News digest – fascin-ating research, cancer ‘avatars’, ‘drinkable sunscreen’ and more

• Our researchers discovered how a protein called ‘fascin’, which helps cells move, may also play a role in the spread of pancreatic cancer. Our press release has more info, and for a closer look read this blog post or watch the video below.

• Our scientists studying drug resistance in advanced melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, also made a discovery this week – they found a potential cause for signals within cancer cells that help them overcome the effects of the drug vemurafenib. Read our press release for more details.
• A US study found that testing patients’ lung tumours for multiple, specific genetic changes allows doctors to select targeted treatments or trials for more than half of them. Our news story has more, and you can read about our own work on so-called ‘stratified medicine’ in this blog post.
• The Mail Online covered more promising early research on immunotherapy – harnessing the body’s own immune system in targeting cancer – for lung cancer, but it’s still too soon to be talking of ‘cures’.
• This excellent video from YouTube favourite vSauce tries to answer the question “Why don’t we all have cancer?”
• New research on using e-cigarettes to help quit smoking showed that ‘vapers’ say they’re 60 per cent more likely to succeed in their attempt to quit than people using nicotine patches and gum, or will-power alone. But the study didn’t compare these to the most reliable method – NHS stop smoking services. The BBC and our news story have more, NHS Choices gave this thorough breakdown of the research, and MedPage Today published a more critical piece.
• This really touched us – author Henning Mankell, who has cancer, wrote this piece for The Guardian about how important cancer research is to him.
• Computer simulations of glioblastoma cells – so-called cancer ‘avatars’ – could be used to predict how real cancer cells might respond to targeted treatments, according to early stage research from the US. Medical Daily has more info.
• This article from The Institute of Cancer Research outlines the fascinating approach of using viruses to target cancer.
• The BBC covered research into a possible link between prostate cancer and the sexually transmitted infection trichomoniasis. But as much of the coverage, including this NHS Choices article points out, it’s too soon to make these links as the research has only been carried out on cells in the lab.
• A number of US media outlets, including TIME magazine, covered predictions that by 2030 pancreatic cancer could become the second biggest cancer killer behind lung cancer.
• Women with breast cancer, who are worried about it coming back, may be opting for double mastectomies that they do not need, according to new research covered in the Mail Online.
• Research from Australia suggests the long-running ‘slip, slop, slap’ campaign is translating into lower skin cancer rates.
• The New York Times had this US take on the potential use of aspirin to treat breast cancer.

And finally

• ‘Drinkable sunscreen’ – it sounds far-fetched… because it is. But worrying – and potentially dangerous – coverage appeared in the Telegraph and the Mail Online touting the unproven benefits of what is, essentially, just water. For a thorough breakdown of why this product should be avoided, read this article from The Guardian. And for proper, evidence-based information on staying safe in the sun, visit our SunSmart pages.

Nick