Posts Tagged ‘breast cancer’
Friday, August 20th, 2010
A new study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention concluded that the risk of breast cancer varies by personal characteristics but this study reinforced that there is an increased risk of breast cancer from hormone use and further studies are needed to address how specific that risk is. Hormone replacement therapy among 2,857 women were analyzed for almost 10 years and it was found that when compared with women who never used hormone therapy, women who used estrogen therapy for more than 15 years had a 19 percent greater risk of developing breast cancer. For those who used a combined program of estrogen and progestin for 15 or more years the risk increased 83 percent. Thus, the breast cancer risk was highest for the combined hormone therapy group.
Results also showed that breast cancer risk was dependent on body mass index (BMI) because those with a BMI under 30 seemed to have an increased risk with combined therapy and it was highest for women with a BMI under 25. On the other hand obese women with a BMI over 30 had no further risk associated with using combined hormone therapy. The risk for these breast tumors were for tumors that were positive for both estrogen and progestin receptors and were weaker for HER2 negative tumors. Further research is need to answer lingering questions for this complex association.
However, in another study published in the September issue of Cancer Prevention Research researchers found that breast cancer risk varies by the type of progestin used in hormone therapy. In the study they compared the effect of 4 progestins on breast cancer in animal models. Progestins used included 1) synthetic progestin medroxporgresterone acetate (MPA), 2) norgesterel (N-EL), 3) norethindrone (N-ONE) and 4) megestrol acetate (MGA). The MPA progestin in Prempro is most often used by women in the United States for Hormone Therapy. The authors concluded “although previous studies using an animal model for breast cancer found the MPA functions as a tumor promoter, this study showed that N-EL and N-ONE……. strongly inhibited tumor development.” Progestins seems to have tumor stage specific effects that determines whether they function as tumor promoters or protectors. Those such as N-EL and N-ONE seem to prevent breast cancer in women without a history of or family history for breast cancer and for post menopausal women who are at increased risk due to combined estrogen/progestin (MPA) hormone therapy.
Tags: breast cancer, estrogen, hormone replacement, progestin, research
Posted in breast cancer, research | 5 Comments »
Friday, August 6th, 2010
A new study published in the online version of the journal Science Transnational Medicine concluded that it may soon be possible for some women with breast cancer to avoid invasive and toxic treatments for their disease by measuring an iron-regulating protein found to be a strong predictor of breast cancer prognosis. In their study, they found that low levels of ferroportin, the only known protein that eliminates iron from the cells, were associated with the most aggressive and recurring cancers. These findings demonstrated that it may be possible in the future to test for ferroportin levels in women with breast cancer and predict whether the cancer will return or to help women with high levels of the protein to avoid invasive and toxic treatments such as chemotherapy. In the study they found that some women with high levels of ferroportin did very well and this lead to the belief that treatment for this group may eventually be adjusted to avoid harsh chemotherapy. A series of studies including some with human breast cancer tissue were completed. Further information can be found in the online article.
Tags: breast cancer, ferroportin, research
Posted in breast cancer, research | 1 Comment »
Friday, July 16th, 2010
Research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention concluded that regular use of fish oil may reduce the risk of breast cancer. Researchers asked over 35,000 post-menopausal women who did not have breast cancer to complete a questionaire about their use of non-vitamin. non-mineral “specialty” supplements in the Vitamins and Lifestyle cohort study. Following 6 years there were 880 cases of breast cancer. Those who regularly used fish oil supplements with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA had a 32% reduced risk of developing breast cancer. Other supplements commonly taken by post menopausal women did not show an association with breast cancer risk. The researchers cautioned that these findings should not be considered final without replicated studies. Further studies are planned by the researcher.
Tags: breast cancer, fish oil, omega 3, research
Posted in Cancer, breast cancer, research | No Comments »
Friday, May 28th, 2010
A research paper to be presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology on June 7 and now online at www.ASCO.org concluded that breast and prostate cancer patients who exercise regularly before and after cancer treatment report a better quality of life and less fatigue. Researchers at Henry Ford Cancer Center and Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute developed a program known as ExCITE (Exercise and Cancer Integrative Therapies and Education). This program individualizes exercise programs for patients receiving cancer treatment and they can exercise at the Henry Ford Fitness Center or at home depending upon their stage of treatment treatment.
At present 30 female breast cancer patients and 20 prostate cancer patients between age 35 and 80 are part of the study. All were newly diagnoses when admitted to the study and were followed during and for 1 year following completion of their cancer treatment.
The patients exercise capacity, skeletal muscle strength and endurance were measured before the program started. In addition, general blood work, metabolic screens, bone density and inflammatory biomarkers were obtained before the program started.
Subjects were offered exercise and diet recommendations based upon their baseline exercise tolerance, weight, overall health and type of cancer treatment. For patients having hot flashes, nausea/vomiting, insomnia and neuropathy resulting from the cancer treatment acupuncture was used. Patients reported feeling better and having less fatigue as a result of the program that is ongoing.
Tags: breast cancer, Cancer, enercise, protstate cancer, research
Posted in Cancer, breast cancer, exercise, prostate cancer | 19 Comments »
Friday, May 7th, 2010
A new study reported online by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded that women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that is the most common form of non-invasive breast cancer will have the opportunity to be more selective about their treatment in the future. This is a result of discovering a way to predict which women with DCIS are at risk of developing more invasive tumors later in life.
Following the medical histories of 1,162 women aged 40 and older who were diagnosed with DCIS and treated with lumpectomy, the researchers found two factors predictive of risk of developing invasive cancer within 8 years after a diagnosis of DSCI. These were the method by which the cancer was detected (lump or mammography) and the expression of several biomarkers (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Ki67 antigen, p16, epidermal growth factor receptor-2, and cyclooxygenase-2). Results showed that a breast lump diagnosed as DSCI was more predictive of a higher risk of later invasive cancer than DSCI diagnosed by mammography. In addition, different combinations of biomarkers identified on the initial DSCI tissue were associated with different levels of risk of invasive cancer. Women who had high levels of p16, cyclooxygenase-2, and Ki67 were more likely to develop invasive cancer after their initial DCSI diagnoses and these markers will predict as far as 8 years in the future. One of the researchers said the findings show that the group of patients with the lowest risk has only a 2 percent chance of developing invasive cancer by 5 years and 4 percent chance at 8 years. He further said “This is an exciting and powerful beginning to be able to predict which pre-cancers will lie dormant and which will lead to invasive cancers. For the first time, we’ve identified that group of patients who have the lowest risk and the group at highest risk of developing invasive cancer. It’s a big step.”
Tags: biomarkers, breast cancer, DCIS, invasive, lump, mammography, predict invasive cancer, research
Posted in breast cancer, research | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Research published in the recent issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention concluded that postmenopausal women regularly using aspirin and other painkillers have lower estrogen levels than those not using these products and that may contribute to a decreased risk of breast or ovarian cancer.
Seven hundred forty postmenopausal women who participated in the Nurse’s Health Study were examined for an association between the use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen and concentrations of estrogens and androgens. Findings showed an inverse relationship between the frequency of painkiller use and estradiol, free estradiol, estrone sulfate and the ration of estradiol to testosterone.
Average estradiol levels were 10.5% lower among women regularly using aspirin or NSAIDs. In addition this group also showed 10.6% lower free estradiol levels, and 11.1% lower estrone sulfate levels. In addition, among regular users of any painkiller (aspirin, NSAIDs, or acetaminophen) the levels of these hormones were 15.2% lower (estradiol), 12.9% lower (free estradiol), and 12.6% lower (estrone sulfate).
Michael Thun, M.D. Vice-President Emeritus of epidemiology and surveillance research at the American Cancer Society said that the association of painkillers use and breast cancer risk is important but still unresolved. He further said that the results do not confirm a relationship between painkillers and lower circulating levels of estradiol but it is promising and further research is needed.
Tags: acetaminophen, aspirin, breast cancer, estradiol, free estradiol. esytone sulfate, NSAIDs, ovarian cancer, research
Posted in Cancer, research | 7 Comments »
Friday, March 5th, 2010
A new study in the March issue of Radiology reported that combining mammography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be a cost effective way to reduce the chances of dying for high risk breast cancer women. An increased lifetime risk of developing breast cancer occurs in women with mutations of the BRCA1 gene and using mammography for screening this group (the usual method) detects less than half of the breast cancers.
The researchers compared the cost and benefits of mammography and of MRI’s separately and in combination in a hypothetical group of 25 year old women with BRCA1 mutations. Using a statistical modeling technique to estimate the number of quality adjusted years added by screening and the lifetime costs they concluded that an annual combined screening was best at detecting early stage cancer and at providing the best relative reduction in deaths. Using the combination was most cost effective as the risk of breast cancer increased and least cost effective as it decreased. These findings support the current screening recommendations of the American Cancer Assn.
Tags: BRAC1 mutation, breast cancer, mammography, MRI, research
Posted in breast cancer, research | No Comments »
Friday, February 26th, 2010
A study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reported that “aspirin can significantly reduce the risk of cancer spread and death in women who have been treated for early breast cancer.” Researchers at Harvard Medical School studied 4,164 female registered nurses taking part in the Nurses’ Health Study. Starting in 1976 they looked at who took aspirin, who developed breast cancer and all causes of death up until 2006. During this time 341 nurses died of breast cancer. Of this group women who took aspirin two to five days a week had a 60% reduced risk of their cancer spreading and a 71% lower risk of breast cancer death. Other non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) in the same class as aspirin had the same effect and included ibuprofen and naproxen but not acetaminophen. This relationship was not as clear because of limited data. Although aspirin is relatively benign compared with chemotherapy drugs it can cause bleeding and should not be taken without medical supervision. It also should not be taken while undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy because of the possible side effects.
Tags: aspirin, breast cancer, cancer spread, death rates, Harvard Medical School, research
Posted in breast cancer, drugs, research | 4 Comments »
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
A study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology noted that a 21-gene test that predicts whether early breast cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy is influencing the decision for type of treatment ordered by physicians and patients. In their study the researchers reported that as a result of the test the physicians changed their treatment plan for 31.5 % of the cases, and patients changed their treatment plan 31.5% of the time.
The multigenetic test, Oncotype DX, examines 21 genes from a tumor sample to determine how active they are. A test score between 0 and 100 predicts the likelihood of the cancer recurring. If women have a low score, chemotherapy is not recommended. Since the test became available in 2004 (for patients with estrogen recepton-positive breast cancer that has not spread to the lymph nodes) , over 120,000 breast cancer patients have undergone the test. There are about 100,000 cases of breast cancer that fall within this category yearly.
This study looked at 89 breast cancer patients who received the gene test. They were treated by 17 medical oncologists. Doctors changed decisions for 28 patients and in 20 of these they changed from hormone therapy plus chemotherapy to hormone therapy alone. Twenty-four patients changed their decisions including 9 who dropped chemotherapy. Doctors reported the test increased their confidence in their treatment decision in 76% of the patients. The cost of the test is $3,910 and most insurance plans will cover it.
Tags: 21-gene test, breast cancer, chemotherapy, hormone therapy
Posted in Cancer, Uncategorized, breast cancer | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
A research study in a recent issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry reported that Calcitrol, an active form of Vitamin D, was found to induce a tumor suppressing protein that could inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. In the study at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, the researchers built upon previous research that concluded that increased serum levels of Vitamin D were associated with an improved prognosis in breast cancer patients. This study looked at the factors that determine the effect of calcitrol on inhibiting breast cancer growth and looked specifically at the protein involved in this process. They concluded that the results provide an important process in which vitamin D may work to reduce the growth of the breast cancer cells and form a basis for a design of new anticancer agents that can target the protein.
Tags: breast cancer, Calcitrol. vitamin D, research
Posted in Uncategorized, Vitamin and Minerals, breast cancer, research | No Comments »
