CBCRP and CBCRP-Funded Research in the Media

Alcohol Main Risk Factor in High Marin County Breast Cancer Rate

SAN FRANCISCO—The biggest difference between Marin County women with breast cancer and their neighbors without the disease is the amount of alcohol they consume—with the heaviest drinkers raising their risk almost fourfold, researchers report. The length of time spent living in the county had no bearing on their likelihood of developing the disease. That suggests that a mysterious toxin in the air, water, or soil in Marin County is not a likely cause for the area’s high breast cancer rate, according to Margaret Wrensch, professor of epidemiology at UCSF and lead author of the study.

— From a May 6, 2003, article in the San Francisco Chronicle; coverage of this study also appeared in the May 9 Los Angeles Times and the May 8 Contra Costa Times

Cancer Linked to Hormone Therapy on the Rise

SAN FRANCISCO—A type of breast cancer associated with the use of combination hormone replacement therapy appears to be on the rise and may account for some or all of the increasing incidence of the disease nationwide, a new study suggests.

Invasive lobular breast cancer, which begins in the chambers that house milkproducing cells, increased 65 percent from 1987 to 1999; the study says, In contrast, the incidence of invasive ductal breast cancer, the most common type, remained largely unchanged.

“The implication of this study is that we should be paying a lot more attention to lobular carcinoma because it may provide really important clues,” said Dr. Marion Kavanaugh-Lynch, director of the California Breast Cancer Research Program. “Clearly, something is changing here and when something is changing, it gives you an opportunity to look at causes and mechanisms.”

— From a March 19, 2003, article in the San Francisco Chronicle

Green Tea Component Shows Cancer-combating Abilities

The potential health benefits of drinking green tea are varied, ranging from preventing bad breath to protecting your heart. Recent studies have also suggested that a topical cream based on the beverage may help fend off skin cancer. Findings presented yesterday at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research indicate that components of green tea could be effective at fighting other types of cancer, too.

Nurulain Zaveri of SRI International in Menlo Park, Calif., and her colleagues synthesized compounds similar to a component in green tea, EGCG, that has been associated with reduced risk of myriad types of cancer in humans. They manufactured two molecules similar to EGCG. One, dubbed SR 13196, is better at slowing the proliferation of breast cancer cell lines than regular EGCG, whereas SR 13193 inhibits the growth factor protein VEGF in cancerous cells, the scientists found. “These analogs are not only valuable tools to clarify how green tea may fight cancer,” Zaveri notes, “but are also potential chemopreventive drug candidates themselves, with perhaps better pharmakinetic properties than have been seen with EGCG thus far.”

— From the October 29, 2003, edition of Scientific American

Wine May Fight Breast Cancer

HEALTHDAY—Red wine might do more than reduce the risk of heart disease. The grape skin and seeds appear to hold a natural cancer-fighting chemical. Scientists at City of Hope Cancer Center in Los Angeles isolated a phytochemical, called procyanidin B dimer, that when given to mice with breast cancer reduced the size of their tumors.

While there are already drugs on the market that can control estrogen-dependent breast cancer development in post-menopausal women, this is the first naturally occurring phytochemical that appears to have the same effect, says study author Shiuan Chen.

Chen, director of surgical research at City of Hope, says natural phytochemicals are more likely to be used in a preventive way than as treatment because existing drugs are far stronger. “By having this in the diet, one can keep the estrogen at a lower level, which can be preventive for breast cancer,” he says.

— From an article in the December 8, 2003, issue of The Olympian (Olympia,
Washington). This article was also released by the online news service
HealthDay News.

Study Verifies Id-1 Gene as Target for Breast Cancer Gene Therapy

SAN FRANCISCO—A landmark study published in the November 11, 2003, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that curtailing the function of a gene called Id-1 blocks the spread of metastatic cancerous tumors.

“Our preclinical study with mice confirms that Id-1 gene therapy suppresses the spread of cancer and blocks metastasis,” said Pierre-Yves Deprez of the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, the lead author of the study.

What does this mean for human cancer patients? According to Deprez, “as soon as the same methodology is applicable to humans, the Id-1 gene could represent a highly promising target for breast cancer patients with invasive or metastatic cancer.”

— From a November 28, 2003, article in Drug Week via NewsRX.com