Genomics England’s Post

March is both Ovarian and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, shining a light on two types of cancer that need increased public awareness as they often go undetected until it’s too late. The symptoms of ovarian cancer can be very vague, especially in its early stages, and so two-thirds of cases are diagnosed when the cancer has already spread elsewhere. Survival rates are unfortunately low, with only 33% of people surviving 10 years after diagnosis. Colorectal cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the UK and the earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome – more than 90% of people diagnosed at the earliest stage survive compared to just 17% of those diagnosed at the latest stage. Genetics play a significant role in both cancers, with up to 15% of ovarian cancers and 5-10% of colorectal cancers being hereditary. Understanding your genetic risk can help you take proactive steps to lower your chances of developing cancer in the future, from lifestyle changes to regular screening and preventative treatment. With not all families qualifying for hereditary cancer testing on the NHS, the FGIH is proud to offer genetic testing to any individual concerned about a possible hereditary cancer in the family, using specially curated Genomics England and NHS approved gene panels. Visit our website for more information on the genetics of cancer and to explore available hereditary cancer genetic tests: https://lnkd.in/eHxhZ_qQ #ovariancancerawarenessmonth #colorectalcancerawarenessmonth #ovariancancer #colorectalcancer #hereditarycancer #geneticsofcancer #FGIH Ovarian Cancer Action Bowel Cancer UK

One of the most important ways to disrupt the status quo is to build a system for researchers from African countries to lead research and to invest in the bridging of development projects and research institution. Read the article and about our colleague Johnblack Kabukye who is one of the brains behind the #DANCCE (Digital African Network for Cervical Cancer Elimination) initiative calling for greater coordination, investment and research for cervical cancer elimination in the continent. #Africa #africanleadership #representationmatters #CancerCare #digitalhealth #patients #childhoodcancer #research #ict4d #development #healthsystems #smartfunding #uganda #ugandacancerinstitute #spidercenter #DANCCE #buildingoutbias #AI #TeamSweden

2019 Michelson Prize recipient Dr. Murad Mamedov has uncovered unexpected interactions between T cells and cancer cells. The research, conducted by Mamedov and a team of investigators from Gladstone Institutes and University of California, San Francisco, could help T cells become even more effective in the fight against cancer, as well as diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. Learn more about Dr. Mamedov and co-author Dr. Avinash Das Sahu’s findings in a new paper published in Nature Portfolio: #immunology #cancerresearch #medicalresearch #cancertreatment

Breast cancer from germline immunoediting The genes we inherit from our parents are known as our germline genome. They’re mirrors of our parents’ genetic makeup, and they can vary among people in small ways that give some of us blue eyes, brown hair or type O blood. Some inherited genes include mutations that confer increased cancer risk from the get-go, such as BRCA1, BRCA2 and TP53. But identifying other germline mutations strongly associated with future cancers has proven difficult. The researchers studied nearly 6,000 breast tumors spanning various stages of disease to learn whether the subtype of each tumor correlated with the patients’ germline oncogene sequences. They found that people who had inherited an oncogene with a high germline epitope burden (read: lots of bling) — and an HLA type that can display that epitope prominently — were significantly less likely to develop breast cancer subtypes in which that oncogene is amplified. There was a surprise, though. The researchers found that cancers with a large germline epitope burden that manage to escape the roving immune cells early in their development tended to be more aggressive and have a poorer prognosis than their more subdued peers. “At the early, pre-invasive stage, a high germline epitope burden is protective against cancer,” the author said. “But once it’s been forced to wrestle with the immune system and come up with mechanisms to overcome it, tumors with high germline epitope burden are more aggressive and prone to metastasis. The pattern flips during tumor progression.” #ScienceMission #sciencenewshighlights https://lnkd.in/gZVi_wzr

We know breast cancer impacts black women at a disproportionately higher rate than white women with black women more likely to die from the disease. Breast cancer in black women is also historically under-researched, making it significantly more challenging to understand root causes and ways to mitigate this risk. I was both pleased and intrigued to read about a recent study led by Dr. Wei Zheng of Vanderbilt University Medical Center University Medical Center which analyzed genetic data from over 40,000 women of African descent, including 18,000 with breast cancer. This largest-ever genome-wide association study of this population identified 12 genetic loci linked to cancer including three associated with triple-negative breast cancer. The result is improved polygenetic risk scores for African descendants which will enhance breast cancer risk prediction.   Research like this is crucial for better detection and treatment, especially in those populations most affected by cancer. I look forward to larger studies of this nature in the future so that we can continue working toward eradicating breast cancer.   Read the full report here: #BreastCancer #Health

#cancerresearch #oncology  #health #medicine #medicalsciences https://lnkd.in/gKEFAjzc By 2050, the number of people with cancer globally is projected to rise by 77%, according to a report by the American Cancer Society. This article presents global #cancer #statistics by world region for the year 2022 based on updated estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). There were close to 20 million new cases of cancer in the year 2022 (including nonmelanoma skin cancers [NMSCs]) alongside 9.7 million deaths from cancer (including NMSC). The estimates suggest that approximately one in five men or women develop cancer in a lifetime, whereas around one in nine men and one in 12 women die from it. Lung cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer in 2022.

A major new study has identified twelve genes linked to breast cancer in Black women. This is groundbreaking because past research has primarily focused on women of European descent, potentially overlooking risk factors specific to Black women. These genes could lead to more accurate breast cancer risk assessments for Black patients. Interestingly, the study found some genes not previously linked to the disease and others with weaker connections compared to white women. This suggests that genetic risk factors for breast cancer may differ between racial groups. Additionally, six genes were linked to the aggressive triple-negative breast cancer, which Black women are more prone to develop. While further research is needed before routine testing becomes available, these findings offer a promising step towards improving breast cancer prevention and treatment for Black women. However, there's also the existing issue of unequal access to genetic testing for this population, which needs to be addressed alongside these advancements.

Almost all forms of cancer will become curable, manageable, or preventable. Yes, that’s right. We are well on the way to defeating cancer. Ten years ago such a statement would have been outrageous, impossible, a pipe-dream. Now, I’ve visited enough labs to be sure. The story of cancer medicine is multi-threaded. It’s a story of early detection, of surgical removal, of radio- and chemo-therapies, of understanding lifestyle factors, of sequencing and pinpointing genetic factors, and lately of immunotherapies. Instead of one succeeding the other, each overlaps and complements the others and adds more weapons to the armory, and many of these weapons can be deployed in series or in combination. The other day I met with the brilliant Dr Ben Stanger (Hanna Wise Professor in Cancer Research at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine School of Medicine, and Director of the Penn Pancreatic Cancer Research Center) to discuss how he and his colleagues are adding three new entire armories in cancer medicine:- ➡ The advancement of CAR T-cell therapies from liquid to solid tumors ➡ The advancement of mRNA cancer vaccines (and mRNA cancer therapeutics coming too!) ➡ The latest work being undertaken in cancer interception You can listen to our conversation at: https://lnkd.in/g-2Xyy-b or wherever you get your podcasts You’ll find the accompanying post at: https://lnkd.in/gGAeYKmj  And the transcript at: https://lnkd.in/gZCfwPCZ  These are just 3. There are MANY more research frontiers, all being pursued in parallel by unfailingly wonderful and optimistic scientists in hundreds of universities and laboratories. Enjoy. There IS good news out there. As I keep saying, the Future of Medicine is an AMAZING place! #futureofmedicine #futureofhealthcare #endcancer #futuremakers #innovationinspiration

All.Can Greece has just released its latest research titled "Quality of Life for Cancer Patients in Greece." Led by John Yfantopoulos, Professor of Health Economics at the University of Athens and President of IPOKE, in collaboration with All.Can Greece and the Hellenic Cancer Federation | ELLOK, this study delves into the quality of life and satisfaction of cancer patients and individuals undergoing treatment in Greece and aims to shine a light on critical aspects of cancer care often overlooked. https://bit.ly/43BIx6n

Latest Cancer Statistics The 2024 paper on cancer statistics that has just been published reports that cases of the types of cancer that have been most strongly associated with the effects of artificial light at night in epidemiological studies (prostate, breast and colorectal cancer) are increasing, particularly among younger adults. Coincidentally, this correlates with the fact that young people are more susceptible to melatonin suppression than older adults. This could be a sign that the evidence of widespread harm to public health arising from the adoption of high-CCT white LED public lighting (without first checking that it was safe) is beginning to become apparent, as has been suggested by recent epidemiological studies in Spain (see my review on ResearchGate for the references). Calls for the government to ban the use of blue-rich light at night in public spaces, as has already been legislated in France, should be increased. https://lnkd.in/eeJE_pZU