Cohort profile: the CARTaGENE Cohort Nutrition Study (Quebec, Canada)
The researchers aimed to address emerging nutritional epidemiological research questions, using data from the CARTaGENE cohort. Dietary information was collected making it a rich resource for the exploration of diet in the etiology of many health outcomes. They found that dietary intake and quality varied among participants but generally met recommended nutrient levels. Along with other findings, the Canadian Healthy Eating Index 2005 (C-HEI) scores were higher among never smokers, those with higher education, and those with more physical activity compared to current smokers, less than high school education, and those with lower physical activity.
Early Changes in Tumor-Naive Cell-Free Methylomes and Fragmentomes Predict Outcomes in Pembrolizumab-Treated Solid Tumors
The researchers investigated pharmacodynamic biomarkers of response to pembrolizumab in 106 patients with advanced solid tumors. Researchers analyzed genome-wide methylation and fragment-length profiles using cfMeDIP-seq in 204 plasma samples from 87 patients. Two cohorts of normal control cfMeDIP-seq data, including 72 healthy women from the Ontario Health Study, were used for comparison. CSM and FLS are strongly correlated with tumor-informed ctDNA levels. The study found that early kinetics of cancer-specific methylation (CSM) predicted overall survival and progression-free survival, independent of tumor type, PD-L1, and tumor mutation burden. The researchers’ tumor-naïve mutation-agnostic ctDNA approach integrating methylomics and fragmentomics could predict outcomes in patients treated with pembrolizumab.
The mediating role of health behaviors in the association between depression, anxiety and cancer incidence: An individual participant data meta-analysis
Researchers investigated how various health behaviors might mediate the relationships between depression, anxiety, and the onset of different types of cancer. They conducted individual participant data meta-analyses using participants from 18 cohorts from the Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence consortium.The cohorts analyzed included the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health, Ontario Health Study, and CARTaGENE. The findings suggested that smoking serves as a mediating factor that connects depression and anxiety with lung cancer and other cancers related to smoking.
Psychosocial factors, health behaviors and risk of cancer incidence: Testing interaction and effect modification in an individual participant data meta-analysis
Researchers determined whether psychosocial factors interact with or modify the effects of health behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol use, in relation to cancer incidence. Data were used from 22 cohorts, including the Ontario Health Study, Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health, and CARTaGENE. After exploring 744 combinations of psychosocial factors, the researchers found no evidence that psychosocial factors interacted with or modified health behaviors related to cancer incidence.
The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Canada: a time-series study, 2020-2023
This study used data from the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, which includes CanPath data, to track the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the Canadian population over the pre-vaccination period, the vaccine rollout, and the emergence of the Omicron variant. By March 2023, over three-quarters of the population had detectable antibodies, with the most substantial increases seen after the arrival of the Omicron variant. However, variations in immunity by age and geography highlight the importance of tailoring public health policies and clinical decisions to local patterns of population immunity, considering factors like potential antibody decline and the emergence of new variants that might evade immunity.
Depression, anxiety, and the risk of cancer: An individual participant data meta-analysis
Researchers performed meta-analyses within the Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence (PSY-CA) consortium to develop a stronger foundation for addressing associations between depression, anxiety, and the incidence of various cancer types. They found that depression and anxiety are not related to increased risk for most cancer outcomes, except for lung and smoking-related cancers.
Provincial variation in colorectal cancer screening adherence in Canada; evidence from the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health
The researchers sought to assess regional variation in screening uptake, identify factors to non-adherence to screening, and estimate adherence to screening in those with differing risk profiles. Using national CanPath data, they found adherence suboptimal amongst Canadians and noticed variation by region.
Genetic analyses of DNA repair pathway associated genes implicate new candidate cancer predisposing genes in ancestrally defined ovarian cancer cases
Les chercheurs ont étudié des familles présentant des antécédents de cancer de l’ovaire qui ne pouvaient être expliqués par des facteurs de risque génétiques connus. En utilisant des témoins sains de CARTaGENE, ils ont appliqué une approche ciblée sur les gènes et ont trouvé des variantes génétiques rares dans les gènes de la voie de réparation de l’ADN, en particulier dans ERCC5, EXO1, FANCC, NEIL1 et NTHL1, dans une partie importante de ces familles.
Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative: Powering genetic discovery across human disease
L’Initiative mondiale de méta-analyse des biobanques est un réseau collaboratif de 23 biobanques, représentant plus de 2,2 millions de participants consentants dont les données génétiques sont liées aux dossiers de santé électroniques. Cet effort de collaboration améliorera le pouvoir des études d’association pangénomiques pour les maladies, profitera aux maladies peu étudiées et améliorera la prédiction des risques.
Harnessing the power of data linkage to enrich the cancer research ecosystem in Canada
Ce résumé traite d’un projet destiné à coupler les données administratives du registre du cancer et les données administratives sur la santé à la plus grande étude sur la santé de la population au Canada, le Partenariat canadien pour la santé de demain (CanPath). Le projet vise à enrichir l’écosystème de la recherche sur le cancer au Canada en fournissant aux chercheurs un ensemble de données complet qui comprend des données sur la génétique, l’environnement, le mode de vie et le comportement. Les données couplées seront rendues disponibles au moyen d’une solution infonuagique appelée CanPath Data Safe Haven, qui est accessible aux chercheurs grâce à un protocole sécurisé. Le projet répondra aux préoccupations liées à l’accessibilité des données sur le cancer au Canada, apportera plus de valeur aux données existantes et favorisera une meilleure compréhension des répercussions du cancer sur les populations marginalisées.