RxPG News : Breast Cancer

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (USFNA) of the lymph nodes is -a useful preoperative staging for breast cancer

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:09:03 PST

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (USFNA) of the lymph nodes is a safe, useful, and minimally invasive procedure for diagnosing metastatic disease in patients who are undergoing preoperative staging for breast cancer, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Rhode Island Hospital/Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, RI.

Screening mammography in elderly patients beneficial

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Although guidelines keep changing regarding screening mammography in elderly patients, those older than 70 years old continue to benefit from this exam, showing that with frequent mammograms breast cancers can be found sooner, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Jacobi Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in Bronx, NY.

Obesity causes breast cancer to be aggressive

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:03:17 PST

Women with breast cancer have more aggressive disease and lower survival rates if they are overweight or obese, according to findings published in the March 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Why tumour cells are herceptin resistant

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 07:47:45 PST

UC Davis Cancer Center researchers have discovered a likely reason why some tumor cells are inherently resistant — or become resistant over time — to the popular breast cancer drug trastuzumab, commonly referred to by the brand name Herceptin.

Which is better-Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab? International study to answer this

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:36:33 PST

Two targeted medications designed to treat an aggressive form of breast cancer are being tested in a new study involving 8,000 participants in 50 countries across six continents -- a clinical trial that investigators hope will provide a new model for global cancer research. This trial, dubbed ALTTO (Adjuvant Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimization study), will be one of the first global initiatives in which two large, academic breast cancer research networks covering different parts of the world have jointly developed a study in which all care and data collection are standardized, regardless of where patients are treated.

Breast cancer diagnosis comes late for women in gentrifying neighborhoods

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:30:00 PST

Women who live in Chicago's gentrifying neighborhoods are more apt to receive a late diagnosis of breast cancer than women who live in poverty-stricken neighborhoods, University of Illinois at Chicago researchers have found.

Fighting resistance to tamoxifen- breakthrough in breast cancer treatment

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:17:51 PST

Researchers at the Tenovus Centre for Cancer Research at Cardiff University have made a breakthrough in breast cancer treatment that could help save the lives of women who become resistant to breast cancer drugs such as tamoxifen.

Lapatinib (Tykerb) and capecitabine (Xeloda) shrink breast cancer metastases in the brain

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 09:57:43 PST

A combination of a "targeted" therapy and chemotherapy shrank metastatic brain tumors by at least 50 percent in one-fifth of patients with aggressive HER2-positive breast cancer, according to data presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Osteoporosis drug approved to cut breast cancer risk

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:39:48 PST

In 1997, FDA approved Evista, which is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company, for the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in 1999, for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Study finds new link between estrogen and breast cancer

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 03:37:00 PST

The female sex hormone estrogen turns on a gene linked to breast cancer, according to new research by Brisbane scientists.

Support groups don't extend survival of metastatic breast cancer patients, Stanford study finds

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new study from a team of Stanford University School of Medicine researchers led by David Spiegel, MD, shows that participating in support groups doesn't extend the lives of women with metastatic breast cancer. The results differ from oft-cited previous findings by Spiegel that showed group psychotherapy extended survival time.

Electromagnetic breast imaging techniques offer high contrast and ability to distinguish between healthy breast tissue and abnormal tissue

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:02:00 PST

Dartmouth physicians and engineers have published a paper with results from a five-year project testing three new imaging techniques to examine breast abnormalities, including cancer. The study finds that the new methods of electromagnetic imaging offer a high contrast and the ability to distinguish between healthy breast tissue and abnormal tissue. Their study appears in the May 2007 issue of Radiology, the journal of the Radiological Society of North America.

Study finds difference in survival rates among white and black women with advanced breast cancer

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Despite modest overall improvements in breast cancer survival rates for women with advanced disease over the last two decades, the rates for black women have not improved and the difference in life expectancy between white and black women continues to widen, according to researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

HRT Decline Reduced Breast Cancer Incidence

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:13:18 PST

An extended analysis of cancer rates reinforces a strong association between use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and increased breast cancer incidence, according to research led by scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and published in the April 19th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Should all women in 40s be routinely screened for breast cancer?

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:51:50 PST

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.

Computerized reminders boost mammography screening rates

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:46:38 PST

Findings of a new Mayo Clinic study published this week in Archives of Internal Medicine show that a computerized mail and phone reminder program can significantly increase the percentage of patients receiving preventive health services and improve the value of health care.

Recent declines in breast cancer mortality most significant in women under 70

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:03:56 PST

A new study shows that recent declines in breast cancer mortality rates have been most significant among women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors and women younger than 70. The results of the study are being published online April 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO).

Older women with breast cancer get a lower level of care than younger women

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 01:56:18 PST

Compared to younger women, older women with breast cancer are less likely to be diagnosed via needle biopsy and triple assessment, less likely to undergo surgery and less likely to receive radiotherapy, the researchers report in this week's British Journal of Cancer.

UBC discovery may lead to focussed therapies for metastatic breast, ovarian cancer

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:01:56 PST

New non-toxic and targeted therapies for metastatic breast and ovarian cancers may now be possible, thanks to a discovery by a team of researchers at the University of British Columbia.

Protein identified that regulates effectiveness of Taxol chemotherapy in breast cancer

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 07:58:26 PST

Cancer researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have taken a step towards understanding how and why a widely used chemotherapy drug works in patients with breast cancer.

Gab-2 protein may spur metastasis in breast cancer

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 07:41:04 PST

A protein known for its ability to "bridge" interactions between other cellular proteins may spur metastasis in breast cancer, the diseases deadliest stage, a study from Burnham Institute for Medical Research has found.

Study shows higher mortality rates in African and African American women with breast cancer

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:49:30 PST

African and African American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than their white counterparts because they tend to get the disease before the menopause, suggests new research from the University of East Anglia and the Childrenï¿½s Hospital Boston in collaboration with researchers in the US and Italy.

Breast cancers expressing IGF-1R are resistant to Herceptin

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 08:37:17 PST

Using gene chips to profile tumors before treatment, researchers at Harvard and Yale Universities found markers that identified breast cancer subtypes resistant to Herceptin, the primary treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer. They say this advance could help further refine therapy for the 25 to 30 percent of breast cancer patients with this class of tumor.

Physical activity reduces the risk of invasive breast cancer

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:21:07 PST

Six or more hours per week of strenuous recreational activity may reduce the risks of invasive breast cancer by 23 percent, according to researchers from the University of Wisconsin Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center (UWCCC). Their report in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, based on a survey of over 15,000 women, shows that exercise has a protective effect against invasive breast cancer throughout a womans lifetime.

An integrated single genomic test would reveal ER and HER-2 status of breast cancer

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 02:39:19 PST

Two critical characteristics of breast cancer that are important to treatment can be identified by measuring gene expression in the tumor, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reports in Lancet Oncology online.

Survey reveals that majority of breast cancer survivors do not understand the chance of recurrence

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 02:10:10 PST

A unique survey of African American breast cancer survivors at heightened risk for hereditary breast cancer has found the majority do not believe they have an increased chance of developing the cancer again.

Early switch to aromatase inhibitors significantly improves survival rates in breast cancer

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 03:55:04 PST

For breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen, switching to an aromatase inhibitor within three years significantly improves survival rates, according to a new study. Published in the March 15, 2007 issue of CANCER), a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study reveals that the clear survival benefit was also achieved without an increased risk of death from other causes a significant risk associated with tamoxifen.

New approaches in breast cancer management may lead to exciting new nonsurgical tools

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 03:21:52 PST

Aggressive research currently underway brings hope of dramatic advances in breast cancer management, according to a new review. Published in the March 15, 2007 issue of CANCER a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the review reveals that new approaches in breast cancer imaging, investigations into the timing of chemotherapy, and research on breast cancer vaccines may lead to exciting new nonsurgical tools for the physician treating breast cancer patients. These new tools may significantly alter current screening and treatment paradigms used by surgical oncologists, as well improving the care of patients.

SPECT/CT imaging aids in better sentinel node identification in overweight women

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 11:52:44 PST

Increasing the ability to identify sentinel nodesthe very first lymph nodes that trap cancer cells draining away from a breast lesion sitehas a major impact in the treatment and outcome of breast cancer patients, possibly eliminating the need for unnecessary and painful surgery. Researchers found that using SPECT/CT imaging aids in sentinel node identificationespecially for overweight or obese women, according to a report in the February issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Epigenetic drugs, promising for breast cancer treatment

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 17:14:00 PST

Worldwide, cancer persists as one of the most important diseases that affect the human being. The knowledge on the molecular bases of cancer generated during the last decades has been successfully translated into small but significant gains in overall cancer survival rates due to better primary prevention measures, improved diagnostic methods and the development of more effective and specific therapies, collectively termed "molecular targeted therapies". In the context of these new forms of treatment, epigenetic or transcriptional cancer therapy is clearly promising.

Breast cancer chemotherapy may deterioration in cognitive function

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:32:00 PST

A new study investigating the effects of chemotherapy on cognitive function in mice has confirmed what many cancer patients receiving treatment have often complained about a decline in their memory and other cognitive functions, sometimes characterized as "chemobrain". The study, led by Dr. Gordon Winocur of the Baycrest Research Centre for Aging and the Brain, in collaboration with Drs. Ian Tannock and Janette Vardy of Princess Margaret Hospital, was conducted at Trent University. The findings are published in the September 2006 issue of Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior (Vol. 85, Issue 1), which will be available online in the next week. The results were presented at a workshop held in conjunction with the 8th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology in Venice last week.

Elderly Breast Cancer Patients May Be Under-Diagnosed And Under-Treated

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:34:00 PST

Elderly patients with breast cancer who received care in a community hospital setting may have been under-diagnosed, under-staged and under-treated, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The number of older breast cancer patients has increased along with overall elderly population, according to background information in the article. About half of breast cancer patients are older than 65 years and 35 percent are older than 70; 77 percent of breast cancer deaths occur in women older than 55. Choosing the appropriate treatment for older patients is a challenge, because many have other serious illnesses in addition to their cancer that may threaten their health and shorten their lives. Questions remain about the best screening protocols for elderly women, as well. Some current guidelines suggest that women stop having mammograms at age 70, while others provide no upper limit.

Tissue Geometry Plays Crucial Role in Breast Cell Invasion

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:02:00 PST

Apropos of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, researchers with the U.S. Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have created a first-of-its-kind model for studying how breast tissue is shaped and structured during development. The model may shed new light on how the misbehavior of only a few cells can facilitate metastatic invasion because it shows that the development of breast tissue, normal or abnormal, is controlled not only by genetics but also by geometry. Though created specifically for the study of breast tissue, this model should also be applicable to the study of tissue development in other organs as well.

Ethnic variations in hormone levels may cause differences in breast cancer risk

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:22:00 PST

Researchers have known that a woman's natural hormone levels can affect her risk of developing breast cancer. A new study from the University of Southern California (USC) has found that the natural levels of estrogens in post-menopausal women varies by ethnicity and race, and may explain the differences in the groups' breast cancer rates. The study appears in the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Researchers set benchmarks for screening mammography

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:10:00 PST

A recent study of medical audit data funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) revealed that community mammography screening results surpass performance recommendations across the United States. Approximately 188 mammography facilities nationwide contributed to the study of more than 1.1 million women, who underwent at least one screening mammography exam between 1996 and 2002. The findings are reported in the October issue of Radiology.

Raloxifene Reduces Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women at All Risk Levels

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 12:03:00 PST

Raloxifene protects postmenopausal women from developing invasive breast cancer whether they are at high or low risk of developing the disease, according to a new study. The study, published in the September 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research, also revealed that the drug appears to reduce risk in women with a family history of breast cancer down to a similar level to women without affected relatives. Compared with a placebo drug, the study found that use of raloxifene was associated with a 58 percent reduction in breast cancer risk in women without a family history of the disease, and an 89 percent reduction in risk for women with a family history of breast cancer.

Physical activity improves survival in breast cancer patients

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:45:00 PST

Women who reported the highest levels of physical activity in the year before they were diagnosed with breast cancer may have higher survival, according to a new study.

Pedigree assessment tool correctly identifies women with higher risk of breast cancer

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:40:00 PST

A new screening tool for the general practitioner effectively identifies patients at risk for hereditary breast cancer, according to a new study.

MRI more accurately determines cancer spread into breast ducts

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 17:03:00 PST

MRI is better than MDCT for determining if and how far breast cancer has spread into the breast ducts and should be used before patients receive breast conserving therapy, a new study shows.

Core needle biopsy gives an accurate picture of gene expression

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 16:40:00 PST

The gene expression profile detected in the core needle biopsy of a breast tumour is representative of gene expression in the whole tumour. A study published today in the open access journal Breast Cancer Research confirms the reliability of core needle biopsy as a tool in breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis. The study also shows that the gene expression profile of a core needle biopsy might be more accurate than the profile of a surgical sample taken from the same tumour, after the biopsy was carried out. According to the study results, the biopsy procedure seems to trigger the expression of genes involved in wound healing as well as tumour invasion and metastasis, thus modifying the gene expression profile of subsequent surgical samples.

Ancient war paint in fight against breast cancer

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:20:00 PST

A plant that gave ancient Britons and Celts their blue war paint, has been found to be a rich source of the anti-cancer compound, glucobrassicin, traditionally associated with broccoli. Glucobrassicin has been found to be effective against breast cancer. The war paint, a blue dye, is obtained from Woad, a member of the Brassicaceae family.

Specimen radiography confirms success of MRI-guided breast biopsy

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 12:05:00 PST

Radiologists can help confirm that an MRI-guided breast biopsy has successfully removed the lesion by taking an x-ray of the lesion and slices of the lesion, a new study shows.

Trastuzumab effective in breast cancer cells with low HER-2 levels

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:15:00 PST

Northwestern University and Evanston Northwestern Healthcare researchers have discovered that the monoclonal antibody Herceptin (trastuzumab) used in combination with certain cancer chemotherapies effectively treats breast cancer tumors that produce low or undetectable amounts of the HER-2 oncogene but overexpress the growth factor heregulin (HRG), an activator of the HER-2 cancer oncoprotein. Increased levels of HER-2 are associated with poor patient prognosis, enhanced metastasis (cancer spread) and resistance to chemotherapy.

Breast cancer survivors change lifestyle after diagnosis

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 19:49:00 PST

Breast cancer survivors' beliefs about what may have caused their cancer are connected to whether they make healthy lifestyle changes after a cancer diagnosis. This is the finding of a research study appearing in the August 2006 issue of Psycho-Oncology by researchers at The Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School.

Computer-aided detection improves early breast cancer identification

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:51:00 PST

Computer-aided detection improves breast cancers in both screening and diagnostic patients according to a recent study done by a private practice radiologist in Santa Barbara, CA. The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of CAD in a non-academic setting, most notably its effect on cancer detection in both screening and diagnostic patients. The positive predictive value (PPV) of biopsy recommendations, biopsy rate, and recall rate before and after the introduction of CAD were compared. Then, size, stage, and histology of cancers detected with and without CAD findings were evaluated.

Do close surgical margins predict if breast cancer will return?

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:51:00 PST

A new study published in the August 1, 2006, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, says that cancer cells present after additional surgery for breast cancer may predict whether a woman will see her cancer return.

CHEK2*1100delC mutation may triple breast cancer risk

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:39:00 PST

A study of more than 9,000 Danish residents shows that a specific variation in the CHEK2 gene may triple a woman's risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. The study--the first to examine the prevalence of the CHEK2 mutation in the general population and the associated cancer risk--will be published online July 31 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Google-like process for mammogram images speeds up interpretations

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 15:00:00 PST

To help computers provide faster "second opinions" on mammogram images showing suspicious-looking breast masses, medical physicists at Duke University are employing a Google-like approach that retrieves useful information from an existing mammogram database within three seconds. Rather than comparing the mammogram image in question to every image of breast cancer in a computer database, the new approach compares the mammogram in question to selected images that are most highly ranked for their information content. This is analogous to how a Google search first returns a list of only those websites that it determines to have the most important and useful information on the words entered in the search. In a pilot study that will be presented in August at the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine in Orlando, the approach enabled computers to maintain their high level of accuracy while performing faster analysis. Such speed and efficiency will be important as such image databases rapidly grow larger and more complex.

Breast stem cells have features similar to 'basal' tumors

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 20:15:00 PST

The most aggressive form of breast cancer may originate from breast stem cells that have undergone genetic mishaps. Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium scientists from The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, using mouse models, have discovered that breast stem cells do not express receptors for the female hormones oestrogen or progesterone. These and other features of the stem cell resemble the aggressive 'basal' subtype of breast cancer. There is increasing evidence that breast cancer is not simply a single disease. Scientists now view breast cancer as a heterogeneous disease, made up of various subtypes. This observation has led to speculation that breast tumours are derived from different cell types that could include the breast stem cell or its descendents that have suffered genetic accidents.

New molecular marker of resistance to chemotherapy in breast cancer

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:14:00 PST

A collaborative study between the Hospital Clínic and the Hospital del Mar de Barcelona permits to establish a predictive factor in the resistance to chemotherapy in breast cancer and to establish possible therapeutic targets for the improvement of this treatment. This study has been published this month in the journal Endocrine-Related Cancer and is the result of the work initiated by Dr. Albanell's Group in Hospital Clínic, and finished in Hospital del Mar, where he leads the Unit of Oncology since almost a year. From the beginning, this study had the participation of the Unit of Pathology and Oncology of Hospital del Mar, and the Unit of Research on Cancer Experimental Therapeutics of Hospital del Mar-IMIM.

ATM Gene Fault Doubles Breast Cancer Risk

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 19:19:00 PST

The risk of developing breast cancer is doubled in women who inherit a damaged version of a gene called ATM, according to a study published by Cancer Research UK funded scientists and collaborators in Nature Genetics today (Monday).

Boost radiotherapy effective for ductal carcinoma in situ

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 19:08:00 PST

Radiotherapy of the whole breast followed by a boost could stop the very early stages of breast cancer from returning claim researchers from the international Rare Cancer Network in paper published online today by The Lancet Oncology. This strategy should therefore be considered in addition to surgery for patients with the breast-cancer precursor called ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS.

Chest X-ray exposure increase likelihood of breast cancer among BRCA1/2 mutation carriers

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:30:00 PST

"Since BRCA proteins are integral in repairing damage to breast cells, we hypothesized that women with BRCA 1/2 mutations would be less able to repair damage caused to DNA by ionizing radiation. Our findings support this hypothesis and stress the need for prospective studies."

Raloxifene Effectively Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 03:51:00 PST

Raloxifene and tamoxifen are both effective in reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer, but each has potential disease and quality of life side effects that women and their physicians will need to consider, according to two reports and an editorial published in the June 21 issue of JAMA.

Safe side effect profile for HER-2 positive breast cancer patients using trastuzumab

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 01:29:00 PST

Researchers in the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) have shown that patients who receive trastuzumab at the same time as post-chemotherapy radiation treatments for HER-2 positive breast cancer have no more risk for major side effects or complications than those who do not receive the drug.

MR spectroscopy significantly reduces need for breast biopsy

Wed, 31 May 2006 17:06:00 PST

In a study featured in the June issue of Radiology, researchers found that imaging suspicious breast lesions with magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy reduced the need for biopsy by 58 percent. The investigators, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, discovered that with the addition of MR spectroscopy to their breast MR imaging (MRI) protocol, 23 of 40 suspicious lesions could have been spared biopsy, and none of the resultant cancers would have been missed.

Secret herb in tests to stop breast cancer patients' hot flushes and night sweats

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 19:11:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Manchester are testing a secret herb in a bid to stop the severe hot flushes that besiege breast cancer patients on hormone treatment. Professor Alex Molassiotis, of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, says the herb - one of the mint family, found in any kitchen - is thought to stop the hot flushes and night sweats which can be so bad that some women have to change their clothes three or four times a night.

Terahertz imaging may reduce breast cancer surgeries

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 19:37:00 PST

A promising new technique to ensure complete tumor removal at breast cancer excision is introduced in the May issue of Radiology. Researchers used light waves in a newly explored region of the electromagnetic spectrum--the terahertz region--to examine excised breast tissue and determine if the removed tissue margins were clear of cancer, with good results. This technology has the potential to eliminate the need for multiple surgeries and tissue samples to get clear surgical margins.

Three-dimensional breast stem cell cultures reveal unexpected subtleties in malignancies

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:28:00 PST

Stem cells and how to boost them is hot on the research agenda. But stopping them could be critical too, as evidence implicating stem cells in cancer is mounting. In the human breast, up to 20 per cent of all tumours are now suspected to originate in stem cells. Now scientists from the Icelandic Cancer Society and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland have grown three-dimensional breast cell cultures to reveal unexpected subtleties about these stem cells that could explain why they spawn malignancies.

Chemotherapy gel - Polymer based therapy for breast cancer

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:23:00 PST

Women who undergo surgery for breast cancer followed by radiation therapy often experience breast deformities that can only be corrected through reconstructive surgery. Researchers at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, in collaboration with bioengineers at Carnegie Mellon University, have developed a polymer-based therapy for breast cancer that could serve as an artificial tissue filler after surgery and a clinically effective therapy.

STAR Study: Raloxifene is as effective as Tamoxifen in reducing Breast Cancer Risk

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 17:13:00 PST

The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, or STAR, is a clinical trial designed see how the drug raloxifene compares with the drug tamoxifen in reducing the incidence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women what are at increased risk of the disease. (See a summary of the protocol.) One of the largest breast cancer prevention studies ever, STAR took place at more than 500 centers across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Breast implants don't cause cancer - Study

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 15:50:00 PST

The longest follow-up study to date of cancer incidence among women with silicone breast implants shows having implants does not put women at an increased risk for cancer, in fact, breast implants were actually shown to be associated with a decreased breast cancer risk.

Breast Cancer Prognosis May Improve With Newer Chemotherapy

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 22:34:00 PST

An updated analysis of findings from three major consecutive clinical trials of breast cancer treatment conducted over the past twenty years indicates that women who have breast cancer with lymph node involvement and estrogen-receptor negative tumors have a lower rate of recurrence and risk of death with treatment with newer chemotherapies, according to a study in the April 12 issue of JAMA.

Estrogen May Not Be a Risk Factor for Carcinoma Breast

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 22:46:00 PST

Postmenopausal women treated with estrogen therapy for seven years did not experience an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a study

Appetite-Inducing Hormone Receptor Y1 Found Active in Breast Cancer

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:35:00 PST

A hormone receptor with regulatory roles as diverse as food intake, fear response, and cardiovascular function may also be involved in breast cancer, according to UC researchers. The UC research team, led by Hassane Amlal, PhD, and Sulaiman Sheriff, PhD, report their laboratory findings on the hormone, neuropeptide Y, and its receptor in the April edition of the journal Cancer Research.

Social isolation increases breast cancer death risk

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:16:00 PST

Breast cancer patients who have no close relatives or friends are more likely to die of the disease than those socially integrated, says a study.

New risks identified after early breast cancer

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:58:00 PST

A new study of women with early stage, localized breast cancer identifies new patterns and risk factors for invasive disease that may influence how patients are treated. Published in the May 15, 2006 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study reveals that patients with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) are actually at higher risk of developing advanced stage tumors than previously thought. In addition, women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who are under 50 years old, African-American or Hispanic are at increased risk of developing advanced stage invasive tumors.

COX-2 Inhibitors Significantly Reduce Risk of Cancer

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 23:40:00 PST

Results from a new, five-year study show that regular use of popular prescription pain relievers may reduce the risk of breast cancer by up to 71 percent and may offer similar benefit in the prevention of prostate, colon and lung cancers.

Prediction model to Determine Recurrence in Breast Cancer

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:44:00 PST

International researchers have developed a prediction model to assist doctors in determining the chance of recurrence of cancer in high-risk breast cancer patients who have undergone a mastectomy followed by radiation therapy. The study was published in the April 2006 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

HOXB13 and IL17BR in breast cancer predicts risk of recurrence

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:13:00 PST

The 2-gene expression profile of HOXB13 and IL17BR in a womans breast cancer predicts risk of recurrence in node-negative patients treated with tamoxifen

Failures in the Management of Elderly Women with Breast Cancer

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 12:58:00 PST

Breast cancer is one of the highest-profile diseases in women in developed countries. Although the risk for women younger than 30 years is minimal, this risk increases with age. One-third of all breast cancer patients in Sweden, for example, are 70 years or older at diagnosis. Despite these statistics, few breast cancer trials take these older women into account. Considering that nowadays a 70-year-old woman can expect to live for at least another 1216 years, this is a serious gap in clinical knowledge, not least because in older women breast cancer is more likely to be present with other diseases, and doctors need to know whether cancer treatment will affect or increase the risk for these diseases.

Pregnant women should not ignore breast cancer symptoms

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 21:09:00 PST

Ultrasound provides a safe and accurate method of detecting breast cancers in pregnant women, as well as assessing response to chemotherapy, according to a study appearing in the April issue of Radiology. Investigators at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston recently studied the largest group of women to date who were both diagnosed and treated for breast cancer during pregnancy.

Weight training benefits mind and body of breast cancer survivors

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 16:35:00 PST

Weight training significantly improves the quality of life of women recently treated for breast cancer, according to a new study. Published in the May 1, 2006 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study indicates six months of twice weekly exercise that improved strength and body composition was enough to result in improvements in the overall physical and emotional condition of the patients. This is the first randomized trial to study the effects of weight training on quality of life in breast cancer patients.

Million Women Study: Not all breast cancers' risk are increased by HRT

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:30:00 PST

Recent research presented today at EBCC-5 from the million women study found that taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) increased the risk of some types of breast cancer, but not others. Scientists analysed the data from the UK study to try and find a link between HRT and the type of breast cancer that developed. The research found that women who took HRT had an increased risk of developing lobular cancer (affecting the cells in the ducts of the milk-producing glands) and tubular cancer. There was not such an increased risk of developing ductal breast cancer, the most common type of breast cancer that affects the cells lining the milk duct. There was no increase in the risk of medullary breast cancer, a kind of cancer that is common in women with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer.

Breast asymmetry predicts breast cancer

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:18:00 PST

Women who go on to develop breast cancer tend to have breasts that are less symmetrical than women who don't develop the cancer. A study published today in Breast Cancer Research reveals that breast asymmetry could be a reliable independent predictor of breast cancer. The study found that the relative odds of developing breast cancer increased by 1.5 with each 100ml increase in breast asymmetry.

Breast Screening Information Should be More Balanced

Sat, 04 Mar 2006 15:05:00 PST

The information sent to women about breast screening needs to be more balanced to ensure women are adequately informed about the benefits and harms, say researchers in this weeks BMJ.

Malmö mammographic screening trial: Over-diagnosis in breast cancer screening

Sat, 04 Mar 2006 15:02:00 PST

Screening women for breast cancer could result in a 10% rate of over-diagnosis, finds a study published online by the BMJ today.

All benign papillary lesions of the breast should be surgically excised, new study suggests

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 15:28:00 PST

Certain breast lesions diagnosed as benign on core needle biopsy have cancer at surgical excision and thus should be removed, according to a study appearing in the March issue of Radiology.

Eating less fat may lower breast-cancer risk

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 11:41:00 PST

Women's Health Initiative study of nearly 50,000 postmenopausal women across the United States provides first solid data on health effects of a low-fat diet. Adopting a low-fat diet in later life and following such a regimen for nearly a decade does not appear to have a significant impact on reducing the overall risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer or heart disease, according to a Women's Health Initiative study that involved nearly 50,000 postmenopausal women across the United States. The results of the federally funded dietary modification study will be published in a series of three papers two with lead authors at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and all three involving co-authors from the Hutchinson Center in the Feb. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA. The study the first attempt to test the health impact of a low-fat diet in a randomized, controlled trial, considered the gold standard of clinical and public-health study design did, however, uncover some encouraging trends, according to Hutchinson Center biostatistician Ross L. Prentice, Ph.D., lead author of the JAMA paper that describes the impact of a low-fat diet on breast-cancer risk, one of the primary goals of the study.

A new site for cancer chemotherapy - Breast ducts?

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 23:48:00 PST

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers are studying whether delivering chemotherapy drugs directly to breast "plumbing" might make treatment of early breast cancer easier on the patient and at least as good as surgery or radiation.

Minimal disfigurment treatment option for early breast cancers

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 01:39:00 PST

Guidelines for International Breast Health and Cancer Control Released

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:27:00 PST

Specific recommendations for improving breast-health care and cancer treatment in countries with limited resources have been published by the Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI), an international coalition of doctors, scientists, policy makers and advocates led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Predictive Role of Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy (SRS) in Breast Cancer

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 15:05:00 PST

Innovative use of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS), a nuclear medicine imaging technique looking at how the body functions at the molecular level, may provide near immediate selection of breast cancer patients for endocrine therapy and offers a new tool in fighting the disease, according to a study published in the January Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Radioactive seeds might reduce the burden of treatment for women suffering from early-stage breast cancer

Wed, 04 Jan 2006 16:15:00 PST

Doctors in Canada are studying the effectiveness of permanent radiation seed implants following lumpectomy as an alternative to whole or partial breast irradiation for early-stage breast cancer patients, according to a study published in the January 1, 2006, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology. This type of radiation would cut treatment time for certain patients from several weeks to one day.

Higher levels of BCA2 are protective for regional breast cancer recurrence

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:02:00 PST

Researchers at Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre have found a new protein marker linked to positive outcome in patients with breast cancer. The research published today in Cancer Research is the first to show that patients with high levels of the protein BCA2 are less likely to experience breast cancer re-occurrence than patients with low levels of BCA2.

Mammaglobin Blood Test Reliably Detects Breast Cancer Recurrence

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:22:00 PST

Physicians treating women with breast cancer recognize the need for a specific and sensitive method to monitor disease recurrence, so they should be encouraged by a new study that describes a biomarker that seems to fill those criteria. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown that mammaglobin, a protein secreted by breast tumor cells, can readily be detected in the blood serum of patients with metastatic breast cancer using an inexpensive, reliable clinical test.

HERA (HERceptin Adjuvant) Breast Cancer Trial Published in NEJM

Fri, 21 Oct 2005 16:01:00 PST

Today, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) reports that the administration of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) following standard chemotherapy significantly reduces the risk of disease recurrence for women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer by 46%. The interim results from the international HERA (HERceptin Adjuvant) study provide new hope in the fight against HER2-positive breast cancer, a more aggressive form of the disease affecting approximately 20 30% of women with breast cancer . The HERA study is one of the largest breast cancer trials ever carried out, with more than 5,000 patients in 39 countries. The study allowed the use of a wide range of chemotherapy regimens before treatment with Herceptin, making the results relevant to many parts of the world.

High Risk African American Women may Benefit from Breast Cancer Gene Testings

Wed, 19 Oct 2005 20:18:00 PST

African American women at high-risk of breast cancer have genetic mutations that would make genetic testing feasible, according to a study in the October 19 issue of JAMA. Because of recent advances in the understanding of breast cancer risk factors and the promise of prevention, women from high-risk families are encouraged to consider genetic testing to quantify their risk, according to background information in the article. An estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancer cases occur in individuals with inherited mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes. Germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are by far the most common and account for 80 percent to 90 percent of families containing multiple cases of breast and ovarian cancer. The proportion of breast cancer attributed to mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 has varied widely among different studies and different ethnic groups. Of note, one of the largest ethnic minorities in the United States, the African American population, remains understudied, despite having a proportionately higher incidence of early-onset breast cancer. Many of the risk-assessment tools used in cancer risk clinics, such as the BRCAPRO statistical model, were developed based on mutation rates observed primarily in Ashkenazi Jewish and other white women of European descent.

Black breast cancer patients have shorter survival - Reasons

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 19:46:00 PST

Black breast cancer patients have shorter survival than white breast cancer patients largely because of a higher rate of other disorders, such as diabetes and hypertension, according to a study in the October 12 issue of JAMA.

Role of stem cell niche in breast cancer development

Tue, 04 Oct 2005 19:56:00 PST

Researchers at Georgetowns Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that the onset of breast cancer may be due to defects in somatic adult stem cell niches that exist long before tumors develop.

Breast Implants Do Not Cause Breast Cancer Recurrence In Mastectomy

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 13:17:00 PST

Women interested in immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy should not worry that their implants could cause, hinder detection of, or affect treatment of cancer recurrence, according to a study presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2005 conference in Chicago.

Cancer Screening Useful in Breast Reduction Surgery Patients

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 13:07:00 PST

Twelve percent of breast reduction patients may have abnormal pathologies placing them at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, according to a study presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2005 conference in Chicago. In addition, the authors found it more cost effective to screen breast reduction patients of all ages, not just those over 40, the age when routine screening mammography is recommended.

Digital mammography better for many women

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 12:42:00 PST

A new study that enrolled nearly 50,000 women has revealed that digital mammography can detect breast cancer better than conventional film-based mammography in certain groups of women.

BCIRG Study Showed Reduction in the Risk of Disease Recurrence in Early-Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 21:28:00 PST

Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) today announced that a planned interim analysis of a Phase III trial of Herceptin® (Trastuzumab) plus chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting showed a significant reduction in the risk of disease recurrence in women with early-stage (or cancer that has not spread beyond the breast and associated lymph nodes) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)- positive breast cancer. The international study was supported by sanofi-aventis and Genentech, and conducted by the Breast Cancer International Research Group (BCIRG), who plans to submit the data to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), December 8 to 11, 2005.

Self reported stress and risk of breast cancer

Sat, 10 Sep 2005 00:10:00 PST

High levels of daily stress appear to result in a lower risk of developing breast cancer for the first time, says a study in this week's BMJ.

Scaramanga Genes Bond With Breast Cancer Discovered

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 01:34:00 PST

Breakthrough Breast Cancer today announce that UK scientists have discovered that a gene named after the James Bond villain Scaramanga can trigger the development of breasts. This has important implications for breast cancer, as reported in the journal Genes and Development.

Frozen section analysis reduces need for repeat breast surgeries

Tue, 06 Sep 2005 00:04:00 PST

Women with breast cancer who undergo lumpectomy could avoid a return trip to the operating room, thanks to a laboratory test that quickly confirms whether surgeons have removed the entire tumor before their patients head home, University of Florida physicians report.

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy useful in large breast tumors

Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:54:00 PST

New breast cancer research shows for the first time that even women with large breast tumors can benefit from a less invasive biopsy method that has been reserved until now for women with small breast cancers.

Breast Cancer Risk Decreases With Weight Loss In Women With BRCA1 Mutation

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 16:49:00 PST

Women with a mutation in the gene BRCA1, which predisposes women to breast cancer, are 65% less likely to develop the disease if they lose weight between 18 and 30 years of age. Research published in the open access journal Breast Cancer Research suggests that young women with this genetic predisposition should avoid putting on weight in early adulthood, especially if they plan to have children.

Breast cancer cells are unable to move without SphK1 and SphK2 kinases

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 16:41:00 PST

Researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have found a new signaling component that influences movement of human breast cancer cells toward epidermal growth factor.