Surfing the Web uncovered these news items worth sharing:

• Researchers at the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco have linked the BRCA1 protein, a product of the BRCA1 gene, to normal learning and memory functions. The new study, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates that Alzheimer’s disease is associated with a depletion of BRCA1 in neurons and that BRCA1 depletion can cause cognitive deficits.
• According to a study led by researchers at King’s College London, survival rates are lower in women with breast cancer treated for depression. The study, published in Psycho-Oncology, analyzed cancer registration and hospital records for 77,173 women in South East England diagnosed with breast cancer between 2000 and 2009.
• Scientists at the University of Toronto used CRISPR to turn off, one by one, nearly 18,000 genes – that is, 90% of the human genome – to identify the “core” 1,500 genes that are essential for cell survival. Read more on their findings in Cell.
• Battling cancer with supercomputers; meet Amanda Randles, Assistant Professor of Biochemical Engineering at Duke University, who is looking into applying her supercomputing expertise with biomedical research. Her next research project involves the stimulation of cancer cells through circulation to predict tumor progression.
• According to a study published in PLOS ONE, pigeons can be trained to spot cancer just as well as human experts. A total of 12 pigeons were observed in 3 experiments.

Here are a few worthy news items in the world of cancer research:

• Researchers from the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center have developed and tested a nano-tech based sensor to measure microRNAs in blood that could lead to the design of new diagnostic strategies and, potentially, for the prognosis and treatment of pancreatic and other cancers. Read more on their findings in ACS Nano.
• A new model has been developed to predict breast cancer risk for Hispanic women. Dr. Matthew Banegas, lead investigator presented his tool at the Eighth American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved. Read more in ScienceDaily.
• The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has launched Project GENIE (Genomics, Evidence, Neoplasia, Information, Exchange), a multiphase, multiyear project that will provide the “critical mass” of genomic and clinical data required to improve clinical decision-making and spur new research.
• In a recent study published in the journal Cancer, researchers found that survivors often have poor diets, which can affect their long-term health. The study revealed that cancer survivors ate less fiber, less green vegetables, and less whole grains as compared to the non-cancer group.

Here are a few worthy news items in the world of cancer research:

• Scientists at the Cleveland Clinic have discovered a new gene associated with Cowden Syndrome, an inherited condition that carries risks for thyroid cancer and other cancers. The new gene SEC23B was discovered by Charis Eng. Read more about this discovery in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
• In a new study in mice, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have found that a special type of immunotherapy can boost survival rates from pancreatic cancer. Results of their study were published in Cancer Cell.
• Researchers in Florida have developed a handheld optical scanner which offers the potential to perform breast cancer imaging in real time. The device uses a near-infrared laser. The results are published in journal Biomedical Physics and Engineering Express.
• An international panel of experts at the World Health Organization announced that there was sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies to show that processed meats are carcinogenic to humans. The group also concluded there was strong, but still limited, evidence of an association between eating red meat and colorectal cancer. In a New York Times article in response to the WHO’s announcement, Dr. Ioannidis, who was not involved in the new report, stated: “There’s some risk involved, but it’s much less than smoking or alcohol. I think it would be an exaggeration to say based on this that no one should be eating red or processed meat.”
• An international team of researchers have enrolled over 10,000 women in an NIH sponsored clinical trial with the aim of identifying which breast cancer tumors would benefit from chemotherapy. Findings are published in NEJM.
• The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has updated the guidelines on use of antiemetics to prevent nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy. The recommendations are published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.