Novel Cancer Therapy Uses “Gene Silencing” to Stop Tumor Growth

The article reviews recent progress in cancer therapies that target RNA, not just DNA or proteins, as a way to treat tumors. It explains that instead of relying only on traditional drugs or immunotherapies, scientists are now using RNA-based strategies (like siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, mRNA, etc.) to directly influence gene expression within cancer cells. Because many cancers involve mutations or dysregulation of multiple genes, RNA therapies are especially promising: they can target multiple genes or pathways simultaneously, including some that are “undruggable” by conventional small-molecule drugs. The authors argue that combining RNA-targeted therapy with advanced delivery systems gives a powerful new route toward more precise, effective cancer treatment.

Link: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbic.202300633

Scientists have developed a therapy that uses RNA interference (RNAi) to silence genes that tumors need to survive. By shutting down specific cancer-promoting genes, the tumor cells stop dividing and eventually die. This technology is exciting because it targets cancer at the genetic level, meaning treatments could become more precise with fewer side effects. This shows how understanding gene regulation directly contributes to new medical treatments and personalized medicine.
    

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrc1799

72 New Genetic Mutations Linked to Breast Cancer

In an article written in CNN Health, 72 new genetic mutations have been linked to breast cancer, with 7 of them predisposing women to a specific type of breast cancer that does not respond to hormonal therapies such as the drug Tamoxifen. This breakthrough brings the new total count of genetic variants linked to breast cancer to nearly 180. This research, which was done in conjunction with nearly 300 institutions around the world and over 550 researchers, almost doubled the amount of identifiable genetics markers towards predicting breast cancer in women.

This new information is incredibly valuable in testing for risk factors for cancers like breast cancer, and will be used in getting women screened. Early detection and treatment is crucial in cancer treatments, and being able to tell women they are at risk for developing breast cancer is vital in making sure they receive screenings and cancers can be treated early on in their development. This is an exciting breakthrough in cancer research, I cant wait to see how it plays out in the long run at reducing cancer rates.

Why is Elephant Cancer Rare? Answer Might Help Treat Humans

On Thursday, October 8, 2015 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, new studies were published about a cancer suppressing gene found in elephants and many other species.  Dr. Schiffman, a pediatric cancer specialist at the University of Utah, lead a team of researchers in a dealing with p53, a gene that prevents cancer in elephants as well as humans and other species.  Elephants possess a vast amount of p53 compared to humans and other species smaller than them.  This is because of a condition possessed by elephants called Li-Fraumeni syndrome (a syndrome that increases an elephant’s chance of developing cancer).  This syndrome is also found in other species including humans.  The p53 gene in species possessing it, cause unhealthy cells to self-destruct when affected with radiation or other carcinogens.  Dr. Schiffman’s team made comparisons of the effects of radiation to the cells of elephants, cells form ten healthy humans and ten human patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome.  It was found that cells of the elephants self-destruct at a rate two times faster than that of healthy humans and humans with Li-Fraumeni syndrome.  This is because of the vast amount of copies of the gene that elephants possess.  Humans have only one gene compared to the elephants’ twenty copies.  Although cancer is rare in elephants, it does not mean that it does not exist.  Schiffman’s team found that although elephants sometimes live as long as humans do, only 1 in 20 dies of cancer as opposed to 1 in 4 humans dying from cancer.  

These findings can aid in gene therapy as well as help with the development of new drugs to treat those with cancer.  This could also be a breakthrough to help many with the many different cancers that are inherited from generation to generation. 

To read more click here or here 

Genetics May Help Guide Kids' Cancer Treatment

This article talks about how there are other options out there for children in need of cancer treatment. The approach they took was finding a personalized way of figuring out what is unique about the children's cancer and trying to attack it with drugs. There has been great strides to treating children's cancer from the 1960's until now but it still might not be enough. For example, Leukemia and certain tumors in the nervous system are not yet resolved as they continue to fight all the drugs thrown at them. The recurrence of a child's cancer are very difficult to overcome and the odds of fixing the issue are very low. 

Childhood Cancer is a growing issue in need of attention as doctors still do not have solutions to many major problems.  Dr. John Maris mentioned that the biggest obstacle in the way is that newer drugs may not be safe enough for children as well as having minimal effects on the kids.

A test was done at Mott Children's hospital consisting of 91 kids in which they analyzed each child's genome. 46 percent of the kids had a genetic finding in which they were placed on drugs intended to fight cancer. Only 9 children had partial or complete recoveries which drives the point home on children's medicine. The many drugs out there are not suited or designed for children. A new system must be developed with safer and more efficient drugs that the kids are more likely to respond to.

http://www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201509/MottCancerRsch

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2015/09/01/genetics-may-help-guide-kids-cancer-treatment?page=2

New Research Could Lead Breast/Ovarian Cancer Preventions Away From Surgery

   Two studies have shown the effects of mutations in genes that can result in high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The genes BRCA1 and BRCA 2 are the mutations that serves for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. To date, women with these genes can opt for surgery such as a double mastectomy or have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, many disagree with the surgery option as it is not an ideal solution.
   Prof. Martin Widschwendter, an author of one of the two studies, says they would like to prevent breast cancer and are looking for ways to step forward with research rather than opting for the surgery to prevent cancer.
    Tee ovaries and pituitary gland can also be affected by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA 2 with hormones like progesterone. Hormones like progesterone can control the menstrual cycle to encourage the development of these cancers. In the first study, Prof. Widschwendter learned that women with the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 genes that are mutated have very low osteoprotegerin in their blood, which is known to block the effects of RANKL, a protein triggers breast cancer. Researchers think that a drug that could mirror the effect of OPG, or lessen the effect of progesterone could be a solution to the reduction of breast cancer risk.
  In the second study, Prof. Louis Dubeau and colleagues created a mouse model to simplify the examination of the menstrual cycle on breast and ovarian cancer risk. Prof. Dubeau explained the goal of preventing breast and ovarian cancer in women with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutations via the mouse model.
 The model consisted of mice that carried the mutations like those affecting the BRCA1 gene in humans. They mutations were made to occur in tissues, ovaries, and pituitary glands, where there would be an increased cancer.  This allows the researches to see the mutations effects on the menstrual cycle and the high risk tissue areas as independent variables.
  As a result, the researches came to the conclusion that some forms of ovarian cancer does originate in the tissues outside of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, further proving that removal surgery is no guarantee of cancer prevention.
 For the future, both research teams hope to see improvement in prevention plans and possibly eliminate surgery as an option.
  I think this is a good break through for cancer prevention studies. Surgery is no guarantee and the more we know about cancer formation, the more we can try to prevent it.

For the full article click here.
For more information on breast and ovarian cancer click here.

A Blood Test Could Replace Biopsy for Cancer Diagnosis

Last week, Eric Lim made a presentation at the World Conference on Lung Cancer that could revolutionize the process of cancer diagnosis. By far the most popular and reliable method of testing for cancer has been the use of biopsies. While reliable, biopsies are both invasive and expensive. As of 2014, the average biopsy ran upwards of $14,000. To alleviate some of the issues presented by relying strictly on biopsies for cancer screening, Eric Lim presented a study using blood tests to detect cancer in the body. When cancer cells die, DNA is released into the bloodstream. The current blood test can detect three cancer-specific gene mutations in the blood. Because there are varying gene mutations for each type of cancer, multiple tests will have to be created in order to screen for more types of cancer. As of right now, these blood tests are almost 70% accurate in predicting the presence of cancer cells. Until this percentage is higher, blood tests will not be seen as an alternative to the traditional biopsy.

Considering that patients often have to wait to see a specialist for their biopsy, I think that the use of a  quick blood test to test for cancer cells can be an extraordinary finding. Even though these tests are not able to stand on their own in the scientific community, I can't imagine it being very long before more and more doctors are using this method as a preliminary cancer screening before jumping to more traditional methods.

The original link to this article can be found here.
A related article can be found here.

Worms against cancer.

According to this article, scientists in Wyoming have discovered several genes within nematode worms that they believe could assist in the battle against cancer. David S. Fay, Ph.D. and his colleagues used these worms to study a gene ("LIN-35") that is similar to one found in human cancers ("pRb"). In human cancers, this gene is tumor suppressor protein that is inactive, allowing for the cell growth and spread. While studying the LIN-53 gene in the worms, the researchers deactivated other genes in the genome and found that some were able to reverse the defects caused by the deactivated LIN-53. Because of this, they believe these genes could be used as targets for anti-cancer drugs and therapies. This article also comes with the suggestion of a companion piece as an educational resource for genetic students. 

This seems like a good article to look into, as the studies help in something that has affected everyone in one way or another. By looking at these genes, scientists have another possibility at stopping the cell growth and spreading of cancer. Personally, my grandfather died this last Christmas day due to a long battle with Leukemia and my grandmother died ten years previously, also on Christmas, so I think any possible advancements toward the end of cancer is a good thing.

Genes Found That Detect Breast Cancer Risk

There are many genes that are involved in cancer. Researchers in a paper published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention argue, “Combining the known genetic players in breast cancer can predict with much higher accuracy a newborn girl’s theoretical risk of developing the disease.”

Alice Whittemore, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and her colleagues found 86 genetic variants that have been linked to break cancer. These rare genetic variants include BRCA1 and BRCA2 are proved to be a very high risk of disease. The genetics variants were used to predict breast cancer based on womens’ genetic makeup. Researchers found that genetic variants could account for about 35 percent of future cancer cases.

Whittemore stated, “We took 86 known genetic variants associated with breast cancer, and took what was in the world’s literature about how common those variant are, and by how much a factor they increase risk.” Several new genetic variants have been contributing in developing breast cancer.

Women that have been born with a high genetic risk for breast cancer still can change their risk. It has shown that lifestyle factors are linked to lowering genetic risk. The higher genetic risk, the more it can be reduce with healthy lifestyle choices.

Article: http://time.com/3534200/heres-how-well-your-genes-can-predict-your-breast-cancer-risk/

California Hospital Explores Genetics-Aided Cancer Treatment

The University of California San Francisco Medical Center is researching how to use genetic information from cancer patients to improve treatment options.
There has been an increasing focus on using genomics in cancer care. Working with start-up company Synapse, UCSF hopes to create a database of genetic and medical information that experts will be able to analyze. The goal is to make this part of routine cancer care.

Discovering new types of patient-specific therapy would eliminate the one-size-fits-all treatments of the past. The results of this could bring about more effective treatments with fewer side effects and improve quality of life for individuals with cancer, like this article points out.
Oncologists will now have more options for patients who do not respond well to traditional treatments. Genetic testing will offer other paths that could be more effective in conquering cancer.

I think that articles like this offer a lot of hope that cancer will be at least manageable, if not cured. The article linked in the text mentions treating cancer as a chronic disease which, while not ideal, means that it is not always terminal. The article also mentioned the possibility of eliminating chemotherapy entirely, which would be a huge step in cancer care. This is amazing news, knowing that the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy could be avoided and that better treatments would buy patients significant, quality time.
Overall, the use of genomics in this way seems promising in finding a cure down the road and helping patients live better and longer in the mean time.

Article:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/05/us-healthcare-tech-cancer-idUSKBN0IP2EC20141105

Finding Clues in Genes of 'Exceptional Responders'

        Grace Silva pictured above of Dartmouth, Massachusetts was diagnosed in 2010 with anaplastic thyroid cancer following symptoms of a swollen neck and throat at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Most patients die within months of finding out they have this type of cancer. Her doctor attempted to treat her with antibiotics but was not successful. Her thyroid gland was removed along with the tumor, and after chemotherapy and radiation treatments the cancer kept coming back. Dana-Farber Institute began studying a drug called everolimus in thyroid cancer due to studies of success in labs with mice. This drug was successful with Mrs. Silva, shrinking her tumors and disappearing for about a year and a half. 

       Researchers sequenced her tumor's genes, finding a mutation that made her cancer dependent on mTOR, and everolimus is able to oppress the production of that protein. Her tumors did begin to grow again and a second genetic analysis found a second mutation in the mTOR gene was allowing the cancer evade the drug and grow. Mrs. Silva is now receiving an experimental drug to take over the mutation's effect and stop cancer growth. Researchers can now just look for that mutation to help other patients because it is seen in hundred of other cancer types. 

      Cancer doctors are using 'exceptional responders' by testing them with a drug a doctor truly feels could work without really knowing if it will and in some cases this person responds positively. Studies are now being done to do this with gene sequencing. In one study at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center a woman was treated with everolimus with bladder cancer. Her cancer was spreading rapidly and was told she had about a year to live. This drug caused her tumors to vanish. A variety of studies have been done to find these responders, which opens many doors for curing cancer.  

    This article really intrigued me, considering cancer is among a large portion of humans in the United States alone. A relative of a good friend of mine has just recently been diagnosed with liver cancer and my heart sank. I believe it is so important that research is done to help these victims and stop them from suffering. This may not be the cure for all cancer, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/09/health/in-genes-of-exceptional-responders-clues-to-fighting-disease.html?ref=science

Related Article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2482/13/S2/S44

Scientist Use Worms to Unearth Cancer Drug Targets

Scientist in Wyoming are doing experiments involving small nematodes worms. They are discovering several genes that may be potential targerts for drug development against cancer. Researchers hypothesize the inhibting these genes could reverse cetain traits associated with cancer. Dr. David Fay (Ph.D) in the Molecular Biology Department says that cancer is the leadiong cause of death worldwide. The plan of this gene is to cure or treat many types of cancer. The gene is called LIN-35 (in worms) that is a strain found in nematode worms that carried a mutational gene that is similar to the one inactivited in humans. In humans the gene is called pRb and this gene is to control tumor progression including cancer cell growth and survival.  Mark Johnston Ph.D and Chief Editor in Genetics says this research is so important to shut down genetic machinary that contributes to cancer growth and progression.

I think that this would be awesome if they could find a cure for cancer by using worms. Worms are cheap, and having a quick generation cycle if more worms were needed to produce the gene into medicine. Hopefully since this would be lower in cost efficent that once realeased on the market, the product won't be ridiculously expensive.

Sleeping Beauty Helps Cancer Investigation

In a recent article, doctors from Cancer Research-UK Cambridge Research Institute, have produced a new study to identify how groups of genes form colorectal cancer.  A gene now known as the " Sleeping Beauty" gene was used within this new study; which profiled the specific genes that produce colorectal cancer.  This type of cancer is found withing polyps that develop within the gut known as Tubulovillis adenoma.  During this study, mice were tested by screening them for cancer genes withing comparison to data of human tumours. While undergoing tests, these scientists were able to identify two hundred more genes that can cause cancer which will uncover a huge piece of this puzzle.  Although cancer is mainly caused due to corrupted genes, this study can positively help out with with the trace of pathways to colorectal cancer by treating it in its earlier stages, saving many more lives.

The Genetics of Smoking

It is a well known fact that the carcinogenic properties of tobacco products can lead to lung cancer; however, genetic researchers are now suggesting a gene related to the tendency to smoke. Researchers at Icelandic deCODE say that portions of chromosome fifteen have certain SNPs, or single nucleotide polymorphisms, that attract the nicotine molecule. The researchers conducted a study of 13,945 smokers from Iceland and concluded that all of the severe smokers had a base pair involving a T in this loci, a correlation between a gene and smoking. In addition it was also found that having a T was popular amongst those who had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Although a relationship was found between the T variation and the likelihood of smoking, the researchers stated that it is not a precise indication as to whether or not someone would begin to smoke. However, it is still interesting to see that there may be a connection between our genes and our susceptibility to become a heavy smoker and even develop lung cancer.

Sunscreen? There's a Gene for That

In a research article published in the journal Cancer Cell, researchers discovered a gene that may protect us from a form of skin cancer called squamous cell cancer (SCC). Grhl3 is a gene that signals "Stop!" to cell proliferation.  It was not unusual when scientists discovered that the Grhl3 gene is virtually absent in the presence of SCC. Stephen Jane et al. demonstrated that eliminating the Grhl3 gene in lab mice diminishes the signal to stop malignant growth ultimately forming tumors. This research is significant in the bio-medical field for preventative and rehabilitative medicine.  There are drugs already in clinical trials to help prevent and treat SCC.  Eventually we may see a topical sunscreen available with a drug that increases the activation of the expression on the Grhl3 gene in extreme UV index conditions.

Genetic evolution of cancer

The article I am refering to suggest that cancer has been evolving since the development of multicellular life, billions of years ago. As life on earth has become more complex so has the ways that cancer manipulates the cells that occupy the organism. Cancer causes the uncontrolled growth of cells that intrudes upon and destroys adjacent tissues. Scientist involved in this reseach have reasoned that cancer revisits the tried and true genetic pathways which is why it is so successful as a mutigen. Essentially as life has evolved from single cell bacteria to multicellular complex organisms cancer has done just the same with the same devistating results.



     The research also suggests that there are a limited number of  the genetic pathways that are favored by cells as they become progressively genetically unstable and malignant, implying that cancer could be manageable by new drugs as medicine becomes more advanced. This means that maybe there is hope to finally find a way to keep cancer at bay. Possibly the best way to see where cancer is going is to look at where it has been as these researchers suggest.