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What's New               Saturday, July 31, 2010

Scientists discover cancer-causing gene —helping to distinguish lung cancer subtypes
 
Vancouver, BC – BC Cancer Agency scientists have identified a cancer-causing gene, BRF2, specific to squamous lung cell carcinoma. The gene could be used as an identification marker for this specific type of lung cancer and provide a new target for drug therapy. These findings come from a study by William Lockwood, PhD, and colleagues from the BC Cancer Agency. 

Lockwood, the study’s primary investigator, sees these results forging a path toward more precise and personalized treatment of lung cancer subtypes. He says, “These findings demonstrate that lung cancer subtypes activate different genes for tumour initiation and progression, suggesting that the conventional ‘one size fits all’ approach for therapeutic intervention may not succeed.” - more

B.C. scientists develop new drug candidate for prostate cancer

Vancouver, BC – Scientists in B.C. have developed a unique experimental drug, EPI-001, that shrinks prostate cancer tumours in the lab. The breakthrough came from the research groups of Dr. Marianne Sadar, senior scientist, BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, and Dr. Raymond Andersen, Professor, University of British Columbia. EPI-001 targets a protein believed responsible for the fatal progression of advanced stage prostate cancer.

The research, published today in Cancer Cell, is groundbreaking. Dr. Sadar’s team countered the findings of other scientists who were focused on one area of the androgen receptor protein. Dr. Sadar believed that an area at the opposite end of the protein structure, the N-terminal, was the true “engine” and should be targeted. In 2007, she made the discovery that the N-terminal was in fact implicated in advanced prostate cancer. - more

 
Constructions starts at the Centre for the North
 
Prince George, BC – Premier Gordon Campbell and Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon, together with health and local government representatives, celebrated the start of construction on the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North today.

“With the start of construction for this new regional cancer centre, we are entering a new era of cancer care in the North,” said Premier Campbell. “The Centre for the North will offer cancer patients and their families a greater range of care options, including radiation therapy. The new service will eliminate the need for northern residents to travel south for treatment – saving them both time and money.”  - more

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