Cancer Research: A new virus in liver cancer ♦ Tumour suppressor genes curb growth in neighboring cells ♦ Researchers thwart cancer cells by triggering 'virus alert'

A new virus in liver cancer More than a cause of a simple infection, viruses are often involved in the development of serious diseases. Such is the case with liver cancer, which often develops in an organ that has been weakened by hepatitis B or C virus. Researchers have just identified the role of a new virus, hitherto unsuspected, in the occurrence of a rare type of liver cancer.

New strategy improves detection of genetic mutations in hereditary colorectal cancer Enhanced accuracy and reduced turnaround time of testing can provide vital information for patients suspected of having lynch syndrome and their family members, according to a new report.

New synthetic tumor environments make cancer research more realistic Tumors are notoriously difficult to study in their natural habitat -- body tissues -- but a new synthetic tissue environment may give cancer researchers the next-best look at tumor growth and behavior. Researchers have now developed a new technique to create a cell habitat of hydrogels which can realistically and quickly recreate microenvironments found across biology.

Tumor suppressor genes curb growth in neighboring cells Researchers have unraveled a role for tumor suppressor genes in restricting the growth of neighboring cell populations. The study might have implications for understanding the early events of tumorigenesis and the selection of the tumour-initiating cells.

Researchers thwart cancer cells by triggering 'virus alert' Working with human cancer cell lines and mice, researchers have found a way to trigger a type of immune system 'virus alert' that may one day boost cancer patients' response to immunotherapy drugs. An increasingly promising focus of cancer research, the drugs are designed to disarm cancer cells' ability to avoid detection and destruction by the immune system.

Prenatal Research:Non-invasive prenatal fetal testing ♦ Novel genetic mutations may arise during early embryonic development ♦ Unique marker on mom's chromosomes in early embryo

Non-invasive prenatal fetal testing can detect early stage cancer in mothers Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for chromosomal fetal disorders is used increasingly to test for conditions such as Down's syndrome. NIPT examines DNA from the fetus in the mother's blood, and therefore does not carry the risk of miscarriage involved in invasive testing methods. Now, for the first time, researchers have found another advantage of NIPT; it can detect maternal cancers at an early stage, before symptoms appear.

First national study of non-invasive prenatal testing shows it works and is preferred by high-risk women Although non-invasive prenatal testing carries a much lower risk of miscarriage than do invasive tests, it is slightly less accurate, because it only analyses DNA from the outer layers of the placenta. In some cases a trisomy will be present in these outer layers, but not in the fetus. However, a large European study shows that high-risk women prefer NIPT

Novel genetic mutations may arise during early embryonic development rather than being acquired from the parents’ germline New, sophisticated gene sequencing techniques are leading to an increasing understanding of the causes of genetic disease, and can help parents with affected children make informed reproductive choices, researchers say. Until now, de novo genetic mutations, alterations in a gene found for the first time in one family member, were believed to be mainly the result of new mutations in the sperm or eggs (germline) of one of the parents and passed on to their child.

Researchers identify unique marker on mom's chromosomes in early embryo Researchers are visually capturing the first process of chromosome alignment and separation at the beginning of mouse development. The findings could lead to answers to questions concerning the mechanisms leading to birth defects and chromosome instability in cancer cells.