News News ces" and the success rate should be higher. For DNA analysis, O'Brien said, "the biggest, fattest, densest" bones are best, because accumulated layers of bone deposits trap osteocytes (bone cells) as bone grows, providing the best protection of genetic material. At La Brea, of 465 animal fossils unearthed in excavations over the past 80 years, 59 are large mammals, ranging in age from 10,000 to 38,000 years. Nearly half of these mammals are extinct, including the giant ground sloth, the American lion, the dire wolf, the mastodon, and S. fatalis (formerly known as S. californicus, the California saber-toothed cat). Among the large mammal species in the tar pits, the saber-toothed cat has long been considered one of the most provocative and interesting because it existed successfully in North America for thousands of years.

Feline Families The phylogenetic placement of S. fatalis has remained unclear, O'Brien said, despite a "fairly good consensus" among scientists that there were two branches of saber-toothed cats, rather than a single family. Now, in addition to distinct structural differences between S. fatalis and the ancient cat species, he said, it turns out there are clear genetic differences between the two cats. "When we consider that 99.9% of all the species that once lived are now extinct," O'Brien said, "the prospect of evaluating fossil DNA adds an exciting dimension to both paleontological studies and to the interpretation of modem genome organization." Details of the NCI work appeared in the October 15 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. —Susan Jenks 1618

Survey Says Leading Firms Support Mammography A recent survey of Fortune 500 companies showed that more than half of the nation's largest firms encourage employees to have breast cancer screening. The survey, conducted and released last month by ICI Pharmaceuticals

Group, Wilmington, Del., showed that 76%, or 360 of the 472 businesses surveyed, provided insurance coverage for mammography screening, an 11% increase from 2 years ago. Over 72% of the insurance providers for these firms covered the cost of breast cancer screening for the wives of male employees. In addition, 31%, or 146 firms, brought mobile mammography equipment to the workplace to encourage screening, and 28%, or 132 businesses, offered breast self-examination classes to female employees.

Fortune 500 Companies Joii The Cancer Prevention Bandwagon According to a new national survey released today, a growing number of companies among the Fortune 500 are getting on the early detection bandwagon. The survey, which was conducted on behalf of NBCAM, shows that: • 76% of the Fortune 500 now provide insurance coverage for mammography screening, an 11% increase since 1990; • 31% also bring mobile mammography equipment at least once a year to company premises; • 28% offer classes to female employees in breast self-examination. The survey results indicate a growing trend in corporate support for on-site mammography screening and breast self-examination classes. Survey trends are as follows: 1990 1991 1992 Does your insurance cover mammography screening for female employees?

65%

If so, are spouses of male employees also covered? Do you have mammography equipment on company premises?

.6%

71%

76%

68%

72%

1.46%

1.5%

Do you bring mobile mammography equipment to company premises?

30%

29%

31%

Do you offer your employees classes in breast self-examination?

26%

26%

28%

Journal of the National Cancer Institute

News News The survey demonstrates a growing trend among American businesses to encourage prevention efforts in order to save millions of dollars each year that would have otherwise been lost to hospitalization, and lost production time due to sick leave.

Liver Cancer Researchers Linking Risk Factors to Prevention, Genetics

Own Equipment

Despite the fact that the major causes of liver cancer have been identified, this disease is one of the most widespread and uniformly fatal cancers worldwide. So while researchers are beginning to explore the intricacies of the relationship between the genetic and environmental factors that cause the disease, others are looking to put current knowledge to practical use. Hepatocellular cancer appears more frequently in men than in women by a 3 to 1 ratio. Why? "There is no clear explanation [for this] at the molecular or biological level," said Thierry Poynard, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at the Hopital Antoine Beclere in Clamart, France. At the 8th International Symposium on Cancer Research in Charleston, S.C.,

Eight of the companies surveyed said they provide their own mammography equipment, enabling female employees to get free mammograms on company time, on or near the company's premises. Although these firms said state-ofthe-art medical equipment represented a substantial initial investment, the five cases of early breast cancer found resulted in a savings of more than $248,000 in lost wages and expected medical cost. Among the eight were Adolph Coors Company, E.I. DuPont de Nemours Co., Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and The Upjohn Company. The survey was released in October as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sponsors of NBCAM include the American Academy of Family Physicians, the National Cancer Institute, the American College of Radiology, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Cancer Society, and the Capitol Council for Early Detection, a group composed of wives and daughters of U.S. presidents and vice presidents.

"Supporting early detection is good business and good corporate citizenship," said Susan Ford Bales, daughter of former President Gerald Ford and chair of NBCAM. "Everybody in the company wins when someone in the work force beats breast cancer."

Vol. 84, No. 21, November 4, 1992

No Cirrhosis, No Cancer Cirrhosis is the main biomarker for progression to cancer. "As soon as you progress in the understanding of the cause of cirrhosis, you can decrease the cause of the cancer," said Poynard. "No cirrhosis, no cancer." In the United States, cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol consumption is the main risk factor. Other environmental factors that increase risk for cirrhosis (and then for liver cancer) include infection with hepatitis B or C virus and exposure to aflatoxins (the toxin produced by fungus on stored peanuts and other foods). Studies show that about 10 years after cirrhosis is diagnosed, cancer is seen. In France, the average age for cirrhosis due to alcohol is SO, while the average age for liver cancer is 60. This 10-year lag is also seen with hepatitis as the initiating factor in cirrhosis.

Costly Vaccine

Early Detection

—Francis X. Mahaney, Jr.

Poynard presented various prevention strategies to reduce liver cancer incidence worldwide, based on known risk factors.

Dr. Thierry Poynard

At this point, hepatitis B and C infections could ostensibly be treated with interferons, said Poynard, although prevention of the initial infection is preferable. While a good hepatitis B vaccine exists, it is still too costly for many countries. Almost 4 billion people — three-quarters of the world's population — live in areas of intermediate or high prevalence for the hepatitis B virus. "I am

NEWS

1619

Survey says leading firms support mammography.

News News ces" and the success rate should be higher. For DNA analysis, O'Brien said, "the biggest, fattest, densest" bones are best, because accumula...
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