Highlights of This Issue

Colonoscopies are underutilized among individuals who are considered at increased risk of colon cancer. Steffen and colleagues tested the efficacy of a tailored intervention program (TeleCARE) compared to a mailed educational brochure for improving colonoscopy uptake. Compared to participants in the educational brochure group (24.1%), more participants in the TeleCARE program (42.7%) had a medically verified colonoscopy. When cost was not a barrier, the TeleCARE group was almost four times as likely to have a colonoscopy. The TeleCARE intervention effort increased colonoscopy screening, regardless of cost barriers.

Using population-based cancer incidence and mortality data, Henley and colleagues examined U.S. gallbladder cancer incidence, death rates, and trends. The authors report that during 2007–2011, approximately 3,700 persons were diagnosed with primary gallbladder cancer and 2,000 died from the disease each year in the U.S. Two-thirds of gallbladder cancer cases and deaths occurred among women, and gallbladder cancer incidence and death rates were three times higher among American Indian and Alaska Native persons than non-Hispanic white persons.

Thyroid nodules identified on imaging are thought to contribute to the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer. Uppal and colleagues analyzed reports for CT, PET, and MRI scans of the head, neck, and chest as well as neck ultrasounds to determine the true rate of incidental thyroid nodule reporting. Of 97,908 images examined, only 387 (0.4%) were identified as thyroid incidentalomas on radiology reports. This study reveals that clinical reporting of incidental thyroid nodules is not common, and this finding contradicts the notion that incidentalomas contribute significantly to the rising thyroid cancer rates.

Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is a rare aggressive subtype that is less likely to be detected through mammographic screening, and identifying circulating markers associated with BLBC could show promise in detecting and managing BLBC. Wang and colleagues screened 10,000 antigens on protein arrays using 45 BLBC patients and 45 controls, and identified 748 promising plasma autoantibodies (AAbs) associated with BLBC. Thirteen AAbs distinguished BLBC from controls with 33% sensitivity and 98% specificity, and these may improve detection or management of this deadly disease.