The Daily Scan

Heading for the [ca]BIG time

Also from the Scientist: Heading for the big time, a nice overview of the NCI's caBIG initiative.

"The NCI's bioinformatics network,caBIG, integrates cancer data from across the United states.  Its goal: to speed the transition from research to therapy.

We are watching this closely at Aperio - many researchers want to be able to include digital pathology images in the data managed by this network.

Cancer Vaccine Approved by Russian FDA

This is interesting: The Scientist reports Cancer Vaccine Approved by Russian FDA.

First cancer vaccine approved in Russia: A New York-based biotech company announced today (April 8) that it has received approval for the first therapeutic cancer vaccine -- in Russia.  It is the first approval by a regulatory body of a cancer immunotherapy.

The therapy's approval in Russia won't in itself boost its chances for approval in the US or the EU, or improve the prospects of other cancer vaccines that are in the biotech pipeline, Ren Benjamin, senior biotech analyst at the New York investment firm Rodman and Renshaw told The Scientist. But Russia is "novel ground" for small biotech, he said: Seeking first approval in a country outside of the US and EU is a bold move, and both biotech companies and investors will be closely watching to see how lucrative a market Russia turns out to be.

It comes after the treatment didn't pass muster with the FDA, despite $425 million spent developing the treatment over 12 long years.

It would be interesting if small biotech firms find that gaining approval outside the U.S. and EU is a faster path to commercialization, leading to the possibility of using other countries as clinical trials for the U.S. market.  Stay tuned...

A great new online cancer resource: cancer.net

There's a great new online cancer resource: cancer.net, from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.  It is amazing how great the Internet resources for medicine have become...  particularly for patients.

Especially interesting is the slide-deck series; a bunch of Powerpoints that explain various types of cancer.

the Cancer Research Blog Carnival

Wow, who knew?  There's a Cancer Research Blog Carnival.  This week it is hosted by the skeptical alchemist. 

You might ask "what's a blog carnival?"  Good question.  There are many of them, originally they were just "interesting stuff" but recently they've become a lot more focused, such as "cancer research".  One blog each week offers to host the carnival, and a bunch of other bloggers submit posts from their blogs which are relevant to the subject.  Then the host blogger compiles a single post which is that week's carnival, with links to all the other blogs and usually accompanies by a brief synopsis or even the host blogger's thoughts about the linked post.
Next week the scene shifts and another blogger hosts the moveable feast.  In this way each week there is a compendium of interesting posts all about the particular subject.

If you're interested in Cancer Research - as a lot of the readers of this blog are - then check out this post, and also make a note of next week's location at Hematopoiesis.  Happy blog-reading!

Court rejects new USPTO rules meant to kill patent backlog

From Ars Technica: Court rejects new USPTO rules meant to kill patent backlog.

"New rules issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office last year that were intended to reduce the patent filing backlog were rejected yesterday by a federal judge who ruled that the USPTO had exceeded its authority. The rules, which imposed limitations on continuation filings and restricted the number of claims that could be included in individual patents, will not be implemented as many had hoped.

This is not good news; patent reform is need urgently.  Special interests are apparently going to tie up reforms as long as they can.  Stay tuned...

Scientists Identify Lung Cancer Genes

VOA news reports Scientists Identify Lung Cancer Genes.

"Three independent teams of researchers have found genes that may explain why some smokers get cancer and others do not, and why some people who never smoke also get the disease. Investigators say the discoveries could lead to better ways to prevent and treat one of the most lethal forms of cancer.

The teams in the United States, France and Iceland scoured the DNA of thousands of white smokers and non-smokers of European descent,with and without lung cancer, looking for genes that have been linked to smoking.

Researchers identified three genetic variants that if inherited, increase a person's risk of developing lung cancer from 30 to 80 percent compared to those who do not have the genes.

This is cool; not only does it have prognostic value, but understanding the genetic basis of cancer could lead to development of more effective treatments.

Single CT scan could diagnose heart disease

HealthImagingNews reports Single CT scan could diagnose heart disease.

"Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, S.C., developed a dual-source CT scanner technique that enables comprehensive diagnosis of heart disease based on a single CT scan, according a report in the March 4 issue of Circulation.

“This technique could be the long coveted 'one-stop-shop' test that allows us to look at the heart vessels, heart function and heart blood flow with a single CT scan and within a single breath hold,” said U. Joseph Schoepf, MD, associate professor or radiology and cardiology, MUSC.

Awesome.  The diagnostic implications of medical imaging are virtually limitless...

 

Considering a career change? Veterinary pathologists are in high demand...

The Mercury News suggests Considering a career change? Veterinary pathologists are in high demand...

"It's not that the last guy will turn out the lights, go home and that will be the end of the profession," says Paul Stromberg, president of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP). "The real problem is that the shortage of academic pathologists will slow down progress. Progress in detecting emerging diseases; identifying new drugs and developing new approaches to disease detection, treatment and management; and perhaps, protecting the world from Ebola virus or the next emerging disease or act of bioterrorism."

Veterinary pathologists train an additional three to six years after veterinary school. They then must pass a certification exam with the ACVP to become members of the elite organization. There are currently 45 veterinary pathology university programs in the United States.

Veterinary pathologists are increasingly using digital pathology for efficiency and accuracy, just like their colleagues who study and treat humans.  It is a dyanmic and fascinating field.  For more information please visit the ACVP website.