A close look at cancer - pp262 - 265

Alison Farrell

doi:10.1038/nm0311-262

We asked experts in cancer research to identify the most influential publications of the last two years. Here we summarize their responses and highlight some of the hot topics in this field.

Abstract - | Full Text - A close look at cancer | PDF (588 KB) - A close look at cancer

New technologies aim to take cancer out of circulation - p266

Elie Dolgin

doi:10.1038/nm0311-266

Full Text - New technologies aim to take cancer out of circulation | PDF (172 KB) - New technologies aim to take cancer out of circulation

The search for child cancer drugs grows up - p267

Branwen Morgan

doi:10.1038/nm0311-267

Full Text - The search for child cancer drugs grows up | PDF (165 KB) - The search for child cancer drugs grows up

Companies compete over mutation-specific melanoma drugs - p268

Cassandra Willyard

doi:10.1038/nm0311-268a

Full Text - Companies compete over mutation-specific melanoma drugs | PDF (126 KB) - Companies compete over mutation-specific melanoma drugs

Recent deal highlights hopes for cancer-killing viruses - pp268 - 269

Jon Evans

doi:10.1038/nm0311-268b

Full Text - Recent deal highlights hopes for cancer-killing viruses | PDF (257 KB) - Recent deal highlights hopes for cancer-killing viruses

Treatment approaches that target tumor suppressors mutate - p269

Monica Heger

doi:10.1038/nm0311-269

Full Text - Treatment approaches that target tumor suppressors mutate | PDF (190 KB) - Treatment approaches that target tumor suppressors mutate

When it takes two to tango, FDA suggets a new regulatory dance - p270

Elie Dolgin

doi:10.1038/nm0311-270

Full Text - When it takes two to tango, FDA suggets a new regulatory dance | PDF (311 KB) - When it takes two to tango, FDA suggets a new regulatory dance

Let's get physical: mechanical forces drive a new field of study - p271

Lauren Cahoon

doi:10.1038/nm0311-271

Full Text - Let's get physical: mechanical forces drive a new field of study | PDF (246 KB) - Let's get physical: mechanical forces drive a new field of study

Cancer vaccine boosted by infrastructure for HIV care in Africa - p272

Esther Nakkazi

doi:10.1038/nm0311-272a

Full Text - Cancer vaccine boosted by infrastructure for HIV care in Africa | PDF (178 KB) - Cancer vaccine boosted by infrastructure for HIV care in Africa

New guidelines could plug data gaps in India's cancer research - p272

T V Padma

doi:10.1038/nm0311-272b

Full Text - New guidelines could plug data gaps in India's cancer research | PDF (178 KB) - New guidelines could plug data gaps in India's cancer research

From spinach scare to cancer care - pp273 - 275

Elie Dolgin

doi:10.1038/nm0311-273

In recent years, Salmonella has tainted foods including spinach, peanut butter and eggs, sickening thousands of people in the process. But researchers hope that these microbes will make headlines for a better reason: curing cancer. They want to harness Salmonella's special ability to thrive in oxygen-deprived conditions to target regions of solid tumors that are normally immune to conventional therapies. Elie Dolgin reports.

Abstract - | Full Text - From spinach scare to cancer care | PDF (1,025 KB) - From spinach scare to cancer care

Cancer as we know it - p276

Victoria Aranda reviews The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee

doi:10.1038/nm0311-276

Full Text - Cancer as we know it | PDF (97 KB) - Cancer as we know it

A passion to cure cancer - p277

Anton Hagenbeek reviews Henry Kaplan and the Story of Hodgkin's Disease by Charlotte Jacobs

doi:10.1038/nm0311-277

Full Text - A passion to cure cancer | PDF (97 KB) - A passion to cure cancer

Cancer's top papers - pp278 - 279

doi:10.1038/nm0311-278

Which are the most relevant recent discoveries in cancer research? Which advances in cancer biology, drug discovery and clinical practice have been the most important for the field?

Abstract - | Full Text - Cancer's top papers | PDF (339 KB) - Cancer's top papers

Highly cited cancer papers, 2008–2010 - pp280 - 282

doi:10.1038/nm0311-280

Full Text - Highly cited cancer papers, 2008–2010 | PDF (127 KB) - Highly cited cancer papers, 2008–2010

Targeting the missing links for cancer therapy - pp283 - 284

Kornelia Polyak & Judy Garber

doi:10.1038/nm0311-283

A continuing quest in clinical oncology is to effectively eliminate tumors without major side effects. But drugs rationally tailored against specific tumors and predictive markers for patient selection are very limited, and their identification is challenging. A phase 1 study has provided proof of concept for the use of PARP inhibitors in tumors from individuals carrying BRCA mutations—a remarkable success in rational drug design and translational research.

Full Text - Targeting the missing links for cancer therapy | PDF (330 KB) - Targeting the missing links for cancer therapy

B cells and macrophages in cancer: yin and yang - pp285 - 286

Alberto Mantovani

doi:10.1038/nm0311-285

Inflammation is an important component of the tumor microenvironment; however, the mechanisms through which immune cells might promote tumorigenesis are unclear. A recent study indicates that B cells and antibodies have a key role in orchestrating macrophage-driven, tumor-promoting inflammation, suggesting that modulating the pathways involved might be of therapeutic benefit in cancers driven by chronic inflammation.

Full Text - B cells and macrophages in cancer: yin and yang | PDF (337 KB) - B cells and macrophages in cancer: yin and yang

Targeting RAF: trials and tribulations - pp286 - 288

Julian Downward

doi:10.1038/nm0311-286

Although the rapid development of drug resistance is a known problem with targeted cancer therapies, recent studies have uncovered other surprises with RAF kinase inhibitors. These drugs can paradoxically activate downstream ERK signaling in some settings, with important implications for their clinical use.

Full Text - Targeting RAF: trials and tribulations | PDF (879 KB) - Targeting RAF: trials and tribulations

Resistance, epigenetics and the cancer ecosystem - pp288 - 289

Stephen B Baylin

doi:10.1038/nm0311-288

Therapeutic resistance is a key roadblock to effective cancer treatment and can occur through various mechanisms. A recent study characterized a previously unknown, reversible mechanism of drug resistance mediated by an altered chromatin state, suggesting that cancer cell populations can use a dynamic strategy to ensure their survival when challenged by therapeutic intervention.

Full Text - Resistance, epigenetics and the cancer ecosystem | PDF (247 KB) - Resistance, epigenetics and the cancer ecosystem

Hunting ALK to feed targeted cancer therapy - pp290 - 291

Anton Wellstein & Jeffrey A Toretsky

doi:10.1038/nm0311-290

Neuroblastoma is a fatal childhood cancer, but lack of knowledge about the underlying causative genes has hampered the development of effective therapies. The identification of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutations as drivers of neuroblastoma has indicated that targeted therapy with ALK inhibitors might be a valuable strategy in the fight against this lethal cancer.

Full Text - Hunting ALK to feed targeted cancer therapy | PDF (387 KB) - Hunting ALK to feed targeted cancer therapy

Metabolism unhinged: IDH mutations in cancer - pp291 - 293

John R Prensner & Arul M Chinnaiyan

doi:10.1038/nm0311-291

Recently characterized IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in leukemia and glioblastoma have introduced a fascinating cancer-specific role for metabolic genes essential to cellular respiration. Studies also link aberrant IDH1 and IDH2 activity to an altered metabolite profile, an observation that may have broad implications for both cancer epigenetics and clinical management of disease.

Full Text - Metabolism unhinged: IDH mutations in cancer | PDF (315 KB) - Metabolism unhinged: IDH mutations in cancer

Research Highlights - pp294 - 295

Victoria Aranda, Alison Farrell, Carolina Pola & Meera Swami

doi:10.1038/nm0311-294

Full Text - Research Highlights | PDF (225 KB) - Research Highlights

Timeline: a decade of advances in immunotherapy - p296

Drew Pardoll

doi:10.1038/nm0311-296

Full Text - Timeline: a decade of advances in immunotherapy | PDF (112 KB) - Timeline: a decade of advances in immunotherapy

Cancer genomics: from discovery science to personalized medicine - pp297 - 303

Lynda Chin, Jannik N Andersen & P Andrew Futreal

doi:10.1038/nm.2323

Abstract - | Full Text - Cancer genomics: from discovery science to personalized medicine | PDF (567 KB) - Cancer genomics: from discovery science to personalized medicine

Taming the dragon: genomic biomarkers to individualize the treatment of cancer - pp304 - 312

Ian J Majewski & René Bernards

doi:10.1038/nm.2311

Abstract - | Full Text - Taming the dragon: genomic biomarkers to individualize the treatment of cancer | PDF (1,011 KB) - Taming the dragon: genomic biomarkers to individualize the treatment of cancer

The cancer stem cell: premises, promises and challenges - pp313 - 319

Hans Clevers

doi:10.1038/nm.2304

Abstract - | Full Text - The cancer stem cell: premises, promises and challenges | PDF (2,851 KB) - The cancer stem cell: premises, promises and challenges

Why don't we get more cancer? A proposed role of the microenvironment in restraining cancer progression - pp320 - 329

Mina J Bissell & William C Hines

doi:10.1038/nm.2328

Abstract - | Full Text - Why don't we get more cancer? A proposed role of the microenvironment in restraining cancer progression | PDF (1,131 KB) - Why don't we get more cancer? A proposed role of the microenvironment in restraining cancer progression | Supplementary information

Cancer epigenetics reaches mainstream oncology - pp330 - 339

Manuel Rodríguez-Paredes & Manel Esteller

doi:10.1038/nm.2305

Abstract - | Full Text - Cancer epigenetics reaches mainstream oncology | PDF (1,436 KB) - Cancer epigenetics reaches mainstream oncology