Emerging concepts: linking hypoxic signaling and cancer metabolism

The Joint Keystone Symposia on Cancer and Metabolism and Advances in Hypoxic Signaling: From Bench to Bedside were held in Banff, Alberta, Canada from 12 to 17 February 2012. Drs. Reuben Shaw and David Sabatini organized the Cancer and Metabolism section, and Drs. Volker Haase, Cormac Taylor, Johanna Myllyharju and Paul Schumacker organized the Advances in Hypoxic Signaling section. Accumulating data illustrate that both hypoxia and rewired metabolism influence cancer biology. Indeed, these phenomena are tightly coupled, and a joint meeting was held to foster interdisciplinary interactions and enhance our understanding of these two processes in neoplastic disease. In this report, we highlight the major themes of the conference paying particular attention to areas of intersection between hypoxia and metabolism in cancer. One opening keynote address was delivered by Craig Thompson (Memorial Sloan-Kettering, USA), in which he provided a comprehensive perspective on the current thinking around how altered metabolism supports cancer cell growth and survival, and discussed areas likely to be important for future discovery. In particular, Thompson highlighted the essential roles of glucose and glutamine in cell growth, how glucose- and glutamine-consuming processes are rewired in cancer and how this rewiring facilitates anabolic metabolism. These topics were at the core of many of the metabolism presentations that described in detail how some metabolic alterations contribute to the properties of transformed cells. The other keynote address was delivered by Peter Ratcliffe (University of Oxford, UK), in which he provided a historical perspective on the progress of how signaling events sense oxygen. Mammals have evolved multiple acute and long-term adaptive responses to low oxygen levels (hypoxia). This response prevents a disparity in ATP utilization and produc- tion that would otherwise result in a bioenergetic collapse when oxygen level is low. Multiple effectors have been proposed to mediate the response to hypoxia including prolyl hydroxylases, AMPK, NADPH oxidases and the mitochondrial complex III. Currently, however, the precise mechanism by which oxygen is sensed in various physiological contexts remains unknown. Indeed, this was an active point of debate, with Peter Ratcliffe favoring the prolyl hydroxylase PHD2 as the primary cellular oxygen sensor.Burrough’s Wellcome FundDamon Runyon Cancer Research FoundationLustgarten FoundationSmith family and the Stern famil

Calea repanda (Asteraceae: Neurolaeneae), a new species and novel characters for the taxonomy of the genus.

We describe a new species, Calea repanda, from Brazil and discuss novel morphological characters for the taxonomy of this genus. This new species is morphologically similar to C. gentianoides and C. diamantinensis but is distinct due to repand (vs. entire) leaf margins, radiate (vs. discoid) capitulum, larger involucre 12.2?12.7 × 10.6?12 mm (vs. 5.5?9.4 × 2.7?5.2 mm), disc florets 30?40 (vs. 3?9), and fewer pappus scales 7?10 (vs. 15?20). Calea repanda is endemic to the Diamantina plateau in Minas Gerais state, Southeastern Brazil. We provide a map with the geographic occurrence of this species, an illustration with diagnostic characters, and the first taxonomic key for species of C. sect. Calea from Brazil. Furthermore, we propose a more detailed terminology to describe the proportion of the number of paleae and disc florets in the capitulum receptacle

Baccharis rectialata (Compositae: Astereae): a new species of carqueja from Uruguay.

Se describe Baccharis rectialata (Compositae: Astereae), una nueva especie perteneciente a B. sect. Caulopterae, característica de los pastizales del noreste del Uruguay. La nueva especie es morfológicamente similar a B. crispa, de la que se diferencia en sus alas no sinuosas y sus involucros y papus más cortos en los capítulos estaminados. Este trabajo incluye la descripción morfológica detallada de la nueva especie, la distribución geográfica, datos del hábitat en que se desarrolla, la fenología y el estatus de conservación. Adicionalmente se examinan los principales caracteres que permiten diferenciar a B. rectialata de las especies morfológicamente más similares y se presenta una clave para la identificación de las especies de subarbustos que pertenecen a B. sect. Caulopterae presentes en Uruguay, junto con ilustraciones, imágenes, y el mapa de distribución de la nueva especie

Baccharis funkiae (Compositae: Astereae), a New Narrow Endemic Species from Uruguay.

Baccharis funkiae, a new species endemic to Uruguay, is described and illustrated here. We also provide field work pictures, etymology, distribution and habitat, and preliminary conservation status information. Comments on how to differentiate it from the morphologically similar B. subopposita, highlighting differences setting the new species apart are discussed. Additionally, a key to the identification of the Uruguayan species belonging to Baccharis subgen. Baccharis sect. Cylindricae is presented

Hormone replacement therapy, mammography screening and changing age-specific incidence rates of breast cancer: an ecological study comparing two European populations

Background: In 2003, for the first time, US breast cancer incidence rates have fallen. Experts argue whether this is due to the reduced uptake of screening mammography or to lower use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). This study aims to disentangle the respective impact of screening and HRT on age-incidence rates and histology of breast cancer, by comparing two populations with comparably high levels of screening mammography, but with different prevalence of HRT. Methods: We included all invasive breast cancers recorded at the Geneva cancer registry (n=4,909) and the Netherlands Cancer Registry (n=152,428) between 1989-2003. We compared age-specific incidence rates and trends in histological subtyping between the two populations. Results: Between 1989-1991, incidence rates increased with age in both populations. In 2001-2003, women aged 60-64years showed highest incidence rates in Geneva, while in the Netherlands incidence rates continued to increase with age. The annual increase in ductal cancer incidence was similar in the Netherlands (2.3%) and Geneva (2.5%), but the annual increase in lobular cancer was sharper in Geneva (10%) than in the Netherlands (5%). Conclusion: The sharp differences in age distribution and histological subtyping of breast cancer between two European populations are not attributable to screening, since both populations have a high uptake of mammography screening. Since the prevalence of HRT use is very high in Geneva and rather low in the Netherlands, HRT may explain these discrepancies. However, other etiological factors and differences in histological assessment may also have played a rol

Herança alimentar: investigação do uso e da variabilidade físico-química do butiá-da-serra (Butia eriospatha, Arecaceae).

Butia eriospatha é uma palmeira nativa vinculada a cultura do Sul do Brasil, que se encontra ameaçada de extinção. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar o conhecimento local e a variabilidade físico-química de B. eriospatha. Foi realizado levantamento etnobotânico através de entrevistas com questionários semi-estruturados nos municípios de Rio das Antas e Curitibanos (SC). Foram avaliados sólidos solúveis totais, pH, acidez titulável, vitamina C, cinzas e matéria seca de três genótipos de uma população natural de Ponte Alta do Norte, e três de Rio das Antas. Utilizou-se ANOVA, e teste de Tukey para comparação das médias dos genótipos. Todas as variáveis apresentaram diferença estatística, havendo também diferenças dentro das populações. Foram realizadas sete entrevistas, onde 13 usos foram mencionados, com sete menções de uso dos frutos, quatro das amêndoas, uma das folhas e uma das espatas. Foi constatada variabilidade entre os genótipos e versatilidade de usos para B. eriospatha

Two noteworthy Calea (Asteraceae: Neurolaeneae) from contact areas of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado of Brazil.

Systematic studies in the Calea myrtifolia complex have revealed two noteworthy new taxa from the contact, relict and transitional areas of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado domains in Brazil: Calea grandiflora and Calea × parviantha, both having been treated as C. myrtifolia, now considered endemic to Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Thus, we herein provide morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographical distribution maps and discuss their taxonomic affinities. Moreover, their potential distributions are predicted. Calea grandiflora is related to C. arachnoidea and is recognized by the basal acrodromous venation (vs. semicraspedodromous), outer phyllary series 12.2?20 × 4.2?10.6 mm long (vs. 9?12 × 3?5 mm), and ray floret corolla 16.9?31 mm long (vs. 10?12 mm). Calea × parviantha is a new nothospecies, supported by a unique set of character states partially shared with the parental species C. parvifolia and C. triantha. The new hybrid species has intermediate morphology, as demonstrated by a multivariate analysis. It differs from C. parvifolia by the hispid, hispidulous or glabrous stems (vs. puberulous or puberulent) and coriaceous leaves (vs. chartaceous leaves), and from C. triantha by the rounded leaf base, sometimes subcordate (vs. cordate) and pappus scales 1.1?2.7 mm long (vs. 0.8?1.3 mm). Furthermore, we provide a taxonomic key for Calea in the states of São Paulo and Paraná