News digest – statins, cellular communication, new fertility technique and vaping

Statins could lower ovarian cancer risk

Statins are conventionally taken to lower cholesterol, but new research suggests that women who take statins over an extended period may be less likely to develop ovarian cancer. But as the genetic study focused on an enzyme that’s targeted by statins, rather than statin use itself, scientists warned against anyone rushing to take statins to reduce ovarian cancer risk because of these results. The story was widely reported and our press release has more info.

The implications of detect cancer years before symptoms  

A couple of weeks ago, a global genetics study revealed that cancer clues could appear years or even decades before someone is diagnosed. But if there were a test that could detect cancer years in advance, would you take it? Psychologist Dr Saskia Sanderson explores the potential implications of detecting cancer early for The Guardian.   

In this week’s cancer news 👇 https://t.co/wgOfW3E2pi pic.twitter.com/gSyGzuCPYA

— Cancer Research UK (@CR_UK) February 9, 2020

Kidney cancer combo gets initial ‘no’ for NHS use in England 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has rejected the use of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and axitinib (Inlyta) to treat advanced renal cell cancer for NHS use in England. The decision was made over uncertainties surrounding the long-term benefits of the treatment. Our news report has the full story.

New egg-freezing technique could give women more options after treatment 

A women whose fertility was affected by cancer treatment has given birth thanks to a new egg-freezing technique, reports The Guardian. Doctors didn’t want to go down the traditional IVF route because the hormones may have exacerbated her cancer, so they collected immature eggs instead, maturing them in the lab before freezing them for after the woman completed treatment. The team are now working to make the technique more efficient.    

New technique looks at how cancer cells communicate with each other  

Scientists have developed a technique to listen in on conversations between healthy cells, cancer cells and immune cells in the lab, reports the Mail Online. Our researchers studied lab-grown mini tumours, known as organoids, and revealed that cancer cells, immune cells and connective tissue can ‘rewire’ communication networks in the bowel, allowing tumours to grow unchecked. Our press release has more details.  

Cancer doctors in the UK report an increase in ‘superbugs’

UK doctors have warned that a rise in antibiotic resistant infections could threaten cancer treatment in the future. Around 4 in 10 doctors report a rise in drug-resistant infection in the past year, and almost all are worried about the impact so-called ‘superbugs’ could have on their patients in the future. Many people with cancer rely on antibiotics, as chemotherapy and surgery can leave patients prone to infection. Mail Online and the Times (£) have this one.  

Visa prices could put off new NHS staff and scientists 

A thinktank has warned that “sky-high” visa fees could deter NHS staff and scientists from moving to the UK, reports The Guardian. We’ve blogged before about the issues that cancer patients and researchers need prioritised in post-Brexit talks.

And finally..

Sarah Boseley explores the increasingly differing attitudes to e-cigarettes in the US and UK for The Guardian, to try and get to the bottom of the ‘great vape debate’.  

Lilly