News
Abnormal collagen provides ‘invisibility cloak’ in pancreatic cancer offering new therapeutic targets
Cancer cells produce an atypical collagen in pancreatic cancer creating an extracellular matrix that influences the tumour microbiome to protect against immune responses. The study, published in Cancer Cell, July 21, suggests that such abnormal collagen could provide a new…
Study paves way for better checkpoint inhibitor response prognostication
Use of whole exome sequencing improves prediction of response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). The study, published in Nature Communications, 8 July, shows incorporation of the CIRCLE tool, including new genes and pathways identified from whole exome sequencing, leads to…
Pancreatic cancer patients diagnosed early through screening achieve long-term survival
The majority of high-risk patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) while enrolled in a screening programme have stage I disease and can achieve long-term survival. The study, published in Journal of Clinical Oncology (June 15), found that in the…
Study defines increased risk of cardiovascular disease among cancer survivors
Adult survivors of cancer have a 37% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) than people without cancer. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, July 5 issue, found cancer survivors had a 52% higher…
Circulating tumour DNA provides early warning of metastatic breast cancer
In high-risk hormone receptor positive breast cancer circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) was identified a median of one year before distant metastasis. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (4th June, 2022), represents the first prospective investigation of plasma…
Study defines subset of women benefitting from digital breast tomosynthesis
Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) offers an advantage over conventional digital mammography in only a tiny percentage of women, who have extremely dense breasts and a high risk of breast cancer. The cohort study, published in JAMA (June 14), found no…
It’s a CIN: bringing order to the chaos of cancer chromosome instability
A new framework has been developed for interpreting complex genetic change patterns seen in cancer chromosomal instability (CIN). The computational analysis study, published in Nature (online 15 June), identifies 17 separate ‘signatures’ across 33 cancer types that could eventually be…
Antibody-drug conjugates make their mark at ASCO
Reports of the results of two antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), one for HER-low metastatic breast cancer, the other for metastatic lung cancer resistant to EGFR inhibitors, highlight the advances being made in this type of treatment. The DESTINY-Breast04 study, presented at…
Study shines new light on breast cancer’s sweet tooth
Breast cancer cells impair the function of pancreatic islets to make them produce less insulin than required, resulting in higher blood glucose levels in breast cancer patients compared to women without cancer. The study, published in Nature Cell Biology (30th…
US study suggests colorectal cancer screening should start at age 45
Screening women below the age of 50 for colorectal cancer (CRC) can significantly reduce their risk in comparison to those who have no endoscopic screening or who initiate testing at age 50. The study in JAMA Oncology, published online 5…