Breast Cancer
Western diet ups breast cancer risk among Chinese
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Post-menopausal Chinese women who eat a Western-style diet heavy in meat and sweets face a higher risk of breast cancer than their counterparts who stick to a typical Chinese diet loaded with vegetables and soy, a study found.
The researchers, writing on Tuesday in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, tracked about 3,000 women in Shanghai, about half of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Jefferson oncologists show breast cancers to be more aggressive in African-American women
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A study of more than 2,200 women at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson in Philadelphia shows that African American women have more advanced breast cancer at the time of diagnosis than Caucasian women. In addition, African American women tend to have breast cancer tumor types that are more aggressive and have poorer prognoses. The findings, the researchers say, are in line with other recent studies and provide more powerful evidence of the continuing need for early breast cancer screening for African American women and the development of individual treatment strategies.
The research was led by Edith P. Mitchell, M.D., clinical professor of medicine and medical oncology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and Gloria Morris, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medical oncology at Jefferson Medical College.
Heavy pesticide exposure linked to brain cancer
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Agricultural workers with extensive exposure to pesticides may have an elevated risk of brain cancer, new research suggests.
In a study of nearly 700 adults with or without brain tumors, French researchers found that agricultural workers with the highest level of exposure to pesticides were twice as likely to be diagnosed with brain cancer as those with no occupational pesticide exposure.
Tumor cell activity may provide clues for treating breast cancer in young women
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When women under 50 develop breast cancer the disease tends to be more aggressive and less responsive to treatment than when it occurs in older women. Researchers at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy and the Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center may have discovered a part of the reason why, and their findings may lead to targeted therapies that can help treat patients more effectively.
The researchers discovered that the tumors found in women under the age of 45 have certain patterns of cellular activity that confer a poorer prognosis in younger women, while the same tumor cell activity in older women confers a better prognosis, demonstrating the need for age-appropriate targeted therapies, said Carey Anders, M.D., a fellow in hematology-oncology at Duke and lead investigator on the study. For this study, researchers focused on women under the age of 45 because they were seeking to gather information specific to premenopausal women.
Mammography rates declining in the United States
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Since 2000 mammography rates have declined significantly in the United States, according to a new study. Published in the June 15, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study by Dr. Nancy Breen from the National Cancer Institute and co-authors confirms that screening mammography rates to detect breast cancer fell by as much as four percent nationwide between 2000 and 2005. This is the first study to show that the trend is nationwide among women for whom the test is intended to reduce mortality risk.
Regular mammography is the most efficacious screening test for the early detection of breast cancer available to women today.
Roche aims to make Avastin more affordable in UK
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Switzerland’s Roche Holding AG launched blockbuster drug bevacizumab (Avastin) for breast cancer in Britain on Thursday and said it was working on ways to make the costly medicine more affordable.
Avastin was originally developed for colorectal cancer, but it has also proved effective in treating metastatic breast cancer when given alongside chemotherapy.
Why alcohol boosts breast cancer risk
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A study in mice shows that moderate alcohol consumption stimulates the growth and progression of breast cancer by fueling the development of new blood vessels—a process called “angiogenesis.” It does this by boosting expression of a key growth factor known as vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF.
Drinking alcohol—even moderate amounts - is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer in women. A recent study found that 60 percent of breast cancer cases in women worldwide were attributable to alcohol consumption. But the mechanism(s) of alcohol-induced breast cancer are poorly understood.
Emotional health often strong after breast cancer
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Most older women who survive breast cancer maintain their emotional well-being, though some are at greater risk of a change for the worse, a new study suggests.
Researchers found among a large group of older women they followed for 5 years after breast cancer surgery that the majority showed little change in various measures of emotional health. Some, however, were more likely to suffer a decline—including women who’d initially believed they wouldn’t be cured.
Race differences in breast cancer due to biology
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Differences in how many Hispanic and Caucasian women are diagnosed with breast cancer may be the result of biological factors rather than differences in access to healthcare services, according to finding published in the journal Cancer.
Previous research has shown that the average Hispanic woman who is diagnosed with breast cancer has different characteristics that the average non-Hispanic white women, Dr. Tim Byers, of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, and colleagues write.
World first test potential to identify breast cancer patients who will react badly to radiotherapy
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Medical scientists at the University of Leicester have announced a potentially unique advance in breast cancer research by identifying two genes associated with adverse reaction to cancer treatment.
The research could mean people who might react badly to radiotherapy could be warned in advance or alternative treatments be sought. There is no test at present for an abnormal reaction to radiotherapy. No-one in the past has proposed such a test.
Red and processed meat linked to breast cancer
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Women who eat a lot of meat, particularly red or processed meats, may be more likely to develop breast cancer, according to a large study of British women.
Researchers found that among 35,372 women, between the ages of 35 and 69 years old, who were followed for 8 years, those who ate the largest amount of meat were more likely than non-meat eaters to develop breast cancer before or after menopause.
Fitness gains last in breast cancer survivors
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In a recent study, women getting over breast cancer treatment who participated in an 8-week supervised aerobic and strength training program improved their physical fitness and quality of life. Now, a follow up study of the women indicates that some of the physical fitness gains last well beyond the training period.
This is an important finding, the researchers say, given that it is unrealistic to assume that women will continue with an exercise regimen similar to a supervised training program when they’re on their own.
Mammograms for women in their 40s should be based on individual
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Should all women in their 40s be routinely screened for breast cancer? Not necessarily, according to the American College of Physicians. In a new set of guidelines for clinicians of 40-something patients, the group recommends that mammography screening decisions be made on a case-by-case basis. It advises clinicians to discuss the benefits and harms of screening with the patient, as well as each woman’s individual cancer risk and preference about screening.
The organization based its recommendations, which will be published in the April 3 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, on a rigorous review of evidence showing there is variation in the benefits and harms associated with mammography among women in their 40s. The American College of Physicians is the leading professional organization for internal medicine specialists, with a membership of 120,000.
MRI Detects Most Missed Opposite Breast Cancers in Women
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Up to 10 percent of women newly diagnosed with cancer in one breast develop cancer in the opposite breast. Results of a major clinical trial show that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are highly effective tools for quickly identifying these opposite breast cancers, detecting diseased tissue that other screening methods missed.
In the new trial, conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) and funded by the National Cancer Institute, researchers wanted to determine whether MRI could improve doctors’ ability to identify these opposite breast cancers right at the initial diagnosis – boosting the chances for swift and successful treatment.
‘Triple negative’ breast cancers linked to the young, minority
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So-called “triple negative” breast cancers, tumors that do not contain any of three significant tumor markers, are aggressive, deadly cancers that affect young, poor minority women, according to a new study. Published in the May 1, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study suggests that these tumors are more common among women who are African American and Hispanic, under 40 years old, and who have lower socioeconomic status (SES). The study found triple negative tumors are also associated with later diagnosis and shorter survival.
Tumor and tissue markers provide important information, including disease type and prognosis. Three important markers in breast cancer are estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and progesterone receptor (PR). In particular, these markers are useful in selecting appropriate adjuvant therapy and prognosis. Around 15 percent of breast cancers do not express any of these markers and are generally identified as basal-like subtypes. While these “triple negative” tumors are associated with poor prognosis and survival, hormone adjuvant therapy failure, and are often identified in African American women, little is understood about other associated demographic risk factors.
