Monday, September 13, 2010
Inconsistent Labeling of Food Effect for Oral Agents across Therapeutic Areas: Differences between Oncology and Non-Oncology Products — Clinical Cancer Research
Conclusions:
Drug labeling patterns with respect to food-drug interactions observed with oncology drugs are in contradiction with fundamental pharmacologic principles, as exemplified in the labeling of non-oncology drugs.
A Third-Generation Map of Human Genetic Variation
An international consortium has published the largest survey of human genetic variation thus far: a third-generation map that includes data from 11 global populations. The accomplishment will help in the ongoing search for genetic variants associated with complex diseases.
Stretches of DNA sequence tend to be inherited together. Thus, sets of small genetic variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) tend to be grouped. These clusters are called haplotypes. The map of human genetic variation is called a haplotype map, or HapMap.
Previous versions of the HapMap were built on the analysis of DNA collected from 270 volunteers from 4 geographically diverse populations. The first version contained approximately 1 million SNPs. The second-generation map brought that total to more than 3.1 million SNPs.
Over the last few years, researchers conducting genome-wide association studies have relied on data from the HapMap to discover hundreds of common genetic variants associated with complex human diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and many other health conditions. Funding to create the third-generation HapMap was provided by NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and the Wellcome Trust.
For the latest version, researchers analyzed about 1.6 million SNPs in a much broader range of samples from around the world. As reported in the September 2, 2010, issue of Nature, the HapMap now includes data from an additional 7 global populations, bringing the total number of volunteers to almost 1,200.
The consortium also carefully sequenced 10 regions totaling about 1 million base pairs in 692 samples. The scientists found that 77% of the SNPs they detected were new. This result shows that many more variants remain to be found, especially rare variants. In addition, the scientists added more than 800 copy-number variants to the resource. These reflect differences in the number of copies of specific DNA regions people harbor.
"The generated HapMap provides an important foundation for studies aiming to find genetic variation related to human diseases," says NHGRI Director Dr. Eric D. Green. "It is now routinely used by researchers as a valuable reference tool in our quest to use genomics for improving human health."
Many of the HapMap researchers are also part of the 1000 Genomes Project, an international public-private consortium launched in 2008 to build an even more detailed map of human genetic variation. The scientists are using next-generation DNA sequencing technologies to build a public database with information from the complete genomes of 2,500 people from 27 populations around the world, many of which were studied in the HapMap project. Researchers will be able to use this data to expand their studies of how common and rarer genetic variations contribute to illness.
Related Links:
- Second-Generation Map of Human Genetic Variation:
http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/october2007/10292007variation.htm - International HapMap Project:
CDC (U.S.) - Gynecologic Cancers - Inside Knowledge Campaign update Sept 2010
Inside Knowledge Campaign
CDC, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, established the Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer
campaign to raise awareness of the five main types of gynecologic
cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. (A sixth type
of gynecologic cancer is the very rare fallopian tube cancer.) When
gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment is most effective. It is
important for women to pay attention to their bodies and know what is
normal for them so they can recognize the warning signs of gynecologic
cancers.OHA - Event Details - epatients conference Sept 21st
Note: the conference fees would exclude most patients, epatients or otherwise
Presented by Ontario Hospital Association
| Course name: | e-Patients: Changing the Health Care System in Real-Time |
| Course duration: | September 21, 2010 - September 21, 2010 |
| Location: | Novotel Toronto Centre 45 The Esplanade Toronto, Ontario Canada |
| Course code: | EP380 |
| Download PDF Brochure Register Now |
media: Novel Study Using Reoviruses Against Ovarian Cancer Pushes Forward
Calgary-based Oncolytics Biotech Inc. recently announced that the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) intends to conduct a randomized Phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel versus weekly paclitaxel with REOLYSIN® in patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer (GOG186H).
AACR-SU2C (Stand Up To Cancer) Clinical Trials Finder
Call us toll free: 1-877-769-4829
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) encourage you to use the AACR-SU2C Clinical Trials Finder, a free and confidential cancer clinical trials matching and referral service. You may start your search online (see below).
How we can help?
The Clinical Trials Finder is designed to help you and your doctor quickly identify studies that match your specific diagnosis, stage and treatment history. New trials are added or updated every day, therefore we encourage you to search for new matches every time you have to make a new treatment decision.
Call AACR's Clinical Trials Navigators toll free at 1-877-769-4829.
If you find a match, we will assign a Clinical Trials Navigator to make sure you are successfully connected with the trials and locations that are most appropriate and convenient.
Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday
Independent Expert Reviews of News Stories: Can a new supplement boost immunity, slow aging? (TA-65)
Our Review Summary
The story attempts to provide readers with a summary of the results of an early study of how a "natural" product (TA-65) might alter a the truly natural course of aging. Despite some comments from outside experts, overall the story fails to answer many questions and ultimately presents an overly enthusiastic picture of the product.
Why This Matters:
A product that could stem the aging process would have mass appeal. The telomere story began in the late 1970s, and research has shown that telomere shortening limits the number of times cells can divide and has been shown to be associated with aging in at least animal models.
Independent Expert Reviews of News Stories: Magic mushrooms may ease anxiety of cancer: study
Why This Matters:
A study of 12 people for a disorder that already has effective treatments may not matter at all. While there is always room for better treatments, we are a long way from showing any advantages for this compound.
further reading (per review):
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-09/labr-lbr083010.php
A study of 12 people for a disorder that already has effective treatments may not matter at all. While there is always room for better treatments, we are a long way from showing any advantages for this compound.
further reading (per review):
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-09/labr-lbr083010.php
full free access: 2009 Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer) and endometrial carcinoma -- Journal of Clinical Pathology (note reference to clear cell ovarian cancer)
Abstract
Women with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)/Lynch syndrome have a high risk for endometrial cancer (EC) and frequently present with a gynaecological cancer as their first or sentinel malignancy. Identification of these patients is important given their personal and family risk for synchronous and metachronous tumours. Modalities to detect ECs for the possibility of HNPCC include microsatellite instability assay, immunohistochemistry for DNA mismatch repair proteins, MLH1 promoter hypermethylation assay and mutational analysis of DNA mismatch repair genes. The revised Bethesda guidelines provide screening criteria for HNPCC in colorectal cancers (CRCs). However, there are currently no such screening recommendations for women with endometrial carcinoma. While age and family history are useful screening criteria, their sensitivity has been shown to be low for detection of HNPCC in EC. Expansion of these criteria to include tumour morphology (presence of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes and tumour heterogeneity including dedifferentiated/undifferentiated ECs) and topography (lower uterine segment localisation) as well as presence of synchronous ovarian clear cell carcinomas may significantly enhance the detection of patients with EC at risk for HNPCC. Consideration should be given to incorporating these screening criteria into a revision of the Bethesda guidelines for detecting EC patients at highest risk for HNPCC.
Summary-Overcoming platinum resistance in ovarian carcinoma
Areas covered in this review:
A systematic literature review of clinical studies published between January 2005 and March 2010 was conducted using search engines, PubMed and MEDLINE with the entry keywords ‘ovarian cancer’ and ‘platinum resistance’. This search revealed 40 clinical trials (1793 patients).
Take home message:
Analysis of recent clinical trials showed that gemcitabine-based combination chemotherapy was associated with the highest antitumor effects in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients during the study period.
Summary- Clinical burden of venous thromboembolism
Conclusions:
Even among high-risk groups it is not possible to identify individuals who will go on to develop VTE, and, therefore, thromboprophylaxis is a recommended component of the management of high-risk patients. Ensuring patients receive safe, effective, easily administered antithrombotic therapy both in hospital and post-discharge, for a sufficient length of time, should be central to any strategy to reduce incident or recurrent VTE and minimise the risk of long-term complications.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Search of: ovarian cancer | Open Studies | received from 08/01/2010 to 09/11/2010 - List Results - ClinicalTrials.gov
| Found 16 studies with search of: | ovarian cancer | Open Studies | received from 08/01/2010 to 09/11/2010 |
| Rank | Status | Study | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not yet recruiting | Short Non-coding RNA Biomarkers of Predisposition to Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 2 | Recruiting | Consolidation Whole Abdominal Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 3 | Recruiting | Trial of High Dose Topotecan With Carboplatin in Patients With Relapsed Ovarian Carcinoma
| ||||
| 4 | Not yet recruiting | RO4929097 in Treating Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
| ||||
| 5 | Recruiting | Maintenance Treatment for Ovarian Carcinoma in Remission by an Antiangiogenic Treatment Strategy
| ||||
| 6 | Not yet recruiting | Vinorelbine and Gemcitabine Combination In Platinum Resistant Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 7 | Not yet recruiting | Saracatinib and Paclitaxel in Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 8 | Not yet recruiting | Temsirolimus, Carboplatin, and Paclitaxel as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Stage III or Stage IV Clear Cell Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 9 | Not yet recruiting | Changes in Performance Status and Symptom Distress in Older Patients With Advanced Ovarian Epithelial Cancer Undergoing Surgery and/or Chemotherapy
| ||||
| 10 | Not yet recruiting | Early Detection of Cancers in Low Resource Countries
| ||||
| 11 | Not yet recruiting | Paclitaxel With or Without Viral Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
| ||||
| 12 | Not yet recruiting | Carboplatin and Pralatrexate in Patients With Recurrent Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian, Fallopian or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
| ||||
| 13 | Recruiting | A Controlled Study of Quality of Life and it's Related Factors Among Gynecological Cancer Survivors
| ||||
| 14 | Recruiting | A Phase I Study of MGAH22 in Patients With Refractory HER2 Positive Cancers
| ||||
| 15 | Recruiting | Predictors of Ovarian Insufficiency in Young Breast Cancer Patients
| ||||
| 16 | Recruiting | Analysis of Two Therapeutic With Cetrotide® in PolyCystic Ovarian (PCO) Women in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
|
Search of: ovarian cancer | Open Studies | received from 08/01/2010 to 09/11/2010 - List Results - ClinicalTrials.gov
| Found 16 studies with search of: | ovarian cancer | Open Studies | received from 08/01/2010 to 09/11/2010 |
| Rank | Status | Study | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not yet recruiting | Short Non-coding RNA Biomarkers of Predisposition to Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 2 | Recruiting | Consolidation Whole Abdominal Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 3 | Recruiting | Trial of High Dose Topotecan With Carboplatin in Patients With Relapsed Ovarian Carcinoma
| ||||
| 4 | Not yet recruiting | RO4929097 in Treating Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
| ||||
| 5 | Recruiting | Maintenance Treatment for Ovarian Carcinoma in Remission by an Antiangiogenic Treatment Strategy
| ||||
| 6 | Not yet recruiting | Vinorelbine and Gemcitabine Combination In Platinum Resistant Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 7 | Not yet recruiting | Saracatinib and Paclitaxel in Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 8 | Not yet recruiting | Temsirolimus, Carboplatin, and Paclitaxel as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Stage III or Stage IV Clear Cell Ovarian Cancer
| ||||
| 9 | Not yet recruiting | Changes in Performance Status and Symptom Distress in Older Patients With Advanced Ovarian Epithelial Cancer Undergoing Surgery and/or Chemotherapy
| ||||
| 10 | Not yet recruiting | Early Detection of Cancers in Low Resource Countries
| ||||
| 11 | Not yet recruiting | Paclitaxel With or Without Viral Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
| ||||
| 12 | Not yet recruiting | Carboplatin and Pralatrexate in Patients With Recurrent Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian, Fallopian or Primary Peritoneal Cancer
| ||||
| 13 | Recruiting | A Controlled Study of Quality of Life and it's Related Factors Among Gynecological Cancer Survivors
| ||||
| 14 | Recruiting | A Phase I Study of MGAH22 in Patients With Refractory HER2 Positive Cancers
| ||||
| 15 | Recruiting | Predictors of Ovarian Insufficiency in Young Breast Cancer Patients
| ||||
| 16 | Recruiting | Analysis of Two Therapeutic With Cetrotide® in PolyCystic Ovarian (PCO) Women in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
|
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved - Strength and Courage: The Development of a Native American Cancer Survivor Archive
Note: pay-per-view ($$)
Abstract:
This report describes the first Native American cancer survivor archive and lessons learned from its development. Unusual not only in its holdings, this archive project is distinct as it is led by researchers and community health advocates without professional archival development training.
Cochrane Collaboration review: Interventions for the treatment of borderline ovarian tumours
Plain language summary
Interventions for the treatment of borderline ovarian tumours
Women with borderline (low malignant potential) ovarian tumours do very well after surgery and recurrences may be cured by further surgery. The ideal form of initial surgical treatment for borderline ovarian tumours is controversial. Furthermore, it is not known if additional treatment after surgery reduces the risk of re-appearance of tumours or of death.
In this review, we found six trials which enrolled 340 patients who had undergone surgery for borderline ovarian tumours. These trials compared the number of deaths among women who had various forms of treatment or no additional treatment after surgery. In five of the trials, the women had tumours confined to the ovaries and most were followed up for over 10 years. Only one trial enrolled women with tumours that had spread beyond the ovary, and this trial followed patients up for less than three years, which is not long enough to detect any difference between groups receiving different treatments. None of the trials found any demonstrable benefit from any of the additional forms of treatment. However, all six trials were conducted over 15 years ago and since then platinum-based chemotherapy has become widely used to treat advanced ovarian cancer. However, only one of the trials in our review assessed this more modern type of chemotherapy. Further trials of platinum-based chemotherapy and of less toxic treatments are needed, looking at the benefit of reducing the anxiety and distress of further surgery and treatment for relapse.
One further trial, which recruited 32 women who had borderline ovarian tumours in both ovaries, compared conservative surgery (taking away the most diseased ovary and removing the tumour from the other ovary) with ultra-conservative surgery (removing the tumours without taking away either ovary). Nearly all the women who had ultra-conservative surgery became pregnant compared with half of those who had conservative surgery. Although about two thirds of the women in the trial developed similar tumours again, most women got pregnant before the disease recurred, all had their recurrences treated by further surgery, none developed invasive ovarian cancer nor died of their tumour. This small study suggests that ultra-conservative surgery by an experienced surgeon with careful follow up for recurrence may be recommended for women with bilateral borderline ovarian tumours who still intend to have children but, ideally, this approach should be evaluated in other independent trials. Despite rigorous searches, we did not find any trial directly comparing conservative surgery with radical surgery (surgery to remove all of the female reproductive organs) or comparing keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) with open surgery (laparotomy) for women with borderline ovarian tumours.
Targeting a common collaborator in cancer development - P13K inhibitor (short abstract)
Abstract
In this issue of Science Translational Medicine, Wallin et al. have identified a subset of breast and ovarian cancer cell lines that show synergistic response to the combination of doxorubicin and GDC-0941, a class IA phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor. Here, we discuss the potential implications of these data on the clinical development of PI3K pathway inhibitors as cancer therapeutics.
New Strategies in Ovarian Cancer: Uptake and experience of women at high risk of ovarian cancer who are considering risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy
Abstract
This paper reviews factors associated with uptake of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy by women at increased hereditary risk for ovarian cancer, as well as quality of life issues following surgery. Forty one research studies identified through PubMed and PsychInfo met inclusion criteria. Older age, having had children, a family history of ovarian cancer, a personal history of breast cancer, prophylactic mastectomy, and BRCA1/2 mutation carrier status increase the likelihood of undergoing surgery. Psychosocial variables predictive of surgery uptake include greater perceived risk of ovarian cancer and cancer-related anxiety. Most women report satisfaction with their decision to undergo surgery and both lower perceived ovarian cancer risk and less cancer-related anxiety as benefits. Hormonal deprivation is the main disadvantage reported, particularly by premenopausal women who are not on hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). The evidence is mixed regarding satisfaction with the level of information provided prior to surgery, although generally women report receiving insufficient information regarding the pros and cons of HRT. These findings indicate that when designing decision aids, demographic, medical history, and psychosocial variables need to be addressed in order to facilitate quality decision making.
Genetic profiles distinguish different types of hereditary ovarian cancer
Abstract:
Heredity represents the strongest risk factor for ovarian cancer with disease predisposing mutations identified in 15% of the tumors. With the aim to identify genetic classifiers for hereditary ovarian cancer, we profiled hereditary ovarian cancers linked to the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome and the hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) (Lynch Syndrome) syndrome. Genome-wide array comparative genomic hybridization was applied to 12 HBOC associated tumors with BRCA1 mutations and 8 HNPCC associated tumors with mismatch repair gene mutations with 24 sporadic ovarian cancers as a control group. Unsupervised cluster analysis identified two distinct subgroups related to genetic complexity. Sporadic and HBOC associated tumors had complex genetic profiles with an average 41% of the genome altered, whereas the mismatch repair defective tumors had stable genetic profiles, with an average 18% of the genome altered. Losses of 4q34, 13q12-q32 and 19p13 were overrepresented in the HBOC subset. Discriminating genes within these regions include BRCA2, FOXO1A and RB1. Gains on chromosomes 17 and 19 characterized the HNPCC tumors, but target genes herein are unknown.
The results indicate that HBOC and HNPCC associated ovarian cancer develop along distinct genetic pathways and genetic profiles can thus be applied to distinguish between different types of hereditary ovarian cancer.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
UK Study Revives Theory That Osteoporosis Drugs Cause Esophageal Cancer - OncologySTAT
"A peer-reviewed study based on a massive British database has linked long-term use of oral bisphosphonate drugs to a higher risk of esophageal cancer, contrary to a separate study of the same database released a few weeks ago that found no evidence of increased risk. The competing conclusions have reopened the debate about a class-wide cancer risk, and a label change for the popular osteoporosis agents could be on the table..." cont'd
Medical News: Palliative Care Training Program Ineffective - in Geriatrics, Pain Management from MedPage Today
The primary outcome was family satisfaction with the death of the loved one and secondary outcomes included nurse satisfaction with the care, time in ICU before death, and time to withdrawal of ventilation.
But, the researchers found, there was no effect:
- Family satisfaction was not significantly different, either between active and control hospitals or before and after the training program within each institution.
- Nurse satisfaction did not differ in either case.
- Days in the ICU before death increased slightly in the active hospitals, but did not reach significance (at P=0.07).
- Time to withdrawal of mechanical ventilation, when it was used, did not change.
End of life 'quality' index | Open Medicine Blog The Quality of Death: Ranking end-of-life care across the world 2010 The Economist Intelligence Unit
"....Advancements in healthcare have been responsible for the most significant quality-of-life gains in the recent past: that humans are (on average) living longer, and more healthily than ever, is well established. But “quality of death” is another matter. Death, although inevitable, is distressing to contemplate and in many cultures is taboo......Few nations, including rich ones with cutting-edge healthcare systems, incorporate palliative care strategies into their overall healthcare policy—despite the fact that in many of these countries, increasing longevity and ageing populations mean demand for end-of-life care is likely to rise sharply. Globally, training for palliative care is rarely included in healthcare education curricula. Institutions that specialise in giving palliative and end-of-life care are often not part of national healthcare systems, and many rely on volunteer or charitable status...."cont'd
Treating the Whole Patient Blog: Antidepressant Pretreatment and Chemotherapy > CMELLC - Life Long Learning > Treating the Whole Patient
Question:
"In cancer treatment, should patients undergoing chemotherapy be premedicated with anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants (with or without symptoms of anxiety or depression) to help them feel more responsive to chemotherapy by reducing inflammation in the body? Discuss the pros and cons of this idea."...cont'd
GAPP KB|GAPP Finder - Mutation detection in BRCA 1/2 resources/info
| Last data update: Sep-10-2010. (Total 204 GAPPs) | ||||
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| GAPP Finder | ||||
| Data collected since October 2009 |
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Risk prediction Frequent Mutations of Chromatin Remodeling Gene ARID1A in Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma (note: 2nd study)
Note: this is a second study regarding clear cell ovarian cancer/ARID1A
"The nature and pattern of the mutations suggest that PPP2R1A functions as an oncogene and ARID1A as a tumor suppressor gene. In a total of 42 OCCCs, 7% had mutations in PPP2R1A and 57% had mutations in ARID1A. These results suggest that aberrant chromatin remodeling contributes to the pathogenesis of OCCC."
FDA alert: Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents: Class Labeling Change - Risk of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
RECOMMENDATION: Healthcare professionals should screen patients prior to administration of a GBCA to identify those with acute kidney injury or chronic, severe, kidney disease. See the Drug Safety Communication for the complete list of recommendations to healthcare professionals and patients.
Medical News: Ovarian Cancer Subtype Linked to Gene Mutations (re: clear cell ovarian cancer)
Note: easier to read article
High detection rate of adenomas in familial colorectal cancer - Gut
Conclusion
The yield of colonoscopic surveillance in familial CRC is substantially higher than the yield of screening reported for the general population."
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Is it safe, is it tolerable? Why not ask the patients? - Editorial + NEJM link
"A thought-provoking perspective by oncologist Ethan Basch, published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlighted the absence of any patient input into establishing a drug’s safety. This might seem surprising, given that distressing symptoms – which patients are best placed to report on – account for a large number of drug-related side-effects....cont'd
NEJM:
The Missing Voice of Patients in Drug-Safety Reporting, by Ethan Basch, can be accessed at http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/362/10/865.pdf
media - Ovarian cancer researchers request practice changes to protect against ovarian cancer: deaths could be reduced 50 percent over 20 years
"They are asking all BC gynecologists to change surgical practice to fully remove the fallopian tube when performing hysterectomy or tubal ligation. Current practice leaves the fallopian tube in place for many types of hysterectomy and tubal ligation. This is a matter of convention, not need."
Fallopian tube removal cuts ovarian cancer risk - Yahoo! Canada News
"...But Dr. Sarah Finlayson, a gynecological oncologist at Vancouver General, said recent research has shown that at least half of the cases of the deadliest form of ovarian cancer originate in the fallopian tubes — not the ovaries.
That malignancy, called a high-grade serous tumour, represents about 70 per cent of all ovarian cancers. And because there is no screening test and symptoms can be non-existent or vague, diagnosis too often occurs once the cancer is at an advanced stage and has spread to other tissues.
"Something that we had thought of in the past as an ovarian cancer is really, in fact, a fallopian tube cancer," said Finlayson. "Removing the fallopian tube becomes a way of preventing these cancers."...cont'd
Don Berwick is a patient centric, consumer oriented radical | KevinMD.com - U.S.
".....If Berwick’s opponents just took a minute to read what the guy really stands for, they’d discover he’s pretty much aligned with many ‘conservative’ principles – self responsibility, ownership, consumer-centered policies and practices.
Unfortunately, they just don’t care about who Berwick really is – they’ve decided he’s the stick they’re going to use to beat this Administration, regardless of whether he’s good, bad, or indifferent..........."
Caregiver Consultation 2010 Survey - Alberta Caregivers Association (see definition of 'caregiver')
The Alberta Caregivers Association is conducting a survey of caregivers throughout Alberta to learn about the issues they face. The main focus of the survey will be to capture the real experiences of caregivers so we can better understand the various challenges, barriers, and problems that exist from their points of view.
You can participate in the survey as a caregiver, a professional/service provider, a group of caregivers, or a member of the general public.
Before you begin the survey we need to know who you are responding as:
A caregiver is defined as a family member or friend who provides unpaid care for a loved one. This can be for someone in your home, in their own home, in an assisted living facility, in a group home, in a retirement community or otherwise. Common care tasks could include helping with chores, managing finances, arranging services or just visiting to see how they doing.
An example of a group of caregivers is a caregiver support group offered by an organization.
A professional or service provider is anyone who is paid to work with caregivers and/or the people who need caregiving.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Making strides in ovarian cancer research « BC Cancer Foundation's Blog - re: clear cell ovarian cancer/endometriosis
"We were able to show that ARID1A mutated in close to 50 per cent of clear cell carcinomas of the ovary and in a slightly fewer number of the related endometrioid carcinomas.
When we studied in detail two cases where there was endometriosis attached to the tumour, we found that the mutation was present even before the cells in endometriosis looked like cancer cells. This suggests that ARID1A mutations are a very early event and likely critical to the transformation of a non-cancerous disease into cancer.
We are fully confident that this discovery marks the start of finding real treatments for clear cell carcinoma – but there is still a lot of work to do in the future...."
2 Genes Have Possible Link to Deadly Ovarian Cancer - clear cell ovarian cancer
"Mutations in two genes may be associated with one of the most deadly types of ovarian cancer, U.S. researchers have found.
In the study, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center looked for mutations in 18,000 protein-encoding genes in ovarian clear cell tumors from eight patients. The investigators found 268 mutations in 253 genes, with an average of 20 mutations per tumor......Further investigation revealed that two genes -- ARID1A and PPP2R1A -- were more commonly mutated than other genes..ARID1A is a gene whose product normally suppresses tumors. PPP2R1A is a gene that, when altered, helps turn normal cells into tumor cells. The genes had not previously been linked to ovarian cancer, the researchers explained in a news release from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center....."cont'd
Host Factors and Cancer Progression: Biobehavioral Signaling Pathways and Interventions — JCO
Abstract
Whereas evidence for the role of psychosocial factors in cancer initiation has been equivocal, support continues to grow for links between psychological factors such as stress, depression, and social isolation and progression of cancer. In vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies show that stress- related processes can impact pathways implicated in cancer progression, including immuno-regulation, angiogenesis, and invasion. Contributions of systemic factors, such as stress hormones to the crosstalk between tumor and stromal cells, appear to be critical in modulating downstream signaling pathways with important implications for disease progression. Inflammatory pathways may also be implicated in fatigue and other factors related to quality of life. Although substantial evidence supports a positive effect of psychosocial interventions on quality of life in cancer, the clinical evidence for efficacy of stress-modulating psychosocial interventions in slowing cancer progression remains inconclusive, and the biobehavioral mechanisms that might explain such effects are still being established. This article reviews research findings to date and outlines future avenues of research in this area.
Role of Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Aspirin Use in Cancer Survivors — JCO
Note: a recent study indicated a beneficial effect of aspirin use in Lynch Syndrome patients but not in colon cancer patients (those w/o a mutation), search blog for further information on this specific issue "The potential beneficial or adverse effects of dietary supplements and aspirin in survivors of cancer warrant further study."
Weight, Physical Activity, Diet, and Prognosis in Breast and Gynecologic Cancers — JCO
Abstract
Diet, physical activity, and weight may affect prognosis among women who are diagnosed with breast or gynecologic cancer. Observational studies show associations between being overweight or obese and weight gain with several measures of reduced prognosis in women with breast cancer and some suggestion of poor prognosis in underweight women. Observational studies have shown an association between higher levels of physical activity and improved breast cancer–specific and all-cause mortality, although a dose-response relationship has not been established. One large randomized controlled trial reported increased disease-free survival after a mean of 5 years in patients with breast cancer randomly assigned to a low-fat diet versus control. However, another trial of similar size found no effect from a high vegetable/fruit, low-fat diet on breast cancer prognosis. The few reported studies suggest that obesity negatively affects endometrial cancer survival, while the limited data are mixed for associations of weight with ovarian cancer prognosis. Insufficient data exist for assessing associations of weight, physical activity, or diet with prognosis in other gynecologic cancers. Associations of particular micronutrient intake and alcohol use with prognosis are not defined for any of these cancers. The effects of dietary weight loss and increase in physical activity on survival or recurrence in breast and gynecologic cancers are not yet established, and randomized controlled trials are needed for definitive data.
Time Course of Risk Factors in Cancer Etiology and Progression — JCO
Blogger's Note: in the absence of the full paper, 'may' is not definitive
Abstract
Patients with cancer increasingly ask what they can do to change their lifestyles and improve outcomes. Risk factors for onset of cancer may differ substantially from those that modify survival with implications for counseling. This review focuses on recent data derived from population-based studies of causes of cancer and of patients with cancer to contrast risk factors for etiology with those that impact survival. For different cancer sites, the level of information to inform the timing of lifestyle exposures and risk of disease onset or progression after diagnosis is often limited. For breast cancer, timing of some exposures, such as radiation, is particularly important. For other exposures, such as physical activity, higher levels may prevent onset and also improve survival. For colon cancer, study of precursor polyps has provided additional insight to timing. Extensive data indicate that physical activity reduces risk of colon cancer, and more limited data suggest that exposure after diagnosis improves survival. Dietary factors including folate and calcium may also reduce risk of onset. More limited data on prostate cancer point to obesity increasing risk of aggressive or advanced disease. Timing of change in lifestyle for change in risk of onset and for survival is important but understudied among patients with cancer. Counseling patients with cancer to increase physical activity and avoid weight gain may improve outcomes. Advice to family members on lifestyle may become increasingly important for breast and other cancers where family history is a strong risk factor.
Germline Genetic Variation, Cancer Outcome, and Pharmacogenetics — JCO
Abstract
"Studies of the role of germline or inherited genetic variation on cancer outcome can fall into three distinct categories. First, the impact of highly penetrant but lowly prevalent mutations of germline DNA on cancer prognosis has been studied extensively for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations as well as mutations related to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome (Lynch Syndrome). ...."cont'd
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