Hospital services for cancer patients nearing death vary across Canada

The number of cancer patients who die in acute care hospitals varies across Canada. About two in three cancer patients in Manitoba (69%) and New Brunswick (66%) die in hospital, compared with two in five in Ontario (40%) and British Columbia (39%), according to a new study released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Read more here.

Read the full report, End-of-Life Hospital Care for Cancer Patients, here.

Cancer Leadership Council statement: Reform Medicare payment for patient-focused care

NCCS joined its colleagues in the Cancer Leadership Council in publishing a statement of principles to guide reform of Medicare payment for cancer care. Major news outlets have suggested that Medicare beneficiaries are not receiving their cancer care due to the 2% cuts in Medicare payments required under the sequestration. NCCS and other cancer advocates have pledged to monitor the impact of sequestration on cancer patients. While sequestration is a concern, major reform of Medicare payment for cancer care is needed, and the CLC identified principles that would ensure a more patient-focused system of care. Read more here.

Our feel-good war on breast cancer

"The idea that there could be one solution to breast cancer — screening, early detection, some universal cure — is certainly appealing. All of us — those who fear the disease, those who live with it, our friends and families, the corporations who swathe themselves in pink — wish it were true. Wearing a bracelet, sporting a ribbon, running a race or buying a pink blender expresses our hopes, and that feels good, even virtuous. But making a difference is more complicated than that." Read the full New York Times article here.

European Medicines Agency recommends granting a conditional marketing authorisation for vismodegib

The European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a conditional marketing authorisation for the medicinal product vismodegib (Erivedge) 150 mg, hard capsule, intended for the treatment of adult patients with symptomatic metastatic basal cell carcinoma or locally advanced basal cell carcinoma inappropriate for surgery or radiotherapy. Read more here.

Ginkgo studied for chemotherapy cognitive side effects

In the current study, researchers evaluated the possible benefits of ginkgo on protecting against cognitive impairment in those receiving chemotherapy. The results suggested that there was a lack of significant differences between the ginkgo group and the placebo group in terms of cognitive function. The placebo group reported worse nausea after chemotherapy. The researchers concluded that these findings lack support for the use of ginkgo in preventing cognitive impairment caused by chemotherapy. Further study is needed to determine whether ginkgo may be effective for this purpose. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Barton DL, et al. The use of Ginkgo biloba for the prevention of chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction in women receiving adjuvant treatment for breast cancer, N00C9. Support Care Cancer. 2013 Apr;21(4):1185-92. PMID: 23150188

Province unveils new plan in cancer battle

As the number of cancer cases in Alberta continues to rise, the province has announced a new strategy, Changing Our Future: Alberta’s Cancer Plan to 2030, for cancer prevention, curing cancer, and reducing the suffering of cancer patients. “Every day, 42 Albertans learn they have cancer. We expect that to grow to 73 new cancer cases a day by 2030. We aim to change that,” said Health Minister Fred Horne. “Even though we have exceptional cancer care, we need to do more starting today. To wait means losing the opportunity to get ahead of the curve and that will end up costing much more in lives and in dollars.” Read more here.

Read the full report here.

Connect to the CancerControl Alberta website here.

Adequate supply level has been restored in all EU Member States and pegylated doxorubicin hydrochloride can now be used again without restrictions

The European Medicines Agency has announced that it has updated its recommendations on the use of Caelyx which were issued in the last two years. These recommendations followed a shortage of the medicine due to shortcomings in quality assurance identified at the manufacturing site, Ben Venue Laboratories. The Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use now considers that adequate supply levels have been restored in all EU Member States and that Caelyx can now be used again without restrictions as per its licensed indications. There is no longer a need to prioritise existing patients and new patients for whom no alternative treatment is available. Read more here.

Notice - Publication of information about certain Clinical Trial Applications authorized by Health Canada

This Notice serves to inform clinical trial sponsors that Health Canada will publish information about all clinical trial applications (CTAs) authorized as of April 1, 2013, for the study of drugs in patients. As you may be aware, Health Canada recently consulted on its intention to launch a publicly available clinical trials database. This initiative will be implemented shortly, in May 2013, and will include trials that were issued a No-Objection-Letter as of April 1, 2013. Read more here.

Could e-cigarettes save smokers’ lives? Some health advocates think so

Are electronic cigarettes dangerous and potentially hazardous to health or an important tool that can help people quit smoking? It depends on whom you ask. Many Canadian health organizations once viewed e-cigarettes, which are battery-powered and turn a liquid solution into a vapour, as a threat. But as more evidence emerges of their potential role in helping people wean themselves off cigarettes, those attitudes are rapidly shifting. Read more here.

Delays in diagnosis worsen outlook for minority, uninsured pediatric retinoblastoma patients, study finds

When the eye cancer retinoblastoma is diagnosed in racial and ethnic minority children whose families don't have private health insurance, it often takes a more invasive, potentially life-threatening course than in other children, probably because of delays in diagnosis, researchers at Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center in Boston are reporting at the 26th annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology Oncology in Miami, April 24-27. Read more here.

New European system for medicines under additional monitoring

The European Union (EU) has introduced a new process to label medicines that are being monitored particularly closely by regulatory authorities. These medicines are described as being under 'additional monitoring'. The concept of additional monitoring was introduced by the new EU laws on the safety-monitoring of medicines, the pharmacovigilance legislation, which started to come into effect in July 2012. Read more, including a list of anticancer medicines that are subjects of additional monitoring in the EU, here.

Glucosamine may reduce joint pain of breast cancer treatment

Many women who discontinue aromatase inhibitor (AI) treatment for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer due to joint pain may benefit from glucosamine and chondroitin. In the current study, researchers observed the effects of 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine sulfate and 1,200 milligrams of chondroitin sulfate taken by mouth daily for 24 weeks. They looked at the effects of these supplements in 53 postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer who experienced joint pain and stiffness after AI therapy. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Greenlee H, et al. Phase II study of glucosamine with chondroitin on aromatase inhibitor-associated joint symptoms in women with breast cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2013 Apr;21(4):1077-87. PMID: 23111941

Researchers observe an increased risk of cancer in people with history of non-melanoma skin cancer

A prospective study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital observed an association between risk of second primary cancer and history of non-melanoma skin cancer in white men and women. The researchers found that people with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer had a modestly increased risk of getting cancer in the future, specifically breast and lung cancer in women and melanoma in both men and women. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Song F, et al. (2013) Risk of a Second Primary Cancer after Non-melanoma Skin Cancer in White Men and Women: A Prospective Cohort Study. PLoS Med 10(4): e1001433.

Access to cancer medicines in low- and middle-income countries

Approximately 80% of global cancer-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), which might reflect poor access to oncology therapies, including drugs. Major breakthroughs have been realised in controlling cancer in the past five decades; however, for patients in low- and middle-income countries, many of these advances are nothing but an aspiration and hope for the future. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lopes GD Jr, et al. Access to cancer medications in low- and middle-income countries. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2013 Apr 9. doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2013.55. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23568416

IARC monographs in PDF: volume 102 now online

Volume 102 (2013): Non-ionizing radiation, Part 2: Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields

The topic of this volume is the evaluation of the carcinogenicity of radiation in the radio frequency range (30 kHz to 300 GHz) of the electromagnetic spectrum. This type of radiation is emitted by devices used in wireless telecommunication, including mobile phones, and by many other sources in occupational and general environmental settings. Access the full volume here.

Clinical trial first for less invasive procedure to treat prostate cancer

This trial, which includes 30 patients with localized prostate cancer (10 people at each of London, a hospital in Europe and another in the United States), is the first clinical trial of a new treatment which uses thermal ultrasound energy, guided by real-time magnetic resonance imagery, to target prostate tissue without exposing healthy tissue outside the prostate to harm. Read more here.

Obesity linked to prostate cancer

New research conducted at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York has unveiled that obese men are at greater risk for developing prostate cancer.  Examing 500 men over a 14 year period, prostate abnormalities were detected in 11% of the patients studied, abnormalities strongly associated with obesity.  According to study author Andrew Rundle, associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School notes, this is one of the "first studies to assess the association between obesity and precancerous abnormalities."

To read more about the study click here

Study mentioned:  Rundle A et al. Obesity and future prostate cancer risk among men after an initial benign biopsy of the prostate. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers. 2013 Apr 23 [published online first]

New report on trends in Canadian cancer research investment now available

There were 255 more principal investigators funded for cancer research projects in 2010 than six years earlier, according to data gathered by the Canadian Cancer Research Survey and just released in the Cancer Research Investment in Canada, 2010 report. Read more here.

Download the full report and supporting documents here.

New agent might control breast-cancer growth and spread

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 suggests that an unusual experimental drug, called AS1411, can reduce breast-cancer aggressiveness, reverse resistance to the drug fulvestrant and perhaps improve the effectiveness of other breast-cancer drugs. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Pichiorri F, et al. In vivo NCL targeting affects breast cancer aggressiveness through miRNA regulation. J Exp Med. 2013 Apr 22. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23610125

A powerful, more accurate, genetic analysis tool opens new gene-regulation realms

Researchers from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah have developed a novel and powerful technique to identify the targets for a group of enzymes called RNA cytosine methyltransferases (RMTs) in human RNA. They applied their technique to a particular RMT, NSUN2, which has been implicated in mental retardation and cancers in humans, finding and validating many previously unknown RMT targets—an indication of the technique’s power. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Khoddami V, Cairns BR. Identification of direct targets and modified bases of RNA cytosine methyltransferases. Nat Biotechnol. 2013 Apr 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23604283

Radioactive bacteria targets metastatic pancreatic cancer

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have developed a therapy for pancreatic cancer that uses Listeria bacteria to selectively infect tumor cells and deliver radioisotopes into them. The experimental treatment dramatically decreased the number of metastases in a mouse model of highly aggressive pancreatic cancer without harming healthy tissue. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Quispe-Tintaya W, et al. Nontoxic radioactive Listeriaat is a highly effective therapy against metastatic pancreatic cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 22. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23610422

Cancer cachexia in the era of obesity

Previous research by Vickie Baracos, PhD and colleagues of the Palliative Care Medicine, Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, showed that sarcopenia (severe muscle depletion) is independently prognostic for poor survival in obese patients with cancer. Her team has now extended these findings to reveal that muscle depletion and low muscle attenuation are poor prognostic factors, regardless of overall body weight. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Martin L, et al. Cancer cachexia in the age of obesity: skeletal muscle depletion is a powerful prognostic factor, independent of body mass index. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Apr 20;31(12):1539-47. PMID: 23530101

New research characterises effectiveness and variability in patient recruitment and retention practices

Although the managers of nine out of 10 clinical trials worldwide meet their patient enrolment goals, reaching those targets typically means that drug developers need to nearly double their original timelines, according to new research from the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD) that benchmarks patient recruitment and retention practices. Read more here.

A retrospective analysis suggests that patients with NSCLC who harbour specific HER2 mutations may benefit from certain anti-HER2 treatments

New results from a retrospective study conducted in Europe suggest that anti-HER2 treatments have anti-cancer effects in a small subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harbouring specific HER2 protein mutations. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Mazières J, et al. Lung Cancer That Harbors a HER2 Mutation: Epidemiologic Characteristics and Therapeutic Perspectives. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Apr 22. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23610105

Particular DNA changes linked with prostate cancer development and lethality

A new analysis has found that the loss or amplification of particular DNA regions contributes to the development of prostate cancer, and that patients with two of these DNA changes have a high likelihood of dying from the disease. Published in CANCER, the study provides valuable information on the genetics of prostate cancer and offers insights into which patients should be treated aggressively. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Liu W, et al. Genetic markers associated with early cancer-specific mortality following prostatectomy. Cancer. Article first published online: 22 APR 2013.

Hundreds of alterations and potential drug targets to starve tumors identified

A massive study analyzing gene expression data from 22 tumor types has identified multiple metabolic expression changes associated with cancer. The analysis, conducted by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center, also identified hundreds of potential drug targets that could cut off a tumor’s fuel supply or interfere with its ability to synthesize essential building blocks. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hu J, et al. Heterogeneity of tumor-induced gene expression changes in the human metabolic network. Nat Biotechnol. 2013 Apr 21. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2530. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23604282

UCLA study finds scientific basis for cognitive complaints of breast cancer patients

A new study led by Dr. Patricia Ganz, director of cancer prevention and control research at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, demonstrates a significant correlation between poorer performance on neuropsychological tests and memory complaints in post-treatment, early-stage breast cancer patients — particularly those who have undergone combined chemotherapy and radiation. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ganz PA, et al. Cognitive Complaints After Breast Cancer Treatments: Examining the Relationship With Neuropsychological Test Performance. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Apr 19. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23606729

Novel monoclonal antibody inhibits tumor growth in breast cancer and angiosarcoma

A monoclonal antibody targeting a protein known as SFPR2 has been shown by researchers at the University of North Carolina to inhibit tumor growth in pre-clinical models of breast cancer and angiosarcoma. In a paper published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, a team led by Nancy Klauber-DeMore, MD, professor of surgery and a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, used a monoclonal antibody to target SFRP2 expressed in cells from triple-negative breast cancer and the aggressive blood-vessel malignancy angiosarcoma, reducing the rate of tumor growth. The antibody, created at the University of North Carolina, is the first therapeutic discovered that targets SFRP2. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Fontenot E, et al. A Novel Monoclonal Antibody to Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 2 Inhibits Tumor Growth. Mol Cancer Ther. 2013 Apr 19. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23604067

Topol on the cancer clinic of the future

In this short video, Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute and Editor-in-Chief of Medscape discusses how the digital world can create better healthcare. Watch the Medscape video here.

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IVF babies may be at higher cancer risk

Children born after in vitro fertilization (IVF) or other fertility treatments appear to be at modestly elevated risk of cancer, although causality still isn't clear, a meta-analysis showed. The risk of any childhood cancer was 33% higher after medically-assisted reproduction compared with spontaneously conceived controls, Susanne Krüger Kjaer, MD, DMSc, of the Danish Cancer Society Research Center in Copenhagen, and colleagues found. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hargreave M, et al. Fertility treatment and childhood cancer risk: a systematic meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2013 Apr 3. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23562045

New partnership between IARC and CRI to spur cancer research in Thailand and across South-East Asia

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Chulabhorn Research Institute, Thailand, today launched a three-year initiative to stimulate academic interchange and foster high-quality collaborative research into the causes of human cancer. The new cooperative agreement was signed today in Lyon by IARC Director Dr Christopher Wild and Professor Dr Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand. Her Royal Highness is the President of the Chulabhorn Research Institute (CRI), a leading biomedical, toxicological, and environmental health research institute located in Bangkok, Thailand. “The initiative marks an important new step in our collaboration to better understand and address the increasing cancer burden in Thailand and the South-East Asian region,” said Dr Wild. Read more here.

Study to treat deadly form of thyroid cancer shows promise, Mayo Clinic says

A combination of therapies may prove to be a promising advance for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer based on results of a phase I clinical trial, say researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida. The collaborative study reports that combining paclitaxel chemotherapy with an experimental agent known as efatutazone was safe and well tolerated by patients. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Smallridge RC, et al. Efatutazone, an Oral PPAR-γ Agonist, in Combination with Paclitaxel in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Results of a Multicenter Phase 1 Trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Apr 15. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23589525

Three PSA tests over lifetime sufficient for many men

Instead of routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening — which has come under criticism in recent years amid concerns that it leads to overdiagnosis and overtreatment — just 3 PSA tests over the course of a lifetime is sufficient for many men. This premise comes from a team led by Andrew Vickers, PhD, from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, in collaboration with teams at the University of Washington in Seattle and Skåne University Hospital in Malmö, Sweden. Read more here. Study mentioned: Vickers, A et al. Strategy for detection of prostate cancer based on relation between prostate specific antigen at age 40-55 and long term risk of metastasis: case-control study. BMJ. 2013 Apr 15;346:f2023. PMID: 23596126

Genetic markers linked to the development of lymphedema in breast cancer survivors

A new UC San Francisco study has found a clear association between certain genes and the development of lymphedema, a painful and chronic condition that often occurs after breast cancer surgery and some other cancer treatments. The researchers also learned that the risks of developing lymphedema increased significantly for women who had more advanced breast cancer at the time of diagnosis, more lymph nodes removed or a significantly higher body mass index. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Miaskowski C, et al. (2013) Lymphatic and Angiogenic Candidate Genes Predict the Development of Secondary Lymphedema following Breast Cancer Surgery. PLoS ONE 8(4): e60164.

A drug target that stimulates development of healthy stem cells

Scientists have overcome a major impediment to the development of effective stem cell therapies by studying mice that lack CD47, a protein found on the surface of both healthy and cancer cells. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute discovered that cells obtained from the lungs of CD47-deficient mice, but not from ordinary mice that have the CD47 gene, multiplied in a culture dish and spontaneously converted into stem cells. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kaur S, et al. Thrombospondin-1 Signaling through CD47 Inhibits Self-renewal by Regulating c-Myc and Other Stem Cell Transcription Factors. Sci Rep. 2013 Apr 17;3:1673. PMID: 23591719

Novel AKT pathway inhibitor, ARQ 092, demonstrates safety, effective target inhibition

The researchers have confirmed that the novel oral agent ARQ 092 inhibits the AKT pathway and has a manageable safety profile in patients with a variety of advanced solid tumours. Hyperglycemia indicated effective AKT pathway inhibition, it occurred prior to dose-limiting skin toxicity and could be treated according to phase I data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10. Read more here.

Exenatide: international reports of pancreatic cancer

The latest issue of the Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter, a quarterly publication that alerts health professionals to potential signals detected through the review of case reports submitted to Health Canada, includes a section on exenatide, a therapy for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Scientific literature raises concerns that exenatide may be associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, but there is limited evidence to date. Read more here.

How British tobacco firms stay one step ahead of the regulator

A new British study found that tobacco firms in Britain fiddled with cigarette prices as a way of sabotaging public-health efforts to reduce smoking, according to the study’s lead author, Dr. Anna Gilmore, a professor of public health at the University of Bath. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Gilmore AB, et al. Understanding tobacco industry pricing strategy and whether it undermines tobacco tax policy: the example of the UK cigarette market. Addiction. Article first published online: 16 APR 2013.

American Cancer Society awards new research and training grants

The American Cancer Society, the largest non-government, not-for-profit funding source of cancer research in the United States, has awarded 175 national research and training grants totaling $79,073,250 for fiscal year 2013. The grants will fund investigators at 93 institutions across the United States; 164 are new grants while 11 are renewals of previous grants. The grants will go into effect July 1, 2013. Read more here.

AKT inhibitor AZD5363 well tolerated, yielded partial response in some patients with advanced solid tumours

The investigational drug AZD5363, which has shown activity in preclinical studies, was well tolerated in two phase I studies, and patients with advanced solid tumours showed partial response and stable disease, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10. Read more here.

Researchers find nanodiamonds could improve effectiveness of breast cancer treatment

UCLA researchers and collaborators led by Dean Ho, a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry and co-director of the school's Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, have developed a potentially more effective treatment for "triple-negative" breast cancer that uses nanoscale, diamond-like particles called nanodiamonds. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Moore L, et al. Diamond-Lipid Hybrids Enhance Chemotherapeutic Tolerance and Mediate Tumor Regression. Adv Mater. 2013 Apr 15. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23584895

Tiny robot, 3-D camera, aid in experimental cancer surgery

“The surgical techniques we had before were very invasive,” said Dr. Anthony Nichols, a head and neck surgeon and professor at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont. “The robot makes it easy to do an operation that is not otherwise feasible.” He stressed, however, that further study will determine objectively whether outcomes are better with the new technique, known as transoral robotic surgery, than traditional radiation and chemotherapy. Read more here.

Summary Basis of Decision (SBD) for Adcetris

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance under the Notice of Compliance with Conditions Guidance to Seattle Genetics, Inc. for the drug product Adcetris. Adcetris is favourable for: 1. The treatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma after failure of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or after failure of at least two multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not ASCT candidates; 2. The treatment of patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma after failure of at least one multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. Read more here.

Icy therapy spot treats cancer in the lung

Frozen balls of ice can safely kill cancerous tumors that have spread to the lungs, according to the first prospective multicenter trial of cryoablation. The results are being presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 38th Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans. Read more here.

Electrical pulse treatment pokes holes in hard-to-treat tumors

A new, minimally invasive treatment that tears microscopic holes in tumors without harming healthy tissue is a promising treatment for challenging cancers, suggests a preliminary study being presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 38th Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans. Read more here.

A novel surface marker helps scientists ‘fish out’ mammary gland stem cells

In a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists in the laboratory of Professor Gregory Hannon at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) used a mouse model to identify a novel cell surface marker on mammary gland stem cells (MaSCs). Using that marker, the team was able to assemble a sample of MaSCs of unprecedented purity. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Dos Santos CO, et al. Molecular hierarchy of mammary differentiation yields refined markers of mammary stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 11. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23580620

Testing lung cancer drugs and therapies in mice

National Cancer Institute (NCI) investigators have designed a genetically engineered mouse for use in the study of human lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The results of this study, headed by Yinling Hu, Ph.D., an investigator in the Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, appeared in Cancer Cell. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Xiao Z, et al. The Pivotal Role of IKKα in the Development of Spontaneous Lung Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Cancer Cell. 2013; 23(4):527-540.

Are the elderly excluded from practice-changing trials in advanced NSCLC?

The median age of patients diagnosed with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has steadily increased in recent years, and is presently 70 years. Despite this, the elderly are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. A study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology investigated the degree to which exclusion or underrepresentation of the elderly occurs in practice-changing clinical trials in advanced NSCLC. Researchers conclude that greater representation of elderly patients in phase III trials is required to better define evidence-based paradigms in the increasingly elderly NSCLC population. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Sacher AG, et al. Elderly patients with advanced NSCLC in phase III clinical trials: are the elderly excluded from practice-changing trials in advanced NSCLC? J Thorac Oncol. 2013 Mar;8(3):366-8. PMID: 23407560

For many cancer survivors, tattoos are ‘a badge of honour’

A photo of a woman’s chest tattooed to cover mastectomy scars, which went viral after she posted it on Facebook, has highlighted a growing trend among cancer survivors. More and more are getting inked, not just to beautify surgical sites, but as a badge of honour – a visible reminder that they beat the disease. Read more here.

New occupational carcinogen exposure tool ready for beta-testing

A new tool developed by the CAREX Canada project, called eWORK, is now available for beta-testing. eWORK is a Microsoft Excel-based tool that makes it easy for interested users to explore the CAREX exposure estimates and results in a variety of ways. The tool can be used to answer questions such as: What are the most prevalent carcinogen exposures for workers in the oil and gas industry? How many people are exposed to wood dust in B.C.? And what jobs have particularly high exposures to silica dust in Canada? Link to tool here.

European Medicines Agency publishes report on patient recruitment and geographical location of clinical trials

Almost 62% of the patients in pivotal trials submitted in marketing-authorisation applications (MAAs) to the European Medicines Agency between January 2005 and December 2011 were recruited outside of the European Economic Area and Switzerland, according to an analysis performed by the Agency. The report on clinical trials submitted in MAAs to the European Medicines Agency provides an overview of the distribution of the numbers of patients, investigator sites and pivotal clinical trials included in MAAs submitted to the Agency, as well as the number and location of sites that were inspected. Read more here.

Read the full report, Clinical trials submitted in marketing-authorisation applications to the European Medicines Agency, here.

BBMRI - LPC - A four - year project to help scientists to have better access to large European studies on health

In response to a specific infrastructure call of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission, BBMRI-LPC, a European-wide project involving 30 partners from 17 countries, has received a 8M€ funding to enhance access by academic and industry scientists to the largest European ‘biobanks’. Read more here.

Patients accepting, grateful for Death with Dignity program

Patients and families are accepting of and grateful for a Death with Dignity program established at a comprehensive cancer care center, according to a study published in the the New England Journal of Medicine. Elizabeth Trice Loggers, M.D., Ph.D., from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and colleagues described the implementation of a Death with Dignity program in their comprehensive cancer center. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Loggers ET, et al. Implementing a Death with Dignity program at a comprehensive cancer center. N Engl J Med. 2013 Apr 11;368(15):1417-24. PMID: 23574120

UNC researchers engineer 'protein switch' to dissect role of cancer’s key players

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have “rationally rewired” some of the cell’s smallest components to create proteins that can be switched on or off by command. These “protein switches” can be used to interrogate the inner workings of each cell, helping scientists uncover the molecular mechanisms of human health and disease. In the first application of this approach, the UNC researchers showed how a protein called Src kinase influences the way cells extend and move, a previously unknown role that is consistent with the protein’s ties to tumor progression and metastasis. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Dagliyan O, et al. Rational design of a ligand-controlled protein conformational switch. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23569285

Signature of circulating breast tumor cells that spread to the brain found

Some breast tumor circulating cells in the bloodstream are marked by a constellation of biomarkers that identify them as those destined to seed the brain with a deadly spread of cancer, said researchers led by those at Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears online in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Zhang L, et al. The Identification and Characterization of Breast Cancer CTCs Competent for Brain Metastasis. Sci Transl Med. 2013 Apr 10;5(180):180ra48. PMID: 23576814

NIH trial shows promising results in treating a lymphoma in young people

Patients with a type of cancer known as primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma who received infusions of chemotherapy, but who did not have radiation therapy to an area of the thorax known as the mediastinum, had excellent outcomes, according to clinical trial results. The results of this single arm trial, which followed 51 patients for a period of up to 14 years, was conducted by researchers at the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, and appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Dunleavy K, et al. Dose-adjusted EPOCH-rituximab therapy in primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma. N Engl J Med. 2013 Apr 11;368(15):1408-16. PMID: 23574119

Biomarker subanalysis of the phase III study of regorafenib vs placebo in TKI-refractory metastatic GIST

Researchers using a tool called BEAMing technology, which can detect cancer-driving gene mutations in patients’ blood samples, were able to identify oncogenic mutations associated with distinct responses to therapies used to treat patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington D.C., April 6-10. Read more here.

Effect of duloxetine on pain, function, and quality of life among patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Among patients with painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, use of the anti-depressant drug duloxetine for 5 weeks resulted in a greater reduction in pain compared with placebo, according to a study in the April 3, 2013 issue of JAMA. Ellen Lavoie Smith, PhD, of the University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, and colleagues within the Cancer and Leukaemia Group B (CALGB/Alliance) conducted a randomized phase III double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial to assess whether duloxetine taken orally once daily decreases the severity of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lavoie Smith EM, et al. Effect of Duloxetine on Pain, Function, and Quality of Life Among Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Painful Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2013;309(13):1359-1367. PMID: 23549581

Personalised Medicine in sarcoma: molecular subtypes drive treatment

Half of sarcomas show molecular alterations and more than 10 molecular subtypes now allow to be treated with a more personalised or targeted approach. In this short ESMO video, Jean-Yves Blay discusses several histological subtypes of sarcoma where personalised medicine has already become a standard. What is needed is the organization of properly annotated tumour banks; reliable molecular diagnostic strategies in network centres; education of investigators and physicians to understand the crucial importance of biology-driven treatment. Watch the video here.

Small molecule unlocks key prostate cancer survival tactic

A paper published by the Public Library of Science identifies a microRNA called miR-125b as a potential target for treatments designed to stop the proliferation of prostate cancer cells, particularly in patients who have developed a late-stage form of the disease resistant to androgen deprivation therapy. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Amir S, et al. (2013) Oncomir miR-125b Suppresses p14ARF to Modulate p53-Dependent and p53-Independent Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer. PLoS ONE 8(4): e61064.

Certain breast cancer patients may benefit from combined HER-2 targeted treatment without chemotherapy

In a report that appears in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers have shown that a subset of breast cancer patients who have tumors overexpressing a protein called the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2 positive) may benefit from a combination of targeted treatments that zero in on the breast cancer cells themselves. That could enable some women to avoid the "sledgehammer" of typical chemotherapy drugs that kill normal and tumor cells alike and avoid triggering resistance in tumor cells. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Rimawi MF, et al. Multicenter Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Lapatinib and Trastuzumab With Hormonal Therapy and Without Chemotherapy in Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer: TBCRC 006. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23569315

Study shows certain lymphoma patients can avoid radiation

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute and Stanford University have found that patients with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma can be treated successfully without radiation. The 51 patients in the study received a therapy regimen called dose-adjusted EPOCH-R, a combination of several chemotherapy drugs and the immunotherapy drug rituximab. All but 2 of the patients achieved a complete remission with this drug regimen, which means all signs and symptoms of the cancer disappeared in response to treatment. The other 2 achieved a complete remission after receiving radiation. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kieron Dunleavy K, et al. Dose-Adjusted EPOCH-Rituximab Therapy in Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:1408-1416.

ACS report: Changing behaviors to reduce cancer risk remains challenging

A new report from the American Cancer Society says much of the suffering and death from cancer could be prevented by a more coordinated effort to change individual health behaviors. The report, Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 2013 (CPED), emphasizes that individual health behaviors are strongly influenced by social, economic, and legislative factors. Read more here.

Read the CPED report here.

Researchers pairing antiviral, chemotherapy drugs to fight leukemia

Researchers from the University of Montreal and a Canadian pharmaceutical company are launching a clinical trial that aims to treat a form of leukemia by combining a common antiviral drug and standard chemotherapy drugs. After promising results from a 2009 trial that treated 11 acute myeloid leukemia patients with the common antiviral drug Ribavirin, Dr. Katherine Borden was preparing to start a second clinical trial that combined Ribavirin with low doses of standard chemotherapy drugs. Read more here.

New Mayo software identifies and stratifies risk posed by lung nodules

A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Mayo Clinic has developed a new software tool to noninvasively characterize pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common type of cancerous nodule in the lungs. Results from a pilot study of the computer-aided nodule assessment and risk yield (CANARY) are published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Maldonado F, et al. Noninvasive Characterization of the Histopathologic Features of Pulmonary Nodules of the Lung Adenocarcinoma Spectrum using Computer-Aided Nodule Assessment and Risk Yield (CANARY)-A Pilot Study. J Thorac Oncol. 2013 Apr;8(4):452-460. PMID: 23486265

New brain cancer treatment may be more effective, less toxic

A Phase 2 clinical trial testing a new protocol for treating a relatively rare form of brain cancer, primary CNS lymphoma, may change the standard of care for this disease, according to doctors at UC San Francisco who led the research. Described in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the trial involved 44 patients who were given a combination of high-dose chemotherapy with immune therapy, rather than the standard combination of chemotherapy with a technique known as whole-brain radiotherapy. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Rubenstein JL, et al. Intensive Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Primary CNS Lymphoma: CALGB 50202 (Alliance 50202). J Clin Oncol. 2013 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23569323

A tumor suppressor is identified as an inhibitor of inflammatory pathways

Scientists at the National Cancer Institute have found that a protein, FBXW7, which acts as a tumor suppressor, is also important for the reduction in strength of inflammatory pathways. This study is the first to describe how FBXW7 acts in cancer cells as well as in cells of the immune system to attenuate inflammatory signaling, which is accomplished by reducing the levels of C/EBPdelta, a protein that regulates the expression of many genes. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Balamurugan K, et al. FBXW7α attenuates inflammatory signalling by downregulating C/EBPδ and its target gene Tlr4. Nature Communications. 4: 1662. Published online 09 April 2013 .

Relationship between tumour biomarkers and efficacy in EMILIA trial identified women most likely to benefit from T-DM1

Patients in all biomarker subgroups in the EMILIA study had longer progression-free survival and overall survival with T-DM1 vs lapatinib plus capecitabine. In a biomarker subanalysis, patients with tumours expressing high HER2 mRNA levels derived even greater overall survival benefit from T-DM1. Lapatinib plus capecitabine-treated patients with PIK3CA mutations had worse outcomes than those with wild type PIK3CA. T-DM1-treated patients with PIK3CA mutations had a similar treatment benefit as those without, suggesting that the unique mechanism of action of T-DM1 may overcome PIK3CA mutation resistance. The findings were presented by Dr José Baselga, physician-in-chief at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, USA, at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10. Read more here.

New CMA data: medicine growing fast, changing fast

New data from the CMA's Canadian Collaborative Centre for Physician Resources (C3PR) indicate that Canada has a lot more physicians than it did a decade ago, and a lot more of them are women. Women claim their highest proportions in gynecologic oncology (69.2%), medical genetics (59.6%) and geriatric medicine (55.6%). Read more here.

Access the full Statistical information on Canadian physicians from the Canadian Medical Association Website here.

New clues on how exercise may reduce breast cancer risk

While regular exercise has long been associated with lower breast cancer risk for post-menopausal women, a new Polish breast cancer study emphasizes the importance of physical activity on hormone levels.  Dr. Cher Dallal, cancer prevention fellow at the U.S. National Cancer Institute explains that the Polish study, evaluating 540 women between the ages of 40 and 74 who wore an accelerometer for seven days, indicates that "increased overall activity appears to increase the metabolism of estrogen", lowering hormone levels and potentially reducing breast cancer risk.

Click here to read more about this study, which was presented on April 9, 2013 at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Washington, D.C.  

Chemotherapy still king in lung cancer

In this short video highlighting topics from the 13th annual Targeted Therapies in Lung Cancer meeting, Dr. Mark Kris underscores the value of chemotherapy in lung cancer patients, including those receiving targeted therapies. Watch the Medscape video here.

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Cancer immunotherapy in children: How does it differ from approaches in adults?

More often than not, cancer immunotherapies that work in adults are used in modified ways in children. Seldom are new therapies developed just for children, primarily because of the small number of pediatric patients relative to the adult cancer patient population. In 2013 there will be an estimated 11,630 cases of cancer diagnosed in children 14 and younger compared to over 1.6 million cases diagnosed in adults. Read more here.

Prostate cancer screenings offer limited benefits and ‘substantial harms,’ says doctors group

The American College of Physicians (ACP) became the latest group to ask doctors to be clear about the limited benefits and “substantial harms” of prostate cancer screening before offering their male patients a prostate-specific antigen test. The ACP’s guidance statement, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, also explicitly recommends against screening men younger than 50, older than 69 or with less than 10 to 15 years to live. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Qaseem A, et al. Screening for Prostate Cancer: A Guidance Statement From the Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. Published online first 9 April 2013.

16-year-old wants to smash cancer with 'nanobullets'

A 16-year-old Alberta high school student has taken top prize in this year's Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada contest with his research into an experimental therapy that uses nanoparticles to kill cancer cells. Arjun Nair, a Grade 11 student at Webber Academy in Calgary, was awarded the $5,000 honour Tuesday by a panel of Canadian scientists at the National Research Council's headquarters in Ottawa. Read more here.

Experimental vaccine for ovarian cancer

Researchers at the Ovarian Cancer Research Centre in the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine have unveiled a new vaccine for treating ovarian cancer.  Although rare (it is believed that only 1.38% of females will be afflicted), ovarian cancer is usually not diagnosed until stage 3 or 4.  Lana Kandalaft, lead author in this study explains that this new treatment uses a personalized vaccine to instruct a patient's immune system to fight the tumor.  "Each patient's tumor is unique like a fingerprint...we're trying to rewire the immune system to target the tumor." 

Click here to read more about this study, presented on April 6th at the American Association for Cancer Research's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Comprehensive genomic analysis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a heterogeneous tumour which displays distinctive patterns of somatic alteration potentially amenable to molecularly targeted therapies. The researchers document for the first time using the Cancer Genome Atlas data, the role of an oncogenic virus in the human cancer genome. The results were presented by Dr David Hayes on behalf of the Cancer Genome Atlas at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 in Washington, D.C., April 6-10. Read more here.

Scientists find new gene markers for cancer risk

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 have reported. The new results were released in 13 reports in Nature Genetics, PLOS Genetics and other journals. They come from a collaboration involving more than 130 institutions in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere. Read more here.

Guide for lung cancer gene tests published

All patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma should undergo testing for EGFR and ALK mutations to determine their eligibility for targeted therapies, according to a jointly developed guideline from three organizations. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lindeman NI, et al. Molecular Testing Guideline for Selection of Lung Cancer Patients for EGFR and ALK Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Guideline from the College of American Pathologists, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and Association for Molecular Pathology. J Thorac Oncol. 2013 Apr 2. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23552377

Third-generation device significantly improves capture of circulating tumor cells

A new system for isolating rare circulating tumor cells – living solid tumor cells found at low levels in the bloodstream – shows significant improvement over previously developed devices and does not require prior identification of tumor-specific target molecules. Developed at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Engineering in Medicine and the MGH Cancer Center, the device rapidly delivers a population of unlabeled tumor cells that can be analyzed with both standard clinical diagnostic cytopathology and advanced genetic and molecular technology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ozkumur E, et al. Inertial focusing for tumor antigen-dependent and -independent sorting of rare circulating tumor cells. Sci Transl Med. 2013 Apr 3;5(179):179ra47. PMID: 23552373

New E-learning module: Circulating tumour cells

This E-learning module elaborates on the importance of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) detection in solid tumours and methods for CTCs detection. Detection and characterization of CTCs might provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of tumour metastases. It might allow early detection of metastatic spread and CTCs levels seem to be correlated with the aggressiveness of the disease. In addition, CTC variation during treatment might reflect drug sensitivity. Read more here.

Valleys: new web series about young adults and cancer

A new web series, Valleys, has recently been launched to raise awareness of cancer issues experienced by young adults.  According to series creater Mike Lang, "The hope is that through this webseries we will be able to see cancer from many different perspectives leading to open, honest communication with the people we love." 

For more information and to view the trailer, click here.

Webisodes will be uploaded each Wednesday to Huffington Post's "Generation Why" section.  To view the first episode, posted April 3, 2013, click here

Researchers study effectiveness of intermittent therapy for prostate cancer treatment

Based on previous smaller studies, it looked like an approach called intermittent androgen deprivation therapy might be just as good as continuous androgen deprivation in terms of survival while meanwhile giving patients a breather from the side effects of therapy. But this new study, which treated 1,535 patients with metastatic prostate cancer and followed them for a median of 10 years, finds that's not the case. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hussain M, et al. Intermittent versus Continuous Androgen Deprivation in Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:1314-1325.

Newly identified tumor suppressor provides therapeutic target for prostate cancer

Working in close collaboration, the labs of Maria T. Diaz-Meco, Ph.D., and Jorge Moscat, Ph.D., found that PKCζ controls the activation of a pro-tumor gene called c-Myc. Normally, PKCζ’s alteration keeps c-Myc in check. But PKCζ levels are low in prostate and other cancers, leaving c-Myc free to enhance cell growth and metastasis. This study, appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that restoring PKCζ could provide a new approach to treating prostate cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kim JY, et al. c-Myc phosphorylation by PKCζ represses prostate tumorigenesis. PNAS. Published online before print April 2, 2013.

3-D scaffolds a new tool to fight cancer

Porous polymer scaffolds fabricated to support the growth of biological tissue for implantation may hold the potential to greatly accelerate the development of cancer therapeutics. Researchers at Rice University and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York reported this week that three-dimensional scaffolds used to culture Ewing’s sarcoma cells were effective at mimicking the environment in which such tumors develop. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Fong ELS, et al. Modeling Ewing sarcoma tumors in vitro with 3D scaffolds. PNAS. Published online before print April 1, 2013.

An analysis suggests large disparity in the availability and organisation of radiotherapy services between European countries

Analysis of the radiotherapy facilities in 33 European countries has shown considerable disparity across the continent, with countries in Eastern and South-eastern Europe being largely underequipped compared with northern and western countries. It is a major public health issue as the access to radiotherapy is an essential component of cancer care and timely investment in the radiotherapy infrastructure is required to address the growing burden of cancer care. Read more here.

Is adjuvant trastuzumab cost-effective for HER2-positive T1bN0 breast cancer?

In light of the clinical uncertainty and the high acquisition costs of trastuzumab, a group of researchers led by Mr C. Skedgel of the Atlantic Clinical Cancer Research Unit, Centre for Clinical Research, Halifax examined the ‘value for money’ associated with adjuvant trastuzumab in women with T1bN0 breast cancer in terms of the likelihood of such a strategy meeting a $100 000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained cost-effectiveness threshold over a plausible range of baseline recurrence risks. Read more here.

Sunnybrook opens largest breast-cancer centre in Canada

Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre announced Thursday the official opening of the largest breast-cancer centre in Canada, which offers next-day diagnosis to women, immediate reconstructive surgery and tailored treatment options for patients. Read more here.

CancerLinQ prototype leverages 'Big Data'

The American Society of Clinical Oncology has unveiled its prototype for an ambitious computer network that allows physicians to search patient records and clinical evidence in real time. The network, called CancerLinQ, promises to ultimately give oncologists access to millions of patient records, expert guidelines, and scientific literature all through a single computer interface. Read more here.

Connect to CancerLinQ here.

Study: Online nutrition data for cancer patients is lacking, inconsistent

Cancer institutions often fail to provide online information about dietary recommendations for cancer patients or they provide information that is inconsistent with data on other websites, according to a study published in Nutrition and Cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Champ CE, et al. Dietary recommendations during and after cancer treatment: consistently inconsistent? Nutr Cancer. 2013 Apr;65(3):430-9. PMID: 23530643

IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference

The IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference, 2-4 May 2013, Brussels, is the place to present new data, meet top experts in the field and network with all of those interested in how to translate new discoveries into better diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer patients. Now in its fifth year, the IMPAKT conference on translational research in breast cancer will bring a significant amount of data on the heterogeneity of breast cancer and promises to be a thought-provoking and stimulating experience for participants, partners and stakeholders. Connect to the Web site here.

Watch the 2013 co-chairs discuss some of the topics that will form the programme of the conference that aims to improve outcome in breast cancer through translational research here.

ESMO cancer advocacy toolkit for Africa

The Cancer Advocacy Training Toolkit for Africa has been designed as a train-the-trainer program supported by an international partnership composed of the Africa Oxford Cancer Foundation, the African Organisation of Research and Training in Cancer, ESMO, and the Union for International Cancer Control. It covers important topics including: (a) the development of an advocacy plan; (b) working with governments; (c) awareness raising events and resources; and (d) how to secure funding. Download the toolkit here.

A recent editorial on this toolkit: Adamou A, et al. Cancer in Africa: supporting advocates to stop the runaway train. Ann Oncol. 2013; 24(4):855-856.

Time article describes team approach to cancer research

In a recent edition of Time magazine, Bill Saporito describes a team approach to cancer research. "The hero scientist who defeats cancer will likely never exist. No exalted individual, no victory celebration, no Marie Curie or Jonas Salk, who in 1955, after he created the first polio vaccine, was asked, So what’s next? Cancer? — as if a doctor finished with one disease could simply shift his attention to another, like a chef turning from the soup to the entrée." Read more here.

New diagnostic technology may lead to individualized treatments for prostate cancer

A research team jointly led by scientists from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of California, Los Angeles, have enhanced a device they developed to identify and “grab” circulating tumor cells that break away from cancers and enter the blood, often leading to the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. If more studies confirm the technology’s effectiveness, the NanoVelcro Chip device could enable doctors to access and identify cancerous cells in the bloodstream, which would provide the diagnostic information needed to create individually tailored treatments for patients with prostate cancer. Read more here.

Study shows duloxetine reduces pain from chemotherapy

Researchers from several cancer centers in the US have found the depression drug duloxetine—known commercially as Cymbalta—can help people who develop a painful side effect from chemotherapy. The study included 231 people with painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy who were randomly assigned to receive duloxetine or a placebo. After 5 weeks, 59% of people taking duloxetine reported reduced pain compared to 38% of those taking the placebo. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lavoie Smith EM, et al. Effect of Duloxetine on Pain, Function, and Quality of Life Among Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Painful Peripheral Neuropathy. JAMA. 2013;309(13).

990 Ontario cancer patients received too low chemotherapy doses

Cancer Care Ontario says four hospitals are informing patients that they received lower than intended doses of the chemotherapy drugs cyclophosphamide and gemcitabine. At total of 990 patients treated or being treated at London Health Sciences Centre, Windsor Regional Hospital, Lakeridge Health and Peterborough Regional Health Centre are affected. Read more here.

Determining the prevalence of ROS1 fusions in Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer

A recent study found that ROS1 fusion-positive patients tended to be younger never smokers with a histologic diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. However, there is no evidence strong enough to support this finding as far due to a very low frequency of ROS1 fusions in non-small cell lung cancer. Additionally, ROS1 fusions were identified in squamous cell carcinoma histology, and moreover in several studies only some of ROS1 fusion-positive patients were never smokers. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Cai W, et al. ROS1 fusions in Chinese patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Ann Oncol. 2013 Mar 20. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23514723

E-learning module: New therapies for advanced prostate cancer

Learning Objectives: 1. To review emerging therapies for advanced prostate cancer, 2. To understand a role and safety profile of immunotherapy, androgen receptor targeting drugs, novel hormonal therapies, and bone targeting drugs in the management of advanced prostate cancer, 3. To understand the clinical impact and potentials of results achieved within clinical studies that evaluated novel therapies in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Access the ESMO E-learning module here.

Early-onset baldness in African-American men may be linked to prostate cancer

Baldness was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer among African-American men, and risk for advanced prostate cancer increased with younger age and type of baldness, according to data published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Zeigler-Johnson C, et al. Relationship of Early-Onset Baldness to Prostate Cancer in African-American Men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2013 Mar 26. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23532004

Estrogen plus progestin use linked with increased breast cancer incidence and mortality

Estrogen plus progestin use is linked with increased breast cancer incidence. In addition, prognosis is similar for both users and nonusers of combined hormone therapy, suggesting that mortality from breast cancer may be higher for hormone therapy users as well, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Chlebowski RT, et al. Estrogen Plus Progestin and Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Mar 29. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23543779

Mitochondrial chaperones may represent novel targets for developing anti-cancer drugs

Scientists at the National Cancer Institute have found that a mitochondrial chaperone protein, TRAP1, may act indirectly as a tumor suppressor as well as a novel target for developing anti-cancer drugs. Chaperone proteins, such as TRAP1, help other proteins adapt to stress, but scientists are coming to appreciate that they have other functions as well, such as, in this case, affecting tumor development. Read more here.

New findings may lead to better predictions of breast cancer risk in women with inherited mutations

An international team led by Memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer geneticist Kenneth Offit has identified additional genetic variations that change a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. This information will allow investigators to create a model to more accurately predict the breast cancer risk of an individual woman. The model will be specific to women with mutations in the gene BRCA2, although it may be extended to include BRCA1 as well. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Gaudet MM, et al. Identification of a BRCA2-Specific Modifier Locus at 6p24 Related to Breast Cancer Risk. PLoS Genet 9(3): e1003173. Published online March 27, 2013.

Cancer biologists find DNA-damaging toxins in common plant-based foods

In a laboratory study pairing food chemistry and cancer biology, scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center tested the potentially harmful effect of foods and flavorings on the DNA of cells. They found that liquid smoke flavoring, black and green teas and coffee activated the highest levels of a well-known, cancer-linked gene called p53. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Hossain MZ, et al. Biological clues to potent DNA-damaging activities in food and flavoring. Food Chem Toxicol. 2013 May;55:557-67. Epub 2013 Feb 8. PMID: 23402862

Study finds anti-smoking drug improves smokers’ chances of stopping

Smokers have a higher probability of quitting smoking and a better overall cessation experience when taking varenicline compared to bupropion and to placebo – unmedicated assisted smoking cessation –according to a study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Cinciripini PM, et al. Effects of Varenicline and Bupropion Sustained-Release Use Plus Intensive Smoking Cessation Counseling on Prolonged Abstinence From Smoking and on Depression, Negative Affect, and Other Symptoms of Nicotine Withdrawal. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013 Mar 27:1-12. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23536105

Scientists find potential loophole in pancreatic cancer defenses

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists and colleagues have discovered that pancreatic cancer cells' growth and spread are fueled by an unusual metabolic pathway that someday might be blocked with targeted drugs to control the deadly cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Son J, et al. Glutamine supports pancreatic cancer growth through a KRAS-regulated metabolic pathway. Nature. 2013 Mar 27. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23535601

Genetics might determine which smokers get hooked

Researchers have identified genetic risk factors that may accelerate a teen's progression to becoming a lifelong heavy smoker. The team of scientists from the U.S., the U.K. and New Zealand examined earlier studies by other research teams to develop a genetic risk profile for heavy smoking. Then they looked at their own long-term study of 1,000 New Zealanders from birth to age 38 to identify whether individuals at high genetic risk got hooked on cigarettes more quickly as teens and whether, as adults, they had a harder time quitting. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Belsky DW, et al. Polygenic Risk and the Developmental Progression to Heavy, Persistent Smoking and Nicotine Dependence: Evidence From a 4-Decade Longitudinal Study. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013 Mar 27:1-9. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23536134

Study finds high soy diet before lung cancer diagnosis improves survival

A new study by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Shanghai Cancer Institute found women who ate more soy food prior to a diagnosis of lung cancer lived longer than those who consumed less. The study, conducted in Shanghai, China, was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Yang G, et al. Prediagnosis Soy Food Consumption and Lung Cancer Survival in Women. J Clin Oncol. 2013 Mar 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23530109

Novartis denied cancer drug patent in landmark Indian case

India’s top court dismissed Swiss drug maker Novartis AG’s attempt to win patent protection for its cancer drug Glivec, a blow to Western pharmaceutical firms targeting India to drive sales and a victory for local makers of cheap generics. The decision sets a benchmark for intellectual property cases in India, where many patented drugs are unaffordable for most of its 1.2 billion people, and does not bode well for foreign firms engaged in ongoing disputes in India, including Pfizer Inc and Roche Holding AG, analysts said. Read more here.

New blood test detects pancreatic cancer earlier than usual

Researchers ar the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Division of Metabolomics, have unveiled a new diagnostic blood test for early screening of pancreatic cancer.  Utilizing metabolomics technology, the blood test measures metabolite levels in order to determine whether or not patients are afflicted with a  pancreatic tumor.  According to lead researcher Dr. Masaru Yoshida, "finding pancreatic cancer earlier means more patients can have the tumor removed and live longer than most patients do now."  Considering that the 5-year survival rate for pancreate cancer is less than 5%, this new approach seeks to detect pancreatic cancer at an early stage, before it metastasizes to the point that it becomes inoperable.

To read more about this study, click here

Source mentioned: Yoshida, M et al. A novel serum metabolomics-based diagnostic approach to pancreatic cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2013;22(4)1-9.