Breast Cancer Central

Sisters Network

A National African-American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization.

Guidelines for Hormone Treatment of Women in the Menopausal Transition and Beyond

Recent communications regarding estrogen or estrogen progestin treatment and clinical cardioprotection, breast cancer risk and cerebral aging have produced considerable confusion and concerns among women, care-givers and the media. The actions of the United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other National Safety of Medicine Boards, such as the European Medicine Evaluation Agency (EMEA), in response to publication of data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI)1-3 and the Million Women Study (MWS)4, have also raised concerns. The Executive Committee of the International Menopause Society (IMS) has considered position statements presented at the Fourth Workshop of the IMS, December 2003 and reviewed all presently available information from observational studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and pre-clinical research

Provides a good review of the studies and recommendations, then proposes the following guidelines for treatment of perimenopausal women.

Link: RedNova News - Guidelines for Hormone Treatment of Women in the Menopausal Transition and Beyond.

Gene Switch Turns Stem Cells into Cancer Killers

A gene has been discovered that turns stem cells into cancer killers, promising new treatments that boost the body's ability to destroy tumors.

South Korean scientists from the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology in Daejeon say that the gene, Vitamin D3 Upregulated Protein 1 (VDUP1), spurs stem cells to become natural killer cells.

Link: Betterhumans > Gene Switch Turns Stem Cells into Cancer Killers.

OHSU scientists develop MRI approach to improve breast cancer detection

PORTLAND, Ore. – Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University's Advanced Imaging Research Center (AIRC) are developing a new imaging method that may provide a clearer diagnosis of breast cancer. The research is published in the latest issue of the journal Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. AIRC Director Charles Springer, Ph.D., is senior author, and AIRC Manager, Xin Li, Ph.D., is first author of the new paper, along with William Rooney, Ph.D., AIRC faculty. Professor Springer also holds appointments in OHSU's Cancer Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering.

"This technique involves a new method for interpreting information gathered through MRI," explained Springer. "The technique involves recognizing that certain properties of MRI signals can change during the examination, much like the changing of a camera's shutter speed. On a camera, a fast shutter speed can make a speeding car look as if it is standing still. A slower shutter speed may result in a photo showing the car blurring past the camera. This principle, when correctly applied to MRI imaging, can provide more accurate information. In the case of MRI, the blurring is not of the actual image, but of the time courses of the MRI signals."

Magnetic resonance imaging technology combines the use of powerful magnets and radio wave pulses. The magnet influences the magnetization of the body's water molecules. The radio signals that are received from this can be converted into a visual representation.

The shutter speed concept allows researchers to adjust the mathematics of the computer program analyzing the signals to account for the movement of water molecules in and out of cellular compartments in diseased and healthy tissue. When the MR shutter speed increases, this movement appears to slow. In the case of tumors, using shutter speed analysis not only more clearly indicates the locations of tumors, it also allows researchers to distinguish between malignant tumors and benign tumors.

To conduct this research project, the scientists analyzed data from six patients identified as having breast tumors with mammograms (X-rays.) In procedures conducted by New York research collaborators Drs. Wei Huang, Alina Tudorica, and Thomas Yankeelov of Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory, the patients were injected with a contrast agent, which acts like an MRI dye and provides clearer images. The patients received MRI scans as the dye passed through the tumors. The time courses of the MRI signals were analyzed with the shutter speed model. The results showed hot spots only in images of malignant tumors but not in the benign tumors (three of the cases). This complete distinction was not the case using the standard MRI technique, and there was no distinction using mammography. Pathology results on these tumors confirmed the accuracy of the new MRI testing.

"While continued research is required, we believe shutter speed analyzed MRI could become a powerful tool for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and almost any other form of cancer, as well as many other pathologies," explained Springer. "The shutter speed is a very general concept and applies to a great many different MRI techniques."

"We are fortunate to have recruited Dr. Springer and his team to lead the imaging research activities at OHSU and the OHSU Cancer Institute." said Grover C. Bagby Jr., M.D., Director of the OHSU Cancer Institute. "His 'shutter-speed' model has the potential of changing our approach to cancer screening in general and may also play a role in determining the early effects of treatment. The findings also provide a unique opportunity for cancer researchers to unravel the basic molecular causes of the different image signatures."

Experimental Prognostic Test Identifies Breast Cancer Patients at Greatest Risk for Metastasis

Link: Experimental Prognostic Test Identifies Breast Cancer Patients at Greatest Risk for Metastasis.

An experimental prognostic assay that, at the time of diagnosis, identifies which breast cancer patients are at greatest risk for metastatic disease did so with more than 90 percent sensitivity, according to a study published in The Lancet (February 19, 2005; vol. 365: issue 9460). The assay represents the first prognostic molecular marker that could be used with all lymph-node-negative (LNN) breast cancer patients, regardless of age, tumor size and grade, or estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status. This diagnostic tool is being developed by Veridex, LLC, a Johnson & Johnson company.

Once the new genomic assay is further developed for commercial use, oncologists could have access to reliable and objective information not previously available with this level of sensitivity to assess individual risk in a broad range of LNN breast cancer patients. Having such knowledge will help physicians and patients make more individual and effective decisions regarding post-surgical therapy; most notably, the 76-gene signature, on which the assay is based, could help identify patients who may not require adjuvant chemotherapy or could undertake a less-aggressive course of treatment.

February 25th Event

Cancer patients and those who care for them can get free information on lymphedema, a painful side effect of cancer treatment, by calling a national toll-free hotline Feb. 25.

The hotline, sponsored by the oncology section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. The toll-free number is 1-877-NEED-A-PT (1-877-633-3278).

Clemson's Burg brings 'Era of Hope' to breast cancer research

CLEMSON -- Bioengineer Karen Burg is one of eight recipients of the Era of Hope Scholar Award -- the U.S. Department of Defense's acknowledgement that the Clemson University bioengineer is a rising star among breast cancer researchers whose "creative, high-risk research . . . may ultimately lead to the eradication of breast cancer."

Through the Era of Hope program, Burg is expanding her research from the re-growth of breast tissue lost to lumpectomy or mastectomy to the growth of breast tissue as a scientific test bed. This work could lead to the faster development of drug-based treatments and prevention methods, which ultimately could save thousands of lives.

"This research helps address a problem that has always been noted in the literature: lack of suitable three-dimensional tissue culture models," Burg said. "Until now, we've been largely limited by two-dimensional models, which don't accurately reflect cell behavior in the human body."

A three-dimensional test bed comprised of human cells will help researchers: decipher cell-to-cell communication, discern if drugs pose serious side effects to healthy cells and develop treatments, getting them to the market and to patients faster.

Statistically, one in seven women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2004 alone, it was predicted that 215,990 women would be diagnosed with the disease -- 40,110 would die from it.

Working with Burg on this project from Clemson are Dennis Smith in chemistry, Bruce Gao in bioengineering and Steve Ellis in animal and veterinary science as well as Didier Dreau, a cancer biologist at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, David Pearlstone, a surgical oncologist at Palmetto State Surgical Associates in Greenville and Mina Bissell, a cell biologist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California.

Protein emerging as bone health factor

Researchers at the government-funded Agricultural Research Service are currently completing a third human clinical study investigating the impact of protein on bone health.

Their findings to date show that protein at both high and ‘normal’ levels have no impact on bone health markers. The new study shows that protein may actually increase calcium absorption when the mineral is at low levels.

“I think we’re going to see the dogma that high protein diets harm calcium absorption reversed,” said Fariba Roughead, lead author of one of the latest studies in this area.

Nutritionists believe that protein may leach calcium from the bones as a result of the body’s attempt to neutralize the acid ash or sulphate produced when protein is metabolized.

Link: Protein emerging as bone health factor.

Understanding and managing lymphedema in people with advanced cancer

Link: JCN Online - Journal.

The presence of lymphoedema in people with advanced cancer can lead to significant distress for patients and their families. It also presents challenges for health professionals as various medical conditions may co-exist in these patients to produce a progressive oedema that does not readily respond to treatment. Swelling may be confined to one or more limb and may also affect the trunk and genitalia. The swollen limb can become heavy, often complicated by pain and other problems such as lymphorrhoea or a fungating wound. This paper will explore the impact of lymphoedema, describe how various factors contribute to oedema formation in advanced cancer and discuss the management strategies appropriate for this group, within the context of palliative care.

Genes Predict Breast Cancer Recurrence

Dutch researchers report they have found a pattern of 76 genes, something geneticists call a "signature," that can predict the return of breast cancer.

The discovery, which is detailed in the Feb. 19 issue of The Lancet, could one day spare many women the painful side effects that accompany chemotherapy.

About 60 percent to 70 percent of women with lymph-node-negative breast cancer are cured by surgery and radiation therapy. However, guidelines recommend that 85 percent to 90 percent of these women receive chemotherapy to make sure the disease is eradicated. Knowing which women are unlikely to face a recurrence of cancer could help avoid unnecessary treatments, the researchers explained.

Link: RedNova News - Genes Predict Breast Cancer Recurrence.