• Two new prostate-specific antigen peptides have been identified. They could activate the immune system to launch cytotoxic response to prostate cancer cells expressing this antigen and be employed in developing anticancer vaccines to produce an immune response against these specific cancer cells.

• To evade immune surveillance the cancer cells have developed a mechanism to kill immune cells and maintain immune privilege. The culprit is a cell surface protein that interacts with a complementary protein, the receptor on the target cells, inducing apoptosis and destroying the target.

• Excessive expression of a protein, thymosin b15 that regulates cell motility, by some prostate cancer cells may indicate that they will spread. This protein may be used as a marker to distinguish between aggressive and nonaggressive tumors especially in those patients with Gleason scores of 6-7.

• Major "vault" proteins (named after their arched morphology) are a relatively new class, related to one another and apparently unrelated to any other defined cell protein. It can be safely assumed that they fulfill a variety of functions, which yet need to be clarified. However, the cDNA of the major human vault protein was found to be identical with the cDNA coding for the lung resistance-related protein (LRP), which is overexpressed in numerous P-glycoprotein-negative, but multidrug resistant cancer cell lines.

• Many oncologists suspect that non-somatic factors may contribute to the occurrence and course of breast cancer. Many tacitly accept that personality traits of the patient add to the variability of cancer care and influence the outcome. Statistically valid data are hard to come by and most of the beliefs held are based on anecdotal evidence and opinions formed from personal experience. Some associations between cancer incidence and personality have been described; associations do not necessarily imply causality. A recent study suggests that antiemotionality may play a role in the increased development of breast cancer.

• At first thought, it may seem that pregnancy in a woman who has been treated for cancer, is having active disease during her pregnancy or is suspect of having the disease with possible manifestation after childbirth is a most undesirable situation. Since the great majority of childbearing women is young and the majority of cancers run a more malignant course at younger age, the expected, shortened life-expectancy will eventually deprive the child of one parent. In addition, preceding chemo- and radiotherapy of the future mother may have deleterious effects on the gametes and on the fetal development and wellbeing itself. Finally, the possibility of premature delivery, lack of lactation, the aggravating and accelerating effect of pregnancy on some tumor growth and last, but not least, the mental stress of fighting for survival and simultaneously to provide loving care for the child may pose a formidable burden. Nevertheless, many women, for very personal and emotional reasons, will embark on this risky path.

• Tumors that starve for oxygen are shown to have adverse prognostic impact. It is also known that oxygenation of tumors is needed for radiation to kill these cells. Increasing the tumor temperature moderately can improve oxygenation and the cytotoxic effect of radiation.

• Balloon angioplasty, commonly used to widen the lumen of atherosclerotic blood vessels, can cause mechanical injury to the smooth muscle cells lining the artery stimulating uncontrolled growth. Ionizing radiation, delivered at the site is found to be effective in inhibiting this hyperplastic response.

Glossary

• A glossary of unfamiliar words and jargons in Cancer Watch, March 1997.