Among the highlights in the December 1996 Cancer Watch issue are: Treatment for Anemia in Cancer Patients, Technology Update: Laser Capture Microdissection, Reports From The 21st Congress of The European Society Of Medical Oncology, Hyperthermia Shown to be Effective in Treating Cancer, A Gene That Suppresses Melanoma Spread is Isolated, DNA, The Master Molecule: Helicase and RecA Protein, Malignant Melanoma of the Skin, Placental Hormone Regresses Kaposi’s Sarcoma and Cigarette Smoke Mutates p53 gene.

• Erythropoietin, a hormone secreted by the kidney, needed for red blood cell formation can be used to reduce the adverse effect of anemia experienced by advanced cancer patients.

• A new technique called laser capture microdisection allows to select a specific cell from a mixture of cells in a tissue section. A low-power laser beam is used to transfer cells of interest to a themoplastic film. The cells are then removed from the film and analyzed by other techniques.

• For high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, when proper selection criteria are choosen for high-risk breast cancer patients, they have a more favorable prognosis. Also a new generation of aromatase inhibitor and antisense oliginucleotides show potent antitumor activity.

• Increasing the temperature of a very aggressive type of brain tumor, glioblastoma, immediately before and after radiotherapy improves the survival of the patients.

• A new gene designated KiSS-1, involved in controlling the spread of melanoma in an animal model, has been isolated from human chromosome 6. Introduction of this gene into a highly metastatic human melanoma cell line substantially suppressed the spread of the disease. This gene could function as a marker to distinguish between metastatic and nonmetastatic melanomas.

• Cystal structure of a DNA helicase indicates a cavity running through the center of the enzyme. The diameter of the cavity is insufficent to support the binding of duplex DNA. It is believed that the binding and hydrolysis of ATP cause the catalytic domains of the enzyme to shift, enabling the DNA duplex to bind at the cavity. The fine three-dimensional structure of the catalytic domains of the helicase is remarkably similar to the ATP binding domain of RecA, suggesting that both enzymes share certain common aspects of the mechanism of action.

• Incidence and death rate of the deadly skin cancer, melanoma, are steadily increasing. Preventative measures and early detection strategies, if employed effectively can have immediate impact in reducing mortality rate.

Placental Hormone Regresses Kaposi’s Sarcoma

• Human chorionic gona-dotropin, a pregnancy-related hormone produced by fetal placental cells, is thought to have antitumor effect when injected directly into small Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions in AIDS patients.

Cigarette Smoke Mutates p53 gene

• Benzo[a]pyrene, a known cancer-causing agent, present in cigarette smoke, when activated to BPDE (diol epoxide) binds specifically to three codons on the tumor suppressor gene p53. These three codons are also found to be specifically mutated in human lung cancer cells. This is a direct evidence that carcinogens present in cigarette smoke cause selective damage on DNA leading to cancerous transformation.

• A glossary of unfamiliar words and jargons in Cancer Watch, July-December 1996.