| Its incidence is in rise in the developing countries, may | | | | Agency, and colleagues. Then, using the same |
| be due to the life style changes. Breast Cancer | | | | approach, they looked back at cancer tissue taken |
| Ribbon TattoosThis cancer, the most accessible | | | | from the same woman during treatment nine years |
| cancer; has generated much interest in the recent | | | | earlier to see which variants were present then. Five |
| past in understanding its process of development, the | | | | variants, in the genes ABCB11, HAUS3, SLC24A4, |
| genetics and developing more effective treatment | | | | SNX4, and PALB2 were common in the DNA of the |
| modalities. The surgery has evolved from maximum | | | | primary tumor. They had previously been unknown to |
| dissection to minimal and more conservative | | | | researchers. Another six in the genes KIF1C, USP28, |
| approach. Newer chemotherapeutic drugs are coming | | | | MYH8, MORC1, KIAA1468, and RNASEH2A were |
| up as well as more precision radiotherapy. Approach | | | | found in between 1% and 13% of the primary tumor |
| to breast cancer has become essentially | | | | cells. There were 19 that were not detected and |
| multidisciplinary in the last decade or two. Here we will | | | | two were undetermined, the researchers said. This |
| search literature to add more knowledge to our | | | | shows that genetic mutation takes place in the |
| existing views on this cancer. The views expressed in | | | | course of the disease. |
| it may not be conclusive, may be in a trial phase and | | | | Regular exercise reduces cancer risk: Regular |
| does not anyway supersede the opinion of treating | | | | moderate-to-vigorous exercise may reduce breast |
| doctor of a patient. | | | | cancer risk for postmenopausal women, researchers |
| Notch pathway in cell division and its inhibitors: The | | | | found. Postmenopausal women who maintained more |
| primitive cells during development of baby and also | | | | than seven hours per week of higher intensity |
| later in life are capable of differentiating to one or | | | | activity over the 10-year period prior to entry into |
| other cell types. This recruitment of daughter cells | | | | the study, were 16% less likely to develop breast |
| and their multiplication is largely controlled by what is | | | | cancer (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.93), according to |
| called a Notch pathway. These primitive cells are | | | | Tricia M. Peters, M.Phil, and colleagues of the National |
| called the stem cells; can form e.g. bone cell, muscle | | | | Cancer Institute. It may be that some cancer genes |
| cell and heart cell etc. This notch pathway is also | | | | are switched off in exercising population. The same |
| responsible for regulated tissue growth i.e. no excess | | | | effect has also been seen in case of colon cancer, |
| or no less; through communication between the cells. | | | | published in a recent article. |
| It can be likened to cells having sensors on their | | | | Ginseng appears to help breast cancer patients: The |
| outer membrane, represented by notch a protein. | | | | traditional Chinese herb ginseng may improve survival |
| The communication may be something like this: one | | | | and enhance the quality of life of breast cancer |
| cell will say to its neighbor cell; "Hi, I am dividing to | | | | patients, an observational study suggested. |
| muscle cell; you need not go in that line", "Oh yeah, | | | | Compared with those who never used ginseng, |
| you carry on; I am going in the line of breast cells", | | | | breast cancer patients in China who took it regularly |
| would be the reply. Again to have controlled growth | | | | before their diagnosis had a disease specific mortality |
| close contact between the cells is required. The | | | | that was 30% lower, three to four years later; said |
| Notch would be keeping close contact between cells, | | | | Xiao-Ou Shu, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues, of the |
| may be in a way something like this;"Hello my dear | | | | Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, published online by |
| neighbor come closer and closer, do not go away." | | | | the American Journal of Epidemiology. |
| Any derangement in this notch may give rise to | | | | Breast density and cancer risk: All post-menopausal |
| uncontrolled growth of cells. In cancer, there are | | | | women should be screened for breast cancer risk by |
| stem cells which divide continuously to give rise to a | | | | assessing breast density combined with other risk |
| visible tumor. These stem cells are resistant to | | | | factors, researchers say. They found that breast |
| conventional chemotherapy and could be the cause | | | | density was strongly associated with breast cancer. |
| of recurrence of cancer, at least in some 1% of | | | | To reduce breast cancer risk overall, they advised, |
| breast cancers; which also makes a large number. So | | | | physicians should recommend exercise, weight |
| the Notch inhibitors can be instrumental in controlling | | | | reduction, a low-fat diet, and reduced alcohol intake. |
| some cases of breast cancer recurrence, when used | | | | But they also noted that eating fruits and vegetables |
| in addition to chemotherapy. "The Notch pathway | | | | was not associated with a decreased risk. Still, the |
| regulates self-renewal of stem cells and research | | | | researchers concluded that breast density combined |
| indicates that it also regulates cancer stem cell | | | | with other risk factors is a viable assessment of risk. |
| self-renewal, the impact of using a Notch inhibitor | | | | Breast feeding and cancer: Breast feeding can |
| was to sensitize a significant proportion of otherwise | | | | significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer, |
| treatment-resistant cancer stem cells. This supports | | | | according to a study by Cancer Research UK. The |
| the notion that a select sub-population of cells in | | | | increase in the disease in developed countries is due |
| breast cancer is largely responsible for disease | | | | to women having fewer children and breast feeding |
| recurrence and cancer spread." I quote from a | | | | for shorter periods of time, the study says. |
| study's lead author, Jenny Chang, M.D., professor of | | | | Metformin under evaluation for cancer treatment: |
| medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. She and her | | | | The glucose-lowering drug metformin, used as first |
| team implanted mice with human breast cancer | | | | line drug in obese type 2 diabetes is showing |
| biopsy material that included breast cancer stem cells, | | | | anticancer activity, reported by "The Lancet". There |
| and then gave them a Notch inhibitor (MRK-003) or a | | | | has been possible association between obesity and |
| placebo. MRK-003 significantly reduced formation of | | | | different cancers. It may be possible in future to |
| clusters of tumor cells called mammospheres, when | | | | know more about action of metformin. The data |
| compared with placebo. | | | | come from the studies being conducted in both the |
| Role of spices like turmeric and piperine: As Reported | | | | diabetes and oncology research communities, |
| by HealthDay News, 2009 December 11, breast stem | | | | according to experts who spoke at the annual |
| cells appear to be sensitive to certain spices. When | | | | meeting of the European Association for the Study |
| researchers at the University of Michigan | | | | of Diabetes. |
| Comprehensive Cancer Center applied curcumin and | | | | Soy safe for breast cancer survivors: Soy |
| piperine to breast cancer cells, they noted that the | | | | consumption appears to be safe, and potentially even |
| number of stem cells (but not normal cells) | | | | protective, for women with breast cancer despite |
| decreased. Curcumin is a component of turmeric, and | | | | fears about estrogen-like effects, according to a |
| piperine is found in black pepper. Both of these | | | | population-based study by the researchers. Benefits |
| dietary compounds have been studied previously for | | | | of soy appeared to increase with intake up to 11 g |
| their effects against cancer, but this is the first study | | | | of soy protein or 40 mgs. of soy isoflavone per day. |
| to evaluate their effects on stem cells. | | | | Lymphatic chemotherapy: Platinum based drugs used |
| Alcohol and cancer: Even a few glasses of wine or | | | | in chemotherapy have many side effects. |
| cocktails a week may increase the risk of recurrence | | | | Researchers have found out that lymphatic route of |
| for breast cancer survivors, researchers found. | | | | administration of these drugs may be less toxic than |
| Women who averaged three to four or more drinks | | | | vascular route. When these and some other |
| per week were 34% more likely to have a | | | | chemotherapeutic agents are administered |
| recurrence, than those who drank less than once a | | | | subcutaneously gets better concentrated in the |
| week; according to an observational study led by | | | | lymphatic tissue, which is the most common path of |
| Marilyn L. Kwan, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente in | | | | spread of cancerous cells to other organs from the |
| Oakland, Calif. Likewise, breast cancer-specific | | | | primary.hormone receptor status: The estrogen |
| mortality risk rose to 51% for the regular drinkers | | | | receptor(ER) status has much predictive value, and |
| among breast cancer survivors; Kwan's group | | | | tissue expressing ER in patients of post menopausal |
| reported at the San Antonio Breast Cancer | | | | status are more likely to be benefited from its |
| Symposium. After a breast cancer diagnosis, women | | | | inhibitor drugs like tamoxifen. |
| who drink alcohol should consider cutting back, they | | | | High precision Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy has |
| recommended. | | | | become an integral part of multidisciplinary approach |
| Amplification of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 in | | | | to breast cancer treatment. It has undergone |
| breast cancer: Shiang CY, Qi Y, Wang B, Lazar V, | | | | tremendous modification to cause least possible |
| Wang J, Fraser Symmans W, Hortobagyi GN, Andre | | | | damage to the surrounding tissue through delivery of |
| F, Pusztai L., Department of Breast Medical Oncology, | | | | high precision radiotherapy. |
| USA, studied that: fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 | | | | Surgery related changes: Surgery has changed from |
| (FGFR-1) is amplified in 10% of human breast cancers. | | | | maximum tissue removal to minimal tissue removal |
| A FGFR-1 small molecule inhibitor may have direct | | | | and more conservative in approach i.e. from radical |
| anti-proliferative effects in addition to its' | | | | mastectomy to lumpectomy or quadrantectomy. |
| anti-angiogenic effects. According to Kristjansdottir K, | | | | Intra-operative frozen section biopsy to determine |
| Dizon D.Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown | | | | disease free margin in the tissue to be left with, has |
| University, USA, a human epidermal growth factor | | | | facilitated conservation of breast; so also, an |
| (EGF) receptor (HER)-dimerization inhibitor that | | | | intra-operative radiation detecting probe that detects |
| represent a novel class of agents, aimed at blocking | | | | radiation from the cancerous tissue, pre-injected with |
| HER2 from pairing with other receptors of the HER | | | | radio-active substances that accumulates specifically |
| family, may play a role in the management of | | | | in the cancerous cells. Breast reconstruction has |
| HER2-positive breast cancers. Trastuzumab is one of | | | | become very attractive option in the recent days |
| the drugs of this group. | | | | adding confidence to the working cancer survivors. |
| Lung Cancer Secrets Revealed Click here | | | | Investigations: Fine needle aspiration cytology FNAC), |
| Effect of osteoporosis inhibitor drugs on breast | | | | ultrasound (USG), mammogram, magnetic resonance |
| cancer: Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh | | | | imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) and |
| Cancer Institute, led by Brufsky, concluded that | | | | positron emission tomography (PET) are some of the |
| zoledronic acid, a bisphosphonate, is safe and | | | | armors in the hands of health care personnel, to |
| effective for use by postmenopausal women with | | | | boost their ability for early diagnosis; and thereby |
| breast cancer; who are being treated with aromatase | | | | providing effective treatment. |
| inhibitors. Bone mineral density increased 6.2 percent | | | | Carcinoma gene expression and prediction of breast |
| in women taking zoledronic acid, compared with 2.4 | | | | cancer: Breast cancer (BRCA) suppressor gene is |
| percent in the control group. Fractures were also | | | | responsible for error free repair of Genetic material |
| reduced slightly in the treatment group. It may be | | | | during cell division. Faulty BRCA may be responsible |
| effective in inhibiting spread of the disease to bone. | | | | for breast cancer. According to estimates of lifetime |
| Vitamin D and cancer: Researchers say that vitamin D | | | | risk, about 12.0 percent of women (120 out of 1,000) |
| in high doses may have a beneficial effect in | | | | in the general population will develop breast cancer |
| preventing breast cancer. High-dose vitamin D | | | | sometime during their lives compared with about 60 |
| significantly reduced muscle and joint pain in breast | | | | percent of women (600 out of 1,000) who have |
| cancer patients treated with the aromatase inhibitor | | | | inherited a harmful mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2. In |
| like anastrozole. Weekly vitamin D supplementation | | | | other words, a woman who has inherited a harmful |
| led to significant improvement in pain and mobility | | | | mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 is about five times |
| after two months, said Antonella Rastelli, MD, of | | | | more likely to develop breast cancer than a woman |
| Washington University at the San Antonio Breast | | | | who does not have such a mutation. Breast cancer |
| Cancer Symposium. | | | | patients may additionally be tested for carcinoma |
| Breast cancer genetic evolution decoded: In the | | | | antigen (CA-125). |
| metastatic cancer, 32 protein-altering mutations were | | | | We hope to conquer this cancer in the near future, |
| found that were not present in healthy tissue from | | | | probably more through a genetic manipulation and life |
| the same woman, according to Samuel Aparicio, BM | | | | style change. |
| BCh, PhD, MRCPath, of the British Columbia Cancer | | | | |