Saturday, January 16, 2010
A Link between mir-100 and FRAP1/mTOR in Clear Cell Ovarian Cancer --joint study Japan/U.S.
Note: This abstract is highly technical, but the significance is that there is a focus on clear cell ovarian cancer.
"...Our experiments have revealed strong candidate miRNAs and their target genes that may contribute to the pathogenesis of clear cell ovarian cancer..."
Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: Referral source for genetic assessment and communication regarding assessment with nongenetic clinicians in the
Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: Referral source for genetic assessment and communication regarding assessment with nongenetic clinicians in the community setting:
2009 Yi and St Louis Ovarian Cancer at OneTrueMedia.com
see the Montage from last year's (2009) ovarian cancer ACOR & friends August weekend
WWOX tumour suppressor gene polymorphisms and ovarian cancer pathology and prognosis.
"One-third of ovarian tumours show loss of WWOX expression, and this loss significantly associates with clear cell and mucinous histology, advanced stage, low progesterone receptor expression and poor survival, suggesting that WWOX status affects ovarian cancer progression and prognosis."
Friday, January 15, 2010
FDA (U.S.)Basics - new website
The tool answers questions such as (and more):
How and where do I find out if a drug is approved for use?
Why are there still food recalls?
How do I report a pet food compliant?
You can also submit your own questions, provide feedback, and view interviews with FDA staff.
Bazedoxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator: effects on the endometrium, ovaries, and breast from a randomized controlled trial in osteoporo
Bazedoxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator: effects on the endometrium, ovaries, and breast from a randomized controlled trial in osteoporotic postmenopausal women
Urinary angiostatin levels are elevated in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.
Note: further research required
Immunohistochemical analysis of hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins in serous ovarian tumours.
Note: Immunohistochemical = tumour sample; hMLH1 and hMSH2 (2 of) Lynch Syndrome genes
"Our results suggest that hMLH1 and hMSH2 proteins may be involved in ovarian carcinogenesis."
AACR upcoming conference: Cancer Epigenetics
"The study of epigenetic mechanisms in cancer, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, nucleosome positioning and non-coding RNA expression, has revealed a plethora of events that contribute to the neoplastic phenotype through stable changes in the expression of genes critical to transformation pathways...Therefore, improved understanding of normal epigenetic programs is necessary to better understand malignancy-specific epigenetic alterations.....numerous other clinical applications of the field being explored in areas such as cancer screening and early detection, prevention, classification for epidemiology and prognostic purposes, and predicting outcomes after standard therapy."
Exons: Researchers Sequence 'Exomes' Of New Strategy For Finding Disease Genes
"....demonstrated the feasibility and value of a new strategy for identifying relatively rare genetic variants that may cause or contribute to disease....The new strategy involves isolating and sequencing all exons which are the parts of the human genome that contain the information needed to produce proteins, the building blocks of the body. The complete set of exons – referred to as the "exome" – makes up only one percent of the human genome. By selecting only the exome to sequence, the important information about an individual can be obtained at a much lower cost than sequencing a person's entire genome."
2010 Who Is Responsible? The Role of Family Physicians in the Provision of Supportive Cancer Care
Note: the issues from the family physicians' perspective
Editorial: Who Should Follow Our (Cancer) Patients?
Note: Good plain english article generalizing the issues - $$/capacity/knowledge
Thursday, January 14, 2010
abstract : Laparoscopic optical coherence tomography imaging of human ovarian cancer
Note: advances in the imaging of ovarian cancer
Surgery duration linked to infectious complications, hospital stay - Anesthesiology Videos - The Doctor's Channel
not specific to ovarian cancer
full free access: Targeting Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Pathways in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Note: a highly technical paper - look at Table 2; 7.5 = clinical trials link; 8.0 = Conclusion
Contemporary Management of and Future Directions in Ovarian Cancer - Cancer Network
Note: this was posted in November, but I have brought the posting date forward to coincide with other like articles, so both can be viewed at the same time. Access to this article requires that you sign on to the website (free).
full free access: Jan 2/2010 - Targeted Therapy in Ovarian Cancer
Review Article
Targeted Therapy in Ovarian Cancer
Lyndsay J. Willmott and John P. Fruehauf
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA 92868, USA Academic Editor: Charles F. Levenback
full free access: (2010) Germline Mutations and Polymorphisms in the Origins of Cancers in Women
Note: a good explanation in (close to) plain english on a subject that is anything but easy to understand.
Defective Mismatch Repair, Microsatellite Mutation Bias, and Variability in Clinical Cancer Phenotypes -- Shah et al. 70 (2): 431 -- Cancer Research
Abstract:
"Microsatellite instability is associated with 10% to 15% of colorectal, endometrial, OVARIAN, and gastric cancers, and has long been used as a diagnostic tool for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma–related cancers. Tumor-specific length alterations within microsatellites are generally accepted to be a consequence of strand slippage events during DNA replication, which are uncorrected due to a defective postreplication mismatch repair (MMR) system. Mutations arising within microsatellites associated with critical target genes are believed to play a causative role in the evolution of MMR-defective tumors. In this review, we summarize current evidence of mutational biases within microsatellites arising as a consequence of intrinsic DNA sequence effects as well as variation in MMR efficiency. Microsatellite mutational biases are generally not considered during clinical testing; however, we suggest that such biases may be clinically significant as a factor contributing to phenotypic variation among microsatellite instability–positive tumors."
ACS :: Possible Risks of Blood Product Transfusions
Comment: Before Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents were introduced, blood transfusions were widely used for the improvement of platelet counts etc. With recent negative research regarding Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, blood transfusions will be a choice - seek professional/oncologist opinion. This article from the ACS describes some of the concerns with blood transfusions.
NCI - main site
There are quite a few different clinical trials listed for 'chemotherapy induced neuropathy" - check the search box at the top of the website for clinical trials underway
Phase III Randomized Study of Glutathione for the Prevention of Paclitaxel/Carboplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Ovarian, Fallopi
Phase III Randomized Study of Glutathione for the Prevention of Paclitaxel/Carboplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and/or Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma
Biological Therapies for Cancer: Q & A - National Cancer Institute
What are interleukins?
"Like interferons, interleukins (ILs) are cytokines that occur naturally in the body and can be made in the laboratory. Many interleukins have been identified; interleukin-2 (IL–2 or aldesleukin) has been the most widely studied in cancer treatment. IL–2 stimulates the growth and activity of many immune cells, such as lymphocytes, that can destroy cancer cells. The FDA has approved IL–2 for the treatment of metastatic kidney cancer and metastatic melanoma.
Researchers continue to study the benefits of interleukins to treat a number of other cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and brain, colorectal, ovarian, breast, and prostate cancers."
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
CA-125 Response Patterns in Patients With Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Treated With Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (PLD)
Conclusions: "Our ROC analysis did not demonstrate any reliable CA-125 cutoff on response. Discontinuation of the therapy before cycle 3 may exclude some patients who will benefit from PLD."
Five emotions you never knew you had - life - 13 January 2010 - New Scientist
"CAN you name the six basic emotions? Take a straw poll of your friends and we guarantee that you will find no consensus. Yet psychologists are unequivocal: joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise and disgust...."
media item: new anti-cancer drug called "COTI-2" TD2 and Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. Develop Novel Anti-Cancer Drug
"....small molecule compound was discovered and developed by COTI of London, Ontario, Canada. This working relationship resulted through the expanded relationship between Canadian companies and the Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). TD2, TGen's Scottsdale-based drug-development subsidiary, will work with COTI to complete the Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling research necessary to gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of clinical trials,perhaps by the end of 2010, and eventually move the drug to market where it can benefit patients.....Researchers hope to demonstrate that this oral pill will be especially beneficial for patients with small- cell lung cancer (SCLC), endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer, but may also help treat those with colorectal and pancreatic cancers."
Surgical Technician Schools » 10 Famous Doctors who Made Medicine What it is Today + more
Beyond the history, at the bottom of the page, there are a number of links which you may find interesting such as:
* 100 Best Blogs for Living Healthy on a Budget
* The Surgery is Over… Now What? 4 Tips for A Successful Rehab
* Top 100 Doctor Bloggers
* 100+ Ways to Spring Clean Your Mind and Body
* The Top 50 Surgeon Bloggers
* What Does a Surgical Technician Do?
full free access: Is no news good news? Inconclusive genetic test results in BRCA1 and BRCA2 from patients and professionals' perspectives
Small study but included view of patients and physician views.
Use of Four Biomarkers to Evaluate the Risk of Breast Cancer Subtypes in the Women's Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences Study
"Our findings offer evidence of differences in the hormone-related risk factors between triple-negative cancers and other ER/PR/HER2-defined subtypes of breast cancer."
Vandetanib, Designed to Inhibit VEGFR2 and EGFR Signaling, Had No Clinical Activity as Monotherapy for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer and No Detectable Modulation of VEGFR2
"Twelve patients entered the study, and accrual was terminated in the first stage because of lack of response or disease stabilization beyond 6 months."
abstract - Impact of bowel obstruction at the time of initial presentation in women with ovarian cancer.
plus read commentary from gyn/onc
NCI Cancer Bulletin: PARP Inhibitor and Metronomic Chemotherapy for Refractory Cancer - Phase I Study of ABT-888 and Metronomic Cyclophosphamide ....
Name of the Trial:
Phase I Study of ABT-888 and Metronomic Cyclophosphamide in Patients with Refractory Solid Tumors or Lymphoma (NCI-09-C-0048).
For More Information (read the article to see direct links to the information):
See the lists of eligibility criteria and trial contact information or call the NCI Clinical Trials Referral Office at 1-888-NCI-1937. The call is toll free and confidential.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
full free access : Proteomic effects of hormone therapies - new research in Genome Medicine
"New research by Samir Hanash, Ross Prentice and colleagues, recently published in Genome Medicine, suggests that the different proteomic effects of estrogen-alone and estrogen plus progestin treatments may explain the distinctive clinical effects of each therapy."
UC Academic Health News : Findings: UC Gynecologic Cancer Team Expands Services to Northern Kentuck-Dayton
"His goal is to recruit three additional double board-certified gynecologic oncologists who are qualified to perform both cancer care as well as advanced pelvic surgery. This team will cover a wide range east and west of the I-75 stretch between Northern Kentucky and Dayton."
abstract: Identification of an ovarian clear cell carcinoma gene signature that reflects inherent disease biology and the carcinogenic processes
definitions we need to know when reading this abstract:
1) microenvironment: a specific set of physical, biological, and chemical factors immediately surrounding the organism;
2) epigenetic: - something that affects a cell, organ or individual without directly affecting its DNA.
Predicting the Outcome of Cytoreductive Surgery for Advanced Ovarian Cancer
"Conclusions: The rates of optimal cytoreduction vary among surgeons. A universally applicable clinical model that can predict which patients will undergo optimal cytoreduction remains elusive. More research is needed to devise a set of uniform criteria that can be used to predict ovarian cancer resectability among different patient populations."
Cancer Survivorship Research Conference 2010: Recovery and Beyond
June 17-19, 2010
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Washington, DC
The Biennial Cancer Survivorship Research Conference, initiated in 2002 by the National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Survivorship and the American Cancer Society’s Behavioral Research Center, brings together investigators, clinicians, and survivors to share and learn about the most up-to-date cancer survivorship research. In 2010, the 5th biennial conference is co-sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, LIVESTRONG, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
press release: Nektar Announces Positive Topline Results for NKTR-102 From First Stage of Phase 2 Study in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer
"The first stage of the NKTR-102 Phase 2 study showed an overall GCIG response rate of 32% (6/19) in the once every 14 days (q14 day) dose schedule and 35% (7/20) for the once every 21 days (q21 day) dose schedule.
Confirmed objective response rates using RECIST were 21% (4/19) and 22% (4/18) for the q14 day and q21 day dose schedules, respectively.
CA-125 response rates were 31% (5/16) and 38% (6/16), for each dose schedule, respectively.
The Phase 2 study has now completed enrollment with a total of 71 patients. Approximately one-third of the patients in the study remain on NKTR-102 treatment, including a number of patients in the first stage of the study."
abstract: Generational risks for cancers not related to tobacco, screening, or treatment in the United States
"CONCLUSIONS:
Despite declining overall cancer death rates, adults are experiencing increased incidence of cancers that are not associated with tobacco or screening relative to their parents. Future research should examine whether similar patterns are exhibited in other modern nations and should identify population-wide avoidable risks that could account for unexplained increases in these residual cancers."
abstract: Physician factors associated with discussions about end-of-life care
this link is the actual research article and from which the media item was based (abstract/only-pay-per-view)
Second Opinion - Doctors Often Delay Conversations About Death With Terminal Patients - NYTimes.com
this is a good article for everyone, IMHO
Obesity and cancer: Effects on risk, screening and mortality | HemOncToday
My response, assuming it gets posted:
"As a cancer (ovarian) survivour, the value of the research and 'weight' concerns are ever present. However, at this very moment weight issues in cancer are primarily a health issue with many unknowns as it relates to specific implications in specific cancers. I see many websites/programs who arbitrarily have included 'weight' issues as a risk factor. Until the exact mechanisms and results are known, I urge great caution as this adds to significant burdens on patients who at this very moment are fighting to survive. It is not ethically or morally appropriate to add to these burdens for those dying of cancer."
Sandi Pniauskas
FDA calls for more research into erythropoiesis-stimulating agents | HemOncToday
"PERSPECTIVE
It should be emphasized that the FDA release focuses solely on patients with chronic renal disease, not cancer. It's a different population, so nothing in this release applies to the anemia of chemotherapy or patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Right now, the ASCO/ASH ESA guideline committee is looking at present data to see if they need to make any modifications in the guidelines for the use of ESAs. The NCCN modified its guideline about a year ago and agree with the FDA recommendations that ESAs shouldn't be used in a standard fashion in patients being treated for curative intent. That's become standard of care, and for patients on chemotherapy, nothing has changed in the past year.
- Samuel Silver, MD, PhD
HemOnc Today Editorial Board member"
Special Report: NCI Cancer Bulletin - Ovarian Cancer
Special Report: NCI Cancer Bulletin - Ovarian Cancer
Depression assessment and classification in palliative cancer patients: a systematic literature review
"The full range of the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria was seldom assessed,i.e. less than one-third of the assessments in the review tookinto account the duration of symptoms and 18% assessed consequences and impact upon patient functioning. A diversity of assessment methods had been used. Few studies classified depression byreferring to a diagnostic system or by using cut-off scores.Evidently, there is a need for a consensus on how to assessand conceptualize depression and related conditions in palliative care."
Monday, January 11, 2010
media item: Imaging studies help detect underlying cancers in patients with neurologic symptoms
Paraneoplastic neurologic disorders occur in some people with cancer—including lung, breast or ovarian cancer
Letter of Response: Disregarding clinical trial-based patient-reported outcomes is unwarranted: Five advances to substantiate the scientific stringency of quality-of-life measurement
Dear Dr Sprangers;
I want to express my appreciation for your paper detailing these Patient and research issues which have been outstanding and often unheeded far too long. Unfortunately, I must add, even as we speak. These issues have been of great concern to our cancer communities over much time. Without the inclusion of Patients in all that affects the research, at and as the bottom line issue, the value and efforts are, yes, meaningless. Patient QOL measurements, need to be addressed, so that the real life issues are not censured through statistical analyses and re-interpretation.
Without an emphasis encompassing integrity and ethics, if not a moral obligation, QOL research and all research, is futile. It is one of our largest failings. I have never found a way to quite understand how we have gotten to this place, not only in research but often times in practice.
I do see glimmers of hope, but over time these 'glimmers' have been replaced with consistently witnessing, as a patient/survivour, much suffering combined with a profess lack of urgency. While understanding of course that the specific issue of Patient QOL does not operate in a silo, it is because we are.
Acknowledging special exceptions in clinical practice/s, when someone mentions: "I know how you feel" my response is quite simply this: "No, actually, you do not."
Thank you once again, I greatly appreciate your efforts.
Sandi Pniauskas
Canada
http://ovariancancerandus.blogspot.com
abstract:
http://tinyurl.com/ykmf39w
or:
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/02841860903440288?prevSearch=authorsfield%253A%2528Sprangers%252C%2BMirjam%2BA.%2BG.%2529&searchHistoryKey=
Reporting on Cancer Research
While this site's intended target audience is journalists/media, there is some good information here for everyone. Some of it though is still pretty technical.
Disregarding clinical trial-based patient-reported outcomes is unwarranted: Five advances to substantiate the scientific stringency of quality-of-life
"Background. The clinical impact of trial-based quality of life (QL) outcomes is frequently underestimated due, in part, to prejudice and lack of knowledge by the medical community ....It is a waste of effort and money and also unethical when collected trial-based QL data are not used to their full power. QL and other patient-reported outcomes deserve to be included in more trials, with full disclosure of all results, and standardized interpretation."
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Comparison of extended colectomy and limited resection in patients with Lynch syndrome.
abstract for our Lynch Syndrome/ovarian members or also those who family members may have been diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer
2009 University of Health Network Toronto Patient Relations report - Office of the (hospital) Ombudsman
This report is of questionable value to patients as the Office of the Ombudsman is not independent but within the institution.
"The Patient Relations Department (Office of the Hospital Ombudsman)"
(repost): Combination therapy: intermittent sorafenib with bevacizumab yields activity and decreased toxicity : BMJ
abstract only - BMJ does not have open access (pay per view/subscription req'd)
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Cancer genetic predisposition: information needs of patients irrespective of risk level.
"Participants were stratified by risk level and included those concerned about an inherited predisposition to breast, ovarian or colorectal cancer."
"Findings indicated that irrespective of a person's actual or perceived level of risk, cancer worry, demographic background or personal motivation; priorities in the type of information required were similar. Greatest emphasis focused on information provision about how risk was assessed. Least important was acquiring an understanding about genes and inheritance patterns. Most participants reported difficulties accessing or finding information."
Improving the Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening: Assessment of Familial Risk.
"Many patients reporting a known familial cancer syndrome or a very strong family history did not have that history indicated on the endoscopist's procedure form, and recommended follow-up intervals were beyond guideline recommendations for 60.4% of the very high-risk group."
(Texas) Cedar Park woman, fearing high cancer risk, chooses hysterectomy, double mastectomy
plus commentaries from oncologists
Avemar - corporate website
This page shows past research with the pdf files being fully accessible. I haven't looked at the research/quality, so have no comment on this one - anyone?
Current Issue : Menopause
Note: this journal requires a subscription to access the full text of the articles. You can, however, access the abstracts.
Occult fallopian tube carcinoma detected in routine pelvic washing specimens submitted for staging: another justification for pelvic washing cytology?
Diagn Cytopathol. 2009 Dec;
Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. jjorns@umich.edu
"Peritoneal washing cytology is important in the staging, prognosis, and treatment schema for women diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies. Additionally, peritoneal washings are often performed before the specific diagnosis or even the distinction between benign or malignant lesion is known. Occasionally, the cytology and surgical pathology specimens, although obtained during the same procedure, will show unexpected and/or discordant findings. Perhaps, the greatest dilemma occurs when atypical cells suggestive of malignancy are identified in peritoneal washing specimens when a corresponding benign or discordantly low grade malignant diagnosis is made in the surgical pathology specimen. We present two such cases in which further investigation proved extremely valuable, not only leading to resolution of initially discrepant cytologic and surgical pathology findings but also in the process leading to second diagnoses of early fallopian tube carcinoma. Increasing evidence appears to be pointing to the fallopian tube as the site of origin of many serous carcinomas previously thought to be of primary pelvic or ovarian origin. These cases further confirm the utility of peritoneal washing cytology as a diagnostic modality when routine gross examination and sampling of the surgical specimens alone would have failed to provide the complete diagnosis."
2010 surgical oncology: Lymph node involvement in ovarian serous tumors of low malignant potential: a clinicopathologic study of thirty-six cases.
"Experience with lymph node involvement (LNI) in ovarian serous tumors of low malignant potential (OSLMP) is limited, which has led to an uncertainty about the clinical significance of this phenomenon....."
Optimal management of recurrent ovarian cancer. [Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2009] - PubMed result
Note: several years ago Cary Vera Garcia (deceased) published an article about ovarian cancer as a chronic disease. It was an excellent article and she felt using the term chronic as it may apply to ovarian cancer 'Devalued a Survivor's Challenge'. Dr Markman wrote a response concerning the clinical use of the word 'chronic' as it may apply to ovarian cancer. So, 'very serious chronic' is a new term which is interesting.
Sandi
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Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2009 Dec;19 Suppl 2:S40-3.
Optimal management of recurrent ovarian cancer.
Markman M.
Department of Gynecologic Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA. mmarkman@mdanderson.org
The development of an optimal management approach in recurrent ovarian cancer requires careful consideration of a number of important factors including (a) response to and severity/persistence of toxicity associated with prior therapy, (b) existence of relevant trial data (particularly phase 3 studies), (c) patient interest in participating in clinical trials, (d) cost of (and ability to pay for) particular anti-neoplastic drug regimens, and (e) patient choice. It is likely that the increasing availability of biologically active novel agents (and combination programs) in this clinical setting will add to the difficulty of defining optimal therapy in recurrent/resistant ovarian cancer, which, in many individuals, can be reasonably considered a very serious chronic disease process.
abstract: Symptom control pts with recurrent OC: measuring the benefit of palliative chemotherapy in women with platinum refractory/resistan
Symptom control in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer: measuring the benefit of palliative chemotherapy in women with platinum refractory/resistant ovarian cancer.
Changing the paradigm in the treatment of platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer: from platinum doublets to nonplatinum doublets and adding antia
Changing the paradigm in the treatment of platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer: from platinum doublets to nonplatinum doublets and adding antiangiogenesis compounds.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Biological Mechanisms Linking Obesity and Cancer Risk: New Perspectives - Annual Review of Medicine, 61(1):301 - Abstract
"While public health policies aimed at curbing the underlying causes of the obesity epidemic are being implemented, there is a parallel need to better understand the biological processes linking obesity and cancer as a prerequisite to the development of new approaches to prevention and treatment."
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in Patients on Immunomodulatory Therapies* - Annual Review of Medicine, 61(1):35 - Abstract
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892; email: majorg@ninds.nih.gov
"Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the white matter of the human brain caused by lytic infection of oligodendrocytes with the human polyomavirus JCV. Although the majority of PML cases occur in severely immune-suppressed individuals, with HIV-1 infection as the predominant factor, PML has been increasingly diagnosed in patients treated with biological therapies such as monoclonal antibodies that modulate immune system functions...."
Patient-Centered Medical Homes in Ontario | Health Care Reform
Some interesting observations in this article including:
"Per capita, Canada has one third fewer active physicians than the United States, 15% more primary care physicians, and half as many specialists. Consequently, the heavy responsibilities of Canadian specialists promote shared care with family physicians, and specialists rarely see patients without referral. In the United States, only 30% of visits to specialists occur through referrals,5 and patients are likely to see multiple specialists."
April 17-21, 2010 in Washington, DC. - AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010
New Concepts in Organ Site Research:
Recent Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research
Co-Chairpersons: Christopher P. Crum, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, and Shelley S. Tworoger, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
* David D. Bowtell, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia
* Elise C. Kohn, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
* Martin Widschwendter, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
* Alicja Wolk, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
Dear Advocates: (sponsorship) 2010 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting
January 8th, 2009:
Dear advocates,
We are now accepting applications for the Advocates Partnership Program at the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting, March 24-28 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Advocates Partnership Program aims to foster new connections among members of the genetics community. Highlights for participants include engaging in thought-provoking discussions about clinical genetics and informatics, and attending exclusive daily briefings with ACMG staff and professionals working in your area of interest. The ACMG preliminary meeting schedule is available at http://www.acmgmeeting.net/schedule.php
Acceptance into the Advocates Partnership Program includes waived full registration to the ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting. Furthermore, participants will be reimbursed for up to $250 for transportation, hotel accommodations, or airfare.
We welcome applications from individuals interested in the field of clinical genetics. Individuals who hold ACMG membership or those who could be a potential candidate for membership are not eligible to apply for the Advocates Partnership Program.
To apply, please download the application form from http://www.geneticalliance.org/advocates.opportunities.
Please return it to tmurza@geneticalliance.org no later than Friday, February 5, 2010.
Priority will be given to individuals who previously have not participated in the Advocates Partnership Program.
Please forward this message to your friends and colleagues.
If you have any questions, please contact Tetyana Murza at tmurza@geneticalliance.org or (202) 966-5557 ext. 205. We look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Genetic Alliance
Thursday, January 07, 2010
press release: Theralase Technologies Research Successfully Destroys Breast Cancer cells
preclinical studies to come in 2010
full free access-focus on Lynch Syndrome Ultradeep Sequencing of a Human Ultraconserved Region Reveals Somatic and Constitutional Genomic Instability
"Genomic instability is a common trait of cancer cells and plays a pivotal role in promoting carcinogenesis in several hereditary tumours. One of the best-known examples is the Lynch syndrome, an autosomal dominant condition associated with heterozygous mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes. During their lifespan, individuals affected by the Lynch syndrome...... The tumourigenic process starts when mutations hit oncogenes and/or tumour suppressors, often in actively renovating tissues such as endometrium, ovary, and colon. In the latter case, the genetic condition is known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), which represents the most common form of inherited colorectal cancer.... Since more than 90% of HNPCC show MSI this has become a common diagnostic marker..."
JCO Editorial: Generalizing the Results of Cancer Clinical Trials
See also Table 1:Occult Influences of the Clinical Trial Setting on the Generalizability of Results - Differences in the Patient Population
"As clinical trials increasingly become a global enterprise, issues of generalizability will increase in importance. It will be essential to ensure that the conduct of a trial and its subsequent reporting include attention to aspects that influence generalizability, so that determinations of whether observations and conclusions reached in one geographic setting, or within one type of health care system, are applicable to the policy makers and practitioners from other settings."
JCO Editorial: Biomarkers of Antiangiogenic Therapy: How Do We Move From Candidate Biomarkers to Valid Biomarkers?
"Thus, these candidate biomarkers should continue to be actively explored in trials of antiangiogenic agents in patients, to get closer to the goal of improving and individualizing cancer therapy."
Journal of Oncology — An Open Access Journal Role of lymphadenectomy in early and advanced ovarian cancer
click on 'pdf' top right hand corner
full free access: Journal of Oncology —Role of lymphadenectomy in early and advanced ovarian cancer
full free access - click on the 'pdf' box - top right corner
There Is a New Pre-Symptomatic Screening Test for Ovarian Cancer Coming From Arrayit Corporation, and It Will Be Available Soon - OvaDx(TM)
Note: The test will soon be submitted to the FDA for approval
BJC - Abstract: Combination therapy: intermittent sorafenib with bevacizumab yields activity and decreased toxicity
Note: ovarian cancer patients were included in this phase 1 study but abstract gives limited information
DNAPrint Genomics - Ovanome
Note: As far as I can tell this test still needs approvals
OVANOME:
Ovanome is a genetic test for predicting an ovarian cancer patient’s response to first-regimen Taxol¹ and carboplatin (TC) chemotherapy. 30% of chemo-naive women do not respond to TC treatment and DNAPrint™ research shows that this problem is largely a function of genetic polymorphism.
Biotech News & Online Store - Belinostat phase II trial initiated in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) supported by
The study:
A Phase II evaluation of Belinostat and carboplatin in the treatment of recurrent or persistent platinum-resistant ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.
UK: i LEARN u LEARN events
Our ‘i LEARN – u LEARN’ events are taking place in March 2010.
These are six interactive meetings that will be held in
* London (1 & 17 March 2010)
* Belfast (4 March 2010)
* Cardiff (9 March 2010)
* Liverpool (12 March 2010)
* Edinburgh (15 March 2010)
At these meetings, you can find out more about regulation in the health sector and take part in various activities where you can lend your voice to some ongoing debates. We will be supported at all meetings by representatives from the health professional regulatory bodies. Places at these meetings are limited, so we encourage you to register early to attend these events. You can register by emailing us at reception@chre.org.uk or by calling us on 020 7389 8030.
Pallimed: A Hospice & Palliative Medicine Blog
This most recent update has some good information and includes some Twitter comments regarding Palliative/Hospice care comments.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
HealthNewsReview.org: Study: Ginkgo biloba has no effect on Alzheimer's, dementia
Study: Ginkgo biloba has no effect on Alzheimer's, dementia
free full access: Current status of maintenance therapy for advanced ovarian cancer
Note: below the abstract click on 'pdf download article' (full free access)
"This article reviews the current status of maintenance therapy for advanced ovarian cancer, including phase III evidence and new and upcoming trials."
full free access (2008) Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism* — CHEST gynecologic cancers are included
This is a very long article, includes gynecologic cancer surgery as well as other topics regarding blood clots including for at-risk travellers:
"Cancer patients undergoing surgery have at least twice the risk of postoperative DVT and more than three times the risk of fatal PE encountered by noncancer patients who are undergoing similar procedures."
press release: Vermillion Unsecured Creditors Approve Proposed Plan of Reorganization -- FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
About the OVA1 Test
The OVA1 Test is a qualitative serum test that combines the results of five immunoassays into a single numerical score. It is indicated for women who meet the following criteria: over age 18, ovarian adnexal mass present for which surgery is planned, and not yet referred to an oncologist. The test utilizes five well-established biomarkers --- Transthyretin (TT or prealbumin), Apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1), Beta2-Microglobulin (Beta2M), Transferrin (Tfr) and Cancer Antigen 125 (CA 125 II) --- and a proprietary algorithm to determine the likelihood of malignancy in women with pelvic mass for whom surgery is planned.
OVA1(TM) Test is a trademark of Vermillion Inc.
OncoGenex - OGX-427
"We are also considering a randomized Phase 2 clinical trial investigating OGX-427 in ovarian cancer," said Scott Cormack, President and Chief Executive Officer of OncoGenex."
full free access: TP53 Mutations in Human Cancers: Origins, Consequences, and Clinical Use — Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
Somatic TP53 mutations occur in almost every type of cancer at rates from 38%–50% in ovarian and..........TP53 mutations, but not p53 positive immunohistochemistry (IHC), have been consistently associated with poor prognosis in cancers such as breast, colorectal, head and neck, and leukemia.....In terms of clinical applications, TP53 mutations have proven to be extremely complex biomarkers. Despite impressive progress in mechanistic understanding of p53 structure and function, p53 research has not yet generated applications of wide impact on cancer management and therapy."
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
abstract/full text: Gene silencing of glypican-3 in clear cell carcinoma of the ovary renders it more sensitive to the apoptotic agent paclitaxel
"Clear cell carcinoma has been classified as a subgroup of EOC and reported to be an interesting histologic type with unique clinical features. CCC showed a poorer prognosis compared to serous adenocarcinoma because it tended to be resistant to antineoplastic agents, including paclitaxel.
CCC comprises more than 15% of EOC cases in Japan, although it represents 8–10% of all EOC cases in the USA. Therefore, it is important to establish new treatment strategies to improve the prognosis of CCC patients.
GPC3 regulates cell growth either positively or negatively depending on the cell type. Genetic and functional studies showed that glypicans regulate the signaling activity of various morphogens, including Wnts, Hedgehogs, bone morphogenic proteins, and fibroblast growth factors. Previous studies showed that GPC3 was overexpressed in Wilms' tumor, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hepatoblastoma. In ovarian carcinoma, GPC3 was overexpressed in yolk sac tumor and CCC.(15–17) However, GPC3 function in CCC was unclear. Furthermore, we investigated the role of this molecule in the sensitivity of CCC to paclitaxel, which is a key drug for ovarian cancer, using shRNA targeting GPC3.
Taken together, our data could support the use of GPC3-targeted therapies for CCC patients. We suggest that therapy targeting to GPC3 may be a novel treatment strategy that could potentially help to prevent the appearance, progression, and/or recurrence of CCC."
full free access:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122614981/HTMLSTART
Longwoods Publishing - TOP TEN BEST READ DOCUMENTS/ARTICLES FOR DECEMBER 2009
Monday, January 04, 2010
Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cancer « Rush InPerson
Certain hereditary conditions, including:
- Hereditary pancreatitis
- multiple endocrine neoplasia type I syndrome (MEN)
- hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC or Lynch Syndrome)
- von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia
- familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome (FAMMM)
- BRCA2
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- cystic fibrosis
New platinum compound shows promise in tumor cells-in research Milaplatin combination
New platinum compound shows promise in tumor cells
"The new compound, mitaplatin, combines cisplatin with another compound, dichloroacetate (DCA), which can alter the properties of mitochondria selectively in cancer cells. Cancer cells switch their mitochondrial properties to change the way they metabolize glucose compared to normal cells, and DCA specifically targets the altered mitochondria, leaving normal cells intact."
Long-term decline in cervical cancer inciden...
In perspective??
2006 Canadian deaths=380..........need for a population based vaccine is ????
2006 Canadian deaths=380..........need for a population based vaccine is ????
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Saturday, January 02, 2010
"Dear Cancer" - Varian RapidArc's Letter Writing Campaign "Dear Cancer"
Note: at this moment the website shows that 1,770+ letters have been written, only 14 ovarian cancer contributions
(to check out the website click on the logo for further information)
Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: A Panacea or Just an Obstacle Course for the Patient?
comment: although this discussion is related to colorectal cancer, awareness of these concerns is relevant to our community, I believe
Journal of Pediatric Surgery : Can we preoperatively risk stratify ovarian masses for malignancy?
"1- to 8-year age group had the highest percentage of malignancies"
Friday, January 01, 2010
Single agent carboplatin versus carboplatin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in recurrent ovarian cancer: Final survival results of a SWOG ph 111
Single agent carboplatin versus carboplatin plus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in recurrent ovarian cancer: Final survival results of a SWOG (S0200) phase 3 randomized trial
"For currently unknown reasons, administering PLD with carboplatin appears to substantially reduce the incidence of platinum-associated hypersensitivity reactions."
Comparison of extended colectomy and limited resection in patients with Lynch syndrome
includes prophylactic (preventative) surgery
Guidelines for the management of ovarian cancer during pregnancy.
"If chemotherapy is indicated, we recommend delaying administration, if possible, until after the delivery or at least after 20 weeks in order to minimize the potential fetal toxicity".
Does the use of diagnostic PET/CT cause stage migration in patients with primary advanced ovarian cancer?
Note: It's unfortunate that early stages of ovarian cancers were not included in this study.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Ovarian metastases from breast cancer
"Ovarian disease (cancer) was diagnosed at a median of 5 years after breast cancer. Seventy-five percent of patients were asymptomatic, and advanced-stage pelvic extent or extra-abdominal metastases were observed in 41.5% of patients. The median survival was 3 years..."
Safety Considerations and Potential Interactions of Vitamins: Should Vitamins Be Considered Drugs?
"...A, E, D can cause serious adverse events."
Identifying novel autoantibody signatures in ovarian cancer
CONCLUSIONS: Protein microarrays are suitable for autoantibody discovery in ovarian cancer but the signatures are of low frequency.
full free access EDITORIAL: Designing Early Detection Programs for Ovarian Cancer -- JNCI
free full access: Assessing Lead Time of Selected Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers: A Nested Case-Control Study -- JNCI
Note: small study, did not include family history of colorectal cancer (Lynch Syndrome); clear cell ovarian subtype
THE RESEARCH ARTICLE:
Assessing Lead Time of Selected Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers: A Nested Case-Control Study -- Anderson et al., 10.1093/jnci/djp438 -- JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Assessing lead time of selected ovarian cancer biomarkers | Science Codex
Assessing lead time of selected ovarian cancer biomarkers
"Concentrations of the biomarkers CA125, human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), and mesothelin began to rise 3 years before clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer, according to a new study published online December 30 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. However, the biomarkers became substantially elevated only in the last year prior to diagnosis. The stage of the cancer at the time of marker elevation is not known.
CA125, HE4, mesothelin, B7-H4, decoy receptor 3, and spondin-2 have been identified as potential ovarian cancer biomarkers, but their behavior in the pre-diagnostic period, with the exception of CA125, has not been evaluated previously."
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
I don't need a 'war' to fight my cancer. I need empowering as a patient
O bituaries routinely inform us that so-and-so has died "after a brave battle against cancer".
Of course, we will never read that so-and-so has died "after a pathetically feeble battle against cancer".
Phase II Study of Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, and Bevacizumab With Maintenance Bevacizumab As First-Line Chemotherapy for Advanced Mullerian Tumors
Forty-five women (73%) had ovarian cancer, 10 (16%) had peritoneal cancer, four (6%) had fallopian tube cancers, and three (5%) had uterine papillary serous tumors.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Lynch syndrome among gynecologic oncology patients meeting Bethesda guidelines for screening
"Our findings reinforce the recommendation that women diagnosed with endometrial cancer before the age of 45 years and women with synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancer be screened for LS, irrespective of family history."
Anthropometric Measures and Risk of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Results From the Nurses' Health Study
Anthropometric: understanding human physical variation
Ohio Hospital Program Increases Interaction Between Nurses, Patients
"In October 2008, staff members at Riverside Methodist Hospital (RMH) in Columbus, OH, approached Sheryl Tripp, MSN, RN-BC, nurse manager for the gynecology/gynecology-oncology (gyn/gyn-onc) surgical unit, in hopes of changing the way nurses were issuing patient reports."
Longwoods Healthcare Blog: “What Do Patients Want? A Critical Look at Healthcare Delivery in Canada”
"But the debate, like the health system itself, has been dominated largely by vested interests. I’m watching it, just like you do, from afar. People like the insurance industry and dogmatists from all across the political spectrum – right and left. Rarely in that debate do we hear from patients, or more specifically, from patients without a political agenda or not hired by a group with a message to sell. Rarer still is to hear patients articulate what they want or expect from a health system. And that’s not unique to the US discussion; we have the same problem in Canada...."
Sunday, December 27, 2009
blog: The New Mammogram Guidelines - What You Need to Know (U.S.)
The New Mammogram Guidelines - What You Need to Know
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Intraperitoneal VEGF Inhibition Using Bevacizumab: A Potential Approach for the Symptomatic Treatment of Malignant Ascites?
"THE NECESSITY FOR CLINICAL TRIALS EVALUATING BEVACIZUMAB TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT ASCITES
Based on the preclinical and clinical data outlined above, we strongly suggest that the efficacy and safety of the i.p. application of bevacizumab for the treatment of malignant ascites be assessed in stringently designed clinical studies. Bevacizumab is generally well tolerated and has an acceptable toxicity profile consisting primarily of hypertension and proteinuria. Other rare but important adverse effects, however, include delayed wound healing, arterial thrombosis, and bleeding [118]. Finally, a potentially serious adverse effect of bevacizumab is gastrointestinal perforation and, although comparably infrequent, this potentially life-threatening complication has generated significant clinical interest. Overall, gastrointestinal perforation was found to be an uncommon but well-documented side effect of treatment in the phase III trials of bevacizumab, as well as in subsequent surveillance trials, with a reported incidence of 1%–2% [106, 107, 109, 119]. Though strong evidence identifying specific risk factors is lacking, investigators have urged caution when treating patients with known bowel implants or a large tumor burden, prior radiation, and recent surgery or bowel obstruction [106, 119, 120]."
Chicago Cancer Genome Project studies genetics of 1,000 tumors
The project also will gather genetic data on how the genes expressed by tumors evolve over time. Whenever possible, the researchers will compare tumor samples taken from a patient before and after treatments, to learn how cancers accumulate additional genetic changes that enable them to resist radiation or chemotherapy or to spread to distant sites.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
open access: Cancer risk in MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 mutation carriers; different risk profiles may influence clinical management
Subjects carrying a mutation in one of the MMR genes have a higher risk for developing colorectal cancer, but also for endometrial carcinoma and malignancies of the stomach, small bowel, ovaries, upper uroepithelial tract, biliary tract, skin and brain.(pancreas)
Quality of life data as prognostic indicators of survival in cancer patients: an overview of the literature from 1982 to 2008
More importantly, tumour type and stage of disease are essential for drawing conclusions from such findings.
Carey et al.
2008 244 advanced ovarian cancer EORTC QLQ-C30 Performance status and global QOL scores at baseline were prognostic factors for both progression-free survival and overall survival.
Gupta et al.
2008 90 ovarian cancer Ferrans and Powers QLI No statistically significant prognostic
association of patient satisfaction with QOL was observed with survival.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The effect of primary cytoreduction on outcomes of patients with FIGO stage IIIC ovarian cancer stratified by the initial tumor burden in the upper ab
The effect of primary cytoreduction on outcomes of patients with FIGO stage IIIC ovarian cancer stratified by the initial tumor burden in the upper abdomen cephalad to the greater omentum.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Radiation recall dermatitis -- Guarneri and Guarneri, 10.1503/cmaj.090320 -- Canadian Medical Association Journal
Includes potential for radiation recall and specific treatment therapies such as: 5-fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, vinblastine,
methotrexate, adriamycin, etoposide, tamoxifen, bleomycin, melphalan, paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, pegylated liposomal
doxorubicin, interferon α-2b, antituberculous drugs and simvastatin.
Medical News: Abdominal Surgery Risky for Older Patients
These associations held for patients with cancer and other diagnoses, and for both elective and nonelective procedures (P<0.001).
Prevalence, Demographics, and Psychological Associations of Sleep Disruption in Patients With Cancer: University of Rochester Cancer Center-Community Clinical Oncology Program
Insomnia is prevalent, underrecognized, undermanaged, and understudied among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Doctor and Patient - Holding Doctors Accountable for Medical Errors - NYTimes.com
Editorial Comment: The emphasis of this article seems to place a rather large burden on physicians which is not totally warranted.
Doctor and Patient - Holding Doctors Accountable for Medical Errors - NYTimes.com
Q. What is a major patient safety area that still needs to be addressed?
A. Ten years ago, we approached patient safety as a series of system flaws; we believed that most errors were committed by good competent people doing something no more complicated than forgetting a cellphone. But in the last few years some of us in the patient safety field have begun to feel uneasy about that approach. When there are reasonably safe standards available, what do you do when people simply don’t adhere to them? At some point, it’s no longer a “systems problem.”
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Effects of antioxidant supplements on cancer prevention: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials -- Myung et al. 21 (1): 166 -- Annals of Oncology
Cancer diagnostic assessment programs: standards for the organization of care in Ontario
related to:
Cancer diagnostic assessment programs: standards for the organization of care in Ontario
Regulation of microRNA biosynthesis and expression in 2102Ep embryonal carcinoma stem cells is mirrored in ovarian serous adenocarcinoma pts
full free access: Journal of Ovarian Research:
Regulation of microRNA biosynthesis and expression in 2102Ep embryonal carcinoma stem cells is mirrored in ovarian serous adenocarcinoma patients
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Urgent notice: Ovarian Cancer woman needs help - pls respond Vancouver, BC
An ovarian cancer woman is being discharged to home hospice care, however, her wishes are to die within an institutional complex hospice care facility. Physician hospice support would be required. Apparently these services are not available for patients/people with complex care. IF you can assist with these system issues please respond in an urgent manner.
Annexin IV is differentially expressed in clear cell carcinoma of the ovary
clear cell vs serous - potential biomarker
definition: Slacktivism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Note: this is a 'new' term maybe and was found through a non-profit organizations's poll - rather disparaging term considering volunteerism is a large focus of NP's wouldn't you think? Comments?
Slacktivism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
1988 - CA 125 in the Follow–Up of Patients with Ovarian Cancer; Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica - 67(1):Pages 53-58 - Informa Healthcare
Ca 125 in the Follow–Up of Patients with Ovarian Cancer; Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica - 67(1):Pages 53-58 - Informa Healthcare: "It is useful for monitoring the course of chemotherapy, but normal levels do not rule out the possibility of persistent or recurrent disease."
NIH Consumer Health Request for Information
NIH Consumer Health Request for Information: "We would like to hear from you!
The NIH Office of Communication and Public Liaison (OCPL) and the NIH Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR) have partnered to develop a Consumer Health Information RFI in response to a Directive by President Barack Obama to all Federal agencies calling for greater transparency, public participation, and collaboration.
In conjunction with the NIH goals for public input and effective dissemination of science-based health resources and information to the public, the RFI will provide insight and better understanding of the health information needs and information-seeking behaviors of NIH health consumer audiences. Information gathered will assist the agency in developing and disseminating health, medical, and scientific information to a broader variety of audiences."
How Do I Apply? - Application Process, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
How Do I Apply? - Application Process, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
How Do I Apply - Application Process
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Endometrial carcinomas in women aged 40 years and younger: tumors associated with loss of DNA mismatch repair proteins comprise a distinct clinicopath
There are some very interesting pieces of information in this abstract (including ovarian/clear cell/endometrioid cell types:
Endometrial carcinomas in women aged 40 years and younger: tumors associated with loss of DNA mismatch repair proteins comprise a distinct clinicopathologic subset.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
In conversation with Dr. Brent Zanke | BioTuesday
The founder and chairman of ArcticDx
What’s the status of your colon cancer test?
Colo-Risk is undergoing clinical testing Colo-Risk is undergoing clinical testing in collaboration with McMaster University in Hamilton. The core intellectual property is owned jointly by Cancer Care Ontario, which runs provincial screening programs, and McGill University. There are additional pieces of IP that we are in the process of acquiring. And we’re hoping it will be launched next year as the first product of its kind to predict an individual’s risk of developing colorectal cancer.
The test combines your genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer with environmental risk factors like age, history of smoking and body mass index to come up with your life-time risk of developing the disease. So, if you’re carrying genes that say you’ve got a 30% or 40% likelihood of getting colon cancer at some time in my life, you will be vigilant in early screening programs. If you could tell from your genetic makeup that you have a 1% chance, that would be in keeping with your risk of developing a lot of other things as well.
Physician Referral for Fertility Preservation in Oncology Patients: A National Study of Practice Behaviors
less than 50% follow guidelines
Monday, December 14, 2009
Guidelines for the clinical management of Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis cancer)
Note: This full free access paper is dated 2007 but has 2009 references including Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.
Guidelines for the clinical management of Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis cancer)
PharmaLive: Pfizer Extends Commitment to Help Unemployed Americans
PharmaLive: Pfizer Extends Commitment to Help Unemployed Americans: "Medicines Assistance for Those who Are in Need) patient assistance program for an additional year, through December 31, 2010"
ScienceDirect - Social Science & Medicine : Interpersonal perception in the context of doctor–patient relationships: A dyadic analysis of doctor–patient communication
Gene Variant That Increases Ovarian Cancer Risk Discovered
Gene Variant That Increases Ovarian Cancer Risk Discovered: "After eight years of searching, Gayther and colleagues found an SNP on chromosome 9 that was uniquely linked to ovarian cancer. Each of us has 23 pairs of chromosomes, each 'copy' in the pair comes from one biological parent.
In collaboration with the international Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC) they confirmed the finding in another group of 7,000 women with ovarian cancer and 10,000 women without the disease. The samples came from women all over the world."
Sunday, December 13, 2009
SOCS1/p53: Scientists discover molecule that acts as natural cancer defense, Cancer Treatment
Scientists discover molecule that acts as natural cancer defense, Cancer Treatment
Scientists from Canada have found a natural defense mechanism for cancer prevention. Cytokines have long been known to produce diseases that include cancer, diabetes, and chronic inflammation. The new study identifies a link between the SOCS1 molecule and the p53 gene that is found to be lost among a majority of cancer patients.
The new research surprisingly showed the link between SOCS1 molecule and cancer. According to a lead author and Université de Montréal student, Viviane Calabrese The research team didn't anticipate that SOCS1 would turn out to be linked to p53, the master regulator of natural anticancer defenses. We were surprised to realize that SOCS1 was directly linked to p53."
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Woman wins damages after errors by Winchester hospital (From Hampshire Chronicle)
one of the very few lawsuits ever won in ovarian cancer (irrespective of country)
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
MicroRNAs in Ovarian Carcinomas
| Medline Abstract
N Dahiya, Lab Cell Molec Biol, NIH, Baltimore, United States.
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| The molecular mechanisms involved in epithelial ovarian cancer initiation and progression are just beginning to be elucidated. In particular, it has become evident that microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of molecules that post-trancriptionally regulates gene expression, play a major role in ovarian tumorigenesis. Several miRNA profiling studies have identified changes in miRNA patterns that take place during ovarian cancer development. While most deregulated miRNAs are down-regulated in cancer, and may therefore act as tumor suppressors, others are elevated and may represent novel oncogenes in this disease. A number of miRNAs identified as aberrantly expressed in ovarian carcinoma have been shown to have important functional roles in cancer development and may therefore represent targets for therapy. In addition, some of the miRNA patterns may have prognostic significance. The identification of functional targets represents a major hurdle in our understanding of miRNA function in ovarian carcinoma, but significant progress is being made. It is hoped that a better understanding of the miRNA expression and roles in ovarian cancer may provide new avenues for the detection, diagnosis, and therapy of this deadly disease. PMID: 19903743 | ||||||||||||
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Mantra 2009 programme conference outline including abstracts
Cancer Family Study, Australasian Colorectal
Cancer Family Study, Australian Ovarian Cancer
Study, Family Cancer Clinics of Australia and New
Zealand & kConFab
Lynch syndrome: still not a familiar picture.
CASE PRESENTATION: A large Lynch syndrome family with 15 affected family members and involvement in 7 organs is reported. It illustrates a lack of awareness and knowledge about this hereditary tumor syndrome among doctors as well as patients. None of the described family members underwent presymptomatic screening on the basis of the family history.
red flags for familal forms of cancer susceptibility - excerpt
The general clinical features that raise the suspicion of a familial form of cancer susceptibility in a patient diagnosed with any type of malignancy include [1]:
* A cancer that occurs at an unusually young age compared with its usual presentation
* The development of multiple tumors in a single organ, or bilateral development in tumors in paired organs
* The development of more than one primary tumor of any type
* A family history of cancer of the same type or related type in one or more first-degree relatives
* A high rate of cancer occurrence in the family
* Cancer occurring in an individual or within a family with congenital anomalies or birth defects
Expanded Extracolonic Tumor Spectrum in MUTYH-Associated Polyposis
Results
Duodenal polyposis occurred in 17% of cases; the relative risk (SIR) of duodenal cancer was 129 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16–466), whereas the lifetime risk was 4%. The incidence of extraintestinal malignancies among cases was almost twice that of the general population (SIR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4–2.5), with a lifetime risk of 38%. We observed a significant increase in the incidence of ovarian, bladder, and skin cancers (SIR: 5.7, 7.2, and 2.8, respectively) and a trend of increased risk of breast cancer among cases. The median ages of onset of these 4 malignancies ranged from 51 to 61 years. In contrast to familial adenomatous polyposis, no desmoid tumors were observed, but sebaceous gland tumors, characteristic of the Muir-Torre variant of Lynch syndrome, occurred in 5 patients.
Conclusions
The relative risks for several extraintestinal malignancies increased in patients with MAP, but based on the spectrum of cancers (which overlaps with that of Lynch syndrome) and the relatively advanced age at onset, intensive surveillance measures other than frequent endoscopy are unlikely to be helpful to patients with MAP.
Three synchronous primary carcinomas in a patient with HNPCC associated with a novel germline mutation in MLH1: Case report
note fig. 2 and reference to ovarian cancer (?)
Three synchronous primary carcinomas in a patient with HNPCC associated with a novel germline mutation in MLH1: Case report
Three synchronous primary carcinomas in a patient with HNPCC associated with a novel germline mutation in MLH1: Case report
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
gene called MAGP2 -- not previously associated with any type of cancer -- was overexpressed in papillary serous ovarian tumors of patients
A multi-institutional study has identified a potential personalized treatment target for the most common form of ovarian cancer. In the December 8 issue of Cancer Cell, the research team describes finding that a gene called MAGP2 -- not previously associated with any type of cancer -- was overexpressed in papillary serous ovarian tumors of patients who died more quickly. They also found evidence suggesting possible mechanisms by which MAGP2 may promote tumor growth.
VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE | Unique genetic pathology centre set to change the way we treat cancer
"...ovarian cancer is at least five distinct diseases..."
Patient Relations "Road Show" at University Health Network :: Vol. 12 No. 4 2009 :: Healthcare Quarterly :: Longwoods Publishing
Patient Relations "Road Show" at University Health Network :: Vol. 12 No. 4 2009 :: Healthcare Quarterly :: Longwoods Publishing: "Overall, across all sites, the results of our program have generally been positive; 53.9% felt that the in-service met their expectations, and 45.9% felt that their expectations were exceeded."
A Patient's Right to be Believed :: Essays :: Longwoods Publishing
A Patient's Right to be Believed :: Essays :: Longwoods Publishing: "When I speak at public events about the power of online patient stories for healthcare decision-making, some in the healthcare industry (clinicians and non-clinicians) dismiss these millions of narratives as meaningless chatter with no validity. Interestingly, they're more often accepted as truth when they praise healthcare providers; they're harder to accept when they're critical."
Morphologic Changes in Ovarian Carcinoma After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Report of a Case Showing Extensive Clear Cell Changes Mimicking Clear Cell Ca
Morphologic Changes in Ovarian Carcinoma After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Report of a Case Showing Extensive Clear Cell Changes Mimicking Clear Cell Carcinoma
Clinical Value of Morphometric and DNA Flow Cytometric Variables as Independent Predictors of Survival in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma: A 5-year Follo
Clinical Value of Morphometric and DNA Flow Cytometric Variables as Independent Predictors of Survival in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma: A 5-year Follow-up Study
Monday, December 07, 2009
Increased incidence of postoperative infections during prophylaxis with cephalothin compared to doxycycline in intestinal surgery
Results
The SSI in the colorectal department increased from 19% to 30% (p = 0.002) when doxycycline was substituted with cephalothin and decreased to 17% when we changed back to doxycycline (p = 0.005). In the gynaecology department the surgical site infection rate did not increase significantly. Subgroup analysis showed major changes in infections in rectal resections from 20% to 35% (p = 0.02) and back to 12% (p = 0.003).
new expression - "in the fullness of time" 10,000 patients' data a click away - thestar.com
10,000 patients' data a click away - thestar.com
"As for the old paper files, eHealth's interim chair says: "In the fullness of time, we will be rid of them.""
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Expert questions continuing H1N1 vaccinations
(reference/search prior blog posting 'H1N1 and cancer' letter:
"...But the benefit diminishes the farther into the future we go, and he said other public health programs have suffered as staff and resources were redeployed to the H1N1 campaign."
Safety of Bevacizumab in Advanced Ovarian and Müllerian Cancers: A Review: Abstract and Introduction
Safety of Bevacizumab in Advanced Ovarian and Müllerian Cancers: A Review: Abstract and Introduction
The Impact of Complete Surgical Staging Upon Survival in Early-Stage Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma: A Multi-institutional Retrospective Study
Although the study was a limited retrospective study, the impact of peritoneal cytology status was more important than complete surgical staging procedure in CCC patients. More effective treatment modality was warranted, especially for CCC cases positive for malignant peritoneal cytology.
Preoperative CA-125 Levels in 123 Patients With Borderline Ovarian Tumors: A Retrospective Analysis and Review of the Literature
From a clinical perspective, we believe, on base of the results of this study and the literature, that preoperative discrimination using CA-125 level is especially difficult between patients with stage I ovarian cancer and the group of patients with serous and/or advanced-stage BOTs.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
This test can spare women from chemo. But they can't get it here - The Globe and Mail
This test can spare women from chemo. But they can't get it here - The Globe and Mail
My response: some of the public's opinions which, as usual, were way off target to the original focus of the article: It's always a great transformation of opinion when those without a cancer diagnosis are diagnosed. It's very nice to know there are so many who believe in each paying for their own healthcare except...that's nice. But, envision your neighbour, your family member, your friend who cannot. Envision if it is your neighbour's child. Nice that we seem to have come to such a one-person self-centerness that we cannot see beyond the small picture of one.
Response: Does Morphine Stimulate Cancer Growth? | GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Care Blog
Does Morphine Stimulate Cancer Growth? | GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Care Blog
Response to the dialogues:
-
While the media and pharma are often criticized in situations such as this, there is the communication factor - good or bad. The value to patients of harm vs benefit is that the information is available and sufficient enough for patients to question, research and also take the information for discussion to their professional caregivers. The e-patient communities welcome dialogues but not in an exclusive setting which is absent their participation.
- December 5, 2009 8:57 AM
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