Breast cancer research and treatment
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jun 2000
Contortrostatin, a dimeric disintegrin from Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix, inhibits breast cancer progression.
We report the results of a multidisciplinary study on the inhibitory effect of a snake venom disintegrin, contortrostatin, a 13.5 kDa homodimeric protein isolated from Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix (southern copperhead) venom, on breast cancer progression. We demonstrate that contortrostatin binds to integrins and blocks the adhesion of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-435) to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins including fibronectin and vitronectin, but it has no effect on adhesion of the cells to laminin and Matrigel. Contortrostatin also prevents invasion of MDA-MB-435 cells through an artificial Matrigel basement membrane. ⋯ However, contortrostatin inhibits angiogenesis induced by the breast cancer, as shown by immunohistochemical quantitation of the vascular endothelial cells in tumor tissue removed from the nude mice. We have identified alpha(v)beta3, an important integrin mediating cell motility and tumor invasion, as one of the binding sites of contortrostatin on MDA-MB-435 cells. We conclude that contortrostatin blocks alpha(v)beta3, and perhaps other integrins, and thus inhibits in vivo progression.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pain experience of women during mammography for breast cancer screening. Possible associations with personal and medical history, sociodemographics and/or situational factors were studied. It was also investigated whether this pain influenced the intention to return for future breast cancer screening. ⋯ Factors associated with pain were described. Relatively few women (2.7%) indicated that the pain might deter them from future mammography. Recommendations are given to reduce the pain experienced during screening mammography.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Apr 2000
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialConcurrent adjuvant chemotherapy and immediate breast reconstruction with skin expanders after mastectomy for breast cancer.
Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) by means of skin expander is currently one of the most widely used methods of breast reconstruction in mastectomized patients. However, given that many breast cancer patients usually receive adjuvant chemotherapy, the adoption of IBR raises new questions concerning possible cumulative toxicity. The present study reports our experience in the use of concurrent adjuvant chemotherapy and immediate breast reconstruction with skin expander after mastectomy for breast cancer and the acute cumulative toxicity of the treatments. ⋯ Concurrent treatment with IBR and adjuvant chemotherapy appears feasible and safe, it does not increase acute surgical complications or chemotherapy side effects, and does not require any changes in dose intensity or the timing of inflation.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jan 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialResults of two or five years of adjuvant tamoxifen correlated to steroid receptor and S-phase levels. South Sweden Breast Cancer Group, and South-East Sweden Breast Cancer Group.
A Swedish cooperative trial demonstrated that 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen was more beneficial than 2 years of tamoxifen in the treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER) positive, early stage, invasive breast cancer. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of progesterone receptor (PgR) and ER concentration levels for patients participating in the trial and still distant recurrence free two years after the primary operation. Subgroup analyses revealed that only patients with ER positive and PgR positive breast cancer had improved distant recurrence free survival (DRFS) by prolonged tamoxifen therapy (p = 0.0016). ⋯ S-phase fraction did not correlate to the recurrence rate of PgR positive breast cancers. Patients recurring during tamoxifen therapy had receptor negative tumors to a greater extent than those recurring after tamoxifen treatment. In conclusion, prolonged tamoxifen therapy for 5 years instead of 2 years was found to be beneficial for patients with ER positive and PgR positive breast cancer, whereas three extra years of tamoxifen had little or no effect for patients with ER positive but PgR negative tumors as well as for steroid receptor negative patients.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jul 1999
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyMeta-analysis of trials comparing toremifene with tamoxifen and factors predicting outcome of antiestrogen therapy in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.
Meta-analysis of all clinical data was conducted to compare toremifene 40-60 mg/day (TOR) with tamoxifen 20-40 mg/day (TAM) in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER) positive or ER unknown advanced breast cancer and assess factors predicting treatment outcome. Data from five randomized parallel group studies (all studies) were combined. Efficacy variables were the response rate in all studies and also the time to treatment failure and survival in the three major studies (pivotal studies). ⋯ Objective response to treatment or disease stabilization for at least 12 months both predicted prolonged survival (p = 0.001). TOR 60 mg/day and TAM are equally effective and well tolerated in the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Probability of survival may be predicted based on patient characteristics and on the initial response to the treatment.