Breast Cancer and Prevention
Scientist and doctors
all over the world are conducting many types of clinical trials and
research. They are studying new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose,
and treat breast cancer. Some are also studying therapies that may
improve the quality of life for women during or after cancer
treatment. Clinical trials are designed to answer important
questions and to find out whether new approaches are safe and
effective.
Research on prevention
Scientists are looking for drugs that may prevent breast cancer. For
example, they are testing several different drugs that lower hormone
levels or prevent a hormone's effect on breast cells. In one large
study, the drug tamoxifen reduced the number of new cases of breast
cancer among women who were at an increased risk of the disease.
Doctors are studying whether the drug raloxifene is as effective as
tamoxifen. This study is called STAR (Study of Tamoxifen and
Raloxifene).
Research on detection, diagnosis, and staging
At this time, mammograms are the most effective tool we have to
detect changes in the breast that may be cancer. In women at high
risk of breast cancer, researchers are studying the combination of
mammograms and ultrasound. Researchers are also exploring positron
emission tomography (PET) and other ways to make detailed pictures
of breast tissue. In addition, researchers are studying tumor
markers. Tumor markers may be found in blood, in urine, or in fluid
from the breast (nipple aspirate). High amounts of these substances
may be a sign of cancer. Some markers may be used to check breast
cancer patients for signs of disease after treatment. At this time,
however, no tumor marker test is reliable enough to be used
routinely to detect breast cancer.
Ductal lavage also is under study. This technique collects cells
from breast ducts. A liquid flows through a catheter (very thin,
flexible tube) into the opening of a milk duct on the nipple. The
liquid and breast cells are withdrawn through the tube. A
pathologist checks the cells for cancer or changes that may suggest
an increased risk of cancer.
Research on treatment
Researchers are studying many types of treatment and their
combinations:
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Surgery:
Different types of surgery are being combined with other
treatments.
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Radiation therapy:
Doctors are studying whether radiation therapy can be used
instead of surgery to treat cancer in lymph nodes. They are
looking at the effectiveness of radiation therapy to a larger
area around the breast. In women with early breast cancer,
doctors are studying whether radiation therapy to a smaller part
of the breast may be helpful.
-
Chemotherapy:
Researchers are testing new anticancer drugs and doses. They are
working with drugs and combinations of drugs. They are looking
at new drug combinations before surgery. They are also looking
at new ways of combining chemotherapy with hormone therapy or
radiation therapy.
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Hormone therapy:
Researchers are testing several types of hormone therapy,
including aromatase inhibitors.
-
Biological therapy:
New biological treatments also are under study. For example,
researchers are studying cancer vaccines that help the immune
system kill cancer cells.
In addition, researchers are looking at ways to lessen the side
effects from treatment, such as lymphedema from surgery. They are
looking at ways to reduce pain and improve quality of life. One
method under study is sentinel lymph node biopsy. Today, surgeons
have to remove many lymph nodes under the arm and check each of them
for cancer. Researchers are studying whether checking only the node
to which cancer is most likely to spread (sentinel lymph node) will
allow them to predict whether cancer has spread to other nodes. If
this new procedure works as well as standard treatment, surgeons may
be able to remove fewer lymph nodes. This could reduce lymphedema
for many patients.
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