Cheaper cancer gene tests, by the drop

Many tumor biopsy samples haven’t been good candidates for the increasingly popular genetic tests that can expose a cancer’s progression and its susceptibility to drugs and other treatments. A cost-effective new testing method could make it easier for scientists to identify the assortment of cancer-causing genetic mutations in tumor cells. Developed by RainDance Technologies, a maker of genomic tools in Billerica, Massachusetts, the technology could enable researchers to analyze tiny samples collected by needles, a less invasive option than the surgical biopsies required for many molecular diagnostic tests. Read more here.

Combining HPV status and intratumour heterogeneity for predicting outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

Evaluation of next-generation sequencing data and associated clinical records of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients from several institutions, made available through The Cancer Genome Atlas, showed that combining Mutant-Allele Tumour Heterogeneity as a biomarker with the patient's HPV status provides an effective indicator of improved patient outcome, according to research presented at the 2014 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium (20-22 February, 2014, Stottsdale, USA). Read more here.

USPSTF says data unclear on vitamins for cancer

Evidence on the benefits of vitamin, mineral and multivitamin supplements for heart disease and cancer prevention is inconclusive, according to the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF reported that for healthy adults without nutritional needs beyond daily recommendations, there is insufficient evidence supporting the use of any multivitamin, individual vitamin, or individual mineral for the prevention of heart disease or cancer. Read more here.

Selenium and vitamin E supplements can increase risk of prostate cancer in some men

A multi-center study led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that high-dose supplementation with both the trace element selenium and vitamin E increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. But importantly, this risk depends upon a man’s selenium status before taking the supplements. These findings are based on data from the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, or SELECT, a rigorously executed, randomized and placebo-controlled trial conducted by the SWOG cancer research cooperative group that involved more than 35,000 men. Read more here.

Tissue-penetrating light releases chemotherapy inside cancer cells

Researchers from the cancer nanotechnology and signal transduction and therapeutics programs of UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) have developed an innovative technique using light to carry chemotherapy safely to cancer cells. A light-activated drug delivery system is particularly promising, because it can accomplish spatial and temporal control of drug release. Read more here.

Gene sequencing project discovers common driver of a childhood brain tumor

The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital-Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project has identified the most common genetic alteration ever reported in the brain tumor ependymoma and evidence that the alteration drives tumor development. The results provide a foundation for new research to improve diagnosis and treatment of ependymoma, the third most common brain tumor in children. Read more here.

Cell therapy shows remarkable ability to eradicate cancer in clinical study

The largest clinical study ever conducted to date of patients with advanced leukemia found that 88 percent achieved complete remissions after being treated with genetically modified versions of their own immune cells. “These extraordinary results demonstrate that cell therapy is a powerful treatment for patients who have exhausted all conventional therapies,” said Michel Sadelain, MD, PhD, Director of the Center for Cell Engineering at Memorial Sloan Kettering and one of the study’s senior authors. Read more here.

NIH study confirms risk factors for male breast cancer

One of the largest studies conducted to date pooled data from studies of about 2,400 men with breast cancer and 52,000 men without breast cancer and confirmed that risk factors for male breast cancer include obesity, a rare genetic condition called Klinefelter syndrome, and gynecomastia (excess breast tissue). Read more here.

Technique allows for radiation-free detection of tumors

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford have developed a way to scan young cancer patients’ bodies for tumors without exposing them to radiation. The technique could reduce patients’ risk of developing secondary cancers later in life. Read more here.

More women receiving breast reconstruction after mastectomy, study finds

A new study finds that the majority of women who undergo mastectomy for breast cancer go on to get breast reconstruction, a practice that has increased dramatically over time. Researchers found that 46 percent of patients received reconstruction in 1998 but that figure rose to 63 percent by 2007. Read more here.

Building a better mouse (model) to study pancreatic cancer

In a new study, researchers led by a molecular biologist at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), report two breakthroughs in understanding those lesions and their role in pancreatic cancer: the development of the first mouse model that simulates a precursor lesion called intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN), and the identification of an enzyme, Brg1, that appears to help cause the formation of IPMN lesions while also suppressing another precursor lesion. Read more here.

Bevacizumab fails to improve overall survival in first-line treatment for glioblastoma

The February 20, 2014 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine features the results of two well-conducted, placebo-controlled, randomised trials: the Avastin in Glioblastoma (AVAglio) trial and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0825 trial. Both studies address the clinical benefit of adding bevacizumab to the best standard treatment for newly-diagnosed glioblastoma (radiotherapy/temozolomide). Read more here.

Summary Basis of Decision for Xtandi

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance to Astellas Pharma Canada Inc. for the drug product, Xtandi. ased on Health Canada's review, the benefit/risk profile of Xtandi is favourable for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in the setting of medical or surgical castration who have received docetaxel therapy. Read more here.

Summary Basis of Decision for Mekinist

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance to GlaxoSmithKline Inc. for the drug product Mekinist. Based on Health Canada's review, the benefit/risk profile of Mekinist is favourable as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation. Read more here.

Nurse turned researcher studies breast cancer in Latinas

Maryellen Brisbois became interested in the issue of premature menopause brought on by chemotherapy, a common side effect that women going through breast cancer treatment experience. She found that while there was a lot of research on the subject in non-Latina women, there wasn’t much about the experiences of Latinas. Brisbois discovered that Latinas encountered significant challenges – many of which Caucasian women do not experience – while going through breast cancer treatment. Read more here.

For the young and uninsured, cancer diagnosis often comes late

Adolescents and young adults who do not have health insurance are more likely than those who have private insurance to be diagnosed with cancer after it has spread to other parts of the body – when it is more deadly and harder to treat. The researchers found that the uninsured were one and one-half times more likely than the privately insured to be diagnosed with cancer that had spread. The outcome was worse for uninsured females, who were nearly twice as likely as their privately insured counterparts to get a distant-stage cancer diagnosis. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Robbins AS, et al. Insurance status and distant-stage disease at diagnosis among adolescent and young adult patients with cancer aged 15 to 39 years: National Cancer Data Base, 2004 through 2010. Cancer. 2014 Jan 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24474656

Thyroid cancer nearly triples, researchers blame overdiagnosis of harmless tumors

A dramatic rise in thyroid cancer has resulted from overdiagnosis and treatment of tumors too small to ever cause harm, according to a study that found cases nearly tripled since 1975. The study is the latest to question whether all cancers need aggressive treatment. Other research has suggested that certain cancers of the prostate, breast and lung as well as thyroid grow so slowly that they will never become deadly, and that overzealous screening leads to overtreatment. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Davies L, Welch HG. Current Thyroid Cancer Trends in the United States. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online February 20, 2014.

Meditation and yoga can help cancer patients sleep

A study involving 111 patients at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary indicates that meditation and yoga can help those experiencing insomnia.  It is estimated that 59% of cancer patients are affected by sleep problems during and after cancer treatment.  According to study co-author Dr. Linda Carlson, mindfulness (including meditation, yoga and mood managing techniques) "helped people improve their insomnia" approximately three months after treatment.

To learn more about this study, click here for the Global News report.

Behavioural treatments provide relief for cancer patients struggling with insomnia

In the battle against insomnia, cancer patients now have two treatment options, neither of which involve sedative medication, according to a new study. Rather, both treatments require patients to modify their thoughts and behavior. The study was spearheaded at the University of Calgary by Tavis Campbell, associate professor in psychology in the Faculty of Arts, Linda Carlson, who is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and a member of the Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute, and Sheila Garland, a recent PhD graduate from the clinical psychology program. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Garland SN, et al. Mindfulness-based stress reduction compared with cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of insomnia comorbid with cancer: a randomized, partially blinded, noninferiority trial. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Feb 10;32(5):449-57. PMID: 24395850

New finding points to potential options for attacking stem cells in triple-negative breast cancer

New research from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and Georgia Regents University finds that a protein that fuels an inflammatory pathway does not turn off in breast cancer, resulting in an increase in cancer stem cells. This provides a potential target for treating triple negative breast cancer, the most aggressive form of the disease. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kim G, et al. SOCS3-mediated regulation of inflammatory cytokines in PTEN and p53 inactivated triple negative breast cancer model. Oncogene. 2014 Feb 17. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24531711

Natural compound attacks HER2 positive breast cancer cells

A common compound known to fight lymphoma and skin conditions actually has a second method of action that makes it particularly deadly against certain aggressive breast tumors, researchers at Duke Medicine report. Reporting in PLOS ONE, the researchers detail how psoralen blocks the signaling pathway of the HER2 receptor, which is overproduced in 25 percent of breast cancers, plus ovarian, gastric and other solid tumors. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Xia W, et al. (2014) Photo-Activated Psoralen Binds the ErbB2 Catalytic Kinase Domain, Blocking ErbB2 Signaling and Triggering Tumor Cell Apoptosis. PLoS ONE 9(2): e88983.

Double mastectomy could save the lives of women with BRCA gene: study

A new Canadian study is now suggesting that for women with breast cancer and the BRCA mutation, a double mastectomy could cut the risk of dying from their sickness in half. “Hopefully with this research, we can start to think about changing our ideas about what surgical treatment a woman should have. We need to think about treating their first breast cancer but also preventing that second breast cancer,” lead researcher Dr. Kelly Metcalfe told Global News. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Metcalfe K, et al. Contralateral mastectomy and survival after breast cancer in carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations: retrospective analysis. BMJ. 2014 Feb 11;348:g226. PMID: 24519767

Aspirin and cancer prevention: what the research really shows

Studies have found that regular aspirin use may help prevent certain types of cancers – and it also may keep cancer from spreading once it has been diagnosed. Although much research on the topic has been done, the evidence still isn’t clear enough to show that the potential benefits of regular aspirin use with respect to cancer prevention outweigh the possible harmful side effects. In this interview, American Cancer Society researcher, Eric J. Jacobs, Ph.D., provides insights into what the studies to date really show when it comes to aspirin and cancer prevention, and discusses what other research is still needed. Read the interview here.

55 genes linked to a powerful tumor suppressor predict breast cancer survival

A panel of 55 genes, almost all of which are impacted by the loss of a particular protein, appears to predict if breast cancer will become invasive, leading to poorer survival, researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center report in PLOS ONE. The panel represents loss of a powerful tumor suppressor gene, SYK, as well as genetic alterations in 51 other genes that are directly affected by the loss of a copy of the SYK gene and the absence of its protein. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Blancato J, et al. SYK Allelic Loss and the Role of Syk-Regulated Genes in Breast Cancer Survival. PLoS One. 2014 Feb 11;9(2):e87610. PMID: 24523870

Long-term research confirms game-changing method for detecting spread of deadly skin cancer

Research initiated at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center on techniques used for detecting the earliest spread of melanoma has confirmed that these new methods can significantly prolong patients’ disease-free survival over traditional techniques. The research also affirms a new standard for detecting the spread of melanoma to the lymph nodes by allowing doctors to quickly determine which patients may benefit from having their lymph nodes removed, while sparing the surgery for patients who it cannot benefit. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Morton DL, et al. Final trial report of sentinel-node biopsy versus nodal observation in melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2014 Feb 13;370(7):599-609. PMID: 24521106

How to reset strategies to maximise the potential of PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors in cancer therapy

In a review article, David A Fruman of the Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, and Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, USA, reviews key challenges and opportunities for the clinical development of inhibitors targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The authors anticipate that through a greater focus on patient selection, increased understanding of immune modulation and strategic application of rational combinations, it should be possible to realise the potential of this promising class of targeted anti-cancer agents. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Fruman DA, Rommel C. PI3K and cancer: lessons, challenges and opportunities. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2014 Jan 31;13(2):140-56. PMID: 24481312

Canadians with lower income often less likely to receive potentially life-saving cancer tests and treatments

Report: Examining Disparities in Cancer Control, released on February 13, 2014, uncovers potentially important disparities in the cancer care received by Canadians based on how much they earn, where they live, and if they are recent immigrants or Canadian-born. The report was led by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.

Quitting smoking makes you happier, says study

Moderate or heavy smokers who quit tobacco get a boost in mental wellbeing that, for people who are anxious or stressed, is equivalent to taking anti-depressants, a study said Thursday. British researchers examined 26 published investigations into the mental health of smokers. They looked at standardised scorecards for symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress and quality of life, derived from questionnaires completed by volunteers. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Taylor G, et al. Change in mental health after smoking cessation: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2014;348:g1151.

New breast surgery guidelines aim to spare women unnecessary operations

After conducting a review of the available scientific evidence, a panel of breast cancer experts from the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Breast Surgery, and the College of American Pathologists, as well as patient advocates, found that removing additional tissue did not significantly decrease the risk of recurrence in the same breast in women who received radiation treatments to the entire breast, which is standard practice. Read more here.

Download the guideline from the SSO website here.

UCSD researchers find that a large number of people who say they use cigarettes, don't consider themselves to be smokers

While smoking among California adults has dramatically declined in recent decades, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report there is a surprisingly large number of people who say they use cigarettes, but don’t consider themselves to be “smokers.” Wael K. Al-Delaimy, MD, PhD, professor and chief of the Division of Global Health in the UC San Diego Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, and colleagues estimate that, in 2011, almost 396,000 Californians smoked on a measurable basis, but rejected the characterization of “smoker.” Read more here.

Study mentioned: Leas EC, et al. Smokers who report smoking but do not consider themselves smokers: a phenomenon in need of further attention. Tob Control. 2014 Feb 5. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24500273

New UK study shows potential for targeting aggressive breast cancers

A new study led by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researcher Peter Zhou shows that targeting Twist, a nuclear protein that is an accelerant of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in human cells, may provide an effective approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Shi J, et al. Disrupting the Interaction of BRD4 with Diacetylated Twist Suppresses Tumorigenesis in Basal-like Breast Cancer. Cancer Cell. 25(2): 210-225.

Smoking linked with increased risk of most common type of breast cancer

Young women – current or recent smokers who have smoked a pack a day for a decade or more – have a significantly increased risk of developing the most common type of breast cancer, according to a new study by Dr. Christopher Li and colleagues in the Cancer Epidemiology Research Group in the Public Health Sciences Division. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kawai M, et al. Active smoking and the risk of estrogen receptor-positive and triple-negative breast cancer among women ages 20 to 44 years. Cancer. 2014 Feb 10. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24515648

Normal enzyme aids a mutant one to fuel blood cancer’s growth

Reinforcing the need to look beyond genomic alterations to understand the complexity of cancer, researchers from Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center report that a normal enzyme called SYK pairs with FLT3, the most commonly mutated enzyme found in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), to promote progression of the disease. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Puissant A, et al. (2014) SYK Is a Critical Regulator of FLT3 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Cell. 25(2): 226-242.

Weakness exposed in most common cancer gene

NYU Langone Medical Center researchers have found a biological weakness in the workings of the most commonly mutated gene involved in human cancers, known as mutant K-Ras, which they say can be exploited by drug chemotherapies to thwart tumor growth. Mutant K-Ras has long been suspected of being the driving force behind more than a third of all cancers, including colon, lung, and a majority of pancreatic cancers. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Grabocka E, et al. (2014) Wild-Type H- and N-Ras Promote Mutant K-Ras-Driven Tumorigenesis by Modulating the DNA Damage Response. Cancer Cell. 25(2): 243-256.

Revamped radiation treatment schedule for common form of brain cancer can extend survival

An altered radiation treatment schedule for the most common and lethal form of brain cancer extended the survival period of mice with the disease – suggesting that it may be able to do the same for human patients – a new study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and other organizations has shown. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Leder K, et al. Mathematical Modeling of PDGF-Driven Glioblastoma Reveals Optimized Radiation Dosing Schedules. Cell. 2014 Jan 30;156(3):603-16. PMID: 24485463

FDA approves ibrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved use of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients who have received at least one previous therapy. Ibrutinib is an oral Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Read more here.

Screening mammography doesn’t cut breast-cancer deaths, Canadian study says

The latest report from a long-term Canadian study into breast cancer screening suggests it isn’t reducing the number of women who die from breast cancer. The study looks at the impact of screening mammography on cancer rates and deaths to cancer in women aged 40 to 59 who were followed for nearly 25 years. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Miller AB, et al. Twenty five year follow-up for breast cancer incidence and mortality of the Canadian National Breast Screening Study: randomised screening trial. BMJ. 2014 Feb 11;348:g366. PMID: 24519768

Researchers establish benefits of high-dose vitamin C for ovarian cancer patients

Scientists at the University of Kansas Medical Center have determined that high doses of vitamin C, administered intravenously with traditional chemotherapy, helped kill cancer cells while reducing the toxic effects of chemotherapy for some cancer patients. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ma Y, et al. High-dose parenteral ascorbate enhanced chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Feb 5;6(222):222ra18. PMID: 24500406

NIH study finds regular aspirin use may reduce ovarian cancer risk

Women who take aspirin daily may reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by 20 percent, according to a study by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. However, further research is needed before clinical recommendations can be made. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Trabert B, et al. Aspirin, Nonaspirin Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug, and Acetaminophen Use and Risk of Invasive Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Pooled Analysis in the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014 Feb 1;106(2):djt431. PMID: 24503200

FDA and CDC launch anti-tobacco advertising campaigns

The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched new campaigns that feature hard-hitting television ads about the consequences of smoking. The FDA’s “The Real Cost” campaign launched February 11, 2014 on TV and radio, in print, and online. It’s the FDA’s first youth tobacco prevention campaign, and it’s aimed at kids ages 12 – 17 who are likely to try cigarettes, or who have already tried them and are at risk of becoming regular users. Read more and view the ads here.

President’s Cancer Panel: Efforts needed to increase HPV vaccination rates

The President's Cancer Panel has released a report calling for a coordinated effort to increase the rates of vaccinations against human papillomavirus (HPV). The report, Accelerating HPV Vaccine Uptake: Urgency for Action to Prevent Cancer, calls increasing the rate of HPV vaccinations one of the most profound opportunities in cancer prevention today. Read more here.

Read the full report here.

Certain cancer drugs may need gut bacteria to work

Two studies suggest that intestinal bacteria may increase the effectiveness of certain types of cancer treatments. National Cancer Institute researchers tested an immunotherapy and a platinum chemotherapy and found that both were less effective in mice that had no bacteria in their guts. A separate study from researchers at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) found something similar in mice when testing the drug cyclophosphamide. Read more here.

FDA clears camera-in-a-pill for people who could not complete colonoscopy

A pill that can take pictures of the inside of the colon is now available for people who have not been able to complete a colonoscopy. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared for use the PillCam COLON, which houses a battery, a light, and 2 miniature color video cameras. The PillCam is only approved for use as a follow-up procedure at this time. It is not recommended or approved as the first method of screening for colon cancer. Read more here.

Colorectal cancer survival increases, but not for everyone

The chances of surviving colorectal cancer that has already spread to other parts of the body by the time it is diagnosed are much better today than they were in the late 1990s – but only for certain racial, ethnic, and age groups in the United States. For non-Hispanic whites, the 5-year survival rate for colorectal cancer that has spread is 15.7% for 2004-2009, up significantly from 9.8% in 1992-1997. Beyond the racial and ethnic disparities, the researchers also found differences by age. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Sineshaw HM, et al. Disparities in survival improvement for metastatic colorectal cancer by race/ethnicity and age in the United States. Cancer Causes Control. 2014 Jan 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24445597

The Cancer Story - Environmental scans of cancer control in First Nations

These reports represent the first step in implementing the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Action Plan on Cancer Control. The documents are a rich source of information, including detailed descriptions of cancer care pathways serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada, and examples of leading practices to advance cancer control for and with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.



View other reports:
- Cancer care and control in Inuit Nunangat

- First Nations, Inuit and Métis Action Plan on Cancer Control
Where there’s a will, there’s a way . . .
Environmental scan and analysis of existing patient identification systems for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples

- Inventory of Profiles
Existing Patient Identification Systems with Ethnocultural Identifiers Specific to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples in Canada

1 in 3: A conversation with Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, Medical lead from AHS South Zone

Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, Family Physician for Fort Chipewyan and Standoff, Medical Lead for the Aboriginal Health Program for Alberta Health Services South Zone, provides practical advice for physicians working with people in rural and northern communities.

Watch the video here.

NCCS responds to Dr. Don Dizon’s “The awakening of the e-patient” commentary

In his ASCO Connection commentary, “ The Awakening of the e-Patient: Are We Prepared to Engage?” Dr. Don Dizon confirms from the provider perspective what we at NCCS know to be true: patients want to be engaged in decision-making about their care, especially for a serious diagnosis like cancer. Dr. Dizon writes of the emergence of “e-patients,” who spend time researching their disease on the Internet and connecting via social media with other patients. Read more and connect to the full commentary here.

Sochi - Calgary - A Cancer Patient

Feeling like reading something about Olympics here?

“I think for me it’s really about perseverance and not giving up,..." explained O’Blenes, a 17 year old who is currently undergoing chemotherapy at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and has endured numerous surgeries.

Read this: Cancer patient’s artwork will adorn helmet of Canadian skier Brad Spence

Split decision: Stem cell signal linked with cancer growth

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a protein critical to hematopoietic stem cell function and blood formation. The finding has potential as a new target for treating leukemia because cancer stem cells rely upon the same protein to regulate and sustain their growth. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Zimdahl B, et al. Lis1 regulates asymmetric division in hematopoietic stem cells and in leukemia. Nat Genet. 2014 Feb 2. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24487275

Adding chemotherapy following radiation treatment improves survival for adults with a slow-growing type of brain tumor

Adults with low-grade gliomas, a form of brain tumor, who received a chemotherapy regimen following completion of radiation therapy, lived longer than patients who received radiation therapy alone, according to long-term follow-up results from a National Institutes of Health-supported randomized controlled clinical trial. Read more here.

Liver tumors found in mice exposed to BPA

In one of the first studies to show a significant association between BPA and cancer development, University of Michigan School of Public Health researchers have found liver tumors in mice exposed to the chemical via their mothers during gestation and nursing. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Weinhouse C, et al. Dose-Dependent Incidence of Hepatic Tumors in Adult Mice following Perinatal Exposure to Bisphenol A. Environ Health Perspect. 2014 Feb 3. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24487385

Marker may predict response to ipilimumab in advanced melanoma

Among patients with advanced melanoma, presence of higher levels of the protein vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in blood was associated with poor response to treatment with the immunotherapy ipilimumab, according to a recent study. The study suggests combining immunotherapy with VEGF inhibitors, also known as angiogenesis inhibitors, may be a potential option for these patients. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Yuan J, et al. Pretreatment Serum VEGF Is Associated with Clinical Response and Overall Survival in Advanced Melanoma Patients Treated with Ipilimumab. Cancer Immunol Res February 2014 2; 127.

Chemists develop new technique for improving stomach cancer surgery results

Chemistry postdoctoral scholar Livia Eberlin, PhD, and her adviser, chemistry professor Richard Zare, PhD, had an unusual idea for how chemical analysis could improve the odds of detecting cancer cells during surgery to prevent patients from needing to return. The results of collaboration with George Poultsides, MD, were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Eberlin LS, et al. Molecular assessment of surgical-resection margins of gastric cancer by mass-spectrometric imaging. PNAS. Contributed January 7, 2014.

Oral anti-fungal drug can treat skin cancer in patients

A common anti-fungal treatment called itraconazole may be useful in treating basal cell carcinoma — the most common form of skin cancer, according to a study that was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study tested itraconazole’s effectiveness in treating patients with multiple basal cell carcinoma tumors. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine carried out a phase-2 clinical trial with 29 patients who had a total of 101 tumors. Within a month, the size and spread of tumors had decreased in most patients, they found. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kim DJ, et al. Open-Label, Exploratory Phase II Trial of Oral Itraconazole for the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Feb 3. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24493717

Researchers advance findings on key gene related to cancer metastasis

New evidence reported by researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute lends support to the hypothesis that the SSeCKS/AKAP12 gene is a key inhibitor of prostate cancer metastasis. The data are some of the first to demonstrate this dynamic in transgenic animal models, with promising implications for development of targeted therapies for prostate cancer and perhaps for other solid-tumor cancers. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ko HK, et al. A transgenic mouse model for early prostate metastasis to lymph nodes. Cancer Res. 2014 Feb 1;74(3):945-53. PMID: 24492704

Chemical stem cell signature predicts treatment response for acute myeloid leukemia

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center have found a chemical “signature” in blood-forming stem cells that predicts whether patients with acute myeloid leukemia will respond to chemotherapy. The findings are based on data from nearly 700 AML patients. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Bartholdy B, et al. HSC commitment-associated epigenetic signature is prognostic in acute myeloid leukemia. J Clin Invest. 2014 Feb 3. pii: 71264. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24487588

SWITCH study of efficacy and safety of sorafenib/sunitinib vs. sunitinib/sorafenib in the treatment of mRCC

According to results of the SWITCH, a randomised sequential open-label study, that evaluated efficacy and safety of sorafenib/sunitinib vs. sunitinib/sorafenib in the treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer, there is no difference whether patients first start on sorafenib and then switch to sunitinib upon progression or vice versa. Progression-free survival and overall survival outcomes across the two sequences were similar, as reported by lead investigator Dr Maurice-Stephan Michel of the University Medical Center Mannheim and the University of Heidelberg in Germany. The findings were reported at 2014 Genitourinary Cancer Symposium in San Francisco. Read more here.

Enzalutamide in chemotherapy-naive mCRPC

Enzalutamide improved overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival in patients with chemotherapy-naive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational, phase III PREVAIL study. The study findings were presented as abstract LBA1 in the Welcome and General Session entitled “Integrating Androgen Axis Therapy Across the Disease Spectrum” of the 2014 Genitourinary Cancer Symposium in San Francisco. Read more here.

Analysis of somatic point mutations in exome sequences

A landmark study across many cancer types reveals that the universe of cancer mutations is much bigger than previously thought. By analysing the genomes of thousands of patients' tumours, a Broad Institute-led research team has discovered many new cancer genes — expanding the list of known genes tied to these cancers by 25%. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Lawrence MS, et al. Discovery and saturation analysis of cancer genes across 21 tumour types. Nature. 2014 Jan 23;505(7484):495-501. PMID: 24390350

B.C. agency urges women at high risk of breast cancer to screen annually, others every two years

A new breast cancer screening policy for British Columbia urges women aged 40 to 74 to have annual mammograms if their mothers, sisters or daughters have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The B.C. Cancer Agency released new guidelines Tuesday, describing the recommendation as a step toward personalized cancer screening. Read more here.

Connect to the BC Cancer Agency here.

“We are giving ourselves cancer”: consequences of radiation from medical imaging

In a January 31st New York Times Op Ed, Drs. Rita Redberg and Rebecca Smith-Bindman of UCSF Medical Center report on how the increased uses of medical technologies for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring diseases like cancer, are contributing to unprecedented exposures to radiation. The authors calculate that as many as 3-5% of all future cancers may result from medical imaging. Read more and connect to the full opinion article here.

NCCS responds to recent data on childhood cancer survivorship issues

"A recent edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology has attracted our attention for the disturbing statistics it revealed about the issues related to the acceleration of aging among adult survivors of childhood cancer. This original report deserves attention not only for its compelling statistics on survivors of childhood cancer, but also for its inference for all cancer survivors who are at increased risk for premature aging and frailty." Continue reading the NCCS article here.

Report outlines progress and challenges in childhood cancer

A new report from the American Cancer Society describes the progress that has been made and the challenges that remain in fighting childhood cancer. The report estimates the number of new cancer cases and deaths for children and adolescents ages 19 and younger in the US. Read more here.

Report mentioned: Ward E, et al. Childhood and adolescent cancer statistics, 2014. CA Cancer J Clin. 2014 Jan 31. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24488779

Yoga may reduce fatigue in breast cancer survivors

In a recent study, researchers randomly assigned 200 breast cancer survivors to either 90 minutes of hatha yoga twice weekly for 12 weeks or a wait list control. Various outcome measures, including several inflammation markers and scores on fatigue and depression scales were evaluated. The researchers found that after three months of yoga practice, fatigue was significant lower and vitality was significantly high in the yoga group when compared to those in the control group. Furthermore, several inflammation markers were significantly lower in the yoga group. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kiecolt-Glaser JK, et al. Yoga's Impact on Inflammation, Mood, and Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Jan 27. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24470004

Five maps that put cancer's global spread into focus

Cancer’s global death toll is expected to increase at an “alarming pace” over the next two decades, rising to 22 million new cases and 13 million deaths per year. That’s the message of a new report from the IARC. This news article includes mortality rate maps for lung cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and cervical cancer. Read more here.

The high-stakes debate over e-cigarettes

Health Canada does not allow the sale of e-cigarettes containing nicotine.It is also illegal in Canada to make any health claims about e-cigarettes, for example suggesting they are a smoking cessation tool. The United States has, to date, taken a hands-off approach, though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has served notice that it intends to extend its regulatory control of tobacco to e-cigarettes in the near future. Read more here.

Effective prevention measures urgently needed to prevent cancer crisis: IARC report

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has launched World Cancer Report 2014, a collaboration of over 250 leading scientists from more than 40 countries, describing multiple aspects of cancer research and control. Based on the latest statistics on trends in cancer incidence and mortality worldwide, this report reveals how the cancer burden is growing at an alarming pace and emphasizes the need for urgent implementation of efficient prevention strategies to curb the disease. Read more here.