Pap Test Fluids Used In Gene-Based Screening Test for Two Gyn Cancers

Johns Hopkins: Cervical fluid samples gathered during routine Papanicolaou (Pap) tests are the basis of a new screening test for endometrial and ovarian cancers developed by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. PapSEEK detects mutations in DNA that have been identified for specific cancers sooner. Earlier detection of cancer could lead to earlier treatment and potentially better outcomes for patients. The test uses cervical fluid samples to look for mutations in 18 genes, which are highly or commonly mutated in endometrial or ovarian cancers, and aneuploidy, the presence of abnormal numbers of chromosomes in cells. The researchers said their results showed the potential for mutation-based diagnostics to detect endometrial and ovarian cancers earlier.

CT Scan Allows Nonsurgical Management of Some Lung Nodules

RSNA: People who have nonsolid lung nodules can be safely monitored with annual low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. Researchers said the findings could help spare patients from unnecessary surgery and additional imaging. Lung nodules are small masses of tissue in the lungs that can be benign or cancerous. They are classified as solid, part solid or nonsolid, based on their appearance on CT. In nonsolid lung nodules, normal lung tissue is visible through the nodule. Nonsolid nodules are visible on CT scans of the chest, and management of them is challenging.

Higher Quality Screening Colonoscopies Associated With Lower Risk of Colorectal Cancer Death, Without Higher Overall Costs

JAMA: An analysis that included information from more than 57,000 screening colonoscopies suggests that higher adenoma detection rates may be associated with up to 50 percent to 60 percent lower lifetime colorectal cancer incidence and death without higher overall costs, despite a higher number of colonoscopies and potential complications, according to a study in the June 16 issue of JAMA.

Breast cancer screening 'cuts deaths by 40%' expert panel says

NHS: “Women who undergo breast cancer screening cut their risk of dying from the disease by 40%, according to a global panel of experts,” The Guardian reports. Breast cancer screening reduces deaths from the condition by spotting cases of breast cancer at an early stage when they are still curable. Critics argue that this benefit is outweighed by the problem of overdiagnosis, where women are diagnosed as having cancer and treated, when the cancer would never have caused any harm. This treatment carries the usual impacts and side effect for these overdiagnosed individuals, but does not offer them any benefit.

Benefits outweigh harms for breast cancer screening

Scimex: An international review of breast cancer screening has found the benefits outweigh the harms for women aged between 50 and 74. The review, which looked at 40 studies conducted in high-income countries, including Australia, found women aged between 50 and who attended mammography screening were around 40 per cent less likely to die of breast cancer, with several studies showing screening in women aged 70-74 also reduced mortality. However, the authors say there is not enough evidence to determine whether screening reduces mortality in women aged 40 to 49 years.

Home tests and automated reminders cut colon cancer screening costs

GroupHealth: Sending at-home stool kits through the mail and using automated reminders are part of a cost-effective program to boost screening for colon cancer, according to researchers at Group Health and Kaiser Permanente. Health costs were significantly lower over two years when researchers used electronic health records to identify patients who weren’t screened regularly for colon cancer, and then encouraged these patients to be screened.

False breast cancer alarm has negative impact on health

Copenhagen: The psychological strain of being told that you may have breast cancer may be severe, even if it turns out later to be a false alarm. This is the finding of new research from the University of Copenhagen, which has just been published in the scientific journal Annals of Family Medicine. Researchers call for improving screening accuracy, thus reducing the number of false-positive mammograms.

Women with Dense Breasts May Not Need More Screening

UCSF: As the debate continues to swirl around the medical significance of dense breasts and whether extra screening should be done, a new study led by UC San Francisco has found that women with dense breasts may need only routine mammograms unless they are at high risk.
In their paper, the researchers said that five-year breast cancer risk is a critical component, and breast density should not be the sole factor in deciding whether supplemental screening is justified because not all women with dense breasts are at high risk of cancer.

A blood test for early detection of breast cancer metastasis

Lund: The chances of being cured of breast cancer have increased in recent decades, however if the tumour has metastasised, the disease remains essentially incurable. One reason for this could be that the metastases are detected late, after they have grown enough to cause symptoms or be seen on a radiological scan. If they could be found sooner, it might be possible to treat the new tumours. Research findings from Lund University in Sweden now provide new hope for a way of detecting metastases significantly earlier than is currently possible.

Many people are not getting the recommended cancer screening tests

CDC: Many adults in the U.S. are not getting the recommended screening tests for colorectal, breast and cervical cancers, according to data published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. For 2013, screening for these types of cancers either fell behind previous rates or showed no improvement.

New method detects more breast cancer in screening

Lund: Tomosynthesis detects 40% more breast cancers than traditional mammography does, according to a major screening study from Lund University, Sweden. This is the first large-scale study to compare the screening method with regular mammograms. The 3D X-ray technique is also more comfortable for women, as breast compression is halved. A total of 7 500 women aged 40–74 took part in the first half of the study, which formed the basis for the findings.

First screening test for common pregnancy complications

University of Adelaide reproductive experts have developed the world’s first screening test which can predict a woman’s risk of developing one or more of the four common pregnancy complications. Researchers have developed algorithms (or calculations) that combine subtle variations in DNA sequences in genes involved in placental development with clinical, socioeconomic, lifestyle and family history data that can predict a woman’s risk of having a pregnancy complication.

New screening technique could pick up twice as many women with ovarian cancer

UNSW:A new approach to ovarian cancer detection could lead to widespread screening for the disease that kills about two in three sufferers. The screening test can detect twice as many women with ovarian cancer as conventional strategies, according to the latest results from the largest trial of its kind led by University College London (UCL). The method uses a statistical calculation to interpret changing levels in women’s blood of a protein called CA125, which is linked to ovarian cancer. This gives a more accurate prediction of a woman’s individual risk of developing cancer, compared to the conventional screening method which uses a fixed ‘cut-off’ point for CA125. The new method detected cancer in 86% of women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (iEOC). Earlier techniques detected just 41%.

Cervical cancer reduced due to screening

Canberra: Cervical cancer cases and deaths in Australia remain very low by international standards, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The report, Cervical screening in Australia 2012-2013, shows there were 682 new cervical cancer cases diagnosed in 2011, and 143 women died from cervical cancer in 2012. 'This is equivalent to between 9 and 10 new cases of cervical cancer and 2 deaths from cervical cancer per 100,000 women each year,' said AIHW spokesperson Justin Harvey. Overall, both incidence and mortality halved between the introduction of the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) in 1991 and 2002, but these reductions have not applied in equal measure to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Sniffing out stomach cancer

Scimex: Israeli and Latvian scientists have developed a new type of technology that can sense small chemical changes in exhaled breath in order to accurately identify the development of stomach cancer. The authors found both patients with cancer and those without the disease had distinctive 'breath prints', and the test was also able to accurately distinguish between the different pre-cancerous stages, marking out those patients at low and high risk of developing gastric cancer. A new type of technology that senses minute changes in the levels of particular compounds in exhaled breath, accurately identifies high risk changes which herald the development of stomach cancer, reveals research published online in the journal Gut.

Could a simple test predict endometrial cancer?

Mayo Clinic: Researchers at Mayo Clinic have shown that it is possible to detect endometrial cancer using tumor DNA picked up by ordinary tampons. The new approach specifically examines DNA samples from vaginal secretions for the presence of chemical “off” switches — known as methylation — that can disable genes that normally keep cancer in check.

Zero radiation breast cancer screening system for dense breasts

A University of Canterbury spin-out company Tiro Lifesciences is moving to transform breast cancer diagnosis and screening for all women. The company, which has raised $600,000 capital, has developed a zero radiation breast cancer screening system with no restriction on age limits.

Aneurysm screening should be revisited, say experts: Data suggest considerable harm

BMJ: Aneurysm screening for men over 65 should be revisited as it is unknown whether the benefits outweigh the harms, argue researchers in The BMJ this week. This article is part of a series on overdiagnosis looking at the risks and harms to patients of expanding definitions of disease and increasing use of new diagnostic technologies. An interactive graphic illustrating the risks of overdiagnosis among men invited for aneurysm screening is also available.

Agreement on best estimates of breast cancer overdiagnosis urgently needed to inform women

BMJ: Very different estimates are blocking effective communication about breast cancer overdiagnosis, says expert. In 2012, prompted by increasing debate about overdiagnosis, an independent UK panel estimated that about 19% of breast cancers diagnosed among women invited to mammogram screening were in fact overdiagnosed (they would have been harmless). But other estimates have been higher (up to 50%) or lower (less than 5%).

How much overdetection is acceptable in cancer screening?

BMJ: People have highly variable views on how much overdetection is acceptable in cancer screening, finds a UK survey in The BMJ this week. The authors say invitations for screening “should include clear information on the likelihood and consequences of overdetection to allow people to make an informed choice.”