Local researchers tackle breast cancer
By Lynne Friedmann
Science Writer
Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 230,480 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year.After increasing for more than two decades, female breast cancer incidence rates decreased by about 2 percent per year from 1999 to 2005. But, given that each year about 39,520 die from breast cancer clearly more needs to be done. Here are highlights of just a few of the ongoing research efforts in Torrey Pines Mesa toward improved diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment wellness for breast cancer patients.
Using optical imaging
Millions of women over 40 undergo x-ray mammography each year in an effort to detect breast cancer in its early stage, when it is often most treatable. However, traditional mammography involves exposure to radiation and produces poor diagnostic accuracy, resulting in a high rate of false positive diagnoses. UCSD bioengineering grad student Carolyn Schutt and her lab mates Michael Benchimol and Mark Hsu are working on a method to use highly-sensitive light imaging and focused light therapies deep inside the body that will help detect and treat breast cancer more effectively. Known as optical fluorescence imaging, the method could one day offer a safer, less expensive, and more accurate visualization of whether a tumor is present (https://
).
Non-surgical approaches
The “sentinel lymph node” is routinely removed and dissected to determine the likelihood that the cancer has spread beyond the breast. However, identifying the correct lymph node to remove is not straightforward. Andrew Goodwin, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Nanoengineering in the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering is studying the use of novel microbubbles with fluorescent outer shells to mark the sentinel lymph node.
The approach involves using ultrasound — high-frequency sound waves used in medical imaging applications — to detect the gas-filled microbubbles injected into a tumor. Once the lymph nodes have been imaged, the radiologist will turn up the power of the ultrasound beam in the area surrounding the sentinel lymph node. This will burst the microbubbles and release non-toxic fluorescent polymer that is designed to stick specifically in the lymph nodes, allowing for a more accurate dissection surgery (https://
).
Changing cancer cells
There is growing evidence that some tumors originate from stem cells, which keep proliferating to make more stem cells and give rise to more cancer cells. Robert Oshima, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Institute are looking for drugs that force these cancer stem cells to differentiation. This way, the cells settle down and become a specific cell type that can no longer replicate. This is a very different approach than standard treatments because it doesn’t kill the cells, just forces them to become a different — and benign — cell type (https://
).
Making treatments better
Erkki Ruoslahti, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at Sanford-Burnham are developing peptides that specifically bind cancer cells and the blood vessels that feed them. The peptides do this by following “vascular ZIP codes;” certain cell surface markers that distinguish tumor blood vessels from normal ones. One of these peptides helps co-administered drugs to penetrate deeply into tumor tissue. The peptide has been shown to improve treatment efficacy against human breast cancer (as well as other cancers) in mice, achieving the same therapeutic effect as a normal dose with one-third as much of the drug.
Studying the survivors
There are currently 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Researchers at the UCSD Moores Cancer Center are conducting a multi-year study examining risk factors among survivors; among them the effects of weight loss and exercise on recovery. SHAPE (Survivors’ Health and Physical Exercise) is a first-of-its kind program for breast-cancer survivors to offer supervised fitness and nutrition lifestyle modification in an effort to determine its effectiveness in a patient’s vitality and longevity and in preventing cancer recurrence.
Did you know?
• One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
• The most significant risk factors are being a female and getting older.
• Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate.
• Breast cancer typically strikes women during their most productive years, both professionally and personally.
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women ages 40-59.
• Men can get breast cancer, too. One percent of breast cancer diagnosis will be in male patients.
— Source: Susan G. Komen for the Cure San Diego
Need information?• Susan G. Komen for the Cure:
or (877) GO KOMEN.
• Cancer Navigator HelpLine:
or (866) 324-2628
• American Cancer Society: https://
Want to get involved?
• RIDE4LOVE motorcycle ride, Oct. 22: Register begins at 8 a.m. at at the Handlery Hotel & Resort, 950 Hotel Circle North. Sponsored by The Men For A Cause, United Against Breast Cancer. https://
• Komen Row for the Cure 2011, Oct. 30:
• San Diego Komen Race for the Cure: Nov. 6 at Balboa Park. Pre-registration is still being accepted or register that day. You can also still volunteer to help or donate.
www.komensandiego.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/race-information/
• Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Nov. 18-20