Circulating Tumor DNA: Proof of concept

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1213261

29/30 metastatic patient sees their CT dna above normal.   Wow!

Great Clue Mystery

Cancer, Immune system, Brain, these are arguably the 3 enduring high stake mysteries in medicine.  

I put Cancer first, because it is the one mysteries with dead bodies all over the carpet.   And thousands of characters, some are suspected ring leaders, some are accomplices, some are panicked onlookers, some are striking security guards.       

Then there are researchers, like detectives, some focus on "who dunnit", some on "how dunnit", some on "protecting the innocent and preventing carnage".    They need all the help they could get.

This new development from Minnesota implicates a well hidden ring leader that may lead to a new strategy:

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-enzyme-breast-cancer-mutations.html#jCp

While this NIH development seems to study the "how dunnit" mystery that metabolism affects cancer

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/feb2013/nci-05.htm

Interesting new development

BCO members shared these research, new approaches and fresh understanding of the puzzle that is cancer:

Gold nanoparticle in HDL used to target lymphoma cancer cells
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130121161915.htm

New understanding of how Beta blockers' effect on cancer:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130129121843.htm

Metastasis pathways:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/cu-cbd011813.php
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130127134214.htm

Review article and clinical trials

http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Home/Education%20&%20Training/Educational%20Book/PDF%20Files/2012/zds00112000028.PDF

It mentions also BKM120 and other new drugs

http://www.dovepress.com/new-and-emerging-treatments-for-estrogen-receptor-positive-breast-canc-peer-reviewed-article-TCRM

Pancreatic cancer gets a new agent

half as few death for one of the most aggressive cancers.   Yeah!
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778018

Presentation on Korean/Asian BC incidences

This presentation includes BC incidence, age distribution and other information on Korea, Japan, China, Israel, Pakistan,India, Philipines and other Asian countries.

What most jump out to me is how the Korean/Japanese/Chinese have a lower incidence but younger demographics of BC.   How Philipines and Pakistan and Israel have the higher rates of BC.    Interesting for people who want to learn from other cultures about what to do what not to do.

http://www.pitt.edu/~super4/41011-42001/41081.pdf

PD-991 may qualify for the Fast track

Pfizer wants to fast track this miracle drug based on strong phase II results:
http://www.pfizer.com/files/news/asco/pd_0332991_cdk_4_6_inhibitor_fact_sheet.pdf
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-10/pfizer-may-push-5-billion-breast-cancer-hope-for-ruling.html

There are more drugs in the pipeline that is based on the same principle from other drug makers

http://www.kantarhealth.com/blog/oncology/stephanie-hawthorne/2012/12/06/CDK_Inhibition_The_Next_Big_Thing_in_ER_Breast_Cancer_Impresses_at_SABCS_2012

Last December news about PD-991:  26 month PFS (PD-991) compared with <10 months PFS with Femara alone
http://killerboob.blogspot.com/2012/12/pd-991-with-femara.html