Cure Research for Breast Cancer

Research list: The list of research areas and treatments under analysis mentioned in various sources for Breast Cancer includes:

• Biological therapy
• Research treatments to help allow high-dose chemotherapy:
  • Bone marrow transplantation
  • Colony-stimulating factors
  • Autologous bone marrow transplants
  • Peripheral stem cell transplants

Research discussion: Research has led to progress against breast cancer -- better treatments, a lower chance of death from the disease, and improved quality of life. Through research, knowledge about breast cancer keeps increasing. Scientists are learning more about what causes breast cancer and are exploring new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat this disease. ¹

At present, mammograms are the most effective tool we have to detect breast cancer. Researchers are looking for ways to make mammography more accurate, such as using computers to read mammograms (digital mammography). They are also exploring other techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), breast ultrasonography, and positron emission tomography (PET), to produce detailed pictures of the tissues in the breast.

In addition, researchers are studying tumor markers. These are substances that may be present in abnormal amounts in people with cancer. Tumor markers may be found in blood or urine, or in fluid from the breast (nipple aspirate). Some of these markers may be used to check women who have already been diagnosed with breast cancer. At this time, however, no tumor marker test is reliable enough to be used routinely to detect breast cancer.¹

Through research, doctors try to find new, more effective ways to treat cancer. Many studies of new approaches for patients with breast cancer are under way. When laboratory research shows that a new treatment method has promise, cancer patients receive the new approach in treatment clinical trials. These studies are designed to answer important questions and to find out whether the new approach is safe and effective. Often, clinical trials compare a new treatment with a standard approach.

Researchers are testing new anticancer drugs, doses, and treatment schedules. They are working with various drugs and drug combinations, as well as with several types of hormonal therapy. They also are looking at the effectiveness of using chemotherapy before surgery (called neoadjuvant chemotherapy) and at new ways of combining treatments, such as adding hormonal therapy or radiation therapy to chemotherapy.

New biological approaches also are under study. For example, several cancer vaccines have been designed to stimulate the immune system to mount a response against breast cancer cells. Combinations of biological treatments with other agents are also undergoing clinical study.

Researchers are exploring ways to reduce the side effects of treatment (such as lymphedema from surgery), improve the quality of patients' lives, and reduce pain. One procedure under study is called sentinel lymph node biopsy. Researchers are trying to learn whether this procedure may reduce the number of lymph nodes that must be removed during breast cancer surgery. Before surgery, the doctor injects a radioactive substance near the tumor. The substance flows through the lymphatic system to the first lymph node or nodes where cancer cells are likely to have spread (the "sentinel" node or nodes). The doctor uses a scanner to locate the radioactive substance in the sentinel nodes. Sometimes the doctor also injects a blue dye near the tumor. The dye travels through the lymphatic system to collect in the sentinel nodes. The surgeon makes a small incision and removes only the nodes with radioactive substance or blue dye. A pathologist checks the sentinel lymph nodes for cancer cells. If no cancer cells are detected, it may not be necessary to remove additional nodes. If sentinel lymph node biopsy proves to be as effective as the standard axillary lymph node dissection, the new procedure could prevent lymphedema.

Chemotherapy can reduce the ability of bone marrow to make blood cells. That is why researchers are studying ways to help the blood cells recover so that high doses of chemotherapy can be given. These studies use biological therapies (known as colony-stimulating factors), autologous bone marrow transplants, or peripheral stem cell transplants.¹

Medical research for Breast Cancer: medical news summaries: The following medical news items are relevant to medical research for Breast Cancer:

• Annual mammogram and doctor visits are sufficient follow-ups for breast cancer survivors
• Antidepressants affect tamoxifen activity in some women
• Breast cancer drug Femara superior to Tamoxifen
• Breast cancer drug reduces tumor size effectively
• Cancer deaths take over deaths caused by heart disease
• Celebrex may help fight breast cancer
• Curry ingredient may be effective against cancer
• Drug company obtains orphan status for its new cancer drug
• Fruit and vegetables reduce risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women
• Genetic profile test determines if breast cancer victims need chemotherapy
• How much is really known about the safety of statins
• Long term cancer survivors have lower risk of cancer recurrence
• Many promising new cancer drugs are in late-stage trials
• More women using natural hormones for menopause therapy
• New Advexin tumor shrinking drug developed
• New breast cancer drug faces imminent approval
• New breast cancer drug more successful than tamoxifen in postmenopausal women
• New breast cancer treatment being utilized
• New research confirms previous findings about cancer and pregnancy
• No consensus reached on how often women should have breast cancer screening done
• Oral estrogen directly increases the risk of ovarian cancer
• PCOS may be improved by the diet drug Xenical
• Physical activity significantly improves breast cancer outcomes for patients
• Plant protein may protect against some human diseases
• Poor women are undereducated about cancer screening
• Pregnancy diet could increase the risk of cancer in offspring
• Recent studies involving contraceptive pill risks may be flawed
• Researchers aim to develop a blood test to determine presence of cancer
• Researchers discover new gene variations that increase breast cancer risk
• Studies increasingly pointing to diet as a culprit for cancer
• Studies provide more information about relationship between diet and cancer
• The effective breast cancer treatment, Femara, only subsidized for those with advanced cases of the disease
• The Oleic acid component of the olive oil used in the Mediterranean diet may be responsible for breast cancer prevention
• Traditional breast cancer pill no longer the best choice
• Women too are at risk of lung cancer

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