A spot for newest BC studies

Hortense

Would it be possible to have a sticky or thread where the newest studies on breast cancer could be posted for general reference? Such as the one wrtitten about in Reuters today: 

www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/us-cancer-breast-subtypes-idUSBRE83H10E20120418

Study suggests breast cancer is clutch of 10 diseases

By Kate KellandLONDON | Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:31pm EDT(Reuters) - Scientists who conducted a major international study into the genetics of breast cancer say they can now classify the disease into 10 subtypes - a finding that points to more accurate, tailored treatment for individual patients in future.In research published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, a team led by scientists at the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) charity also found several completely new genes that drive breast cancer, offering potential targets for new types of drugs.Carlos Caldas, who co-led the study at CRUK's Cambridge Research Institute and the University of Cambridge said the findings mean breast cancer should now be seen as an "umbrella term" for a larger number of diseases."Essentially we've moved from knowing what a breast tumor looks like under a microscope to pinpointing its molecular anatomy," he said."This research won't affect women diagnosed with breast cancer today. But in the future, .. patients will receive treatment targeted to the genetic fingerprint of their tumor."Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, accounting for 16 percent of all female cancer cases, according to the World Health Organization.A study last year by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in the United States found that global breast cancer cases have more than doubled in just three decades, from 641,000 cases in 1980 to 1.6 million cases in 2010 - a pace that far exceeds global population growth.For the genetic study, Caldas's team worked with the BC Cancer Agency, based in Vancouver, Canada, and analyzed 2,000 tumor samples taken from women diagnosed with breast cancer between five and 10 years ago.To get a detailed picture, they studied both DNA and RNA - which translates DNA into proteins - to find out which genes are switched on or off in each tumor sample.MOLECULAR MAPIn a briefing for reporters, the researchers explained how this combined analysis of DNA and RNA helped reveal the identity of genes known as oncogenes - the drivers of cancer - and of tumor suppressor genes, which protect against cancer.This helped them reclassify breast cancer into 10 new categories based on gene activity rather than current tests, which look for the presence of so-called biomarkers such as oestrogen receptors or the cell surface receptor HER2.Drugs such as the generic tamoxifen, and aromatase inhibitors like AstraZeneca's Arimidex or Novartis's Femara, which block oestrogen activity, are already used in targeted treatment for breast cancer patients whose tumors produce large amounts of oestrogen receptor (ER).Roche's Herceptin is another targeted breast cancer drug which is given to patients whose tumors depend on HER2.Harpal Kumar, CRUK's chief executive, said the new findings would help oncologists make far more precise diagnoses for each breast cancer patient - "and that will enable us to make sure that we really target the right treatment to the right woman."The study "changes the way we think about breast cancer - no longer as one disease, but actually as 10 quite distinct diseases depending on which genes are really switched on and which ones aren't," he said.Samuel Aparicio, who co-led the study with the team in Vancouver, described the reclassification into 10 subtypes as a new "molecular map" of breast cancer which he said pointed to the potential development of new medicines.The scientists said the next step would be to find out how specific molecular patterns make tumors grow, and to seek out the faults that might respond to new drugs in the future.They said the information from this study would be made available to scientists worldwide in an effort to boost drug discovery and development.

Moderators

Hortense, we do have the Clinical Trials, Research, News, and Study Results forum where members are invited to "Share your research articles, interpretations and experiences here. Let us know how these studies affect you and your decisions."

The research you cite here (thank you!) was posted there, and also on the Stage IV forum today.

Your Mods

Luah

That thread is buried in the Day to Day Matters - hard to find and not really a good home for it. I would suggest a board/tab devoted to News and Announcements, with BCO News, Research News, Mod Comments etc. under that.

Moderators

You can also subscribe to the monthly Research News email the main Breastcancer.org site (Sign Up button near the bottom of any page).

Thank you for your suggestion, Luah!

The Mods

Luah

Hi Mods: It was more a question of finding the thread so we can post the latest research we've come across. I had the exact idea as Hortense to post that study, but couldn't find the right spot. Neither could she. I also know a lot of these studies get posted in all kinds threads over and over... so it seems people aren't finding the posts either. I think the thread itself needs a higher profile or more intuitive home - just saying. 

Moderators

Luah-

Thanks for clarification and suggestions. We will discuss it.

The Mods

Moderators

We did switch the title of our Moderator Messages Forum now to include research news and our blogs. Do you think this will work?