A new assay detects MET phosphorylation in tumor biopsies

March 31, 2016 - MET (hepatocyte growth factor receptor) is a trans-membrane, tyrosine kinase receptor whose aberrant signaling is implicated in cancer growth, progression, and metastasis. Currently, many drugs are in development that target MET kinase signaling; however, until now, no assay has been available to effectively measure MET pharmacodynamics directly in core biopsies of tumors, which is a critical capability for proof of mechanism studies to confirm intended drug action in patients. Read more here.

New strategy for treating advanced ovarian cancer shows promise in mice

On March 28, 2016 an experimental strategy for treating advanced ovarian cancer has caused tumor regression in animal models, according to a new study. The strategy uses a protein fragment, or peptide, to stimulate normal cells in the tissues surrounding cancer cells—the tumor microenvironment—to block the growth of the cancer cells. Read more here.

Combined inhibition of DDR1 and notch signalling for KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma

On March 25, 2016 new research shows that studying tumours early in development can reveal therapeutic targets that can boost the efficacy of treatments administered later in disease progression.

Patients with advanced Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS)-mutant lung adenocarcinoma are currently treated with standard chemotherapy because of a lack of efficacious targeted therapies. In a translational research study, a group of Spanish investigators from the Experimental Oncology, Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain reasoned that the identification of mediators of Kras signalling in early mouse lung hyperplasias might bypass the difficulties that are imposed by intratumour heterogeneity in advanced tumours, and that it might unveil relevant therapeutic targets. Read more here.

Crizotinib approval expanded for advanced lung cancer

One March 22, 2016 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved uses of the targeted therapy crizotinib (Xalkori®) for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The new approval is for the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC whose tumors have alterations—known as rearrangements—in the ROS1 gene. Crizotinib was originally approved for patients with advanced NSCLC whose tumors have similar alterations in the ALK gene. Read more here.

New guideline addresses long-term needs of head and neck cancer survivors

On March 22, 2016 a new American Cancer Society guideline provides clinicians with recommendations on key areas of clinical follow-up care for survivors of head and neck cancer, a growing population numbering approximately 436,060 and accounting for 3% of all cancer survivors living in the United States.

Head and neck cancer will account for an estimated 61,760 new cancer cases in the United States in 2016, and long-term survival is increasingly common in this population. Tobacco use and alcohol consumption together account for an estimated three out of four cases of head and neck cancer. Human papillomavirus is also a risk factor, accounting for as many as seven out of ten oropharyngeal cancers. Read more here.

Calgary sleep study aims to help young cancer survivors sleep better

On March 18, 2015 a new study takes a look at bad sleep patterns developed during treatment making kids feel exhausted and socially isolated years later. This study is unique because it examines sleep patterns in short-term survivors, who are between two and seven years off their therapy.Past studies have documented broken sleep patterns in those who are 15 to 20 years past treatment, as well as those who are newly diagnosed. Researchers are looking for children between the ages of 8-18 who have had leukemia, as well as healthy children for a comparison group. They hope to enroll 100 families, 50 for each group. Read more here and here.

Evaluation of a single metastasis in metastatic prostate cancer

By analysing an intraindividual molecular diversity of metastatic prostate cancer, the researchers discovered that although exceptions exist, evaluation of a single metastasis provides a reasonable assessment of the major oncogenic driver alterations that are present in disseminated tumours within an individual, and thus may be useful for selection of treatments on the basis of predicted molecular vulnerabilities. The study results are published in the Nature Medicine. Read more here.

Why some tumors withstand treatment: researchers uncover a mechanism that allows cancer cells to evade targeted therapies

March 16, 2016 - A new study from MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital reveals why a certain class of these drugs, known as kinase inhibitors, doesn’t always halt tumor growth. The researchers found that while kinase inhibitors successfully shut down their targets, they also provoke cells to turn on a backup system that can take over for the one knocked out by the drug. Read more here.

FDA expands use of crizotinib in advanced NSCLC

On 11 March, 2016 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved crizotinib (Xalkori) to treat patients with advanced (metastatic) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have a ROS-1 gene abnormality. Crizotinib is the first and only FDA approved treatment for patients with ROS-1 positive NSCLC. Read more here.

Special current oncology supplement augments evidence base for cancer economics

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is proud to collaborate with Current Oncology to present a special supplement on Canada-specific cancer costing and economic evaluation research.

Our unique health care system requires specifically Canadian studies to effectively evaluate cost differences and variability in individual interventions, care pathways and cancer care systems. Economic research is highly useful for identifying good value and high quality care, but there is an acute shortage of Canada-specific evidence available. As a result, decision makers cannot accurately assess the impact of new processes, practices and technologies to make decisions of most benefit to Canadians.

The Current Oncology supplement helps fill this gap by showcasing the work of researchers focused on answering questions pertinent to Canadian cancer control. Read more here.

Novel strategy isolates immune cells in the blood that recognize melanoma

On March 11, 2016, scientists in NCI’s Center for Cancer Research (CCR) have developed a novel strategy for identifying tumor-reactive and mutation-specific immune cells circulating in the blood of patients with melanoma.

Patients with metastatic melanoma have experienced dramatic tumor regressions in early clinical trials of adoptive cell transfer—a technique in which immune cells are collected from patients, expanded in the laboratory, and infused back into patients to attack the cancer. However, to date, these immune cells have been harvested only from solid tumor tissue, a process that requires invasive surgery and is not always possible. Read more here.

Targeted radiation promising for early breast cancer

A new study conducted at the Institute of Cancer Research in London has indicated that targeted radiation therapy for women with early stage breast cancer may be just as effective as standard radiation treatment.  While this particular study only tracked women for 5 years, study co-author Dr. John Yarnold, professor of clinical oncology states that the research "contributes to a growing body of evidence that a large proportion of women over 50 years old with small breast cancers can avoid whole breast radiotherapy."

To read more about this study, click here.

Missed radiation therapy sessions increase risk of cancer recurrence

On February 26 2016, A new study has shown that patients who miss radiation therapy sessions during cancer treatment have an increased risk of their disease returning, even if they eventually complete their course of radiation treatment.

The magnitude of the effect was higher than the researchers anticipated, which they believe suggests that noncompliance with radiation therapy may be an indicator for other risk factors that could negatively affect outcomes. Read more here.

BRCA testing rates high in young women with breast cancer

According to a new study on March 2, 2016, testing for genetic mutations strongly associated with an increased breast cancer risk has risen dramatically among women younger than age 40 who are diagnosed with the disease.

Overall, within a year of their diagnosis, 87 percent of the women in the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Study were tested for mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Read more here.

A pragmatic trial of ambulatory toxicity management in patients receiving ddjuvant or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer

Last updated February 28 2016, this trail is a comparison of the number of ER plus hospital visits that occurred during chemotherapy between the telephone intervention and control arms. Using a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial design, 20 Ontario cancer centres that provide care to patients with breast cancer will be randomly allocated to one of two arms: pro-active telephone toxicity management (intervention), or control (routine care). Read more about the trial here.