Breast Cancer Research
Breast Cancer Research
Biology 1010
Breast Cancer is a dynamic and devastating disease that kills and affects millions of people. Some of the newest research is fascinating. There have been discoveries from what may potentially cause breast cancer, to preventions of breast cancer. To understand the research behind breast cancer and why it is so important you must first understand what breast cancer is. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too. (Dictionary definition)
In one research study Wilhelm Lubbe, M.D.,Ph.D., chief resident from Fox Chase Cancer Center discovered the risk factors for the spread of Breast cancer to lymph nodes. The purpose of the study was to see if the appearance of LVI (lymphatic vessel invasion) in breast tissue actually was able to predict the recurrence of breast cancer in the lymph nodes. LVI is when cancer cells invade blood vessels or lymphatic channels of the tumor. Some previous scientists argued that it did not. However, after studying thousands of woman and records dating back 30 years, Wilhelm was able to prove that the presence of LVI in breast tissue does in fact predict the recurrence of cancer in lymph nodes. Knowing this will help doctors in the future make a prognosis and suggest treatments to those areas (such as the armpit). Because this discovery is so new it is unknown on whether additional radiation in these areas will improve the outcome. "Our data suggest that patients who are at higher risk of their cancer spreading can potentially benefit from additional radiation by a technique called a posterior axillary boost," Lubbe said."But the recommendation to add radiation, and what technique is used, is very patient-specific, because with any intervention there 's additional risk." The results of
Biology 1010
Breast Cancer is a dynamic and devastating disease that kills and affects millions of people. Some of the newest research is fascinating. There have been discoveries from what may potentially cause breast cancer, to preventions of breast cancer. To understand the research behind breast cancer and why it is so important you must first understand what breast cancer is. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too. (Dictionary definition)
In one research study Wilhelm Lubbe, M.D.,Ph.D., chief resident from Fox Chase Cancer Center discovered the risk factors for the spread of Breast cancer to lymph nodes. The purpose of the study was to see if the appearance of LVI (lymphatic vessel invasion) in breast tissue actually was able to predict the recurrence of breast cancer in the lymph nodes. LVI is when cancer cells invade blood vessels or lymphatic channels of the tumor. Some previous scientists argued that it did not. However, after studying thousands of woman and records dating back 30 years, Wilhelm was able to prove that the presence of LVI in breast tissue does in fact predict the recurrence of cancer in lymph nodes. Knowing this will help doctors in the future make a prognosis and suggest treatments to those areas (such as the armpit). Because this discovery is so new it is unknown on whether additional radiation in these areas will improve the outcome. "Our data suggest that patients who are at higher risk of their cancer spreading can potentially benefit from additional radiation by a technique called a posterior axillary boost," Lubbe said."But the recommendation to add radiation, and what technique is used, is very patient-specific, because with any intervention there 's additional risk." The results of
Cited: Fox Chase Cancer Center (2010, November 2). Risk factors for the spread of breast cancer to lymph nodes identified. ScienceDaily. Retrieved. Cancer Research Publishes Matrix-Bio 's Study on Detecting Breast Cancer Recurrence. (20 October). Business Wire. Retrieved November 3, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 2167941591). Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2010, October 31). Breast density, no lobular involution. ScienceDaily. Retrieved. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (2010, October 28). Genetic variants may affect the risk of breast cancer in women with BRCA2 mutations. ScienceDaily. Retrieved. Ohio State University Medical Center (2010, October 21). New tumor proteins may identify a range of cancers early. ScienceDaily. Retrieved. Ye Y, Yin D-T, Chen L, Zhou Q, Shen R, et al. (2010) Identification of Piwil2-Like (PL2L) Proteins that Promote Tumorigenesis. PLoS ONE 5(10): e13406. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013406