Genetic News and Research

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Preliminary discovery may help individualize prostate cancer screening in the future

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among American men. Yet population-wide screening programs have not reduced the number of deaths from the disease. By focusing screening programs on the men who are at greatest risk for aggressive disease or diagnosis at a young age, researchers think they could improve mortality rates and personalize the screening approach.

5 Apr 2011

Scientists identify gene influencing levels of alcohol consumption

Scientists have identified a gene that appears to play a role in regulating how much alcohol people drink, in a study of over 47,000 people published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

5 Apr 2011

Scientists suggest genetic differences in breast tissue across ethnicities

Scientists from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine are working on a series of genetic analyses that suggest the underlying differences among racial groups are present not just in tumors, but in normal tissue as well. Lisa Baumbach, Ph.D., associate research professor, and colleagues will present the full study results at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held here April 2-6.

5 Apr 2011

Synta presents ganetespib and elesclomol study data in cancer at AACR meeting

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. today presented five posters at the American Association for Cancer Research 102nd Annual Meeting. Three posters reported results from studies of ganetespib, and two posters reported results from studies of elesclomol, a small-molecule mitochondria metabolism inhibitor.

5 Apr 2011

Neuropeptide ghrelin impacts alcoholism, binge-eating and sugar consumption

The substance ghrelin plays an important role in various addictions, such as alcoholism and binge-eating. It also impacts on sugar consumption, which is due, in part, to genetic factors, reveals new research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

5 Apr 2011

UC researchers sequence individual glioblastoma genomes and track abnormalities through the bloodstream

Medical scientists know this about glioblastoma multiforme: the malignant brain tumor is aggressive, it is elusive, and it appears in different permutations.

5 Apr 2011

AACR President-elect to host press conference on cancer risk factors and genetics

As cancer continues to affect one in two men and one in three women, researchers are increasing their knowledge on the known risk factors for cancer both environmentally and genetically.

5 Apr 2011

Known cancer-linked gene involved in subset of advanced prostate tumors

Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a genetic anomaly that may drive the aggressive spread of a rare subset of prostate cancers.

5 Apr 2011

Heavy beer drinkers with specific genetic variant at increased risk of non-cardia gastric cancer

Heavy beer drinkers who have a specific genetic variant in the cluster of three genes that metabolize alcohol are at significantly higher risk of developing non-cardia gastric cancer, according to research presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held here April 2-6.

5 Apr 2011

Lilly presents results of JAK2, Hedgehog inhibitor preclinical cancer studies at 102nd AACR

Eli Lilly and Company announced results today from two preclinical studies of molecules that target genetic mutations and disable specific signaling pathways that can lead to cancer. The studies evaluated two unique molecules – a JAK2 inhibitor and a Hedgehog inhibitor – with results presented during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 102nd Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

5 Apr 2011

Genetic factors can explain people's susceptibility to urinary incontinence

Much of the risk of developing incontinence before middle age is determined by our genes. Genetic factors can explain half of people's susceptibility to urinary incontinence, a study of twins at the University of Gothenburg and Karolinska Institutet reveals.

5 Apr 2011

New insight into Parkinson's disease

As Parkinson's Awareness Month gets underway, a Canadian-led international study is providing important new insight into Parkinson's disease and paving the way for new avenues for clinical trials.

5 Apr 2011

Researchers identify new gene that can influence person's risk of developing epilepsy

Vanderbilt University researchers have identified a new gene that can influence a person's risk for developing epilepsy. The findings, reported in the March 29 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could improve molecular diagnostic tools and point to novel therapeutic targets for epilepsy.

5 Apr 2011

Aflac announces $1.06 million scholarship awards for cancer research

Aflac, the company that helps employers enhance benefits offerings to employees, today announced it will donate a total of $1,060,000 to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) to help defray the costs facing cancer researchers. The three-year scholarship awards focus on career development, scholar-in-training; a special program for high school students, and a task force on pediatric oncology.

4 Apr 2011

Pronto to distribute Signal's Myeloma Prognostic Risk Signature test in Israel

Signal Genetics, the parent company of Myeloma Health LLC, and Pronto Diagnostics Ltd, both of which are privately held predictive genetic testing companies focused on oncology, announced that they have entered into a Distribution Agreement whereby Pronto will be the exclusive representative and distributor for Signal's Myeloma Prognostic Risk Signature (MyPRS) test in Israel.

4 Apr 2011

Quest Diagnostics completes Athena Diagnostics acquisition

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Athena Diagnostics, an esoteric laboratory specializing in genetic testing for neurological disorders, from Thermo Fisher Scientific.

From Quest Diagnostics 4 Apr 2011

People with lung cancer more likely to have high-risk forms of HPV antibodies

Researchers with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have found that people with lung cancer were significantly more likely to have several high-risk forms of human papillomavirus (HPV) antibodies compared to those who did not have lung cancer. These results, which were presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held April 2-6, indicate that HPV antibodies are substantially increased in people with lung cancer.

4 Apr 2011

GeneLink net sales decrease 8.4% to $7,839,972 for 2010

GeneLink, Inc., a leading consumer genomics biotech company, today reported financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

4 Apr 2011

Researchers pinpoint effects of enhanced adult neurogenesis in hippocampus

Adult mice engineered to have more newborn neurons in their brain memory hub excelled at accurately discriminating between similar experiences - an ability that declines with normal aging and in some anxiety disorders.

4 Apr 2011

NAA joins with organizations worldwide to raise awareness about autism

The National Autism Association joins with organizations worldwide in recognizing April as Autism Awareness month. With one in 110 children now diagnosed with autism, and autism mortality rates doubling that of the general population, NAA is once again calling upon legislators and government health agencies to declare autism a national health emergency.

4 Apr 2011