Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with cancer

 Research conducted by the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium, the results of which were recently published in the Annals of Oncology maintains that cancer patients who contract COVID-19 despite being vaccinated "remain susceptible to severe outcomes."  Dr. Toni K. Choueri of the Department of Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, emphasizes that "vaccination of close contacts, masking, boosters, and social distancing are needed to protect patients with cancer", particularly if cancer patients come into contact with members of the public that are unvaccinated. 

Click here to read more about this study, believed to be the first to evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients being infected by COVID-19 after vaccination.    

Source mentioned: Schmidt AL, Labaki C, Hsu C-Y, et al. COVID-19 vaccination and breakthrough infections in patients with cancer. Annals of Oncology; Published online 24 December 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2021.12.006

Majority of patients with cancer are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19

 A recently conducted survey among ambulatory patients at four French cancer centres found that most patients undergoing treatment for their cancer wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19.  Study authors further confirmed that "patients with cancer have a variable but confirmed higher risk of severe COVID-19.  They advocate that patients with cancer should be a target population for vaccination, despite [being] excluded from the first trials."  Patients responding to the survey also believed that oncologists are qualified to provide guidance and advise regarding COVID-19 vaccination. 

To read more about this survey, click here. 

Study mentioned: 

Barrière J, Gal J, Hoch B, et al. Acceptance of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among French patients with cancer: a cross-sectional survey. Annals of Oncology; Published online 29 January 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2021.01.066

Strict safety measures in Austria results in low SARS-COV-2 detection rates in cancer patients

 A recently published study conducted on 1016 cancer patients in a tertiary care hospital in Vienna between March 21, 2020 - May 4, 2020 indicates a "low rate of detectable SARS-CoV-2 infections...after implementation of institutional and population-wide safety measures."  As countries worldwide can attest to, COVID-19 mortality is highest among the elderly.  88% of the 1016 cancer patients tested were managed in an outpatient setting; 53 patients (5.2%) self-reported symptoms attributable to COVID-19, however only 4 patients (0.4%) were officially diagnosed with coronavirus.  While the study team acknowledges that their research was conducted in a controlled setting, they are adamant that "implementation of strict safety policies including routine SARS-CoV-2 testing in cancer patients in the cancer centres is advisable to present uncontrolled viral spread." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Study mentioned: Berghoff AS, Gansterer M, Bathke AC, et al. SARS-CoV-2 testing in 1016 consecutive cancer patients treated at a tertiary care hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Clinical Oncology; Published on 14 August 2020. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.20.01442. 

Fusion proteins in childhood cancers

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently launched the Fusion Oncoproteins in Childhood Cancers (FusOnC2) Consortium, consisting of a group of researchers with expertise in cancer biology, proteomics, genomics, computational biology, and pharmacology.  The purpose of Fu OnC2 is to investigate difficult-to-treat "cancers driven by fusion proteins in children and young adults", with emphasis on soft tissue cancers such as synovial sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, as well as ependymoma, a type of brain cancer.

Too read more about this study, click here.   

COVID-19 Infection in Cancer Patients in Wuhan: Emphasis on Severe Events

A new retrospective study on COVID-19 among cancer patients, focusing on risk factors associated with admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) has been conducted by a team of clinicians from 3 hospitals in Wuhan, China, and recently published in the Annals of Oncology.  Clinical data gathered from 28 cancer patients with COVID-19 infection between January 13, 2020 - February 26, 2020 indicates that 17 patients (60%) were male, with an average age of 65 years.  Of the 28 cancer patients studied, 7 (25%) had lung cancer, followed by oesophageal cancer (4 patients), and breast cancer (3 patients).  10 patients had a stage IV cancer diagnosis and 8 patients developed COVID-19 from hospital-associated transmission.  Further, of the 6 patients who received anti-tumour treatment within 14 days of their COVID-19 diagnosis, 5 (83%) developed severe events.

To read more about this study, click here.

Study mentioned: Zhang L, Zhu F, Xie L, et al. Clinical characteristics of COVID-19-infected cancer patients: A retrospective case study in three hospitals within Wuhan, China. Annals of Oncology; Published online 23 March 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2020.03.296

Elevated bladder cancer risk in New England and arsenic in drinking water from private wells

On May 2, 2016 A new study has found that drinking water from private wells, particularly dug wells established during the first half of the 20th century, may have contributed to the elevated risk of bladder cancer that has been observed in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont for over 50 years. Other risk factors for bladder cancer, such as smoking and occupational exposures, did not explain the excess risk in this region.

Bladder cancer mortality rates have been elevated in northern New England for over half a century. The incidence of bladder cancer in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont has been about 20 percent higher than that in the United States overall. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Baris D … Silverman DT, et al. Elevated Bladder Cancer in Northern New England: The Role of Drinking Water and Arsenic. May 2, 2016. JNCI. DOI: DJW099

Targeted photoimmunotherapy approach for cancer moves forward

On April 25, 2016 two new studies from NCI researchers add to growing evidence of the promise of a novel type of cancer immunotherapy that uses infrared light to activate rapid and selective killing of cancer cells.

One of the studies, presentedExit Disclaimer last week at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in New Orleans, showed that this approach, called near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT), could unleash immune activity against tumors in mice by depleting the tumor microenvironment of certain immune cells that act to restrain the immune response against tumors. Read more here.

Pembrolizumab shows promise in patients with rare form of skin cancer

On April 19, 2016 in a small clinical trial, more than half of the patients with an aggressive form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma responded to the drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda®), which strengthens the immune response against cancer. Overall, the responses have been longer-lasting than those typically seen in patients with this very rare cancer who have received chemotherapy.

The 26 patients in this phase II trial had an advanced form of the disease, and none had received prior systemic treatment. Among the 25 patients who could be evaluated, 14 patients (56 percent) had a complete or partial response, Paul Nghiem, M.D., Ph.D., of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center reported on April 19 at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in New Orleans. Read more here.

Vitamin D deficiency may promote spread of some breast cancers

On April 14, 2016, a new study suggests that a deficiency in vitamin D is associated with tumor progression and metastasis in breast cancer.

The study, primarily conducted using cell lines and mice, also identified an association between vitamin D levels and the expression of ID1, an oncogene that has been associated with tumor growth and metastasis in breast cancer and other cancer types. Read more here.

Nanoparticle generator slips chemotherapypast tumor cells’ protective barriers

On April 11, 2016 researchers have developed and tested a new injectable nanoparticle-generating technology that can deliver doxorubicin (Adriamycin®), a commonly used chemotherapy drug, straight to the nucleus of metastatic breast cancer cells with high effectiveness.

In the study, the treatment approach led to complete remissions in mice with a hard-to-treat form of breast cancer. The findings appeared in Nature Biotechnology on March 14. The research team that led the study hopes to start testing the treatment in human clinical trials by the end of 2017. Read more here.

Sunitinib and sorafenib ineffective as adjuvant therapies for kidney cancer

On April 8, 2016 results from a recent clinical trial show that adjuvant therapy with sunitinib (Sutent®) or sorafenib (Nexavar®) does not improve progression-free survival for patients with renal cell (kidney) cancer and may cause serious side effects.

Both sunitinib and sorafenib target proteins on cancer cells that promote tumor angiogenesis—the formation of new blood vessels that are needed to fuel tumor growth beyond a certain size. Read more here.

Study of cancer’s origins reveals genetic reprogramming of single cells

On February 24, 2016 researchers have created a model of cancer in zebrafish that allows them to capture live images of tumors forming and growing, in some cases from a single cell. Using the model, the researchers characterized some of the early genetic and epigenetic changes associated with melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

In the fish, an important event in the development of melanoma was the activation, in differentiated pigment-producing cells, of a genetic program that normally occurs during embryonic development. The reprogramming of these mature cells, called melanocytes, gave them some of the characteristics of stem cells , such as the ability to grow and divide frequently, the researchers found. Read more here.

Gene fusion may drive rare childhood brain tumor

On February 22, 2016 researchers have identified a genetic rearrangement that may drive the development of a rare benign brain tumor in children. The rearrangement, which causes parts of two genes to fuse, may spur the growth of tumors through three distinct biological mechanisms simultaneously, the researchers found.

The study focused on angiocentric gliomas, a rare subtype of low-grade pediatric tumors that was first described less than a decade ago. Fewer than 30 cases have been reported in the scientific literature. Based on their findings, the study authors propose that angiocentric gliomas should be classified as a distinct biologic entity and that the presence of the gene fusion should be used to confirm the diagnosis. Read more here.

Study finds stool test effective for detecting colon cancer

On January 25, 2016, A new study finds that tests for blood in the stool can consistently detect colon cancer when used on an annual basis, and they are effective even in the second, third and fourth years of screening.

The researchers said these findings suggest that the stool test could be a reasonable screening alternative to colonoscopy -- currently considered the gold standard for colon cancer screening. Read more here.

Could a laser skin test someday replace biopsy to spot melanoma?

Researchers at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom have developed a new "non-invasive test that can spot melanoma skin cancer without a biopsy."  According to lead researcher Aneta Stefanovska, the test was conducted via a laser that was able to detect slight variations in blood flow in a lesion, thus differentiating melanoma from a non-cancerous mole.  While further research is needed, melanoma experts are optimistic that this new skin test will reduce the need for invasive biopsies.

To read more about this study, click here.

Yo-yo dieting won't raise cancer risk

A new study conducted by the American Cancer Society indicates that weight cycling, perhaps more commonly known as yo-yo dieting, featuring "repeated episodes of weight loss followed by weight gain", does not cause an increased risk of cancer.  According to Victoria Stevens, strategic director of laboratory services at the American Cancer Society, this study is believed to be the largest and most comprehensive regarding this issue.

Click here to read more.

Cloudy climate may increase risk of pancreatic cancer

A new study conducted at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine indicates that people living in areas with low levels of sunlight, thus not receiving adequate vitamin D, may be more susceptible to developing pancreatic cancer.  While study co-author Dr. Cedric Garland cautions that this study does not, at this point, offer irrefutable proof that sunlight deficiency leads to pancreatic cancer, the link is strongly suggested, particularly since similar research has "linked higher vitamin D levels to lower levels of breast and colorectal cancer."

Click here to read more about this study.

Scientists detect early sign of pancreatic cancer

Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston have identified an early sign of pancreatic cancer, which may lead to new tests for earlier diagnosis. Following an analysis of 1500 blood samples from study participants, the early sign "is an increase in levels of certain amino acids...[occurring] before patients develop symptoms." According to study co-senior author Dr. Brian Wolpin, higher levels of branched chain amino acids were present in individuals who eventually developed pancreatic cancer. To learn more about this study, click here.

Painkillers may reduce risk of breast cancer return in obese women

A recent study conducted at the University of Texas in Austin indicates that women with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 may have their chances of a breast cancer recurrence cut in half if they take painkillers (aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs) on a regular basis. According to study author Linda deGraffenried, the anti-inflammatory properties of pain killers reduce inflammation induced by obesity: "reducing the inflammation with aspirin and other NSAIDs...may improve how well hormone therapies work." To learn more about this study, click here.

Physical fitness associated with less pronounced effect of sedentary behavior

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Cancer Society, the Cooper Institute, and the University of Texas indicates that physical fitness may neutralize the health effects of excessive sitting. Sedentary behavior has long been linked to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This current study, led by Dr. Kerem Shuval, and conducted on more than 1300 men in Dallas, shows that higher fitness levels were "associated with reduced adiposity and metabolic measures." To read more about this study, click here.