The surprising dangers of CT scans and X-rays

Patients are often exposed to cancer-causing radiation for little medical reason, a Consumer Reports investigation finds. Researchers estimate that at least 2 percent of all future cancers in the U.S.—approximately 29,000 cases and 15,000 deaths per year—will stem from CT scans alone. Even some standard X-rays, which expose you to much smaller amounts of radiation, can pose risks if you undergo multiple ones. Read more here.

Colorectal cancer screening in Canada

This newly released report from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer presents colorectal cancer screening program quality indicators in Canada for the calendar years 2011 and 2012. It builds on the 2009–2010 report, which described the first round of screening. Data are provided for Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. The evaluation framework includes 12 quality indicators that were measured in the previous report, as well as three additional indicators (retention rate, 14 day unplanned hospitalization after follow-up colonoscopy, and interval colorectal cancer rate). Read the full report, Colorectal cancer screening in Canada: monitoring & evaluation of quality indicators – results report, January 2011 – December 2012, here.

NIH-funded study uncovers range of molecular alterations in head and neck cancers, new potential drug target

Investigators with The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network have discovered genomic differences – with potentially important clinical implications – in head and neck cancers caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The researchers also uncovered new smoking-related cancer subtypes and potential new drug targets, and found numerous genomic similarities with other cancer types. Taken together, this study’s findings may provide more detailed explanations of how HPV infection and smoking play roles in head and neck cancer risk and disease development, and offer potential novel diagnostic and treatment directions. Read more here.

MRI improves prostate cancer biopsy accuracy

A new study conducted at the U.S. National Cancer Institute's Centre for Cancer Research indicates that the combination of MRI with ultrasound in prostate biopsies is better able to diagnose 30% more high-risk cancers compared to standard biopsies alone.  According to senior author Dr. Peter Pinto, the MRI-targeted biopsy "finds the aggressive tutors that need to be treated but also not finding those small microscopic low-grade tutors that are not clinically important but lead to over treatment."

Click here to learn more about this study, recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

A new study links XRCC2 mutations to cisplatin resistance in testicular cancer

A major research study has uncovered several new genetic mutations that could drive testicular cancer and also identified a gene which may contribute to tumours becoming resistant to platinum chemotherapy. The study is the first to use whole-exome sequencing technology to explore in detail testicular germ cell tumours, which make up the vast majority of testicular cancers and are the most common cancers in young men. Read more here.

OECI newsletter from December 2014 available online

Since 2012, The OECI has regularly released a newsletter presenting the latest news and development on OECI activities.

The last issue mostly focuses on the BenchCan Project, a cooperation initiative set up in 2013, aiming at identifying possible solutions to the unacceptable inequalities in cancer care among Member States and at cooperating in EU research projects. Read more here.

Lung cancer screening framework can help maximize benefits, reduce risks

Following new evidence that suggests screening via low-dose CT scans could help reduce lung cancer-related deaths in high-risk populations, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer’s pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Screening Initiative has developed the Lung Cancer Screening Framework for Canada to help interested provinces and territories design targeted early detection programs for high-risk populations. Read more here.

IMAGINE Project focuses on patient-first health-care culture

The Alberta health-care system includes extraordinary talent and forward-thinking initiatives. But it is also faced with challenges to patient safety, frequent patient dissatisfaction, and a culture that can struggle with always putting the patient first. That is the picture of the health-care system that emerged during a nearly five-hour forum attended by almost 400 people, streamed live and hosted by the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the Cumming School of Medicine. The forum marked the launch of the IMAGINE Project, a grassroots, citizen-led initiative that aims to refocus the health-care system on the patient. Read more here.

More than 300 million people in at least 70 countries use smokeless tobacco

The first-ever report on the global use and public health impact of smokeless tobacco finds that more than 300 million people in at least 70 countries use these harmful products. The report, Smokeless Tobacco and Public Health: A Global Perspective, was released by the CDC and the National Cancer Institute at the National Conference on Smoking or Health in Mumbai, India. Thirty-two leading experts from around the world contributed to the report. The serious health effects of smokeless tobacco have been documented. As the report explains, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that smokeless tobacco causes oral cancer, esophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer in humans. Read more here.

Read the full report here.

A key molecular defect in a childhood gastrointestinal tumor may have important diagnostic implications

NCI scientists have identified a key molecular defect that may have important diagnostic implications in a tumor in children known as gastrointestinal stromal tumor, or GIST. Patients with pediatric GIST typically are deficient in the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), which is essential for cell metabolism and energy production. Some tumors in patients with pediatric GIST have mutations in one of the four genes that code for SDH (SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, and SDHD—collectively termed SDHx). However, in some patients with pediatric GIST these genes do not have mutations. Read more here.

Researchers make progress understanding a rare pediatric cancer

Investigators at the Cumming School of Medicine have made key new findings about an extremely rare childhood cancer called neurocutaneous melanocytosis. This malignant cancer is characterized by an excessive growth of melanin-producing cells in both the skin and the brain. The study’s authors found potential drug targets for the disease by using a molecular analysis of patient tumour cells grown in animal models. The study was led by Drs. Aru Narendran and Ronald Anderson, in the division of hematology, oncology and transplant at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Read more here.

Wait times for health care in Canada have not improved

Waiting for treatment has become a defining characteristic of Canadian Healthcare. In order to document the lengthy queues for visits to specialists and for diagnostic and surgical procedures in the country, the Fraser Institute has—for over two decades—surveyed specialist physicians across 12 specialties and 10 provinces. This edition indicates that, overall, waiting times for medically necessary treatment have not improved since last year. Read the full report, Waiting your turn: wait times for health care in Canada, 2014, here.

Second-line treatment with FOLFIRI/ramucirumab delays disease progression and extends overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

New findings from the international RAISE phase III study of 1,072 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) whose disease progressed on or after first-line therapy with bevacizumab, oxaliplatin, and a fluoropyrimidine, indicate that a combination of ramucirumab and FOLFIRI provides an overall survival (OS) advantage over standard second-line treatment with FOLFIRI alone. On average, patients treated with the ramucirumab combination lived six weeks longer than those treated with FOLFIRI plus placebo. The study was presented at 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (15-17 January 2015, San Francisco, USA). Read more here.

The Partnership promotes greater integration of tobacco control and cancer control

During National Non-Smoking Week, January 18-25, Canadians are reminded of the dangers of tobacco use and encouraged to quit smoking. While there have been marked reductions in tobacco use in Canada over the past 40 years, smoking remains the number one cause of cancer and approximately 20 percent of Canadians continue to use tobacco on an occasional or regular basis. Read more here.

Cancer Care Ontario responds - Cancer risk is not just about bad luck

A recent study published in the journal Science, has caused much confusion in the media and the public. The study, from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center indicated that the majority of cancers are the result of bad luck. While this concept makes a great headline, it’s not actually true. The most common cancers – lung, breast, colorectal and prostate – are influenced by many lifestyle factors, including smoking, obesity, poor diet, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and sun exposure. These are all factors that can be modified through changes in behaviour; meaning you can lower your risk for developing cancer (and don’t have to rely on luck). Read more here.

Many cancer survivors have unmet physical and mental needs

Even decades after being cured, many cancer survivors face physical and mental challenges resulting from their disease and its treatment. That's the conclusion of a new study published early online in the journal Cancer. The findings could help clinicians and other experts develop interventions that are tailored to the specific types of problems and concerns that cancer survivors may experience. Read more here.

Breast cancer study finds black women more likely to die

Race may influence whether women diagnosed with breast cancer will survive, suggests a new study which found black women are more likely to die even when their tumours are found when they are small and theoretically easier to treat. The study, which is based on U.S. data, said that even when breast cancer is diagnosed at Stage 1, black women have a higher risk of dying than women of Japanese ethnicity or white women. Read more here.

Cancer facts & figures 2015

This annual report provides the estimated numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in 2015 in the United States, as well as current cancer incidence, mortality, and survival statistics and information on cancer symptoms, risk factors, early detection, and treatment. This year's report also includes a special section on breast carcinoma in situ. Read more here.

Download the full report here.

Anticancer medicines recommended for approval by EMA in 2014

In 2014, eight new medicines for cancer were recommended for marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), of which four target rare cancers.

In particular, the EMA recommended approval  of vintafolide in ovarian cancer, trametinib in melanoma, obinituzumab in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), ibrutinib for mantle cell lymphoma and CLL, idelalisib for CLL and follicular lymphoma, nintedanib for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ramucirumab in gastric cancer and cancer of gastro-oesophageal junction, and olaparib for ovarian cancer.

In addition, the EMA approved biosimilar filgrastim for the management of febrile neutropenia in patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Read more here.

OECI yearbook 2014-2015

OECI (the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes) has recently released the first Edition of the OECI Yearbook, which was dedicated to all the OECI Members and cancer centres that have joined the OECI since 1979. Read more here.

Spotlight on breast cancer

This Open Access article collection in BMC Medicine aims to highlight the latest progress in breast cancer risk profiling, detection and treatment, as well as the long-term issues faced by those surviving breast cancer. The research articles cover all areas of breast cancer medicine, including clinical studies of new therapies, molecular genomics and translational advances. Read more here.

Dr. Dorothy Keefe on symptom science and supportive care

Dorothy Keefe, MD, MBBS, FRACP, FRCP, spoke at the opening session and also delivered a Keynote Address, at the Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium. The symposium, cosponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and MASCC, was held in Boston, Massachusetts, October 24-25, 2014. Her presentations are now available online, as well as other video highlights from the Symposium.

Program puts damper on distress caused by cancer

A distress program designed to help patients cope with the physical and psychosocial effects of cancer is making a difference and is changing the way health care professionals treat the disease. Screening for Distress was developed at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and assists front-line staff to identify issues that negatively affect cancer patients and to find solutions to improve their overall well-being. Read more here.

New studies in multiple myeloma presented at ASH

The 56th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) featured a number of important studies in multiple myeloma, including trials of carfilzomib, pomalidomide,ixazomib, and two new antibodies.

Dimopoulos MA, Palumbo A, Weisel K, et al. Safety and efficacy in the Stratus (MM-010) trial, a single-arm phase 3b study evaluating pomalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone in patients with refractory or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Program and abstracts of the 56th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 6-9, 2014; San Francisco, California. Abstract 80.


Kumar S, Berdeja JG, Niesvizky R, et al. Long-term ixazomib maintenance is tolerable and improves depth of response following ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone induction in patients (Pts) with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM): phase 2 study results. Program and abstracts of the 56th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 6-9, 2014; San Francisco, California. Abstract 82.


Martin III TG, Baz R, Benson Jr. DM, et al. A phase Ib dose escalation trial of SAR650984 (anti-CD-38 mAb) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Program and abstracts of the 56th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 6-9, 2014; San Francisco, California. Abstract 83.


Plesner T, Arkenau HT, Lokhorst HM, et al. Safety and efficacy of daratumumab with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed or relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma. Program and abstracts of the 56th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, December 6-9, 2014; San Francisco, California. Abstract 84.

More 56th ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts are here.

A benign breast biopsy that is not so benign

A breast biopsy that results in a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia is considered a benign finding, but that description obscures the riskiness of the condition, according to a special report published in the January 1, 2015, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Dr Hartmann and coauthors, all of whom are from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, report there is a cumulative incidence of breast cancer of 30% at 25 years of follow-up in their 698-patient cohort of women with atypical hyperplasia.

Study mentioned:
N Engl J Med. 2015 Jan;372(1):78-89. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsr1407164.
Atypical hyperplasia of the breast--risk assessment and management options.
Hartmann LC1, Degnim AC, Santen RJ, Dupont WD, Ghosh K.

New drug combination for advanced breast cancer delays disease progression

A new multi-center phase II trial conducted at Mt. Sinai Hospital for patients with hormone-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer has shown that  a combination of cancer drugs, bortezomib and fulvestrant vs. fulvestrant alone has "doubled the rate of survival at 12 months [14% to 28%] and reduced the chance of cancer progression overall."  According to Dr. Kerin Adelson, assistant professor of medical oncology at Yale Cancer Center and principle investigator for this study, the results from the drug combination are encouraging and should be further explored in other patient populations, including those afflicted with metastatic breast cancer.

To read more about this study, presented at the 2014 San Antonio  Breast Cancer Symposium, December 2014, click here.

Health care for people approaching the end of life

In July 2013, the Evidence Development and Standards (EDS) branch of Health Quality Ontario (HQO) began work on developing an evidentiary framework for end of life care. The focus was on adults with advanced disease who are not expected to recover from their condition. This newly released report, Health care for people approaching the end of life: an evidentiary framework, is part of the resulting End-of-Life mega-analysis series. Read the full report here.

Revisiting: What is grey literature?

Not trying for a very technical definition of the term grey literature, but linking you with the discussions among delegates from the 16th International Grey Literature Conference last December: https://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=3718857.

Here is how Dr. Dominic Farace, Director at GreyNet International, has most recently described by "what it is and what is not. Grey literature has over the past half-century been identified by a number of terms and concepts. For example, non-conventional, unconventional, or non-commercial literature. These are accepted but limited descriptors. Other examples that are less accepted and rather off-the-mark are terms such as ephemera, fugitive or non-published literature... Grey literature stood much to gain from the methods of commercial publishing, while commercial publishing stood to gain from the richness and diversity found in grey literature. This richness and diversity can be seen by the hundreds of document types in which it is published both in print and electronic formats. It can also be viewed by the range of corporate authors (organizations in government, academics, business and industry) that publish it; and by the wide range of professional, scientific, and technical communities that contribute to its research, authorship, and review..."

Happy New Year to you!