Archive for the ‘breast cancer’ Category

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Risk of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer May Be Increased by Obesity

Friday, March 18th, 2011

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Research published in Cancer Epidemiology: Biomarkers & Prevention confirmed that obesity and lack of physical activity increase the risk of triple-negative breast cancer among women. Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 10 to 20 percent of all breast cancers, has a poor prognosis. and is a subtype of breast cancer characterized by a lack of estrogen, progesterone and HER2 expression.

The researchers analyzed data from over 155,700 women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative. Assessing levels of baseline body mass index (BMI) and recreational activities among 307 women with triple-negative breast cancer and 2,610 women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer they found that women with the highest BMI had a 35% increase risk of triple-negative breast cancer and a 39% increased risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. While evaluating the role of exercise they found that those who reported
high rates of physical activity had a 23 percent decrease risk of triple-negative breast cancer and a 15% decrease risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

More information is available at:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301142011.htm

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Risk of 'Triple-Negative' Breast Cancer Increases for Women with Multiple Childbirths

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

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Research published online ahead of the March 16 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded that women who have more births are at an increased risk of triple-negative breast cancer, a relatively uncommon but aggressive subtype of breast cancer. In addition, women who do not give birth have a 40% less risk of this type of breast cancer but have about a 40% higher risk of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer compared to women who have one or more children. Triple-negative breast cancer has a poor prognosis and does not respond to hormone blocking therapies such as tamoxifen. The study reinforced the idea that breast cancer is not just one disease.

The researchers analyzed detailed reproductive histories of over 150,000 postmenopausal women and over 300 of these developed triple-negative breast cancer. The researcher concluded “More research is needed to better understand the causes of the most aggressive and lethal forms of breast cancer. While this study adds to our knowledge base, it should not change women’s approach to breast cancer screening.”

More information is available at: http://www.cancer-health.info/?p=26230

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Starting Hormone Therapy Near Menopause May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

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A new research study published in the January 28 online issue of The Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that there is a greater risk of breast cancer when starting hormone therapy around the time of menopause as opposed to starting five years of more after menopause. This adds to the knowledge from previous studies that looked at hormone replacement as increasing the risk of breast cancer without considering the timing around menopause. Some of these were previously presented on this blog.
The current study was a large prospective study with a cohort of women (1.13 million) in which the researchers estimated the adjusted relative risk of breast cancer in hormone therapy users and past users, compared to non-users. They also looked at the type of hormone therapy used. They found that those who started hormone therapy 5 or more years following menopause had little or no risk of breast cancer regardless of type of hormone therapy used. the length of time used, and whether or not they were obese. They also found that women who started hormone therapy at menopause were at greater risk than those who started it later.

More information is available at:

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/01/28/jnci.djr048.full

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Annual Mammograms After Age 40 Reduces Breast Cancer Deaths

Friday, February 4th, 2011

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Contrary to recommendations by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for mammogram screening of every other year for women age 50 to 74 and none for women between age 40 and 49 the researchers found that annual screenings as recommended by the American Cancer Society guidelines for screening every year from age 40 to 84 would save 71% more lives than the method recommended for less frequent screening.

Using the same model used by the task force, the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network, and comparing the guidelines of the task force with the American Cancer Society guidelines they found: 1) women who began annual mammograms at age 40 reduced their breast cancer deaths by 40 percent, and 2) those receiving mammograms annually from age 50 to 84 instead of every other year reduced their breast cancer risk by 23 percent and 3) the difference in these two screening approaches was a 71 percent increase in lives saved using the yearly screening approach.

More information is available at:

http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/content/abstract/196/2/W112

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2405900/new_mammogram_advice_and_breast_cancer.html

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Breast Cancer Survival and Freedom From Recurrence Improved with Strong Social Ties

Wednesday, January 26th, 2011

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A recent research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology concluded that breast cancer patients with strong social ties during the first year following diagnosis have a greater probability of survival and freedom from recurrence than those without social support.

Between 2002 and 2004 over 2,200 breast cancer survivors completed a quality of life survey 6 months and 36 months(for most) after diagnosis. Questions about physical issues such as sleep, eating, and pain, psychological well being, social support and material well being were answered and answers were converted to an overall quality of life score. At a medium follow up of 4.8 years following the initial quality of life assessment patients who had died or been diagnosed with a recurrence were documented.

Six months following diagnosis the only significant association in the data related to dying or a recurrence of cancer was social well-being. Comparing women with the lowest social well-being quality of life score to those with the highest , the women with the highest scores had a 48% reduction in their risk of a cancer recurrence and a 38% reduction in their risk of death.

The strongest predictor of cancer recurrence was emotional support and women who reported the highest satisfaction with marriage and family had a 43 % risk reduction, those with strong social support had a 40% risk reduction, and those with a favorable interpersonal relationships had a 35% risk reduction of cancer recurrence. Although the social support network influenced cancer recurrence and survival during the first year after diagnosis, this association decreased thereafter and by the 3rd year was no longer statistically significant. The authors identified possible reasons for this decline. However, the researchers concluded “Our research supports previous studies that found a benefit for breast cancer patients who have a meaningful emotional support network.”

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A Breast Cancer Risk Factor May be a Diet High in Fat and Cholesterol.

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

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In a recent study publishes in the American Journal of Pathology researchers concluded that high levels of fat and cholesterol in the typical American diet is a risk factor in the growth and development of breast cancer. Using a mouse model with subjects and a controls predisposed to develop mammary tumors those fed a Western diet high in fat developed larger tumors that were faster growing and metastasized more easily than the mice eating a control diet. Although dietary fat and cholesterol have been shown to be a risk factor in tumor development and progression the results of diet-based studies in humans have been contradictory. Consequently; the researchers used animal models of human cancer to evaluate a link between cholesterol, diet and cancer.

All mice predisposed to breast tumors were placed on a diet containing 21.2 percent fat and 0.2 percent cholesterol that is reflective of a typical Western diet (subjects) or a diet of 4.5 percent fat and minimal cholesterol (control group). Tumors began to grow quickly in the research subjects and were double in number and 50 percent larger than those in the control group. There was also a trend toward an increased number of lung metastasis in the subjects. Biomarkers of tumor progression also confirmed more advanced cancer stage in the subjects compared to the controls.

More information is available at:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/213073.php

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Breast Inflammation Related to Cancer Growth

Friday, December 24th, 2010

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A study reported in the December 15 issue of Cancer Research concluded that an inflammatory process in the breast promotes the growth of stem cells responsible for the development of tumors. They further stated that “inactivating the NFKB inflammatory pathway in the breast epithelium blocks the onset and progression of the breast cancer in living animals.” Although there are side effects to suppressing the whole body’s inflammatory processes, the study showed a rationale for selectively targeting the breast only in anti-inflammatory therapy.

After 12 years of research the researchers created a mouse in which the inflammatory system in the adults breast could be regulated. These mice were programmed to develop cancer but if they selectively blocked inflammation in the breast, the tumors would not develop. They also found that this inactivation reduced the number of cancer stem cells in the breast.

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Lymphedema Risk Reduced by Weightlifting Following Breast Cancer Treatment

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

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In an earlier post on this site (August 21, 2009) research on the benefits of weightlifting to reduce lymphedema risk after treatment for breast cancer in the New England Journal of Medicine was presented. Now another study by this research group in the Journal of the American Medical Association and presented concurrently at the Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio reports additional positive results. Previous research prior to these studies showed that up to 47% of breast cancer survivors who had surgery later develop lymphedema. In this current study researchers concluded “Weightlifting may play a key role in the prevention of the painful limb-swelling condition lymphedema following breast cancer treatment……limits the worsening of symptoms among women who already have lymphedema. ”

One hundred fifty four breast cancer survivors without lymphedema treated within the past 5 years were enrolled into the program. Subjects were given a 1 year membership in a fitness center near their homes and attended twice weekly, ninety minute, small group classes for the first 13 weeks. Classes by certified fitness professionals taught safe techniques of weight lifting. Following the 13 week program subjects exercised on their own and were monitored monthly for changes in arm circumference and also reported any changes in symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness and others, on a weekly basis.

Results showed that a slow progressive weight lifting regime cut the risk of developing lymphedema by 35% over the one year study period. Compared with a control group who did not change their physical activity regime, 11 % of the subjects developed lymphedema whereas 17% of the controls developed lymphedema. Results were even more dramatic for women who had 5 or more lymph nodes removed during surgery and later practiced slow progressive weight lifting. This group experienced almost a 70% reduction in the development of lymphedema with 7% developing lymphedema compared to 22 percent in the controls.

More information is available at:

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20101210/Weightlifting-may-help-prevent-lymphedema-following-breast-

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Breast Cancer Women Increase Risk of Death by Smoking

Friday, November 19th, 2010

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Research presented at the Ninth Annual American Association of Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference concluded that “women who are current smokers or have a history of smoking had a 39 percent higher rate of dying from breast cancer…..even after accounting for a wide array known prognostic factors including clinical, socioeconomic and behavioral factors.”

Two thousand two hundred sixty seven multi-ethnic women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1997 and 2000 were enrolled into the study and followed for an average of 9 years. Causes of deaths in the group were examined for deaths of smokers that were related to breast cancer, non breast cancer, and all causes. There were 164 breast cancer deaths and 120 non-breast cancer deaths at follow up. Of the deaths those who were current smokers or had a history of smoking had a 39% increased rate of dying from breast cancer and a twofold increased risk of dying from non-breast cancer causes than those who never smoked. Additional information can be found at:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101108190130.htm

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Research Says Green Tea Does Not Prevent Breast Cancer

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

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Although past studies have shown green tea to be effective in protecting individuals from breast cancer a new prospective study found different results. In the study published in the October 28 issue of online Breast Cancer researchers studied data on green tea and the breast cancer incidence of over 53,000 women and found no inverse relationship between green tea consumption and breast cancer regardless of tea type, menopause status, or hormone receptor subtype. The adjusted ratio of 1:12 did not vary whether the women drank five or more cups of green tea per day or less than one cup per day with a P value of 0.60. The researchers concluded that their findings were consistent with those of three other prospective studies. More information can be found at http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/15220 or http://www.physorg.comnews/2010-10-green-tea-breast-cancer.htm
or Moyoki Iwasaki, Manami Inoue, et al (2010) Green tea drinking and subsequent risk of breast cancer in a population-based cohort of Japanese women. Breast Cancer Research

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