FDA panel votes to reject Avastin for breast cancer

An advisory panel voted Wednesday to recommend that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdraw approval for bevacizumab (Avastin) to treat advanced breast cancer. The panel found that the drug was not effective and caused dangerous side effects. The final decision will be made by the commissioner of food and drugs. The vote came after a 2-day hearing that included presentations by members of the public, drugmaker Genentech and the FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee. Many of the presenters were breast cancer survivors who said Avastin had saved their lives, and pleaded with the FDA not to withdraw approval. Read more here.

Costly breast cancer screenings don’t add up to better outcomes

Even though Medicare spends over $1 billion per year on breast cancer screenings such as a mammography, there is no evidence that higher spending benefits older women, researchers at Yale School of Medicine found in a study published Online First by JAMA Internal Medicine. Led by Dr. Cary Gross, associate professor of internal medicine at Yale School of Medicine and director of the Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center at Yale, the study sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of breast cancer expenditures that incorporate the cost of screening and associated work-up, as well as treatment. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Gross CP, et al. The Cost of Breast Cancer Screening in the Medicare Population. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;():1-7. Online first.

Investigators discover new gene that affects clearance of hepatitis C virus

Scientists have discovered a gene that interferes with the clearance of hepatitis C virus infection. They also identified an inherited variant within this gene, Interferon Lambda 4 (IFNL4), that predicts how people respond to treatment for hepatitis C infection. The results of this study, by investigators at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and their collaborators at NIH and other institutions, were published online in Nature Genetics. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus is a cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Prokunina-Olsson L, et al. A variant upstream of IFNL3 (IL28B) creating a new interferon gene IFNL4 is associated with impaired clearance of hepatitis C virus. Nat Genet. 2013 Jan 6. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23291588

How prostate cancer therapies compare by cost and effectiveness

The most comprehensive retrospective study ever conducted comparing how the major types of prostate cancer treatments stack up to each other in terms of saving lives and cost effectiveness is reported this week by a team of researchers at UCSF. Appearing in the British Journal of Urology International, the work analyzed 232 papers published in the last decade that report results from clinical studies following patients with low-, intermediate- and high-risk forms of prostate cancer who were treated with one or more of the standard treatments – radiation therapy, surgery, hormone therapies and brachytherapy. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Cooperberg MR, et al. Primary treatments for clinically localised prostate cancer: a comprehensive lifetime cost-utility analysis. BJU Int. 2012 Dec 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23279038

Pap tests should start later, new guidelines recommend

Pap testing should begin at the age of 25 and be repeated at intervals of three years, regardless of a woman’s sexual history and age, according to new guidelines from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. Recommendations on screening for cervical cancer. CMAJ January 8, 2013; 185(1).

Mayo Clinic researchers find new molecule to target in pancreatic cancer treatment

Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida have identified a new target to improve treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer, which accounts for more than 95 percent of pancreatic cancer cases. This fast-growing, often lethal cancer is resistant to conventional chemotherapy. The findings are published in PLOS ONE. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Doppler H, et al. (2013) Downregulation of TRAF2 Mediates NIK-Induced Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation and Tumorigenicity. PLoS ONE 8(1): e53676.

Updated tool now available to predict prostate cancer spread

Prostate cancer experts at Johns Hopkins have developed an updated version of the Partin Tables, a tool to help men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their doctors to better assess their chance of a surgical cure. The updated tool, based on a study of more than 5,600 men treated at The Johns Hopkins Hospital from 2006 to 2011, is published in the Jan. 3 issue of the British Journal of Urology International. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Eifler JB, et al. (2013) An updated prostate cancer staging nomogram (Partin tables) based on cases from 2006 to 2011. BJU International, 111: 22–29.

Natural Standard safety update: dietary supplement-WOW

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a consumer warning for WOW, which contains unlabeled prescription drug ingredients with potentially adverse effects. WOW was sold on several websites, including gonepainfree.com and browerent.com. WOW was marketed as a remedy to treat arthritis, bone cancer, muscle pain and osteoporosis. According to the FDA, WOW is the relabeled version of Reumofan Plus, which caused several mild and serious side effects from Reumofan Plus. Subsequently, the FDA issued warnings against Reumofan Plus in June and August 2012. Read more here.

Annual report: rate of death from cancer continues to drop

The rate of death from cancer in the United States continues to decline among both men and women, among all major racial and ethnic groups, and for the most common types of cancer, including lung, colon, breast, and prostate. The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer shows that the death rate from all cancers combined is continuing the decline that began in the early 1990s. The report’s special feature section focuses on cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) and on HPV vaccination rates. Read more here.

Access the report here.

Paired CT scans catch chemo-killing of liver tumors in real time

Using two successive pairs of specialized CT scans, a team of Johns Hopkins and Dutch radiologists has produced real-time images of liver tumors dying from direct injection of anticancer drugs into the tumors and their surrounding blood vessels. Within a minute, the images showed whether the targeted chemotherapy did or did not choke off the tumors' blood supply and saved patients a month of worry about whether the treatment, known as chemoembolization, was working or not, and whether repeat or more powerful treatments were needed. Read more here.

Some men voice complaints of shortened penis following prostate cancer treatment

A small percentage of men in a prostate cancer study complained that their penis seemed shorter following treatment, with some saying that it interfered with intimate relationships and caused them to regret the type of treatment they chose. Complaints were more common in men treated with radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate) or male hormone-blocking drugs combined with radiation therapy, according to the study by researchers from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Parekh A, et al. Reduced Penile Size and Treatment Regret in Men With Recurrent Prostate Cancer After Surgery, Radiotherapy Plus Androgen Deprivation, or Radiotherapy Alone. Urology. 2013 Jan;81(1):130-5. PMID: 23273077

Molecule linked to late-stage breast cancer

Prior to this study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule called miR-181a had never before been tied to breast cancer metastasis—but when scientists found elevated levels of the molecule in late-stage breast cancer tissues, they tested an inhibitor in mouse models. The approach not only prevented metastasis, but also extended the animals’ lives. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Taylor MA, et al. TGF-β upregulates miR-181a expression to promote breast cancer metastasis. J Clin Invest. 2013 Jan 2;123(1):150-63. PMID: 23241956

Report says life expectancy up in B.C.; cancer still leading cause of death

B.C.'s most-recent vital-statistics report says residents of this province continue to live longer than anywhere else in Canada, although cancer remains the leading cause of death. The 140th edition of the report by the Vital Statistics Agency contains information about births, deaths and marriages for 2011 and helps the provincial government develop plans for health research and education. Read more here.

Access the full report here.

Summary Basis of Decision for Removab®

Health Canada has issued a Notice of Compliance to Fresenius Biotech GmbH for the drug product Removab. Removab contains the medicinal ingredient catumaxomab, a monoclonal antibody that acts as an antineoplastic agent. Removab is indicated for the palliative management of malignant ascites via intraperitoneal infusion in patients with epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) positive carcinomas where standard therapy is not available or no longer feasible. Read more here.

Gene expression improves the definition of a breast cancer subtype

Gene expression in breast cancer provides valuable biological information for better determining the diagnosis, treatment, risk of relapse and survival rate. However, the most common form of characterizing breast cancer is by histopathological techniques. This study, headed by Dr Aleix Prat, Head of the Translational Genomics Group at the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) and an oncologist at the Breast Cancer Unit of the Vall d´Hebron University Hospital, focused on hormone-sensitive breast tumours known as luminals. The study compared data on tumours obtained by gene expression with histopathological data and proposes a new definition which improves the current classification of these tumours in routine clinical practice. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Prat A, et al. Prognostic Significance of Progesterone Receptor-Positive Tumor Cells Within Immunohistochemically Defined Luminal A Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2012 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23233704

Preventing prostate cancer through androgen deprivation may have harmful effects

The use of androgen deprivation therapies to prevent precancerous prostate abnormalities developing into aggressive prostate cancer may have adverse effects in men with precancers with specific genetic alterations, according to data from a preclinical study recently published in Cancer Discovery. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Jia S, et al. Opposing Effects of Androgen Deprivation and Targeted Therapy on Prostate Cancer Prevention. Cancer Discov. 2012 Dec 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23258246

Temple researcher shows diabetes, blood pressure link to colon cancer recurrence, survival

By all accounts, a combination of colon cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure can be a recipe for medical disaster. Now, a new study led by a surgical oncologist and researcher at Temple University School of Medicine and Fox Chase Cancer Center has shown just how deadly this mix can be. In a retrospective analysis of more than 36,000 patients with colon cancer, investigators showed that those with early stage disease and diabetes or high blood pressure – two components of metabolic syndrome – have a greater risk for the cancer returning after treatment and of dying compared to patients with colon cancer who do not have either condition. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Yang Y, et al. Effect of metabolic syndrome and its components on recurrence and survival in colon cancer patients. Cancer. Article first published online: 20 Dec 2012.

Study probes why and how patients with lung cancer initially get diagnosed with the disease

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers are looking into the widespread implementation of computed-tomography (CT) scanning for the early detection of lung cancer in a public heath setting, asking two key questions: Without screening, why and how do patients with lung cancer get diagnosed with the disease in the first place? And what proportion of these cases would be captured by screening efforts? Read more here.

Study mentioned: Taiwo EO, et al. How Have We Diagnosed Early-Stage Lung Cancer without Radiographic Screening? A Contemporary Single-Center Experience. PLoS ONE 7(12): e52313.

Enzyme accelerates malignant stem cell cloning in chronic myeloid leukemia

An international team, headed by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, has identified a key enzyme in the reprogramming process that promotes malignant stem cell cloning and the growth of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a cancer of the blood and marrow that experts say is increasing in prevalence. Principal investigator Catriona H. M. Jamieson, associate professor of medicine at UC San Diego, with colleagues in the United States, Canada and Italy, report that inflammation – long associated with the development of cancer – boosts activity of an enzyme called adenosine deaminase or ADAR1. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Jiang Q, et al. ADAR1 promotes malignant progenitor reprogramming in chronic myeloid leukemia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Dec 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23275297

Game changing diagnostic & prognostic prostate cancer genetic tests revealed by KCC researchers

Researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson (KCC) have developed potentially game-changing diagnostic and prognostic genetic tests shown to better predict prostate cancer survival outcomes and distinguish clinically-relevant cancers. The team, led by Richard G. Pestell, Director of the KCC and the Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology at Thomas Jefferson University, report their preclinical findings from a blinded, retrospective analysis of over 350 patients and mouse study in the journal of Cancer Research. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Ju X, et al. Novel Oncogene Induced Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cell Lines Define Human Prostate Cancer Progression Signatures. Cancer Res. 2012 Nov 30. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23204233

Thomas Jefferson University researchers discover new pathways that drive metastatic prostate cancer

Elevated levels of Cyclin D1b could function as a novel biomarker of lethal metastatic disease in prostate cancer patients, according to a pre-clinical study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation by researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Augello MA, et al. Convergence of oncogenic and hormone receptor pathways promotes metastatic phenotypes. J Clin Invest. 2012 Dec 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23257359

NIH study suggests gene variation may shape bladder cancer treatment

Patients who have inherited a specific common genetic variant develop bladder cancer tumors that strongly express a protein known as prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), which is also expressed in many pancreatic and prostate tumors, according to research at the National Institutes of Health. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Kohaar I, et al. Genetic Variant as a Selection Marker for Anti-Prostate Stem Cell Antigen Immunotherapy of Bladder Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Dec 23. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23266392

Drug shortage linked to greater risk of relapse in young Hodgkin lymphoma patients

A national drug shortage has been linked to a higher rate of relapse among children, teenagers and young adults with Hodgkin lymphoma enrolled in a national clinical trial, according to a report by researchers involved in the multi-institutional study. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Metzger ML, et al. The impact of drug shortages on children with cancer--the example of mechlorethamine. N Engl J Med. 2012 Dec 27;367(26):2461-3. PMID: 23268661

UNC research uncovers new insight into cell development and cancer

Long-standing research efforts have been focused on understanding how stem cells, cells capable of transforming into any type of cell in the body, are capable of being programmed down a defined path to contribute to the development of a specific organ like a heart, lung, or kidney. Research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine has shed new light on how epigenetic signals may function together to determine the ultimate fate of a stem cell. The study, published in the journal Molecular Cell, implicates a unique class of proteins called polycomb-like proteins, or PCL's, as bridging molecules between the "on" and "off" state of a gene. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Cai L, et al. An H3K36 Methylation-Engaging Tudor Motif of Polycomb-like Proteins Mediates PRC2 Complex Targeting. Mol Cell. 2012 Dec 22. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23273982

Tumor boards linked to little association with effects on cancer care

There is little association of multidisciplinary tumor boards with measures of use, quality, or survival, and measuring only the presence of tumor boards may not be adequate in determining their effects on cancer care, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Keating NL, et al. Tumor Boards and the Quality of Cancer Care. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Dec 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23274388

Improving the accuracy of cancer diagnoses

Tiny calcium deposits can be a telltale sign of breast cancer. However, in the majority of cases these microcalcifications signal a benign condition. A new diagnostic procedure developed at MIT and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) could help doctors more accurately distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous cases. The new method, which uses a special type of spectroscopy to locate microcalcifications during the biopsy, could dramatically reduce the rate of inconclusive diagnosis, according to the researchers. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Soares JS, et al. Diagnostic power of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for targeted detection of breast lesions with microcalcifications. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Dec 24. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 23267090

Webinar: Common herbs and supplements: a review of safety and efficacy

Natural Standard is offering a series of complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. Common Herbs and Supplements: A Review of Safety and Efficacy: Marina Shkayeva, PharmD, Natural Standard PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident, reviews the available evidence for several popular therapies, including acai, coenzyme Q10, fish oil, red yeast rice, ginkgo, DHEA, garlic, St. John's wort and others. Read more here.

Pesticide exposure may increase prostate cancer risk

According to new research, exposure to specific pesticides may raise the risk of prostate cancer. A recent study, called the Agricultural Health Study, followed 54,412 individuals who applied pesticides. Over 14 years, 1,962 men developed prostate cancer; 919 of these cases were aggressive prostate cancer. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Koutros S, et al. Risk of total and aggressive prostate cancer and pesticide use in the agricultural health study. Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Jan 1;177(1):59-74. PMID: 23171882

Is light smoking as risky as a pack a day?

"Light or intermittent smoking has become a very common pattern for people of any age. Many of these people do not feel addicted to tobacco and do not even call themselves "smokers." There are, however, some real risks associated with any level of smoking. Non-daily smoking, or smoking 1-5 cigarettes a day, was first noticed as far back as 1989 because it was a stark contrast to the more common pattern at that time -- 20 to 30 cigarettes a day. At that time, very light smokers were labeled "chippers" (a term that also referred to occasional users of opiates who appeared to not be addicted). Chippers didn't appear to smoke to relieve withdrawal, and sometimes didn't smoke for a day or more." Continue reading the American Cancer Society's Expert Voices blog here.

American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-3

The American Cancer Society is inviting men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 years who have no personal history of cancer to join a historic research study. The Cancer Prevention Study – 3 (CPS-3) promises to shed light on many of the factors that affect cancer risk. CPS-3 is a long-term study of lifestyle and cancer. Over the course of 20 years, Society researchers will follow the participants to see who develops cancer, in hopes of learning how a person's lifestyle, environment, and genetic makeup influence who gets the disease. Read more here.