Wednesday, April 07, 2010
YouTube - Current Topics in Genome Analysis 2010
Note: Very long but interesting video - 1 1/2 hrs. The subject matter sounds very technical but the content is in good plain english language - talks about unresolved side effects, patient concerns....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMeJA_inoEM
GenomeTV — March 29, 2010 — March 23, 2010
Howard McLeod, Pharm.D.
Current Topics in Genome Analysis 2010
Validation of the pedigree assessment tool (PAT) in families with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations
CONCLUSIONS: In overall performance, the PAT is at least comparable to the Myriad II and Penn II models in screening women appropriate for genetic referral. Simplicity and identification of families with non-BRCA hereditary BC syndromes suggest that the PAT is better suited for BC risk screening.
Ovarian cancer: predictors of early-stage diagnosis - California Cancer Registry
"CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that, in addition to tumor biology, disparities in access to care may have a significant effect on the timely diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer."
Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Apr 3. [Epub ahead of print]
Ovarian cancer: predictors of early-stage diagnosis.
Morris CR, Sands MT, Smith LH.
California Cancer Registry, Public Health Institute, California Department of Public Health, 1825 Bell St., Suite 102, Sacramento, CA, 95825, USA, cmorris@ccr.ca.gov.
Bridging the Gap between Cytotoxic and Biologic Therapy with Metronomic Topotecan and Pazopanib in Ovarian Cancer
"Pazopanib therapy in combination with metronomic topotecan therapy showed significant antitumor and antiangiogenic properties in preclinical ovarian cancer models and warrants further investigation as a novel therapeutic regimen in clinical trials."
(abstract) Review: The use of proteomics as a research methodology for studying cancer-related fatigue: a review
Note: limited information in the abstract
JNCI Editorial: Fruits, Vegetables, and Cancer Prevention: Turmoil in the Produce Section
Some key excerpts - full text of Editorial available without cost:
- In this issue of the Journal, Boffetta et al. (6) report findings from a European cohort of nearly 400 000 men and women who developed approximately 30 000 cancers at all sites combined over nearly 9 years of follow-up. After accounting for measurement error, a very weak but statistically significant inverse association was seen—a 4% lower incidence of all cancers combined for an increment of 200 g of total fruits and vegetables per day, which corresponds to about two extra servings per day.
- Most fundamentally, this study strongly confirms the findings from other prospective studies that the results of case–control studies were overly optimistic and that any association of intake of fruits and vegetables with risk of cancer is weak at best.
- Their more detailed analyses suggesting a stronge rbenefit among heavier consumers of alcohol lend some weight to a causal interpretation because other studies (7,8) have suggested that folate, primarily from fruits and vegetables,may be more beneficial in the context of regular alcohol consumption.
- A very weak or undetectable association between fruits and vegetables and risk of cancer does not exclude the possibility that oneor a small group of fruits or vegetables, or a specific substance in some of these foods, has an important protective effect.
- Even if we assume that the weak association seen in the EPIC cohort represents a true protective effect of fruits and vegetables,the question would still remain whether an effect of this magnitude should lead to clinical interventions or public health actions.Conveniently, although the evidence for benefits of fruits and vegetables against cancer was waning, data supporting benefits for cardiovascular disease were accumulating.
- In summary, the findings from the EPIC cohort add further evidence that a broad effort to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables will not have a major effect on cancer incidence.
Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Overall Cancer Risk in the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) - JNCI abstract
Abstract:
Conclusions: A very small inverse association between intake of total fruits and vegetables and cancer risk was observed in this study. Given the small magnitude of the observed associations, caution should be applied in their interpretation.
CONTEXT AND CAVEATS
Prior knowledge
The association between high intake of fruits and vegetables and reduction in overall cancer risk is not conclusively established.
Study design
European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort study was conducted between 1992 and 2000. Diet and lifestyle data were self-reported by the participants. Cancer incidence and mortality data were obtained from country-specific national and regional registries. Association between overall cancer risk and high intake of total fruits, total vegetables, and total fruits and vegetables combined was assessed. Estimated cancer risks were adjusted for smoking, alcohol consumption, and many other variables.
Contribution
High intake of vegetables, and fruits and vegetables combined, was associated with a small reduction in overall cancer risk. The association was stronger in heavy alcohol drinkers but was restricted to cancers caused by smoking and drinking.
Implications
This study reveals a very modest association between high intake of fruits and vegetables and reduced risk of cancer.
Limitations
The inverse association between overall cancer risk and high intake of fruits and vegetables was weak. Errors inherent to self-reported dietary habits may have resulted in bias.
From the Editors
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