Genetics

Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome and IVF: a case control study. Halliday, J. et al. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 75, 526–528 (2004)

Recent studies have indicated a link between in vitro fertilization (IVF) and imprinting disorders that are associated with an increased risk of childhood tumours. In this case–control study, Halliday and colleagues found that in the IVF population they assessed, the risk of having a child with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) was nine times greater than in the general population. Interestingly, IVF BWS patients consistently show hypomethylation of the KVDMR1/LIT1 locus, compared with ∼46% of all BWS cases. This finding has important implications for BWS and childhood cancer development.

Breast Cancer

Phenotypic conversion of human mammary carcinoma cells by autocrine human growth hormone. Mukhina, S. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 7 Sept 2004 (doi:10.1073/pnas.0405881101)

Increased human growth hormone (HGH) levels are associated with a metastatic phenotype in mammary carcinoma cells, but whether they have a causal role in metastasis is unknown. These authors showed that increased HGH expression converts mammary carcinoma cells from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype and promotes invasiveness, and that this is caused by decreased expression of γ-catenin.

Therapeutics

An amino-bisphosphonate targets MMP-9 expressing macrophages and angiogenesis to impair cervical cancer. Giraudo, E., Inoue, M. & Hanahan, D. J. Clin. Invest. 114, 623–632 (2004)

Using a mouse model of cervical cancer, the authors showed that zoledronic acid — a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor used for the treatment of patients with bone metastases — inhibits tumour progression. The drug appeared to function by blocking MMP9, which is involved in activation of vascular endothelial growth factor and induction of angiogenesis.

Technology

Volumetric computed tomography (VCT): a new technology for non-invasive, high resolution monitoring of tumor angiogenesis. Kiessling, F. et al. Nature Med. 7 Sept 2004 (doi:10.1038/nm1096)

Describes a new method to perform high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of tumour-associated blood vessels in vivo. The authors analysed the vascular architecture of human carcinoma xenographts with much greater detail than is possible by other available techniques, such as magnetic-resonance angiography, and could clearly distinguish between living and dead tissue. This approach might be useful in monitoring the effect of anti-angiogenic therapies.