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Research will Help Develop Simple Blood Test for Early Detection

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Researchers at the University of Arkansas are building a library of synthetically produced antibodies that can detect and rapidly validate proteins secreted by breast cancer cells. Their work will accelerate the process of developing a simple blood test for early detection of breast cancer.

“We want to implement a rapid screen that is sensitive – meaning highly accurate – non-invasive and inexpensive,” said Shannon Servoss, assistant professor of chemical engineering. “Such a test would be easy to use – as easy as a pregnancy test – and applicable to women of all ages, races and ethnicities. The ultimate goal, of course, is early detection of breast cancer.”

Researchers currently use specific protein binders called affinity reagents, which are molecules that interact with proteins, to recognize and validate proteins that indicate breast cancer. But this process is tedious and problematic because there are a limited number of affinity reagents available, and techniques to develop them are slow and expensive.

Servoss’s team seeks to overcome these obstacles by developing a collection of affitoids, which are synthetic, peptoid-based affinity reagents. A library of these affitoids, which are inexpensive and easy to make, will facilitate the development of techniques for protein validation.

The affitoids have other advantages. They can be designed to have desired properties, such as structural stability and specificity for a single protein. They also do not have to be limited to breast cancer detection. They could be designed to detect other complex diseases.

“This technique is superior to those currently available because affitoids specific for proteins secreted by breast cancer cells can be rapidly selected from a large collection, which isn’t too expensive to build,” Servoss said. “The selected affitoids will be used to determine a profile – a protein fingerprint – that indicates breast cancer. Of course, all of this is happening at the cell level, before the tumor is detectable.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year more than 40,000 women die due to breast cancer, and approximately 200,000 women are diagnosed with the disease. Early diagnosis leads to decreased mortality rates and allows for many more treatment options.

“It is imaginable that in this generation, a simple blood test could detect breast cancer at early stages and save thousands of lives,” Servoss said. (source newswire.uark.edu)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has been selected by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to host one of 11 new Centers for Cancer Systems Biology (CCSB). Under this grant, Berkeley Lab expects to receive about $13.5 million over the next five years to develop computational models that predict breast cancer responses to therapeutic agents.

“We’re proud to have been selected by NCI to be a part of its effort to study cancer as a systemic disease, an effort we feel is critical to the future of cancer research,” said Joe Gray, director of Berkeley Lab’s Life Sciences Division and co-director of the new CCSB at Berkeley. “Our work will help advance the development of breast cancer diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that are effective and durable.”

Renowned cancer researcher Joe Gray will co-direct a new Center for Cancer Systems Biology hosted at Berkeley Lab and funded by the National Cancer Institute. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt, Berkeley Lab Public Affairs)

Renowned cancer researcher Joe Gray will co-direct a new Center for Cancer Systems Biology hosted at Berkeley Lab and funded by the National Cancer Institute. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt, Berkeley Lab Public Affairs)

Gray, a renowned cancer researcher, holds a joint appointment with the University of California (UC) San Francisco, where he is an adjunct professor of laboratory medicine and co-leader of the breast cancer oncology program at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. He will co-direct the new NCI CCSB with Claire Tomlin of UC Berkeley, where she is a professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences. Tomlin is a leading authority on the theory and design of models that predict the behavior of complex systems.

Traditional cancer research has concentrated on the identification and functional characterization of molecular defects. However, modern genomic analysis technologies show that individual cancers may involve  the deregulation of hundreds to thousands of interacting genes. Consequently, within the cancer research community there is a move to treat cancer as a “systems biology” or network disease, in which breakdowns in regulatory molecular networks disrupt the normal restraints on a cell’s growth and behavior. That the exact details of these networks often vary between clinically similar cancers helps explain why some patients will respond favorably to a specific cancer drug while others won’t.  In addition, the nature of these regulatory networks is such that they tend to resist therapeutic interventions.

“Research at our CCSB will focus on development of experimentally validated computational models that predict the responses of ductal breast cancers to the growing number of therapeutic agents that target aberrant receptor tyrosine kinase signaling,” Gray said.

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are enzymes that form central components of cell signaling networks. They’ve been shown not only to be key regulators of normal cellular processes but to also have a critical role in the development and progression of many forms of cancer, including breast cancer.

Said Gray, “Despite the growing availability of a broad range of RTK network-targeted drugs responses vary substantially between patients and are often not durable. Our premise is that development of optimal RTK network-targeted drug combinations will require experimentally validated, computational models of the diverse resistance and response mechanisms that are specific to cancer subtypes and allow drug combinations to be tested in silico so that the most promising can be prioritized for clinical evaluation.”

In addition to researchers from Berkeley Lab and the UC campuses of Berkeley and San Francisco, the new CCBS at Berkeley will also involve participants from the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, and the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. Experimental aspects of the research will be carried out at Berkely Lab and UC San Francisco, while computational work will be conducted at all the participating institutions. Principal investigators will include Berkeley Lab’s Paul Spellman, Michael Korn of UCSF, Gordon Mills at MD Anderson, and Sach Mukherjee in England.

The CCBS hosted at Berkeley Lab and those at the other ten nationwide host sites are part of the Integrative Cancer Biology Program (ICBP), the primary sponsor of NCI’s cancer systems biology research.

Said ICBP director Dan Gallahan, “These centers represent a unique multidisciplinary union of outstanding scientists and clinicians who will work to unravel the complexities of cancer through the novel application of technology and mathematical modeling. Their discoveries and models will be critical to our continued success in understanding and treating cancer disease.”

Added NCI director John E. Niederhuber, M.D., “This program is part of the next generation of cancer research, in that it will approach the disease from a holistic or comprehensive viewpoint in order to understand how all of the components of the disease fit together.”

Berkeley Lab is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory located in Berkeley, California. It conducts unclassified scientific research and is managed by the University of California. Visit our website at http://www.lbl.gov.

Additional Information

For more information about the research of Joe Gray visit his Website at  http://www.lbl.gov/lsd/People_&_Organization/Scientific_Staff_Directory/Gray_Lab.html

For more information about the National Cancer Institute’s Integrative Cancer Biology Program visit the Website at http://icbp.nci.nih.gov/

From the Page: About the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF)

NBCF is committed to spreading knowledge and fostering hope in the fight against breast cancer. By funding free mammograms for women who could otherwise not afford them and supporting research programs in leading facilities across the country, NBCF helps inspire the courage needed to win this monumental battle. Be a part of the solution and discover how to help. (source www.nationalbreastcancer.org)

Trials Offer Hope to People with Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Scientists in Birmingham are running one of the first UK trials of a new drug offering hope to people suffering hereditary forms of both breast and ovarian cancer.

The Cancer Research UK clinical trial is open to patients who have already developed an advanced form of breast or ovarian cancer and have been diagnosed with faults in the known cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 or BRCA2.

The patients on the phase II trial are receiving a potent anti-cancer drugs known as PARP inhibitors.

Dr Daniel Rea, who is running the trial at the Cancer Research UK Centre in Birmingham, said: “People who inherit faults in these genes have a 50-80 per cent chance of developing cancer.

“Currently people with hereditary forms of breast and ovarian cancer are treated in the same way as every other patient who develops advanced stage disease. We hope this trial will show that by using the PARP inhibitor we can offer them more targeted, effective treatment.”

Mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are responsible for around five per cent of the 45,500 cases of breast cancer diagnosed annually in the UK and for more than five percent of the 6,615 cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed each year.

If this trial is successful in the long-term, the researchers believe this treatment could offer hope for the future by paving the way for the drug to be used as a preventative treatment.

Dr Nigel Blackburn, Cancer Research UK’s director of drug development – whose team are managing the trial, said: “There is a huge amount of interest in the potential for PARP inhibitors and Cancer Research UK is proud to have pioneered research into this class of drug.”

The phase II trial is now open and is likely to take 18 months to complete. Researchers are aiming to recruit 56 patients.

For more information visit Cancer Research UK’s patient information website www.cancerhelp.org.uk

From the Who We Are Page at Cancer Help Dot Org Uk:

About Cancer Research UK

A scientist working in a laboratory Key facts about Cancer Research UK Cancer Research UK launched in February 2002 following the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and Imperial Cancer Research Fund. We are the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research. The charity supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of more than 4,500 scientists, doctors and nurses. Cancer Research UK is the European leader in the development of novel anti-cancer treatments. We are training the next generation of cancer scientists and doctors. Cancer Research UK employs its own scientists as well as supporting grant-funded researchers based in UK universities, hospitals and institutes. We support research in more than 35 towns across the UK. All the research we support is subject to stringent peer review by external specialists in the relevant fields.

JAX, FL – The Taylor Morrison team recently took to the streets to fight breast cancer during the American Cancer Society’s 11th Annual Making Strides against Breast Cancer 5K walk in San Marco. The team, known as “Linda’s Golden Souls,” walked to honor Linda Bisset, a Taylor Morrison new home sales associate who is currently undergoing treatment to fight breast cancer. The team raised more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is an annual event that provides an opportunity to honor breast cancer survivors, educate women about prevention and early detection, and raise funds and awareness to help the American Cancer Society achieve a day without breast cancer. In 2008, supporters raised more than $60 million nationwide to help the American Cancer Society continue fighting breast cancer and offer hope to people facing the disease.

RocknBauble likes to keep things global, so here is some information about a great Breast Cancer Support Group that spans 41 countries in Europe – Europa Donna

Every 2 minutes a woman in the European Union is diagnosed with breast cancer and every 6 minutes a woman in the European Union dies from breast cancer.

Europa Donna (ED) – The European Breast Cancer Coalition, is an independent non-profit organisation whose members are affiliated groups from 41 European countries. EUROPA DONNA (ED), the European Breast Cancer Coalition, is an independent non-profit organisation whose members are affiliated groups from countries throughout Europe. The Coalition works to raise awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and increased funding for research. ED represents the interests of European women regarding breast cancer to local and national authorities as well as to institutions of the EU. www.europadonna.org

The Irish Chapter -  from their page titled “About Europa Donna Ireland”

Europa Donna Ireland (EDI), The Irish Breast Cancer Campaign, was launched in 1998 as an advocacy group and is one of 43 EUROPA DONNA member countries across Europe. EUROPA DONNA – The European Breast Cancer Coalition was founded in Italy in 1993 and is the breast cancer advocacy organisation for Europe. Europa Donna Ireland is a volunteer run organisation whose membership is largely made up of people with experience of breast cancer and it is a registered charity. www.europadonnaireland.ie Europa Donna Ireland, PO Box 6602, Dublin 8, Ireland

Among the several Europa Donna Ireland publications, we found interest in this one -  “The Irish Breast Cancer Charter”  (Link to PDF 65KB)

The following protective factors may decrease the risk of breast cancer:

Exercise

Exercising four or more hours a week may decrease hormone levels and help lower breast cancer risk. The effect of exercise on breast cancer risk may be greatest in premenopausal women of normal or low weight. Care should be taken to exercise safely, because exercise carries the risk of injury to bones and muscles.

Estrogen (decreased exposure)

Decreasing the length of time a woman’s breast tissue is exposed to estrogen may help prevent breast cancer. Exposure to estrogen is reduced in the following ways:

• Pregnancy: Estrogen levels are lower during pregnancy. The risk of breast cancer appears to be lower if a woman has her first full-term pregnancy before she is 20 years old.

• Breast-feeding: Estrogen levels may remain lower while a woman is breast-feeding.

• Ovarian ablation: The amount of estrogen made by the body can be greatly reduced by removing one or both ovaries, which make estrogen. Also, drugs may be taken to lower the amount of estrogen made by the ovaries.

• Late menstruation: Beginning to have menstrual periods at age 14 or older decreases the number of years the breast tissue is exposed to estrogen.

• Early menopause: The fewer years a woman menstruates, the shorter the time her breast tissue is exposed to estrogen.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are drugs that act like estrogen on some tissues in the body, but block the effect of estrogen on other tissues. Tamoxifen is a SERM that belongs to the family of drugs called antiestrogens. Antiestrogens block the effects of the hormone estrogen in the body. Tamoxifen lowers the risk of breast cancer in women who are at high risk for the disease. This effect lasts for several years after drug treatment is stopped.

Taking tamoxifen increases the risk of developing other serious conditions, including endometrial cancer, stroke, cataracts, and blood clots, especially in the lungs and legs. The risk of developing these conditions increases with age. Women younger than 50 years who have a high risk of breast cancer may benefit the most from taking tamoxifen. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this drug.

Raloxifene is another SERM that helps prevent breast cancer. In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (decreased bone density), raloxifene lowers the risk of breast cancer for women at both high risk and low risk of developing the disease. It is not known if raloxifene would have the same effect in women who do not have osteoporosis. Like tamoxifen, raloxifene may increase the risk of blood clots, especially in the lungs and legs, but does not appear to increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

Other SERMs are being studied in clinical trials.

Aromatase inhibitors

Aromatase inhibitors lower the risk of new breast cancers in postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer. In postmenopausal women, taking aromatase inhibitors decreases the amount of estrogen made by the body. Before menopause, estrogen is made by the ovaries and other tissues in a woman’s body, including the brain, fat tissue, and skin. After menopause, the ovaries stop making estrogen, but the other tissues do not. Aromatase inhibitors block the action of an enzyme called aromatase, which is used to make all of the body’s estrogen. Possible harms from taking aromatase inhibitors include osteoporosis and effects on brain function (such as talking, learning, and memory).

Prophylactic mastectomy

Some women who have a high risk of breast cancer may choose to have a prophylactic mastectomy (the removal of both breasts when there are no signs of cancer). The risk of breast cancer is lowered in these women. However, it is very important to have a cancer risk assessment and counseling about all options for possible prevention before making this decision. In some women, prophylactic mastectomy may cause anxiety, depression, and concerns about body image.

Prophylactic oophorectomy

Some women who have a high risk of breast cancer may choose to have a prophylactic oophorectomy (the removal of both ovaries when there are no signs of cancer). This decreases the amount of estrogen made by the body and lowers the risk of breast cancer. However, it is very important to have a cancer risk assessment and counseling before making this decision. The sudden drop in estrogen levels may cause the onset of symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, trouble sleeping, anxiety, and depression. Long-term effects include decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness, and decreased bone density. These symptoms vary greatly among women.

Fenretinide

Fenretinide is a type of vitamin A called a retinoid. When given to premenopausal women who have a history of breast cancer, fenretinide may lower the risk of forming a new breast cancer. Taken over time, fenretinide may cause night blindness and skin disorders. Women must avoid pregnancy while taking this drug because it could harm a developing fetus. (source www.cancer.gov)

Lake Mary, FL Breast Cancer Ride: Saturday, Oct. 10

Who: Riders of all abilities. Male and Female
What: Trekwomen Breast Cancer Ride
Where: David’s World Cycle-Lake Mary
When: Saturday, October 10, 2009 10 am
Why: Promote Breast Cancer Awareness

Ride Distance: 10 or 25 Miles

Registration Fee: $25 – 100% of the registration fees donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Register here: http://davidsworld.com/page.cfm?pageid=661

The purpose of this ride is to raise awareness for breast cancer prevention, screening, and treatment by joining forces with women and men of all ages and abilities to ride on the same day, at the same time, all over the country, in the name of breast cancer research.

Gifts & Prizes: All riders will receive a gift bag and be eligible to win raffle prizes.

Scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have found that an over-expressed protein can convert active but non-invasive breast cancer into a different cell type, and thereby turn it into invasive breast cancer. The researchers say that overexpression of the protein 14-3-3 (zeta) launches a molecular cascade that removes bonds that tie the pre-malignant cells together, and hold them in place, converting them from stationary epithelial cells to highly mobile mesenchymal-like cells. This epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is recognized as a crucial step in metastasis, the spread of cancer to distant organs that causes 90 percent of all cancer deaths. “We have discovered a key molecular mechanism for the deadly transition of non-invasive breast cancer into invasive disease,” said senior author Dr. Dihua Yu. The researchers have shown that the zeta protein teams up with the oncoprotein ErbB2, also known as HER2, in a two-hit process to convert normal mammary cells to invasive cancer cells.

The findings of the study also provided a biomarker in zeta to identify high-risk patients for more aggressive treatment before their noninvasive breast cancer converts to invasive disease. The researchers also got new therapeutic targets among the components of the molecular pathway launched by zeta. According to Yu, some drugs already aim at these targets.

In addition, they found a solution to a puzzling mystery about how a subset of non-invasive breast cancer with excessive presence of an ErbB2/HER2 develops into invasive breast cancer. Earlier, the researchers showed that zeta is over-expressed in many other cancer types, like lung, liver, uterine, stomach cancers. “Our findings might have broader implications relating to the mechanism of invasion and metastasis in other types of cancer,” Yu said.
The researchers said that it would be very challenging to target zeta by drugs because it also regulates other important proteins in normal cellular processes.

(The study has been published in the journal Cancer Cell. Source-ANI)