Angelina Effect

In one year, I expect the prophelactic mastectomy rates would double if not triple.   I also expect the rates of women asking for BRCA tests to double and the maker of BRCA tests is going to have a stellar year.

Here's why I am not thrilled:   

1.  BRCA tests are expensive and provides very little information for either research or treatment.   95% don't have these known BRCA mutations, 10% would develop BC anyway.   Full gene sequencing provides much more information for research and treatment someday, and its price is just a bit more than BRCA tests.   Yet I see NO articles making this point.     Taxpayers and insurers have NO obligation to foot the bill for BRCA tests, but every reason to support more research in full gene sequencing.

2.   Breast cancer, specificly metastatic breast cancer has no cure.   This is the foundamental justification for Angelina's decision.   More money needs to go to research and more research into metastatic BC, not into unnecessary and expensive BRCA gene tests.   Again I do not see anyone making these point.

Angelina Effect could be really positive if Angelina Jolie could direct attention to support for MBC research.   Totally wasteful if it just ends up with more women clamouring for BRCA gene tests, and getting a false sense of security when BRCA tests show negative for a few known mutations and forget about the threat of MBC.

PD991 or Palbociclib Receives FDA Breakthrough Designation

http://www.fiercebiotech.com/press-releases/pfizers-palbociclib-pd-0332991-receives-food-and-drug-administration-breakt

Copper Reduction for TN

If they are able to keep even 1/2 of the metastatic TNBC folks alive for a few years, that's pretty awesome:
http://weill.cornell.edu/news/releases/wcmc/wcmc_2013/02_13_13.shtml

Their clinical trial is expanding.

NeuroBlate on recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

http://www.medpagetoday.com/TheGuptaGuide/Oncology/38288

"In the first-in-man phase I study, published online in the Journal of Neurosurgery,median survival of 10 patients treated with the NeuroBlate Thermal Therapy System was 316 days."

Doubling the survival of a very aggressive brain cancer.   Could it be used for other type of brain tumor as well?   

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