Health News

Nature Reviews Cancer

• Epstein?Barr virus: 40 years on
  Epstein?Barr virus (EBV) was discovered 40 years ago from examining electron micrographs of cells cultured from Burkitt's lymphoma, a childhood tumour that is common in sub-Saharan Africa, where its unusual geographical distribution ? which matches that of holoendemic malaria ?indicated a viral aetiology. However, far
  
  
• Genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer
  High-penetrance mutations in several genes have been identified that contribute to hereditary colorectal cancer. The role of these mutations in cancer pathogenesis is well understood and their detection is successfully used in clinical diagnosis. In stark contrast, our understanding of the influence of low-penetrance mutations
  
  
• Polyamines and cancer: old molecules, new understanding
  The amino-acid-derived polyamines have long been associated with cell growth and cancer, and specific oncogenes and tumour-suppressor genes regulate polyamine metabolism. Inhibition of polyamine synthesis has proven to be generally ineffective as an anticancer strategy in clinical trials, but it is a potent cancer chemoprevention
  
  
• Post-translational modification of p53 in tumorigenesis
  Interest in the tumour suppressor p53 has generated much information regarding the complexity of its function and regulation in carcinogenesis. However, gaps still exist in our knowledge regarding the role of p53 post-translational modifications in carcinogenesis and cancer prevention. A thorough understanding of p53 will
  
  
• High interstitial fluid pressure ? an obstacle in cancer therapy
  Many solid tumours show an increased interstitial fluid pressure (IFP), which forms a barrier to transcapillary transport. This barrier is an obstacle in tumour treatment, as it results in inefficient uptake of therapeutic agents. There are a number of factors that contribute to increased IFP
  
  
• Hallmarks of 'BRCAness' in sporadic cancers
  Germline mutations in the BRCA1, BRCA2 and Fanconi anaemia genes confer cancer susceptibility, and the proteins encoded by these genes have distinct functions in related DNA-repair processes. Emerging evidence indicates that these processes are disrupted by numerous mechanisms in sporadic cancers. Collectively, there
  
  
• A vision for the National Cancer Program in the United States
  The intersection of two noble endeavors ? the scientists' quest to understand life itself and the physicians' dedication to relieve suffering and prolong life ? came into sharp focus in 1971 with the United States National Cancer Act. This focus has led to an exponential
  
  
• Two faces of hypoxia
  Hypoxia is often thought of as something cancer cells need to overcome to survive, necessitating the formation of new blood vessels to escape from areas of low oxygen. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that hypoxia might actually promote cancer development. Adding to this
  
  
• Smoking out differences
  As if there weren't already enough reasons to give up smoking, a new study has revealed yet another: smokers not only develop lung cancer more often than non-smokers, but differences in the genetic make-up of tumours from the two groups mean that those that arise
  
  
• Inflammatory debate
  The increased risk of tumour occurrence in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases has long been reported. NF-?B is a transcription factor triggered in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines; a stimulatory role of NF-?B in cancer has been suspected, but not conclusively proven. Now two papers