Smokers Lose more Y Chromosomes and more…

A recent study has shown that male smokers have a greater number of cell mutations resulting in the loss of Y chromosomes in their blood cells. This is not experienced by men who do not smoke. MSK’s Dr. Robert Benezra has said, “This is an important study,” but that more research needs to take place. Identification of loss of Y chromosomes can bring about more rigorous screening of smokers at early points in their disease trajectory.
MSK’s Dr. Nadeem Abu-Rustum, Chief of the Gynecology Service, reported at the International Gynecologic Cancer Society meeting that sentinel lymph node mapping significantly assists in the staging of early endometrial cancer. It decreases side effects, makes possible the selection of lymph nodes with a higher probability of containing disease and reduces the number of lymph nodes removed, thus diminishing the possibility of the development of lymphedema.
Preliminary results of an MSK phase 1B clinical trial indicated that the PD-1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab used to treat pre-treated patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, brought about a response in 66% of participants in the study. The results were reported by MSK’s Dr. Craig H. Moskowitz, the lead investigator, who is clinical director in the Division of Hematologic Oncology.

New Tool for Detecting Cancer, Smoking Less in the US and More….

Here are a few highlights of cancer research news that have recently caught my attention:

There are potential major health risks for non-smokers in automobiles exposed to second hand smoke, according to a groundbreaking study led by UC San Francisco researchers. More on their findings in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
A new comprehensive view of the mouse genome finds many commonalities and differences with the human genome.
Scientists at Northwestern University have developed a genetic-based tool to detect cancer cells in blood. More on this discovery in PNAS.
Selenium, naturally found in broccoli and garlic, may help fight cancer according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. The findings have been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
FDA issues warning on the use of uterine surgery device as it may spread cancer.
According to the latest CDC report, smoking rates are on the decline in the United States.

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Medicare is proposing to offer annual CT scans for those who have smoked an average of a pack a day for 30 years, since studies have demonstrated that very small lung tumors, if found early, can be treated successfully. MSK’s Dr. Peter Bach, who has advocated for the screening, acknowledges that people who will never have lung cancer will be subjected to the test and follow-up evaluations which have risks.
Scientists soon will develop drugs that will relieve severe pain but will not be addictive as is the case with current opioid painkillers. MSK’s Dr. Gavril Pasternak who conducts research on opioids, reported that as many as 12 non-addictive or significantly less addictive drugs are in the development stage.
MSK researchers analyzed cancer DNA from melanoma patients who were treated with ipilimumab, an immunotherapy drug . The analysis revealed genetic mutations in some of the patients which cause the cancer cells to be visible to immune response. Once the cancer cells are identified, the body’s immune system can destroy them.