Decoding genomes from 25,000 cancer samples

The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) today set out its bold plan to decode the genomes from 25,000 cancer samples and create a resource of freely available data that will help cancer researchers around the world. The publication outlines research design and projects as well as the important ethical framework for this science.
The ICGC also announced that new projects in Italy and the European Union will contribute to efforts already underway in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As the UK's arm of the ICGC, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute will decode hundreds of breast cancer genomes as part of the Consortium's international efforts.
Other funded projects will examine more than 10,000 tumours for cancer types that affect organs including blood, brain, breast, colon, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, stomach, oral cavity and ovary.
The paper, by over 200 authors participating in ICGC projects, is published today in the journal Nature. The paper describes how the projects will proceed, outlining the ethical framework, study design and policies. ICGC leaders will also present progress on their projects at the annual conference of the American Association for Cancer Research in Washington DC, 17 - 21 April, 2010.

Advanced ovarian carcinoma: Does a high-dose short-duration schedule of paclitaxel trump prolonged low-dose therapy? - Cancer Network

Note: This is a good discussion debating pros/cons (requires registration to view/free) - some excerpts from article:

Point / Counterpoint

Impact of gene patents and licensing practices on access to genetic testing for inherited susceptibility to cancer: Comparing breast and ovarian cancer

Genetics in Medicine:
April 2010 - Volume 12 - Issue 4
Article
Impact of gene patents and licensing practices on access to genetic testing for inherited susceptibility to cancer:
Comparing breast and ovarian cancers with colon cancers

Abstract

Genetic testing for inherited susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer can be compared with similar testing for colorectal cancer as a “natural experiment.” Inherited susceptibility accounts for a similar fraction of both cancers and genetic testing results guide decisions about options for prophylactic surgery in both sets of conditions.

One major difference is that in the United States, Myriad Genetics is the sole provider of genetic testing, because it has sole control of relevant patents for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, whereas genetic testing for familial colorectal cancer is available from multiple laboratories.

Colorectal cancer-associated genes are also patented, but they have been nonexclusively licensed.

Prices for BRCA1 and 2 testing do not reflect an obvious price premium attributable to exclusive patent rights compared with colorectal cancer testing, and indeed, Myriad's per unit costs are somewhat lower for BRCA1/2 testing than testing for colorectal cancer susceptibility. Myriad has not enforced patents against basic research and negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Cancer Institute in 1999 for institutional BRCA testing in clinical research. The main impact of patenting and licensing in BRCA compared with colorectal cancer is the business model of genetic testing, with a sole provider for BRCA and multiple laboratories for colorectal cancer genetic testing.

Myriad's sole-provider model has not worked in jurisdictions outside the United States, largely because of differences in breadth of patent protection, responses of government health services, and difficulty in patent enforcement.

Note: see abstract for authors which include: Robert Cook-Deegan, MD. Director, IGSP Center for Genome Ethics, Law & Policy.

Clinical pathways: effects on professional practice, patient outcomes, length of stay and hospital costs. Cochrane Database Systemati Rev. 2010

Note: there are many different comments from a variety of healthcare professionals and more than a normal number of comments

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Clinical pathways are structured multidisciplinary care plans used by health services to detail essential steps in the care of patients with a specific clinical problem. They aim to link evidence to practice and optimise clinical outcomes whilst maximising clinical efficiency. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of clinical pathways on professional practice, patient outcomes, length of stay and hospital costs.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinical pathways are associated with reduced in-hospital complications and improved documentation without negatively impacting on length of stay and hospital costs.

Front-line Bevacizumab in Serous Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Biomarker Analysis of the FINAVAST Trial — Anticancer Research

Background: Potential tissue and serum biomarkers were assessed for predicting efficacy of bevacizumab in ovarian cancer (OC).

Conclusion: Our results indicate differences in MMP-9 and HIF-1α expression in relation to duration of PFS (progression free survival) and effects on serum VEGF when bevacizumab (Avastin) is used in combination with chemotherapy.

Meat, fish, and ovarian cancer risk: results from 2 Australian case-control studies, a systematic review, and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

Background: Variation in meat and fish intakes has been associated with a risk of some cancers, but evidence for ovarian cancer is limited and inconsistent.
Objective: We examined the association between intakes of total meat, red meat, processed meat, poultry, and fish and ovarian cancer risk.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that low consumption of processed meat and higher consumption of poultry and fish may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.