Here are a few newsworthy items in the world of cancer research

• Reuters reports that British scientists hope that in the near future a simple blood test can serve as a “smoke alarm” for the early detection of cancer.
• In a new paper published in ecancermedicalscience, researchers from the King’s College London show that men of color, primarily black men, are consistently underrepresented in prostate cancer research studies. The study illustrates that healthcare research conducted in one demographic often doesn’t translate to results for other demographics, and recruitment of ethnic minorities often fails to meet a balance.
• A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins published in JAMA Oncology indicates that a cancer diagnosis can present a serious financial challenge for elderly and the disabled who receive Medicare. Out of pocket costs can range between $2000-8000 annually.

The latest in Cancer Research:

• Researchers at the American Technion Society have developed a new diagnostic technology to determine which anticancer drugs will work best for a specific patient — before treatment even begins. Read more about innovation in Nature Communications.
• According to a study published in the Annals of Medicine, men who have worked night shifts for more than 20 years, or who work night shifts without daytime napping, or sleep for more than ten hours per night on average may have an increased risk of cancer.
• A recent paper published in Cancer Control, examines the landscape of current knowledge and gaps in genomics and genetics in Latinas with breast cancer.
• One of the more talked about topics in current cancer research is immuno-oncology, where drug therapy such as immuno-therapies targets the body’s immune system to fight cancer. This article sponsored by AstraZeneca sheds further light on this therapeutic approach.

Surfing the web, I uncovered these news items worth sharing:

• Researchers at Uppsala University report on a new approach to cancer drug discovery by developing 3 dimensional cell cultures. Findings are published in Cell Chemical Biology.
• Scientists at Cardiff University have successfully developed a 3-dimensional mammary gland model opening the doors to better understanding breast cancer. For more, see paper in Nature Communications.
• Nine prominent nanoscientists make predictions for the future regarding the contributions that nanoscience will make to improve health and better living. More on their conclusions in ACS Nano.
• The power of immunity to fight cancer is at the center of a mice study conducted at MIT, where researchers used a combination of therapies to activate the immune system that ultimately led to the disappearance of tumors in mice. Findings discussed in Nature Medicine.