Cell. 2013 Feb 20. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23425690

Full-fat dairy intake 'affects breast cancer recovery'

A 12-year study of more than 1,800 breast cancer survivors found eating one or more portions of full-fat milk, cream, cheese or yogurt a day was associated with higher mortality. But eating low-fat dairy was not found to reduce the risk of death or the chance of the cancer returning. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kroenke CH, et al. High- and Low-Fat Dairy Intake, Recurrence, and Mortality After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. J Natl Cancer Inst. First published online: March 14, 2013.

University of Calgary receives $2.9 million from federal government for four researchers

The federal government announced today that four faculty members at U of C have been awarded the prestigious Canada Research Chair grant, including one researcher who will receive multi-year funding from the program for the first time. Faculty of Medicine researcher Aaron Goodarzi is a new recipient of the Canada Research Chair in Genome Damage and Instability Disease. Goodarzi’s research examines human diseases caused by radiation exposure. His laboratory is exploring genetic risk factors for radiation-induced cancer, as well as novel methods of detecting radiation exposure and sensitivity in people. Read more here.

'Night shift link' to ovarian cancer

A study of more than 3,000 women suggested that working overnight increased the risk of early-stage cancer by 49% compared with doing normal office hours. One possible explanation was disruption of the sleep hormone melatonin, the researchers said. But experts warned more work was needed and there might be other explanations. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Bhatti P, et al. Nightshift work and risk of ovarian cancer. Occup Environ Med. 2013 Apr;70(4):231-7. PMID: 23343856

New monoclonal antibody may boost cancer therapy

Researchers at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York have developed a new monoclonal antibody capable of targeting proteins inside cancer cells. Known as ESK1, this monoclonal antibody targets a protein (WT1) associated with many types of cancer. According to Dr. David Scheinberg, inventor of ESK1, research has shown that a monoclonal antibody can be used "to recognize a cancer-associated protein inside a cell, and it will destroy the cell."

To read more about this study, click here.

Study mentioned: Dao T, et al. Targeting the Intracellular WT1 Oncogene Product with a Therapeutic Human Antibody. Sci Transl Med. 2013 Mar 13;5(176)176ra33. PMID: 23486779

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - Ways to outsmart the disease are within everyone’s reach

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is taking advantage of this month, which is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, to tell Quebecers that it is time to take action to prevent the disease. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death in Quebec and the third most common cancer among men and women combined. Last year, about 6,200 Quebecers were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 2,450 died from this disease. Read more here.

Canadian Cancer Society applauds move to ease family caregiver worries

The Canadian Cancer Society is pleased to learn that legislation reintroduced at Queen's Park will strengthen job security for family caregivers. "Bill 21 is welcome news for those who need to take leave from work to care for a loved one with cancer," says Rowena Pinto, Vice President, Public Affairs and Strategic Initiatives for the Canadian Cancer Society in Ontario. "This legislation will allow families to concentrate on supporting their loved ones instead of worrying about losing their jobs. Although we would like to see the legislation evolve into a paid leave, we are pleased with this important step by the government." Read more here.

Breast cancer radiotherapy increased risk of ischemic heart disease

Cancer therapies save lives. But those same treatments can also cause serious problems years later. Such is the case with radiation therapy for breast cancer. A new study has found that women who have received radiation to treat breast cancer had increased risks of developing heart disease. The risk was linked to unintended (incidental) radiation exposure to the heart. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Darby SC, et al. Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease in Women after Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:987-998.

Trastuzumab: not just for HER2-positive breast cancer anymore?

The monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) may be effective against HER2-negative breast cancers in addition to HER2-positive disease, based on recent research findings. As recounted in a UM Health System statement accompanying the release of the study, new analyses of old data had revealed that women whose tumors were incorrectly categorized as HER2-positive benefited from adjuvant trastuzumab therapy. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ithimakin S, et al. HER2 Drives Luminal Breast Cancer Stem Cells in the Absence of HER2 Amplification: Implications for Efficacy of Adjuvant Trastuzumab. Cancer Res. 2013 Mar 1;73(5):1635-46. PMID: 23442322

Using fat to fight brain cancer

In laboratory studies, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have found that stem cells from a patient’s own fat may have the potential to deliver new treatments directly into the brain after the surgical removal of a glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive form of brain tumor. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Pendleton C, et al. (2013) Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Adipose Tissue vs Bone Marrow: In Vitro Comparison of Their Tropism towards Gliomas. PLoS ONE 8(3): e58198.

‘Breast health’ supplement claims are short on evidence, experts say

A growing number of companies are tapping into women’s anxieties around breast cancer by offering herbal supplements they claim can support breast health and even prevent disease. While the claims might sound convincing, breast cancer experts say the evidence simply isn’t there. Read more here.

Society of Gynecologic Oncology, 44th Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer

The Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, SGO’s premier educational event for members and other practitioners and allied health professionals who are interested in the subspecialty of gynecologic oncology, took place March 9-12, 2013 in Los Angeles. Connect to the Web site here.

FDA approves Lymphoseek to help locate lymph nodes in patients with certain cancers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lymphoseek (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept) Injection, a radioactive diagnostic imaging agent that helps doctors locate lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer or melanoma who are undergoing surgery to remove tumor-draining lymph nodes. Lymphoseek is an imaging drug that helps locate lymph nodes; it is not a cancer imaging drug. Read more here.

Study shows some children with eye cancer can avoid chemotherapy

French researchers have found that some children with low-risk retinoblastoma who are treated with surgery can safely skip post-surgery chemotherapy without the disease returning or spreading. And those with intermediate- or high-risk retinoblastoma can undergo a less aggressive chemotherapy treatment. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Aerts I, et al. Results of a Multicenter Prospective Study on the Postoperative Treatment of Unilateral Retinoblastoma Following Primary Enucleation. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Mar 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23460706

The obesity-cancer connection, and what we can do about it

"The problem with being overweight or obese, as measured by weight and height, is that it raises our risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. But did you know that being obese can actually increase our risk of getting cancer and may even worsen our chances of surviving after a cancer diagnosis?" Continue reading the American Cancer Society Expert Voices blog here.

BRAF inhibitor treatment causes melanoma cells to shift how they produce energy

A multi-institutional study has revealed that BRAF-positive metastatic malignant melanomas develop resistance to treatment with drugs targeting the BRAF/MEK growth pathway through a major change in metabolism. The findings suggest a strategy to improve the effectiveness of currently available targeted therapies. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Haq R, et al. Oncogenic BRAF Regulates Oxidative Metabolism via PGC1α and MITF. Cancer Cell, 07 March 2013.

E-learning module: Secondary prevention of colorectal cancer

ESMO has commissioned an E-learning module on colorectal cancer screening. This module gives a good example of how the improvement of knowledge on secondary prevention of colorectal cancer and discussing how different assumptions about improved colorectal cancer screening can impact on colorectal cancer mortality. Read more and access the presentation here.

Aspirin linked to lower melanoma risk in study

A study of women ages 50 to 79 has found that taking aspirin is associated with a lower risk of melanoma skin cancer. This may be welcome news for women who already take a daily aspirin. However, since long-term aspirin use can have serious side effects, aspirin should not be taken regularly without talking to a doctor first. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Gamba CA, et al. Aspirin is Associated With Lower Melanoma Risk Among Postmenopausal Caucasian Women. Published early online March 11, 2013 in CANCER.

Chemotherapy game-changer for stage 4 cancer

A new form of cancer treatment, Genetically Targested Fractioned Chemotherapy (GTF) is being investigated for patients with late stage complex cancers.  Focusing on the premise that each patient's cancer is unique, GTF provides a unique genetic blueprint of the cancer allowing personalization of a patient's treatment plan.

Doctors believe that in 5-7 years, GTF could become a world standard of chemotherapy treatment, due to its role in "reducing the imminent damage to the immune system that is commonly the result of a more conventional administration."

To read more about GTF, click here 

Scientists make mouse model of human cancer, demonstrate cure

UT Southwestern Medical Center scientists report the first successful blocking of tumor development in a genetic mouse model of an incurable human cancer. “To my knowledge, this is the first time that a mouse model of a genetically defined malignant human cancer has been generated in which the formation of the tumor from beginning to end can be monitored and in which blocking the pathway cures the mouse of the tumor,” said Dr. Luis Parada, chair of the department of developmental biology at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study published in Cell. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Mo W, et al. CXCR4/CXCL12 Mediate Autocrine Cell- Cycle Progression in NF1-Associated Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors. Cell. 2013 Feb 28;152(5):1077-90. PMID: 23434321

Biomarkers may help predict progression of Barrett's esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma

A series of microRNA expression signatures that may help to define progression of the precancerous condition Barrett's esophagus into esophageal adenocarcinoma was reported recently in Cancer Prevention Research. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Wu X, et al. MicroRNA Expression Signatures during Malignant Progression from Barrett's Esophagus to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2013 Mar;6(3):196-205. PMID: 23466817

Disease knowledge may advance faster with new gene probing tool

Scientists at UC San Francisco have found a more precise way to turn off genes, a finding that will speed research discoveries and biotech advances and may eventually prove useful in reprogramming cells to regenerate organs and tissues. The strategy borrows from the molecular toolbox of bacteria, using a protein employed by microbes to fight off viruses, according to the researchers, who describe the technique in Cell. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Qi LS, et al. Repurposing CRISPR as an RNA-Guided Platform for Sequence-Specific Control of Gene Expression. Cell. 2013 Feb 28;152(5):1173-83. PMID: 23452860

A cancer-promoting protein is found to also suppress cell growth

Some cellular proteins have multiple, and occasionally opposing, functions. Professor Adrian Krainer and colleagues at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory demonstrate in a paper published in Molecular Cell that the oncogenic protein SRSF1 can also trigger a stop in cell growth and prevent cancerous proliferation by stabilizing p53, the powerful tumor-suppressor protein. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Fregoso OI, et al. Splicing-Factor Oncoprotein SRSF1 Stabilizes p53 via RPL5 and Induces Cellular Senescence. Molecular Cell, 07 March 2013.

Comparing combination therapies for advanced head and neck cancer shows no improvement

Locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is a potentially curable disease in nearly every patient at the time of diagnosis, yet despite the most aggressive efforts, up to 30-50 percent of patients may ultimately succumb to the disease. A team of scientists, including Neil Hayes, MD, MPH, from UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, report results of a clinical trial comparing treatments for this cancer, the seventh most common tumor type in the United States. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Martins RG, et al. Cisplatin and Radiotherapy With or Without Erlotinib in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: A Randomized Phase II Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Mar 4. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23460709

Hope in stopping melanoma from spreading

Researchers have identified a critical protein role in the metastasis of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Inhibition of the protein known as adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) reduces the spread of melanoma to the lungs in mice, according to a study published in Science Signaling, suggesting that targeting ARF6 may be an effective approach to preventing melanoma metastasis. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Grossmann AH, et al. The Small GTPase ARF6 Stimulates β-Catenin Transcriptional Activity During WNT5A-Mediated Melanoma Invasion and Metastasis. Sci Signal. 2013 Mar 5;6(265):ra14. PMID: 23462101

Nursing researcher discovers healing power of kids' cancer camps

Catherine Laing (RN, MN), former patient care manager at the oncology unit of the Alberta Children's Hospital has discovered that cancer camps should be seen as a necessity and a psychosocial intervention for children.

Begun in the 1970s, cancer camps involve the entire family through each stage of the cancer experience, "from diagnosis through treatment, to survival or bereavement."  In 2008, 5,000 children and their families were involved in oncology retreats and community support programs, a 10% increase over the number of camps offered in 2005.

To read more about this study, click here

Ontario to ban teens from tanning beds

Ontario wants to become the latest province to bring in legislation that would ban teens under the age of 18 from using tanning beds. Health Minister Deb Matthews says she'll introduce a bill Thursday that would not only ban the sale of tanning services to people under 18, it would require operators to request ID from anyone who appears to be under 25. Read more here.

New trial alert: Tumour targeted radiation therapy for patients with localized prostate cancer

Researchers at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto are presently conducting a trial investigating the effects of increasing radiation dosage in patients with localized prostate cancer. Upon viewing a large tumour (i.e. greater than 5mm) on an MRI image, investigators are better prepared to target the tumour more directly and "safely give a higher dose of radiation to specifically target the cancer within the prostate gland." While several outcomes must be taken into account, including accurately assessing a patient's quality of life after receiving the increased radiation dosage, this prospective two arm phase 2 trial may well lessen the chance of cancer recurrence.

To read more about this trial, click here

Colonoscopy screening reduces risk of advanced colorectal cancer

A new study led by a researcher at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania adds support to current medical recommendations stating that screening colonoscopy substantially reduces an average-risk adult’s likelihood of being diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer in either the right or left side of the colon. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Green BB, et al. An Automated Intervention With Stepped Increases in Support to Increase Uptake of Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med. 5 March 2013;158(5 Part 1):301-311.

Study identifies growth factor essential to the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor

A multi-institutional team led by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers has identified a molecular pathway that appears to be essential for the growth and spread of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. In their report, they show that blocking this pathway – which involves interactions between tumor cells and the surrounding tissues – leads to regression of all four molecular subtypes of medulloblastoma in several mouse models. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Snuderl M, et al. Targeting placental growth factor/neuropilin 1 pathway inhibits growth and spread of medulloblastoma. Cell. 2013 Feb 28;152(5):1065-76. PMID: 23452854

Surviving head, neck cancers: 'where you're treated matters'

A study of older patients with advanced head and neck cancers found that where they were treated significantly influenced their survival. The study, led by researchers at the Hutchinson Center and published in Cancer, revealed that patients who were treated at hospitals that saw a high number of head and neck cancers were 15 percent less likely to die of their disease as compared to patients who were treated at hospitals that saw a relatively low number of such cancers. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Sharma A, et al. Hospital volume is associated with survival but not multimodality therapy in Medicare patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Cancer. 2013 Mar 1. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23456789

The potential of large studies for building genetic risk prediction models

NCI scientists have developed a new paradigm to assess hereditary risk prediction in common diseases, such as prostate cancer. This genetic risk prediction concept is based on polygenic analysis—the study of a group of common DNA sequences, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), each of which contributes a very small amount to overall disease risk, but has a strong effect when grouped together. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Chatterjee N, et al. Projecting the performance of risk prediction based on polygenic analyses of genome-wide association studies. Nat Genet. 2013 Mar 3. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23455638

The 2013 Update of the Guide for Patients in Breast Cancer, based on ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline is now out

This guide for patients has been prepared in collaboration with Reliable Cancer Therapies (RCT) as a service to patients, to help patients and their relatives better understand the nature of breast cancer and appreciate the best treatment choices available according to the subtype of breast cancer. Read more here.

Webcast: What's new in the management of blood clots for cancer patients

The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer has posted a link to a webcast originally recorded in 2012. Topics Covered: Overview of Treatment-Related Blood Clots (Venous Thromboembolism – VTE), New Ways to Manage VTE, How Clinical Trials Contribute to Your Treatment Options, The Role of the FDA in Approving New Treatments, Novel Clinical Management of VTE, Communicating with Your Health Care Team about New Treatments for VTE: What Questions to Ask. View the CancerCare webcast here.

Young Oncologists Journal Club: Prognostic and predictive value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer – the boom for immunotherapy?

"Gene expression signatures have shown promising both as prognostic as well as predictive tools in primary breast cancer, but they are not routinely used in clinical practice. Several explanatory reasons have been pinpointed, such as lack of statistical confidence, diversity in operational definitions, inclusion of unselected breast cancer populations, as well as the former lack of prospective biological sample collection in older cancer trials." Read the complete ESMO journal club article here.

Study mentioned: Loi S, et al. Prognostic and Predictive Value of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in a Phase III Randomized Adjuvant Breast Cancer Trial in Node-Positive Breast Cancer Comparing the Addition of Docetaxel to Doxorubicin With Doxorubicin-Based Chemotherapy: BIG 02-98. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Mar 1;31(7):860-7. PMID: 23341518

Nearly 1 in 4 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer report

A study by researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, has found that nearly one in four women (23 percent) newly diagnosed with breast cancer reported symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) shortly after diagnosis, with increased risk among black and Asian women. The research has been e-published ahead of print in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Vin-Raviv N, et al. Racial Disparities in Posttraumatic Stress After Diagnosis of Localized Breast Cancer: The BQUAL Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Feb 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23434900

Canadian Cancer Society announces inaugural Impact Grants

The Canadian Cancer Society has awarded a $1.2 million Impact Grant to Dr Anand Swaminath, a radiation oncologist at Juravinski Cancer Centre, to lead a Canadian clinical trial comparing two different types of radiation therapy for lung cancer. Dr. Swaminath’s grant is one of 11 new Impact Grants awarded by the Canadian Cancer Society for a total value of more than $13 million. Read more here.

Cancer Screening Quality Improvement Toolkit

As part of Ontario's Action Plan for Health Care, Cancer Care Ontario has developed a cancer screening toolkit for Family Health Teams (FHTs) that decide to include cancer screening in their Quality Improvement Plans. This resource is intended to help plan, implement, monitor and report on improvements in colorectal, cervical and breast cancer screening. Read more and access the Toolkit here.

FDA approves regorafenib for advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours

The USA Food and Drug Administration expanded the approved use of regorafenib to treat patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that can not be surgically removed and no longer respond to other FDA-approved treatments for this disease. Regorafenib (Stivarga), a multi-kinase inhibitor, blocks several enzymes that promote cancer growth. With this new approval, Stivarga is intended to be used in patients whose GIST tumour can not be removed by surgery or has metastasize and is no longer responding to Gleevec (imatinib) and Sutent (sunitinib), two other FDA-approved drugs to treat GIST. Read more here.

Twice given, twice used: Infusion of stem cells and specially generated T-cells from same donor improves leukemia survival

In a significant advance for harnessing the immune system to treat leukemias, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for the first time have successfully infused large numbers of donor T-cells specific for a key anti-leukemic antigen to prolong survival in high-risk and relapsed leukemia patients after stem cell transplantation. Both the stem cells for transplant and the T-cells came from the same matched donors. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Chapuis AG, et al. Transferred WT1-Reactive CD8+ T Cells Can Mediate Antileukemic Activity and Persist in Post-Transplant Patients. Sci Transl Med. 2013 Feb 27;5(174):174ra27. PMID: 23447018

Mindfulness benefits breast cancer patients, study finds

A new study from the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine has found that mindfulness practice may help breast cancer patients cope with their diagnoses. “Mindfulness refers to awareness of the present moment in a non-judgmental manner,” says Rie Tamagawa, PhD, lead author of the study and post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Psychosocial Resources/Oncology. “This enables patients to choose better coping strategies.” Read more here.

Study mentioned: Tamagawa R, et al. Trait mindfulness, repression, suppression, and self-reported mood and stress symptoms among women with breast cancer. J Clin Psychol. 2013 Mar;69(3):264-77. PMID: 23280695