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Cancer

Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) Announces New Program in Cancer Fight

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The VA, Washington University, and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) have joined to initiate a new Radiation Oncology Practice Assessment (ROPA) program. For the first time, radiation oncologists will be provided continuous feedback on the headway made in cancer therapy through new and innovative information technology techniques.

There are three major treatments for cancer: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Approximately 60 percent of patients undergo radiation. This program plans to use the information gathered to improve cancer treatment for our Veterans who comprise a large portion of cancer victims. The first year will concentrate on the review of treatments for prostate and lung cancers, including mesothelioma.

Bruce D. Minsky, MD, FASTRO, chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors, stated, “ASTRO is deeply committed to improving the quality of cancer care for our Veterans and all Americans. Our cancer experts are enthusiastic about this new opportunity to better measure and enhance radiation delivery with the goal of producing high quality patient outcomes.”

With this assessment, a more complete determination of a patient’s therapy and their response to it can be provided to the oncologist. The goal is the ability to more closely pinpoint therapies that succeed in the fight against cancer.

On the Path to Conquering Drug-Resistant Lung Cancer Cells

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Katherine Amato, Ph.D., Jin Chen, MD, Ph.D, and other colleagues published a paper in Cancer Research on a study of ways to circumvent the mutation leading to multiplication of cancer cells in the lungs. These lung cancers include those caused by asbestos exposure, such as mesothelioma.

It is known that many cancer cells have a protein on the surface, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), that binds to the cell and often mutates, creating division and multiplication of the cancer cells. This paper reported that there are EGFR therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) which can fight cancer cells, but all patients soon develop resistance and the TKIs are no longer effective. It was discovered that EPHA2, a signaling protein in EGFR, is overactive, producing uncontrolled cell division.

This study indicates that targeting EPHA2 with a small-molecule inhibitor may produce a therapeutic answer to TKI-resistant tumors, possibly leading to successful treatments.

Analysis of Mesothelioma Tumors Provides New Information

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Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, usually in the lungs and almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Recently, a wide-ranging sample of 216 malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) tumors identified genetic mutations previously unknown. A number of these mutations may be available for diagnosis and treatment immediately. Investigators from the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Young Women’s Hospital of Boston and researchers from Genentech performed this analysis.

Raphel Bueno, MD, a Brigham and Young researcher, said, “This is by far the largest and most comprehensive genetic analysis of this cancer, and it pretty much establishes what genetic mutations exist in mesothelioma. Some were previously known, but some were not.”

With this comprehensive genomic analysis, mesothelioma mutations were identified that current drugs can target. This finding alone could change the methods of treatment, even if only for a small percentage of mesothelioma tumors, but there are other significant findings as well.

The researchers also discovered that the mutational signature for mesothelioma most closely resembles that of ovarian cancer as both originate from the mesoderm. A third finding showed almost one-third of mesothelioma tumors have gene fusions identifiable at the RNA level – a fact previously unknown. Dr. Bueno stated, “This is important because, down the line, if we can find these in blood, this may prove to be a novel way to screen for mesothelioma.”

“These [overall] results substantially expand on previous genomic studies and provide a comprehensive genomics profile of mesothelioma,” the researchers wrote. “Incorporating genomic analysis for the detection of actionable alterations as part of MPM patient care will help in developing rational individualized therapy.” Dr. Bueno said,”The thinking has been that there is no point in sequencing mesothelioma clinically like we now sequence patients with other cancers because there are no target therapies. I believe mesothelioma patients should be sequenced. Even if only 2% or 3% or 4% have actionable mutations, we may be able to significantly improve survival in these patients.”

This is encouraging news.

Talcum Powder a Carcinogen?

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Johnson & Johnson was handed a jury verdict for $72 million this week in the case of a woman who died from ovarian cancer. She, and dozens of others, sued the company in the St. Louis Circuit Court in a case alleging that use of talcum powder, also known as baby powder, increases the risk of ovarian cancer.

Is talcum powder a carcinogen?

Up to approximately 1980, asbestos contaminated talc was commonly used in talcum powders. Modern day powders often are no longer talc based. However, asbestos diseases have a 30 to 40 year or longer latency period. Accordingly, women or children who frequently used talcum powders 30, 40 or 50 years ago could be at an increased risk for the development of certain asbestos related diseases.

Whether talc should be among the minerals commonly described as “asbestos” has been a point of contention going back to at least the early 1970s.

2016 World Cancer Day and Asbestos Exposure

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The first World Cancer Day was adopted on February 4, 2000 at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. It was decided that February 4 would be a day to address and enlighten the world each year about the need for continual progress to eradicate cancer. The mission of this endeavor covered five areas: research for a cure, research for prevention, an upgrade of services to patients, interest of popular opinion, and mobilization worldwide in the fight against cancer.

“Preventing millions of unnecessary deaths and suffering from cancer is not outside of the world’s scientific or financial capabilities,” said Dr Cary Adams, Chief Executive Officer, UICC.

“We Can. I Can.”
This is the theme of World Cancer Day. More than eight million people throughout the world will die from cancer this year. Occupational and environmental exposures – including to asbestos – contribute substantially to cancer globally. Approximately 125 million people around the world are exposed to asbestos in their work. This can lead to over 100,000 deaths from cancer annually. The World Cancer Day promotes involvement of countries and individuals to work diligently for the elimination of asbestos use. Every action has an impact.

As with many endeavors, this starts with changes within ourselves. More than a third of cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes: stop smoking, eat less red and processed meat, exercise regularly, and reduce alcohol use. These make up the first line of defense against cancers as a healthy body is more likely to successfully fight disease.

The world needs to see, and experience, that “we can, I can” get involved and make a difference in the fight against cancer.

Take a moment today to post or tweet on social media about this important day. World Cancer Day is the single initiative under which the world can unite to raise the profile of cancer in a positive and inspiring way.

#WorldCancerDay   #WeCanICan   Visit: www.worldcancerday.org

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