Smoking was banned in Californian bars a decade ago, and this week England follows suit. But Kris Novak finds that epidemiologists are still arguing about the effects of second-hand smoke.

Common infections that affect mothers and babies might trigger certain types of childhood cancer, according to a report in the December issue of the European Journal of Cancer.A team led by Richard McNally (University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK) analysed more than 3,000 childhood cancer cases, in individuals of 0-14 years of age, that occurred over a 45-year period.They found unusual clusters of brain tumours and leukaemia that were typical of infection-related diseases (BBC News, 12 December 2005)."We found that place of birth was particularly significant, which suggests that an infection in the mother while she is carrying her baby, or in a child's early years, could be a trigger factor in cancer … these could be minor common illnesses, such as a cold, mild flu or

Any test that can deliver a prognosis for cancer will save lives and spell big business. Several companies are developing tests that analyze the gene expression patterns of tumors. The makers of these tests are hopeful but some experts say it's unclear whether they have been validated enough.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) prevent colorectal cancer, but their anticancer mechanism has not been resolved. In Science, Maria Domenica Castellone et al.COX2) enzyme, NSAIDs interfere with a G-protein-coupled-receptor signalling pathway that normally promotes cell proliferation.

Genetic chips that promise to predict the outcome of cancer are rushing into the market. But are they reliable? Kris Novak reports.

Chicago octogenarian Janet Rowley has always strived to balance a stellar research career with the needs of her family. Even working only part time for more than 20 years, she was the first to discover that chromosome translocations can trigger cancer.