Key study of Grail's cancer detection test fails

Also: As oncologists ponder how to integrate AI-powered cancer tools, products are hitting the market ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

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Hello. Angus Chen, STAT's cancer reporter, here. On Thursday, researchers published a genetic analysis of tumors in domestic cats in Science. Relatively little is known about cat cancer, and far more veterinary cancer research has focused on dogs. In the paper, the authors analyzed nearly 1000 feline tissue samples, half of which were tumor samples. That makes this paper the first large-scale analysis of feline tumors, and the authors argue that this work might eventually lead to insights that can benefit both cats and humans. Research into cancer in other species, called comparative oncology, is really interesting to me. Famously, people have studied animals that seem to be protected from cancer, like naked mole rats or bowhead whales, and found novel mechanisms of cancer resistance. The NCI has a comparative oncology program, too, where people can enroll their pets into NCI-supported trials for new cancer treatments, and this program led to testing some of those platforms in humans. Most of that has been done in dogs, but this paper might pave the way for similar work to come via feline studies. And, obviously, it'd be great if it led to new therapies for cats, too. Researchers submitted photos of their own cats along with the press release for this Science paper. Courtesy Angus Chen

Adobe STAT+ | Key study of Grail's cancer detection test fails in setback for company While Grail's screening test, called Galleri, showed some benefits, the results are likely to fuel more debate about the technology. By Matthew Herper and Angus Chen Bayer agrees to $7.25 billion proposed settlement over thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits Bayer disputes the assertion that the weedkiller's key ingredient, glyphosate, can cause non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. By Associated Press Should semen analysis become the Pap smear for men? Some men's health experts say yes Despite scientific skepticism of semen analysis as a biomarker for overall health, entrepreneurs see a new way to get men to visit a doctor. By Annalisa Merelli National Cancer Institute/USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center STAT+ | As oncologists ponder how to integrate AI-powered cancer tools, products are hitting the market New digital pathology AI tools, including from Valar Labs, claim to predict chemotherapy response in pancreatic cancer. Doctors see both promise and risk. By Angus Chen

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