Breaking Research News from sources other than Breastcancer.org
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HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS COULD BE LINKED TO AGGRESSIVE FORM OF BREAST CANCER, SCIENTISTS BELIEVE
The team found many of the nuclear receptors behaved differently in the [triple negative] breast cancer samples. Using a computer model, they identified certain household detergents, antiseptics, industrial pollutants and prescribed medications which might to activate nuclear receptors, or change how they are expressed.
Study co-author Laura Matthews, a breast cancer and nuclear receptor expert at the University of Leeds, said in a statement: "We are now investigating how the environmental chemicals change the behavior of normal breast cells so we can understand how they might drive cancer development.
"We are also testing whether using drug combinations that target multiple NRs [nuclear receptors] at the same time might prevent or be an effective treatment for TNBC. Our goal is to reduce the number of people that develop breast cancer, and guide new therapies, so that more people can live beyond breast cancer," she said...
Justin Stebbing, professor of Cancer Medicine and Medical Oncology at Imperial College London... commented in a statement: "...This study opens up new avenues for research. However, for now there is no link between household antiseptics or chemicals to breast cancer."
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No info in the article re. what chemicals exactly. --Rude! Well always good to use vinegar for cleaning! Cheap and pretty effective. Seems like if that is the case-- household detergents- chemicals that they would see a higher incidence of BC in people who clean for a living.
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^^^I agree 2019whatayear; the study was just a computer model so it wasn't tied into epidemiological data, but they could have been more helpful on the details.
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Cardiac resynchronization therapy benefits cancer survivors with heart failure
A pacemaker-like device restored heart function in a group of cancer survivors -- mostly women with breast cancer -- who had suffered from heart failure as a result of chemotherapy treatment, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports...
Known as the MADIT-CHIC study, it was the first of its kind to assess whether cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) could improve heart function in patients with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy, an enlargement of the heart due to chemotherapy side effects.
After six months with the implanted CRT devices, the 30 patients who received cardiac resynchronization therapy experienced significant improvement. The study, which took place between 2014 and 2018, was designed to address a problem that impacts more than half of people who receive anthracycline-based chemotherapies to treat cancer.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-11/uorm-crt111219.php
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Researchers Halt Spread of Breast Cancer by Blocking Metastasis-Promoting Enzyme
In a breakthrough with important implications for the future of immunotherapy for breast cancer, UC San Francisco scientists have found that blocking the activity of a single enzyme can prevent a common type [luminol B] of breast cancer from spreading to distant organs.
The new study, published Nov. 14 in the journal Life Science Alliance, shows that these metastases can be stopped before they are able to lay the foundations for tumor growth. By administering an antibody that specifically targets and disrupts MMP9 activity, the scientists were able to prevent cancer from colonizing the lungs of mice. But interestingly, interfering with MMP9 had no effect on the primary tumor, which suggests that the enzyme's primary role in this scenario is helping existing malignancies metastasize and colonize other organs rather than promoting the growth of established primary tumors...
The researchers also discovered that interfering with MMP9 activity helped recruit and activate cancer-fighting immune cells to metastatic sites, a result with important implications for treating certain types of metastatic breast cancer with immunotherapy...
"These findings come at an exciting time in cancer immunology, with antibodies targeting MMP9 being actively explored for clinical use within the biotech industry," Plaks said. "There's been great interest in trying to use immunotherapy to treat metastatic breast cancers of the luminal B type, but so far, success has been limited. Our work indicates that a combination approach of immunotherapy with antibodies targeting MMP9 activity might actually succeed."
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now all we have to do is stay alive for the next ten/fifteen years...
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Profound.
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Mechanism of a breast cancer drug points to a possible new therapy
Despite trastuzumab being a game-changing treatment for HER2-positive breast cancers over the past two decades, its success has come with key gaps in the understanding of how, exactly, it works...
Hartman and colleagues confirmed in mouse experiments and human cell lines that trastuzumab triggers a process called antibody-dependent phagocytosis, which is a way that specific immune cells engulf and eat particles, specifically tumor cells coated with the HER2 antibody.
They also found that by adding another antibody to remove a roadblock in this cell death process, they could strongly improve the drug's anti-tumor ability. The finding was notable because this roadblock for cell death is driven by the CD47 gene, which is highly expressed in HER2-positive breast cancer patients who have worse outcomes.
"Our finding suggests that blocking this CD47 axis could lead to an effective therapeutic strategy in patients," Hartman said.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-11-mechanism-breast-cancer-drug-therapy.html
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Environmental toxins. Reading "Anti Cancer Living " Cohen and Jeffries. In their chapter on "The Environment and Quest for Health" and "Appendix C, Environmental Toxin Hit List", the list is extensive and includes far more than just pesticides/herbicides. The book has an extensive bibliography. I used to read labels for added sugar, artificial ingredients. I need to become much more informed. Need to watch the soaps/shampoos, and other cleaners, toothpaste, Not ready to throw out all the yogurt containers I use for left overs and invest in glass containers.
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Best, Worst, and Typical Cancer Survival: New Estimates Tool
"How much time have I got, Doc?" That's a question never far from the mind of most metastatic breast cancer patients. Unfortunately, accurate estimates are elusive. A new approach mitigates the difficulty of that tough task by offering not one but three estimates.
Belinda Kiely, MD, ...proposed offering patients best, worst, and typical scenarios derived from clinical trial data. Her system is not formalized as an online tool but is a simple math exercise.
...physicians who give advanced breast cancer patients one estimate, such as 12 months, are wrong 70% to 80% of the time.
Kiely's method involves using multiples based in part on overall survival curves from clinical trials...doctors estimate the expected survival time for a patient, **divide it by four to get the worst-case scenario, and then multiply by three to get the best-case scenario. The typical scenario is between a half and two times the doctors' estimated survival.**
...providing three scenarios helps patients prepare for the possible worst case and, at the same time, hope for the possible best case....subtype, extent of disease, comorbidities, and other factors determine outcomes. By using multiples derived from studies that closely reflect a given patient's situation, oncologists can offer a more nuanced assessment.
"Research shows that patients who discuss these issues with their doctor have better quality of life, are less likely to undergo aggressive end-of-life resuscitation, and are less likely to die in the hospital. But at the moment, we also know that many patients are not having these conversations."
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/921425?src=wnl_edit_tpal&uac=210289DR&impID=2169570&faf=1#vp_1
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For anyone who is interested in finding out about clinical trials in immunotherapy, go to the Cancer Research Institute -- website is https://www.cancerresearch.org
I went to one of their patient summits today up at Johns Hopkins, and it was a fabulous program. Lots of opportunities for information sharing, both with patients and practitioners. Very worthwhile program (they already have 2 set up for 2020 -- see their website).
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https://www.breastcancertrials.org/bct_nation/browse_trials.seam
is another great site to review a variety of breast cancer trials.
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Could value-based care help cure diagnostic errors?
Dr. David Newman-Toker told the Diagnostic Error in Medicine conference that fee-for-service payments are "toxic to diagnosis" and eliminating them would significantly reduce errors. Dr. Mark McClellan said alternative payment models are an important step toward more rapid progress in reducing diagnostic errors, while Dr. Michelle Schreiber talked about quality measures based on diagnosis and said she would like to see quality and safety measures given more attention.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/publichealth/83303
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Breast Cancer Screening Policies Questioned Again
Current guidelines may miss early detection in women with family history
Researchers conducting a large national registry study recommended changes to current breast cancer screening guidelines that would make family history a more important consideration in setting ages to begin regular mammography.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/hematologyoncology/br...
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Pivotal Data in HER2+ Breast Cancer Transform Paradigm
Erika P. Hamilton, MD, discusses several studies in the HER2-positive breast cancer space and sequencing challenges that have emerged.
Research Efforts in HER2+ Breast Cancer Focused on Optimizing Novel Agents
Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, highights ways in which available and investigational agents are being evaluated across HER2-positive breast cancer settings.
Adjuvant T-DM1 Approaches EU Approval for HER2+ Early Breast Cancer
Will the phase III KATHERINE data lead to a European approval in the adjuvant setting?
Exciting Advances Continue in HER2+ Breast Cancer and Other Subtypes
Kurt W. Tauer, MD, FACP, discusses encouraging updates across the spectrum of breast cancer subtypes.
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Arthritis drugs could prevent fatal spread of breast cancer
Research teams from the University of Manchester and the University of Sheffield discovered that a protein released by bone marrow, called interleukin 1-beta encouraged breast cancer cells to form secondary tumours once they reach the bone.
Tests found that this molecule can be blocked by the drug anakinra, already used to treat arthritis.
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Study finds breast cancer recurrence score has different implications for men
A new study by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) researchers published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, indicates that a lower threshold is needed for male patients to predict mortality using the genetic assay, Oncotype DX, a commercial diagnostic test.
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Study Suggests Viable Alternative to Mastectomy After In-Breast Recurrence
Mastectomy rates low, good cancer control in selected patients
A second lumpectomy followed by partial breast re-irradiation (PBrI) was an effective alternative to mastectomy in women who had in-breast cancer recurrence after initial treatment with breast-conserving surgery and whole breast irradiation (WBI), a single-center, phase II study found.
Continued follow-up of patients enrolled in the NRG/RTOG 1014 trial demonstrated that a second breast-conservation approach using lumpectomy and partial breast re-irradiation for management of in-breast recurrence was associated with continued high breast preservation (5-year freedom from mastectomy rate of 90%), with good cancer control and low risk of toxic effects," the researchers wrote in JAMA Oncology.
They noted that approximately 10% of 10 women treated with lumpectomy and irradiation will have a recurrence of breast cancer in the ipsilateral breast -- i.e., in-breast recurrence -- which historically, has always been managed with mastectomy.
They cautioned, however, that this approach is not recommended for all patients with an in-breast recurrence after their first lumpectomy but rather only for women with small, recurrent disease amenable to a second lumpectomy and who are motivated to avoid a mastectomy.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2755430
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mysticalcity - thank you for the post to clinical trials. BC for the third time!!! When I contacted one research facility, they said they had no trials, did not know of any for my situatain, and would be prescribing the same treatment as my DR. They sounded bored with my history and treatment of BC. This site will help me do a little of my own "research" and maybe ask questions that I had not thought about.
2009 ER+ left breast. 52 yrs. Lumpectomy, Sentinel node removal, negative. Radiation 6 weeks, tamoxifen 5 years. Dense lumpy left breast, normal right. Acupuncture offered at facility as part of integrative medicine. It really helped with anxiety/stress during radiation treatment.
2016 ER+ left breast. Probably a new cancer, but unknown. 4 rounds TC Aug-Oct 2016, Bi-lateral (my choice) Nov 2016, no reconstruction. 2 sentinel nodes remove, negative. Cold Capping using Chemo Cold Caps (DIGNICAP not available). Anastrozole 1 mg starting May 2017. Joint issues noticed immediately. Stopped Anastrozole after 3-4 months due to joint stiffness in. After several months of no AIs, fingers were feeling better. Started tamoxifen March 2018
7/19/2019 - swelling in R-arm, opposite side from where lymph nodes removed. Noticed 6/18/2019. Could have been swelling earlier but wearing long sleeves. Trip to urgent care. They did ultrasound, concerned that there might be a clot, there was not. Started seeing lymphatic therapist 7/2/2019.
8/2019 CT, Breast/chest , neck/thyroid ultra sound
9/2019 DR ordered biopsy, said it could be lymphoma, cancer, benign lymphatic. Biopsy R-axilla. Cancer. Genetic test showed no known markers (20+ looked for)
9/29/2019 PET scan, no indication of spread. Arimidex and Ibrance prescribed to shrink tumor prior to surgery.
10/2019 – Stopped Tamoxifen. Started Arimidex and Ibrance. Brand name Arimidex so far does not seem to have the SEs that generics did, but stiff/trigger finger on left middle finger returned.
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Amazing new technology for detecting cancer using a drop of blood!
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191125/p2g/00m/0bu/030000c
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T-DM1 Efficacy in Patients With HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Progressing After a Taxane Plus Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab
- This observational study was designed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer treated with T-DM1 after prior exposure to trastuzumab/ pertuzumab/ taxane. The median overall survival (OS) was not reached, with a 1-year OS rate of 82%. The objective response rate was 27%, with 40% of patients achieving durable disease control.
- T-DM1 appears to have meaningful activity among patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer previously treated with pertuzumab plus trastuzumab and a taxane.
Commentary by Lillie D Shockney RN, BS, MAS, ONN-CG
These results are refreshing and hopeful for clinicians and their patients. T-DM1 is familiar to those who specialize in breast cancer, but it may not be to general medical oncologists. This could serve as a reminder to patients to obtain a second opinion from a large teaching hospital or comprehensive cancer center where specialization in breast cancer exists. Patients need access to the right treatment, and their treatment team needs to be totally knowledgeable and offer the right drug therapies that can provide optimal clinical outcomes.
https://www.practiceupdate.com/C/92586/56?elsca1=emc_enews_topic-alert
https://www.clinical-breast-cancer.com/article/S1526-8209(19)30671-8/pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2019.09.0010 -
Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy for Bone Only Oligometastatic Breast Cancer
- This prospective trial was designed to evaluate the use of single-fraction stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) for 15 patients with bone-only oligometastatic breast cancer. The 2-year local progression-free survival rate was 100%; the 2-year distant progression–free survival rate was 67%.
- SABR appears to be feasible and effective in this population. Randomized trials are warranted to compare outcomes with SABR and the current standard of care.
Commentary by Lillie D Shockney RN, BS, MAS, ONN-CGSABR is a new treatment option for patients that has not been usually utilized before. It may require a second opinion, and application of this treatment may need to be done elsewhere, particularly if the patient lives in a rural area and/or receives care from a general medical oncologist without knowledge or readily available access to this type of treatment. Accuracy of staging work-up needs to be factored in here, too, to confirm the patient has bone-only disease.
https://www.practiceupdate.com/C/92587/56?elsca1=emc_enews_topic-alert
https://www.thebreastonline.com/article/S0960-9776(19)30590-9/fulltext
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Lumpie, please translate!
search Article
Diet-related metabolomic signature of long-term breast cancer risk using penalized regression: an exploratory study in the SU.VI.MAX cohort
Lucie Lécuyer, Céline Dalle, Sophie Lefevre-Arbogast, Pierre Micheau, Bernard Lyan, Adrien Rossary, Aicha Demidem, Mélanie Petera, Marie Lagree, Delphine Centeno, Pilar Galan, Serge Hercberg, Cécilia Samieri, Nada Assi, Pietro Ferrari, Vivian Viallon, Mélanie Deschasaux, Valentin Partula, Bernard Srour, Paule Latino-Martel, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Nathalie Druesne-Pecollo, Marie-Paule Vasson, Stéphanie Durand, Estelle Pujos-Guillot, Claudine Manach and Mathilde Touvier
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-0900
Abstract
Background:Diet has been recognized as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer. Highlighting predictive diet-related biomarkers would be of great public health relevance to identify at-risk subjects. The aim of this exploratory study was to select diet-related metabolites discriminating women at higher risk of breast cancer using untargeted metabolomics. Methods:Baseline plasma samples of 200 incident breast cancer cases and matched controls, from a nested case-control study within the SU.VI.MAX cohort, were analysed by untargeted LC-MS. Diet-related metabolites were identified by partial correlation with dietary exposures, and best predictors of breast cancer risk were then selected by Elastic Net penalized regression. The selection stability was assessed using bootstrap resampling. Results:595 ions were selected as candidate diet-related metabolites. 14 of them were selected by Elastic Net regression as breast cancer risk discriminant ions. A lower level of piperine (a compound from pepper) and higher levels of AcetylTributylCitrate (an alternative plasticizer to phthalates), pregnene-triol sulfate (a steroid sulfate) and 2-amino-4-cyano butanoic acid (a metabolite linked to microbiota metabolism) were observed in plasma from women who subsequently developed breast cancer. This metabolomic signature was related to several dietary exposures such as a "Western" dietary pattern and higher alcohol and coffee intakes. Conclusions:Our study suggested a diet-related plasma metabolic signature involving exogenous, steroid metabolites and microbiota-related compounds associated with long-term breast cancer risk that should be confirmed in large-scale independent studies. Impact:These results could help to identify healthy women at higher risk of breast cancer and improve the understanding of nutrition and health relationship.
- Received July 29, 2019.
- Revision received October 3, 2019.
- Accepted November 18, 2019.
- Copyright ©2019, American Association for Cancer Research.
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"Eating a Western diet and consuming alcohol/coffee in high amounts produces a pattern of metabolic effects that also correlate with higher risk of BC. These metabolic effects can be measured by a blood test, and may predict risk of BC before it develops."
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ugh I don't like the vague *high amounts* on that. will look forward to more studies.
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Don't like the side-effects of CHEMO? Then read this....
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-chemo-breakth...
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Well maybe Lumpie has access to the full study..
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Hmmmm...." A lower level of piperin...."were observed in plasma from women who subsequently developed breast cancer." This is the ingredient that they say should be in your turmeric to make sure it carries through your body. That's why I take the Gaia brand. The piperin is already in it. My holistic doctor and my PCP both are very strong believers in turmeric to help prevent BC. This article seems to support that.
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Very interesting observation Lala. Here’s an article on benefits of perine, bioperine, peperine
https://www.livestrong.com/article/534594-benefits...0 -
COMMENTARY
A Novel, Effective Way to Treat Stage IV Breast Cancer
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marljen,
Interesting article. It's also worth it to read the comments, especially the first one. The patient did not continue her treatment, regressed, and subsequently passed away a while later. However, this methodology of treatment still seems promising if one would stick with it.
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