Significant Childhood Cancer Discovery Made by Scientists at the BC Cancer Agency


Research published in May by scientists at the BC Cancer Agency in medical journal Cancer Cell brings new hope for the treatment of high-risk childhood sarcomas.

Sarcomas are cancerous tumours of the connective tissues - including bones and muscles - that are more common in children. Up until now, there has been very little known about how sarcoma cells spread to other organs.

To better understand this mechanism Dr. Poul Sorensen and his team, including post-doctoral fellow Dr. Amal El- Naggar, studied a previously unrecognized pathway involving two proteins, YB-1 and HIF1α.

The BC Cancer Foundation donated $500,000 to fund this research, including funds from the Ride to Conquer Cancer and Team Finn, a team that was formed to raise funds in support of life-saving childhood cancer research.

“Dr. Sorensen’s landmark study provides real hope that dramatic improvements in the treatment of childhood sarcomas are around the corner,” said Erik Dierks, Vice President of Development at the BC Cancer Foundation. “This is a testament to the power of BC Cancer Foundation donors fuelling promising research that will impact families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis in the future.”

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Lifetime Vigorous Physical Activity May Lower Risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

A recently published study shows that performing vigorous physical activity over your lifetime may lower your risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

The case-control study found that the most physically active participants had a lower risk for NHL than the least active participants, and that vigorous physical activity in particular was the most effective at lowering this risk.

Data collected between 2000 and 2004 was used by Dr. Terry Boyle, post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Cancer Control Research at the BC Cancer Agency and the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, and his colleagues. It included information about demographic characteristics and various possible NHL risk factors, including lifetime physical activity.

For each decade of life (i.e. 10-19 years, 20-29 years), participants were asked to record the average number of days per week and hours per day that they performed mild, moderate and vigorous physical activity.

According to Dr. Boyle, because there currently isn’t enough research to definitively say being physically active reduces the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, data will be pooled from several studies to investigate the topic further.

Celebrating Ten Years of Incredible Breakthroughs

This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre - a world-class facility that wouldn't exist today if not for the generosity of BC Cancer Foundation donors.

In the past decade, renowned experts at the BC Cancer Agency have made incredible breakthroughs that scientists only dreamed of in 2005 when the Research Centre first opened its doors.

Because of these breakthroughs, many patients are able to say the three important words, "I'm still here."

To explore some of the remarkable highlights from the past decade, and learn how you can help keep our research engine strong as we launch the next decade of discovery, click here.