The Meeting Brief for this issue features reports by BioMednews correspondents who covered the 90th annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, held in Philadelphia, April 10-14, 1999.
Wise Ways of Confronting the Cancer Genome: Gene Expression by Microarrays
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Researchers are using several recently developed techniques to uncover the fundamental differences between normal and malignant cells. Ultimately, it is the changes in gene expression that drive cancer cells to proliferate abnormally, metastasize, and become refractory to anticancer drugs. Thanks to the development of microarray technologies and serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), it is now relatively straightforward to find out which genes are under- or overexpressed in tumors, compared to their normal counterparts.
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For decades the Holy Grail of cancer research has been to understand why a tumor decides to grow aggressively and metastasize to other outlying tissues. The most obvious place to look seemed to be on the tumor itself, and acres of scientific papers have been produced as researchers analyzed the multitude of receptors and molecules on the surface. New research, however, suggests that they may have been looking in the wrong place. At the American Association for Cancer Research's annual meeting, Peter C. Brooks from the University of Southern California presented evidence showing that the milieu surrounding the tumor - the tumor microenvironment - is just as important for tumor metastasis, if not more so, and may hold some new targets for therapeutic development.
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A therapeutic vaccine that reduces the number of metastatic tumor cells in mice with breast cancer, and significantly improves their survival, could represent the first real progress toward understanding this killer disease, according to research presented yesterday at the 90th annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Andrzej Krauze is an illustrator, poster maker, cartoonist, and painter who illustrates regularly for HMS Beagle, The Guardian, The Sunday Telegraph, Bookseller, and New Statesman.
General Cancer Sites
National Cancer Institute - a great resource for both the lay public and the health professional.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - lists scientific programs, research news, publications, computing sciences, educational programs, library, and technology transfer material. The ELSI Project covers ethical, legal, and social issues.
Oncolink - a rich source of information on many aspects of the genetics of cancer. Maintained by the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center.
Wise Ways of Confronting the Cancer Genome
Large-Scale Gene Expression and Microarray Links and Resources - an extensive collection of Web resources and pointers. Maintained by Alan Robinson at the European Bioinformatics Institute.
National Human Genome Research Institute: The Microarray Project - details the NHGRI/NCBI collaborative efforts to utilize microarray technology to monitor gene expression. Includes full text of Nature Genetics article on "Data Management and Analysis for Gene Expression."
Jumping Into the Array Fray - an HMS Beagle Meeting Brief on the NIH Microarray User Group Mini-Symposium.
A Cryptic Clue to Angiogenesis
Angiogenesis: Process of Neovascularization - a heavily illustrated, very basic tutorial. Includes links to other online angiogenesis resouces.
Special Project: Angiogenesis - describes research on angiogenesis, with extensive graphics and links.
ANGIOGEN - an unmoderated mailing list designed mainly for Ph.D.-level scientists and medical doctors actively engaged in research on angiogenesis inhibitors and their possible clinical applications. Subscribe to it via the OncoLink Automated E-mail Discussion Group Subscriber.
Tumor Angiogenesis in Splendid Isolation -an HMS Beagle Meeting Brief of the 13th International Symposium on Cellular Endocrinology.
Promise of Metastatic Breast Cancer Vaccine
Breast Cancer Metastasis - a collection of recent papers.
Breast Cancer Research Council - background information on breast cancer, including a section on innovative treatments.
Metastasis Research Society - information on all aspects of metastasis. Includes abstracts of the 7th International Metastasis Research Society Conference in San Diego, held October 1998.
Tackling the Mysteries of Breast Cancer - an HMS Beagle Meeting Brief on the 1997 American Association for Cancer Research Conference.
The Forecast for Genetic Fortune-Telling: Cloudy but Gradually Clearing and To Test or Not to Test: Genetic Counseling Is the Key - two HMS Beagle Opinions that discuss the controversy surrounding genetic testing, especially for breast cancer. Both articles include endlinks related to genetic screening.
Biology of the Mammary Gland - an HMS Beagle review of the site, which is a center for research information and resources relating to the development and function of the mammary gland and to breast cancer tumorigenesis.