ScienceDaily: Breast Cancer News

Despite new recommendations, women in 40s continue to get routine mammograms at same rate

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:49:49 EDT

Women in their 40s continue to undergo routine breast cancer screenings despite national guidelines recommending otherwise, according to new research.

Popular diabetes drug does not improve survival rates after cancer

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:36:36 EDT

Despite previous scientific studies that suggest diabetes drug metformin has anti-cancer properties, a new, first-of-its-kind study has found the drug may not actually improve survival rates after breast cancer in certain patients.

Fun and friends help ease the pain of breast cancer

Thu, 09 May 2013 09:12:12 EDT

Breast cancer patients who say they have people with whom they have a good time, or have "positive social interactions" with, are better able to deal with pain and other physical symptoms, according to a new study.

Exercise-related changes in estrogen metabolism may lower breast cancer risk

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:11:11 EDT

Physical activity may reduce breast cancer risk by altering estrogen metabolism. Women who did aerobic exercises had an increased ratio of "good" to "bad" metabolites of estrogen.

Discovery helps show how breast cancer spreads

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:58:58 EDT

Researchers have discovered why breast cancer patients with dense breasts are more likely than others to develop aggressive tumors that spread. The finding opens the door to drug treatments that prevent metastasis.

Making cancer less cancerous

Thu, 02 May 2013 18:52:52 EDT

Researchers have identified a gene that, when repressed in tumor cells, puts a halt to cell growth and a range of processes needed for tumors to enlarge and spread to distant sites. The researchers hope that this so-called “master regulator” gene may be the key to developing a new treatment for tumors resistant to current drugs.

Research shows advantage to nanotech delivery of therapy for breast cancer brain metastases

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:29:29 EDT

Breast cancer brain metastases present a challenge to clinicians because there are few systemic therapies capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to control the disease. Scientists now report pre-clinical research showing improved efficacy of a PEGylated liposomal (encapsulated) anti-cancer agent compared with a non-liposomal formulation of the same drug in an intracranial model of breast cancer.

Cosmetic breast implants may adversely affect survival in women who develop breast cancer

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:43:43 EDT

Cosmetic breast implants seem to adversely affect the survival of women who are subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer, finds a small study.

Big data analysis identifies prognostic RNA markers in a common form of breast cancer

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:41:41 EDT

An analysis that integrates three large sets of genomic data available through The Cancer Genome Atlas has identified 37 RNA molecules that might predict survival in patients with the most common form of breast cancer. The study analyzed large masses of data from 466 cases of the most common type of breast cancer and provides the first prognostic signature in cancer composed of both mRNA and microRNA.

How does pregnancy reduce breast cancer risk?

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:04:04 EDT

Being pregnant while young is known to protect a women against breast cancer. But why? New research finds that Wnt/Notch signalling ratio is decreased in the breast tissue of mice which have given birth, compared to virgin mice of the same age.

Coffee may help prevent breast cancer returning, study finds

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:13:13 EDT

Drinking coffee could decrease the risk of breast cancer recurring in patients taking the widely used drug Tamoxifen, a study has found. Patients who took the pill, along with two or more cups of coffee daily, reported less than half the rate of cancer recurrence, compared with their Tamoxifen-taking counterparts who drank one cup or less.

Microwave imaging can see how well treatment is progressing

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:18:18 EDT

Microwave imaging can be used to monitor how well treatment for breast cancer is working, finds new research. Microwave tomography was able to distinguish between breast cancer, benign growths, and normal tissue.

Researchers observe an increased risk of cancer in people with history of non-melanoma skin cancer

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:27:27 EDT

Researchers found that people with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer had a modestly increased risk of getting cancer in the future, specifically breast and lung cancer in women and melanoma in both men and women.

New pathway, enhancing tamoxifen to tame aggressive breast cancer identified

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:57:57 EDT

Tamoxifen is a time-honored breast cancer drug used to treat millions of women with early-stage and less-aggressive disease, and now medical researchers have shown how to exploit tamoxifen's secondary activities so that it might work on more aggressive breast cancer.

Mammograms reveal response to common cancer drug

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:57:57 EDT

Researchers have developed a method for assessing the effect of tamoxifen, a common drug to prevent the relapse of breast cancer. The key lies in monitoring changes in the proportion of dense tissue, which appears white on a mammogram, during treatment. Women who show a pronounced reduction in breast density during tamoxifen treatment have a fifty percent reduction in breast cancer mortality.

New agent might control breast-cancer growth and spread

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:11:11 EDT

A new study suggests that an unusual experimental drug can reduce breast-cancer aggressiveness, reverse resistance to the drug fulvestrant and perhaps improve the effectiveness of other breast-cancer drugs. The findings suggest a new strategy for treating breast cancer.

Low-dose aspirin stymies proliferation of two breast cancer lines

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:16:16 EDT

Regular use of low-dose aspirin may prevent the progression of breast cancer, according to a new study.

Intensity modulated radiotherapy reduces side effects in patients with early breast cancer

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 07:45:45 EDT

Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) gives better results than standard radiotherapy in patients with early breast cancer, according to results from a randomized trial. IMRT is an advanced, high-precision form of radiotherapy that can deliver an even dose of radiation, thus reducing the cosmetic problems that can often occur after breast radiotherapy.

Scientific basis for cognitive complaints of breast cancer patients

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Researchers have shown a statistically significant association between neuropsychological (NP) test performance and memory complaints in post-treatment, early stage breast cancer patients. Patient-reported memory difficulties were also associated with having received chemotherapy and radiation and depressive symptoms in one of the first studies to show patient complaints of cognitive problems after breast cancer treatment (chemo brain) associates with NP test performance.

Novel monoclonal antibody inhibits tumor growth in breast cancer and angiosarcoma

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:25:25 EDT

A monoclonal antibody targeting a protein known as SFPR2 has been shown to inhibit tumor growth in pre-clinical models of breast cancer and angiosarcoma.

Cold winters freezing out breast cancer treatment

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

For women diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, tamoxifen is an essential drug used in treatment and prevention. Currently, tamoxifen is used in a one-size-fits-all approach where the same dose is prescribed for every patient. New research has found that in addition to patient-specific genetic factors, lack of exposure to vitamin D during the long winter months affects the body's ability to metabolize the drug.

Three mutations at BRCA1 gene responsible for breast and ovarian hereditary cancer identified

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:41:41 EDT

Researchers conducted a functional and structural study of seven missense variants of the BRCA1 gene concluding that three of these variants are pathogenic, linked to the risk of suffering breast or ovarian cancer.

New computational model can predict breast cancer survival

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:48:48 EDT

Researchers have developed a new computational model that is highly predictive of breast cancer survival and, they hope, perhaps all cancers.

Cancer metastasis: When a KISS (1) goes bad

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:28:28 EDT

KISS 1 is a metastasis-suppressor gene which helps to prevent the spread of cancers, including melanoma, pancreatic and ovarian cancers to name a few. But new research shows that kisspeptins -- peptide products of KISS1, actually make some breast cancers worse, with a higher tumor grade and metastatic potential.

Survived cancer? Now look out for cardiovascular risks

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:17:17 EDT

New research finds that CVD risk factors may be overlooked during survivorship care.

Mammogram tool improves some breast cancer detection but also increases false alarms

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

A costly and widely used mammography add-on increases detection of noninvasive and early-stage invasive breast cancer but also makes more mistakes than mammography alone, researchers have found.

Breast cancer discovery could lead to slowing metastases

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:23:23 EDT

Scientists made an important discovery in breast cancer. They have scientists identified the DOCK1 protein as a potential target to reduce the progression of metastases in patients suffering from breast cancer, the most common type of cancer in women.

Signature of circulating breast tumor cells that spread to the brain found

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:15:15 EDT

Some breast tumor circulating cells in the bloodstream are marked by a constellation of biomarkers that identify them as those destined to seed the brain with a deadly spread of cancer, said researchers.

Excess estrogen in pregnancy can silence BRCA1 in daughters, increasing breast cancer risk

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:48:48 EDT

Excess estrogen levels during pregnancy can disable, in their daughters, a powerful breast cancer tumor suppressor gene, say researchers. They found the DNA repair gene BRCA1 to be silenced in one year-old girls exposed to a high hormonal fetal environment.

Alcohol consumption has no impact on breast cancer survival, study suggests

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:20:20 EDT

Although previous research has linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, a new study has found that drinking before and after diagnosis does not impact survival from the disease. In fact, a modest survival benefit was found in women who were moderate drinkers before and after diagnosis due to a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a major cause of mortality among breast cancer survivors.

Nearly half of breast cancer patients at high risk of carrying BRCA mutations do not receive genetic testing recommendations from physicians

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:30:30 EDT

Only 53 percent of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who were at high risk of carrying a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation – based on age, diagnosis, and family history of breast or ovarian cancer – reported that their doctors urged them to be tested for the genes.

For breast cancer screening, one size doesn't fit all

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:48:48 EDT

Although mammography, the gold standard of breast cancer screening, reduces breast cancer mortality, it has important limitations. Critics point to reduced sensitivity for women with dense breasts, a high rate of false positives leading to excessive biopsies, and concerns about long-term effects of repeated radiation. With greater understanding of risk stratification, the authors of this review envision a re-thinking of the typical breast cancer paradigm to include new technologies that allow a more individualized approach that integrates patient-specific metrics, such as age, breast density, and personal preference.

HER2-positive breast cancer: Biomarker analysis identified women most likely to benefit from T-DM1

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:06:06 EDT

For women with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer, the amount of HER2 on their tumor might determine how much they benefit from a drug called trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), according to data from a subanalysis of the phase III clinical trial that led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the drug on Feb. 22, 2013.

Black women had worse breast cancer mortality regardless of cancer subtype

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:06:06 EDT

Black women with breast cancer had significantly worse survival compared with other racial and ethnic groups across cancer subtypes, which suggests that the survival differences are not solely attributable to the fact that black women are more frequently diagnosed with less treatable breast cancer subtypes, according to new data.

New frontiers in breast cancer screening

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:44:44 EDT

Researchers predict that advancements in breast cancer screening will need a personalized touch because mammography is not a "one strategy fits all" technology.

Assessing insulin resistance can inform about breast cancer risk

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:52:52 EDT

The link between obesity and cancer seems now well established although the molecular mechanisms underlying this connection are still largely unexplored. Scientists have ow studied the correlation between breast cancer and insulin resistance — an obesity-related condition in which certain cells fail to respond to the glucose-lowering action of the insulin hormone.

One specific microRNA promotes tumor growth and cancer spread

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:43:43 EDT

Researchers have determined that the overexpression of microRNA-155 (miR-155), a short, single strand of ribonucleic acid encoded by the miR-155 host gene, promotes the growth of blood vessels in tumors, tumor inflammation, and metastasis. As a therapeutic target, miR-155 could potentially provide a new avenue of treatment when targeted with drugs to suppress its activity.

New drug target companion prognostic test for hormone therapy resistance

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:10:10 EDT

A team of international cancer researchers has identified the signalling pathway that is over-activated in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells that are resistant to hormone therapies such as tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant.

Surgical removal of lung metastases in breast cancer patients may improve overall survival

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:49:49 EDT

Patients with primary breast cancer that has spread to the lungs may live longer if the lung metastases are surgically removed, according to a new study.

Estrogen plus progestin use linked with increased breast cancer incidence and mortality

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:12:12 EDT

Estrogen plus progestin use is linked with increased breast cancer incidence. In addition, prognosis is similar for both users and nonusers of combined hormone therapy, suggesting that mortality from breast cancer may be higher for hormone therapy users as well, according to a new study.

Certain breast cancers have a trait that could be attacked by new therapies

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:32:32 EDT

The odds of developing breast cancer increase for women taking hormone replacement therapy to avoid the effects of menopause. New research may lead to treatments for breast cancers associated with taking these synthetic hormones. Scientists found that hormone-therapy-related breast cancer cells have a physical feature that could be attacked by therapies.

Genetic 'spelling mistakes' that increase risk of common cancers determined

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:25:25 EDT

More than 80 genetic 'spelling mistakes' that can increase the risk of breast, prostate and ovarian cancer have been found in a large, international research study. For the first time, the researchers also have a relatively clear picture of the total number of genetic alterations that can be linked to these cancers.

Number of cancer survivors in U.S. expected to increase to 18 million by 2022

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:25:25 EDT

A new report shows that as of January 2012, there were approximately 13.7 million cancer survivors in the United States, a number that is expected to rise by 31 percent to 18 million by 2022.

New DNA sequences home in on breast, ovarian cancer risk

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:32:32 EDT

Researchers have identified new DNA sequences associated with breast cancer -- the most common cancer among women, with an average risk of developing the disease of 10 percent -- and ovarian cancer, the most common cause of death from gynecological cancers in the U.S. The findings will help reveal the underlying causes of these diseases and help researchers build better risk models to support new prevention strategies.

Ten years of tamoxifen reduces breast cancer recurrences, improves survival

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:50:50 EDT

For some women with breast cancer, taking adjuvant tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for 10 years after primary treatment leads to a greater reduction in breast cancer recurrences and deaths than taking the drug for only 5 years, according to the results of a large international clinical trial.

Biennial mammograms best after 50, even for women with dense breasts, experts say

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:45:45 EDT

Screening for breast cancer every two years appears just as beneficial as yearly mammograms for women ages 50 to 74, with significantly fewer "false positives" -- even for women whose breasts are dense or who use hormone therapy for menopause, according to a new study.

Gene profile may help identify risk for hormone-sensitive, hormone-insensitive breast cancer

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:41:41 EDT

The overexpression or underexpression of a newly identified set of genes related to lipid metabolism may help physicians identify whether or not a woman is at risk for hormone receptor-positive or hormone receptor-negative breast cancer and to subsequently tailor prevention strategies appropriately, according to new data.

Night shifts may be linked to increased ovarian cancer risk

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:47:47 EDT

Working night shifts might increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer, indicates new research.

No clear evidence that decline in hormone replacement therapy use linked to fall in breast cancer

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:47:47 EDT

There is no clear evidence that the decline in the use of hormone replacement therapy is linked to a reported fall in the numbers of new cases of breast cancer, as has been claimed, suggests a new study.

High-fat dairy products linked to poorer breast cancer survival

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:01:01 EDT

Patients who consume high-fat dairy products following breast cancer diagnosis increase their chances of dying from the disease years later, according to a new study.

Key enzyme missing from aggressive form of breast cancer, groundbreaking study shows

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:55:55 EST

A groundbreaking new study has found that triple-negative breast cancer cells are missing a key enzyme that other cancer cells contain — providing insight into potential therapeutic targets to treat the aggressive cancer. The study is unique in that his lab is the only one in the country to specifically study the metabolic process of triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Nearly 1 in 4 women with breast cancer report PTSD symptoms, study finds

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:40:40 EST

Nearly one in four women (23 percent) newly diagnosed with breast cancer reported symptoms consistent with PTSD shortly after diagnosis, with increased risk among black and Asian women, according to a new study.

Trackable drug-filled nanoparticles: Potential weapon against cancer

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 11:34:34 EST

Tiny particles filled with a drug could be a new tool for treating cancer in the future. Scientists show how such nanoparticles can be combined to secure the effective delivery of cancer drugs to tumor cells -- and how they can be given properties to make them visible in MR scanners and thus be rendered trackable.

Physical activity does not protect against in situ breast cancer, epidemiological study finds

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:35:35 EST

Non-invasive or in situ breast cancer is characterized by the fact that it does not invade or does not multiply in other cells and unlike invasive breast cancer, it is not benefited by physical exercise. The experts suggest that exercise would only have protective effects once the tumour starts to invade the breast tissue. A European study has analyzed the association between physical activities and in situ or non-invasive breast cancer, or, in other words, cancer that has not yet invaded cells within or outside of the breast.

Changing shape makes chemotherapy drugs better at targeting cancer cells

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:15:15 EST

Bioengineering researchers have found that changing the shape of chemotherapy drug nanoparticles from spherical to rod-shaped made them up to 10,000 times more effective at specifically targeting and delivering anti-cancer drugs to breast cancer cells.

Protein that may control the spread of cancer discovered

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:21:21 EST

Researchers have uncovered a novel mechanism that may lead to more selective ways to stop cancer cells from spreading. Cancer biologists have identified the role of the protein RSK2 in cancer cell migration, part of the process of cancer metastasis.

Cell scaffolding protein fascin-1 is hijacked by cancer

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:18:18 EST

A protein involved in the internal cell scaffold is associated with increased risk of metastasis and mortality in a range of common cancers finds a meta-analysis. The protein, fascin-1, is involved in bundling together the actin filaments which form the internal scaffolding of a cell and are involved in cell movement.

New more effective treatment option for breast cancer patients approved by FDA

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:07:07 EST

Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer, now have a new, effective and less toxic therapeutic option. On Feb., 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the new treatment drug, Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine), also known as TDM-1, which combines Traztuzumab, also called Herceptin, with the powerful chemotherapy drug emtansine.

Omega-3s inhibit breast cancer tumor growth, study finds

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:43:43 EST

A lifelong diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can inhibit growth of breast cancer tumors by 30 percent, according to new research from the University of Guelph. The study, published recently in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, is believed to be the first to provide unequivocal evidence that omega-3s reduce cancer risk.

Diet of resistant starch helps the body resist colorectal cancer

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:07:07 EST

New research shows that resistant starch helps the body resist colorectal cancer through mechanisms including killing pre-cancerous cells and reducing inflammation that can otherwise promote cancer.