Tag: breast cancer

Categories : Cancer General InterestTags : Leave a comment

Hope Blooms in Durban – A Spring High Tea with Purpose

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and what better way to celebrate than with floral elegance, an exquisite high tea, motivational speakers, and a live auction – all in the spirit of hope and healing.

On Saturday morning, 25th October 2025, at 11 am, PinkDrive will host their Hope Blooms High Tea at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga, a time of spring celebration and impactful fundraising.  And you’re invited!

PinkDrive is a non-profit organisation (NPO) committed to prolonging lives through early detection of gender-related cancers. They operate mobile health units – those iconic pink trucks – that travel to rural and township areas to provide essential screenings to those who lack or have limited access to adequate healthcare.

Recent Rio Tinto outreach statistics highlight the urgent need for such interventions. In just one week in KwaZulu-Natal, 2251 health services were rendered, including 146 mammograms and 141 clinical breast examinations.

PinkDrive receives no government funding, relying entirely on donations, corporate partnerships, and community support to sustain its essential work. Among these partners is Lee-Chem Laboratories through their Mandy’s brand.

“This cause is deeply important to us – we’ve proudly supported PinkDrive for many years as a long-term corporate partner because of the difference they make in communities that need it most,” says Bhavna Sanker, Marketing Manager at Lee-Chem Laboratories. “It is a privilege to stand alongside them in their efforts to promote early detection and prolong lives. The Hope Blooms fundraiser perfectly reflects our shared commitment to raising awareness, providing crucial screening, and ultimately bringing hope where it’s needed most,” she explains. “We therefore want to encourage the public to also get involved by purchasing a ticket and enjoying an uplifting morning in support of PinkDrive’s vital work.

According to Janice Benecke from PinkDrive, corporate sponsors and partnerships, like that of Mandy’s, enable them to deliver this essential community service. “Mandy’s has been a proud supporter of PinkDrive for many years, generously providing branding, hampers, and product samples, along with an annual donation,” she says. “Through sponsored events like Hope Blooms, we hope to inspire further partnerships and support for our mission.”

Dr Marion Algar, Clinical Oncologist at Hopelands Cancer Centre specialising in breast cancer treatment, and Advocate Pria Hassan, founder of Women of Africa and champion of accessible healthcare through initiatives like iBreast, will share their insights as guest speakers. The elegant affair will be hosted by the lovely Delia Kroll, Mrs SA 2024 finalist, and attendees can also look forward to a welcome drink, networking opportunities, raffle prizes, gift bags, and an exciting live auction. Proceeds will go towards supporting PinkDrive’s free services, including clinical breast examinations, education, pap smears, and funding toward a new mammogram truck. Last year’s event raised R25 000; this year’s goal is to double that amount through your support.

“Hope Blooms reflects the courage, resilience, and renewal that come with a breast cancer journey,” notes Benecke. “Just like flowers that bloom after winter, it’s a reminder that through awareness, support, and love, hope always finds a way to grow.”

She concludes: “We want everyone to leave with this key message, and it’sa motto that I live by: ‘Only Believe, All Things Are Possible.’ Just look at me, I am a walking miracle.”

Tickets are R695 per person with a floral dress code. 10% of proceeds go directly to PinkDrive, and bookings can be made at info.durban.umhlanga@radissonblu.com. So why not consider purchasing a corporate table, inviting members from your sports or social club, or coming along with friends to enjoy a morning of elegance and purpose?

We look forward to welcoming you.

Categories : CancerTags :

Could Reducing Inflammation Help Combat Fatigue in Early-stage Breast Cancer?

On By ModernMedia

Study links blood levels of inflammatory markers with different aspects of cancer-related fatigue.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels

New research reveals that inflammatory responses may play a role in different types of fatigue experienced by many people with cancer. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

Cancer-related fatigue can be a distressing and persistent burden that causes patients to feel physical, emotional, and/or cognitive tiredness or exhaustion. Activation of inflammatory responses by the tumour itself and/or by cancer treatment is thought to be a key biological driver of this symptom, but inflammatory activity across the cancer continuum has not been thoroughly examined.

To investigate, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) analysed protein markers of inflammation in 192 women with early-stage breast cancer who were examined before radiation or chemotherapy and throughout the 18 months after treatment. At each assessment, women reported on different dimensions of fatigue (general, physical, mental, and emotional) and provided blood that was tested for protein markers of inflammation. These included two pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and two downstream markers of their activity (sTNF-RII and CRP).

Higher levels of TNF-α, sTNF-RII, and IL-6 were linked with greater general fatigue, which involves feelings of tiredness and exhaustion. These effects remained even after accounting for age, race, education, body mass index, and cancer stage. Similarly, there was a positive association between physical fatigue, which involves feelings of physical weakness and heaviness, and TNF-α, sTNF-RII, and CRP. Conversely, higher levels of TNF-α and sTNF-RII were associated with lower levels of emotional fatigue. No significant associations between mental (or cognitive) fatigue and inflammatory markers were found.

“Our findings indicate that inflammation plays a role in some aspects of cancer-related fatigue, but not others, and that these effects persist well after treatment,” said lead author Julienne E. Bower, PhD, of UCLA. “This is critical for developing targeted treatments for this common and disabling symptom.”

Source: Wiley

Categories : CancerTags :

Rooibos Extracts Demonstrate Protective Effects in Preliminary Breast Cancer Research

On By ModernMedia
Photo by TeaCora Rooibos on Unsplash

Rooibos, South Africa’s beloved herbal tisane, with proven benefits for the heart, diabetes management and brain health, is now revealing even more potential in preliminary breast cancer research led by Dr Nicky Verhoog, senior lecturer of biochemistry at Stellenbosch University.

Caption: Dr Nicky Verhoog, senior lecturer of biochemistry at Stellenbosch University.

Oestrogen’s role in breast cancer

While the research is still in its early stages, initial findings suggest that Rooibos extracts may counteract the activity of oestrogen in breast cancer cells – a discovery that has prompted the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) Sector Innovation Fund Programme to continue to support the work of Dr Verhoog with further studies in animal models scheduled to begin next year.

Oestrogen is often described as a kind of driver of breast cancer growth, because many breast cancer tumours carry receptors that respond to it. Although oestrogen doesn’t always start the cancer, it can speed up its growth once the disease has developed. Some newer studies also show that it may sometimes play a more direct role in triggering changes in cells that lead to cancer. Because so many breast cancers are sensitive to oestrogen, the possibility that Rooibos might help block its effect makes these findings especially significant.

Breast cancer in South Africa

Breast cancer remains a major health concern in the country. According to the latest statistics, between 11 000[1] and 15 000[2] women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually and the disease accounts for approximately 24% of all cancer cases in South African women. Early detection is critical – when identified at an early stage, breast cancer survival rates can exceed 90%, highlighting the importance of regular screening and self-examination.

Caption: Warning signs of breast cancer. Source: CANSA (cansa.org.za)

Rooibos under the microscope

Against this backdrop, Dr Verhoog’s team conducted an in vitro (cell) study to examine whether Rooibos could influence oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells. In the past, there has been some uncertainty about whether Rooibos might interact with oestrogen in ways that could affect women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer. This study set out to clarify its role – whether Rooibos could potentially act like estrogen or conversely, help block its activity – and to assess whether it influences cancer cell behaviour.

“To better understand how Rooibos interacts with natural hormones like estrogen, our team wanted to gather clearer scientific evidence,”

Dr Verhoog explains. “We also looked at whether Rooibos could influence the growth and spread of cancer cells, which is especially important for women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer.”

In the laboratory, the researchers worked with well-known breast cancer cell models that carry two types of estrogen receptors: one that can encourage tumour growth (ERα) and another that helps to suppress it (ERβ). They then added Rooibos extracts to see how the cells would respond – in terms of growth, movement and spread.”

The results were encouraging. The extracts acted against oestrogen, in a way similar to fulvestrant, a treatment commonly used to block oestrogen activity in breast cancer treatment. Rooibos slowed down oestrogen-induced cell growth and prevented the cells from spreading. Interestingly, the extracts showed a preference for activating ERβ, the receptor associated with tumour suppression.

“Rooibos appears to act in a protective way against oestrogen-driven breast cancer cells in the lab. It doesn’t mimic oestrogen, but rather inhibits its action. Importantly, we also found that it didn’t interfere with the effect of tamoxifen, a standard breast cancer therapy, which suggests Rooibos could be safely consumed by women undergoing treatment. Of course, this needs confirmation through in vivo (animal) studies.”

Next steps: pre-clinical trials in 2026

While the findings are promising, Dr Verhoog stresses the limitations of in vitro research.

“Lab studies involve single cell types and don’t replicate the complexity of the human body,” she says. “We need to see how Rooibos behaves when metabolised in the body, which is why our next step is pre-clinical trials planned for 2026.”

The next phase of research will move beyond cell studies to look at how Rooibos behaves in a pre-clinical model system. This step is important to confirm its safety for women with oestrogen-sensitive breast cancer and to better understand its effects in the body. The aim is not to test Rooibos as a treatment, but to ensure that it can be safely enjoyed alongside conventional therapies.

Rooibos’s broader health benefits

Rooibos is already celebrated for its wide range of health benefits. Rich in antioxidants and free from caffeine and added sugars, it is a popular alternative to sugary drinks, contributing to overall hydration and general wellness. Previous studies have also highlighted its potential protective effects against other cancer types, including prostate, liver and colon cancers, thanks to its potent antioxidant properties.

“While we are still in the early stages, our research adds to the growing evidence of Rooibos’ multifaceted biological actions. It’s a step toward understanding how this uniquely South African tisane may support health in a variety of ways,” emphasises Dr Verhoog.

Experts stress that these findings should not be interpreted as evidence that Rooibos can prevent or treat breast cancer. Rather, they reinforce its safety for consumption and provide a foundation for future research.

With October recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the study also underscores the urgent need for continued scientific investigation into the disease, while reminding women that regular screening, awareness of family history and early detection remain the most effective strategies for reducing breast cancer risk and improving outcomes.

[1] https://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NCR_ASR_tables_2023.pdf According to the National Cancer Registry (NCR), 10 980 cases of breast cancer were recorded in 2023. However, CANSA has highlighted significant underreporting, particularly in rural and under-serviced communities, suggesting that the actual number of cases is likely much higher. The available figures are based on pathological diagnoses.

[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10881925/

The statistics provided by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IACR) differ from those reported by the South African NCR, with the number of new breast cancer cases in 2020 being much higher in the IACR data than in the NCR data (15,491 versus 9259). These differences are due to the different strategies used to tally the statistics. The NCR is a collection of pathology-based cancer surveillance figures based on the curation of cancer diagnosis data from histology, cytology and bone marrow aspirate and trephine samples; these samples have been collected, analysed and then reported on annually [4]. The IACR data are based on the South African NCR and Eastern Cape Province Cancer Registries.

Categories : Cancer Lab Tests and ImagingTags :

Missing First Mammogram Raises Breast Cancer Death Risk

On By ModernMedia
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Women who miss their first mammogram run a higher risk of being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and dying from the disease. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in The BMJ.

Since the early 1990s, women in Sweden have been offered regular mammograms, which has contributed to a decrease in breast cancer mortality. Despite this, a significant proportion choose not to attend their first examination. The researchers behind the new study wanted to investigate the long-term consequences of this. 

The study is based on data from the Swedish mammography screening program and national health registries, and covers almost 433 000 women in Stockholm between 1991 and 2020, with follow-up for up to 25 years. 

The results show that 32% of all women who were invited to their first screening declined. These women were also less likely to participate in future examinations, which often led to a later diagnosis and poorer prognosis.

“Skipping the first mammogram is a strong indicator of who is at risk of late detection and higher mortality. Our results show that missing the first mammogram is not just a one-time choice, but often marks the beginning of a long-term pattern of not attending check-ups,” says the study’s first author, Ziyan Ma, a doctoral student at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet.

Were detected at a more advanced stage

When women who skipped their first screening were later diagnosed with breast cancer, the disease was more often detected at a more advanced stage. The risk of developing stage III cancer was approximately 1.5 times higher, and for stage IV, the risk was as much as 3.6 times higher compared to those who participated in the first mammogram. Over a 25-year follow-up period, almost 1 percent of those who did not participate had died of breast cancer, compared with 0.7 percent among the participants – a difference that corresponds to a 40 percent higher risk of dying from the disease. 

However, the total proportion of women who developed breast cancer was almost the same in both groups, approximately 7.7%. According to the researchers, this shows that the increased mortality is mainly due to delayed detection rather than more cases of the disease.

“Family history is a well-known, unchangeable risk factor for breast cancer. Our study shows that missing the very first screening examination carries a similar mortality risk – but unlike family history, this is a behaviour that we can change. Since over 30 percent of women skip their first screening, increased participation could save many lives. Since this group can be identified early, decades before deaths occur, healthcare providers have a chance to intervene with reminders or support to encourage participation, says the study’s last author, Kamila Czene, professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet

Source: Karolinska Institutet

Categories : CancerTags :

Ischaemia Speeds Tumour Growth by Aging the Immune System

On By ModernMedia
Immune cells (red) accumulating within a tumour (blue) and multiplying (green). When blood flow is blocked either in the heart or legs, these immune cells change in a way that enables tumour growth. Credit: NYU Langone

Cutting off blood flow can prematurely age the bone marrow, weakening the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, according to a new study from NYU Langone Health.

Published online August 19 in JACC: CardioOncology, the study showed that peripheral ischaemia, restricted blood flow in the arteries in the legs, caused breast tumours in mice to grow at double the rate seen in mice without restricted flow. These findings build on a 2020 study from the same team that found ischemia during a heart attack to have the same effect.

Ischaemia occurs when fatty deposits, such as cholesterol, accumulate in artery walls, leading to inflammation and clotting that restrict the flow of oxygen-rich blood. When this happens in the legs, it causes peripheral artery disease, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

“Our study shows that impaired blood flow drives cancer growth regardless of where it happens in the body,” says corresponding author Kathryn J. Moore, PhD, tProfessor of Cardiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “This link between peripheral artery disease and breast cancer growth underscores the critical importance of addressing metabolic and vascular risk factors as part of a comprehensive cancer treatment strategy.”

Importantly, the research team found that restricted blood flow triggers a shift toward immune cell populations that cannot efficiently fight infections and cancer, mirroring changes seen with aging.

Systemic Skewing

To examine the mechanisms behind the link between cardiovascular disease and cancer growth, the study authors developed a mouse model with breast tumours and induced temporary ischaemia in one hind limb. The team then compared cancer growth in mice with and without impaired blood flow.

Their findings build on the nature of the immune system, which evolved to attack invading bacteria and viruses, and under normal conditions detects and eliminates cancer cells. These protective functions rely on stem cell reserves in the bone marrow, which can be activated as needed to produce key white blood cell populations throughout life.

Normally, the immune system responds to injury or infection by ramping up inflammation to eliminate threats, then scaling back to avoid harm to healthy tissue. This balance is maintained by a mix of immune cells that either activate or suppress inflammation. The researchers found that reduced blood flow disrupts this equilibrium. It reprograms stem cells in the bone marrow to favour the production of “myeloid” immune cells (monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils) that dampen immune responses, while reducing output of lymphocytes like T cells that help to mount strong antitumour responses.

The local environment within tumours showed a similar shift, accumulating more immune-suppressive cells, including Ly6Chi monocytes, M2-like F4/80+ MHCIIlo macrophages, and regulatory T cells, that shield cancer from immune attack.

Further experiments showed that these immune changes were long-lasting. Ischaemia not only altered the expression of hundreds of genes, shifting immune cells into a more cancer-tolerant state, but also reorganised the structure of chromatin, the protein scaffolding that controls access to DNA. This made it harder for immune cells to activate genes involved in fighting cancer.

“Our results reveal a direct mechanism by which ischemia drives cancer growth, reprogramming stem cells in ways that resemble aging and promote immune tolerance,” says first author Alexandra Newman, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in Dr Moore’s lab. “These findings open the door to new strategies in cancer prevention and treatment, like earlier cancer screening for patients with peripheral artery disease and using inflammation-modulating therapies, to counter these effects.”

Moving forward, the research team hopes to help design clinical studies that evaluate whether existing inflammation-targeted therapies can counter post-ischaemic changes driving tumour growth.

Source:

Categories : Cancer ExerciseTags :

Bouts of Exercise Could Help in the Fight Against Cancer

On By ModernMedia
Photo by John Arano on Unsplash

A single bout of either resistance or high intensity interval training could help in the cancer battle, new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found.

ECU PhD student Mr Francesco Bettariga found that a single bout of exercise increased the levels of myokines, a protein produced by muscles which has anti-cancer effects, and which could reduce the proliferation of cancer growth by 20 to 30 per cent.

“Exercise has emerged as a therapeutic intervention in the management of cancer, and a large body of evidence exists that shows the safety and effectiveness of exercise as medicine, either during or post cancer treatment,” Mr Bettariga said, first author of the study which appears in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

His research with survivors of breast cancer measured myokine levels before, immediately after and 30 minutes post a single bout of either resistance of high intensity interval training and found that both sets of exercise had a resultant increase in myokine levels.

While higher levels of myokines were expected in a healthy population, post a vigorous workout, Mr Bettariga investigated whether breast cancer survivors would see the same results, given the impact that cancer treatments and cancer itself often has on the body.

“The results from the study show that both types of exercise really work to produce these anti-cancer myokines in breast cancer survivors. The results from this study are excellent motivators to add exercise as standard care in the treatment of cancer,” Mr Bettariga said.

He added that the long-term implications of elevated myokine levels should be further investigated, particularly in relation to cancer recurrence.

Further research by Mr Bettariga investigated how changes in body composition, following consistent exercise, could impact inflammation, which plays a key role in breast cancer recurrence and mortality by promoting tumour progression.

Persistent inflammation not only promotes tumour progression by influencing cell proliferation, survival, invasiveness, and metastasis, but also inhibits immune function. Given that the cancer itself and the side-effects of treatments can elevate levels of inflammatory biomarkers, survivors of breast cancer are at increased risk of cancer progression, recurrence and mortality.

“Strategies are needed to reduce inflammation which may provide a less supportive environment for cancer progression, leading to a lower risk of recurrence and mortality in survivors of breast cancer,” Mr Bettariga said.

The new research found that by reducing fat mass and increasing lean mass, through consistent and persistent exercise, cancer survivors had a better chance at reducing inflammation.

“If we are able to improve body composition, we have a better chance of decreasing inflammation because we are improving lean mass and reducing fat mass, which is responsible for releasing anti and pro-inflammatory markers,” Mr Bettariga said.

Unfortunately, quick fixes to reduce fat mass would not have the same beneficial effects, Mt Bettariga stressed.

“You never want to reduce your weight without exercising, because you need to build or preserve muscle mass and produce these chemicals that you can’t do through just diet alone.”

Source: Edith Cowan University

Categories : CancerTags :

When Should Preventive Mastectomy be Offered in High Breast Cancer Risk?

On By ModernMedia
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

More women at higher risk of breast cancer should be offered a mastectomy, according to researchers at Queen Mary and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

A new analysis, published in JAMA Oncology, has found that the surgical technique was a cost-effective way of reducing the likelihood of developing breast cancer compared to breast screening and medication. Current guidelines on who is offered mastectomy may need to be revised to reflect these new findings. 

Clinicians currently use personalised risk prediction models which combine genetic and other data to identify those women who are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer (BC). Subsequent treatment options – including mammograms, MRI screening, surgery, and medication – are then offered dependent on each woman’s level of risk. 

Risk reducing mastectomy (RRM) is recommended for women at high risk, but in practice this surgery is only clinically offered to those carrying faults (called pathogenic variants) in genes that are known to increase the likelihood they will develop the disease (BRCA1/ BRCA2/ PALB2 PV). 

Professor Ranjit Manchanda from Queen Mary University of London, Dr Rosa Legood from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, along with colleagues from Manchester University and Peking University created a new economic evaluation model to accurately predict the level of risk that would make RRM a more cost-effective treatment. 

For their model, researchers used guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to determine whether a treatment is considered cost-effective. Their model showed that mastectomy was a cost-effective treatment for women aged 30 or above who have a lifetime breast cancer risk greater than or equal to 35%. Offering RRM to women in this cohort could potentially prevent 6,500 of the 58,500 cases of breast cancer that are diagnosed every year in the UK. 

Professor Manchanda, Professor of Gynaecological Oncology at Queen Mary and  Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist, said: “We for the first time define the risk at which we should offer RRM. Our results could have significant clinical implications to expand access to mastectomy beyond those patients with known genetic susceptibility in high penetrance genes- BRCA1/ BRCA2/ PALB2 – who are traditionally offered this. This could potentially prevent can potentially prevent ~6500 breast cancer cases annually in UK women. We recommend that more research is carried out to evaluate the acceptability, uptake, and long-term outcomes of RRM among this group”.. 

Dr Legood, Associate Professor in health economics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “Undergoing RRM is cost-effective for women 30-55 years with a lifetime breast cancer risk of 35% or more. These results can support additional management options for personalized breast cancer risk prediction enabling more women at increased risk to access prevention.”  

Dr Vineeth Rajkumar, Head of Research at Rosetrees, said: “Rosetrees is delighted to fund this truly groundbreaking research that could have a positive impact on women worldwide.” 

The researchers used data from women aged between 30 and 60 with varying lifetime breast cancer risks between 17% and 50%, and who were either undergoing RRM or receiving screening with medical prevention according to currently used predictive models. 

NICE deems a treatment cost-effective if it typically brings one additional year of health for no more than £20 000–£30 000 per patient (known as the ‘willingness to pay’ threshold, or WTP). The researchers’ model used a threshold of £30 000/Quality Adjusted Life Year. 

Source: Queen Mary University London

Categories : CancerTags :

Less Is More: Low-Dose Olanzapine Curbs Chemo-Induced Nausea Without the Sedation

On By ModernMedia

A recent clinical trial demonstrates 5mg olanzapine’s safety and efficacy for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Researchers from Japan found that a 5mg dose of olanzapine, taken after chemotherapy, significantly reduces nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients, while minimising sedation and cutting costs. This patient-centred approach could reshape global standards for antiemetic care. Credit: Prof Mitsue Saito from Juntendo University, Japan

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can severely impact patients’ quality of life and treatment adherence. In a major clinical trial, researchers from Japan tested whether a low, 5mg dose of olanzapine taken at home after chemotherapy could reduce these side effects without causing heavy sedation. The study found that this approach significantly improved outcomes compared to placebo, offering a safer, more affordable strategy that could reshape supportive cancer care, especially in outpatient and resource-limited settings.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are among the most distressing side effects of anti-cancer treatment, particularly for those receiving highly emetogenic regimens such as anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide combinations. This major side effect compromises a patient’s quality of life and willingness to continue therapy. Therefore, there is a crucial need to devise an effective antiemetic management approach for optimizing cancer care and patient well-being.

Against this backdrop, a new study, led by Professor Mitsue Saito and Dr. Hirotoshi Iihara from Japan, was made available online on June 17, 2025, and published in Volume 26, Issue 7 of the journal The Lancet Oncology on July 1, 2025, examined whether a 5mg dose of olanzapine taken at home after chemotherapy could reduce nausea and vomiting in patients with breast cancer while minimising the sedative effects associated with the standard 10mg dose.

“While multiple studies have examined 10mg of olanzapine and confirmed its effectiveness for nausea control, at this dose it often causes sedation, raising safety concerns,” explains lead author Prof Saito. “Beyond the commonly observed sedation, olanzapine at the 10 mg dose can cause serious adverse effects, including sedative effects such as daytime sleepiness and loss of consciousness.”

“The study was inspired in part by three patients with breast cancer who attended an antiemetic guideline meeting at MASCC 2015 in Copenhagen. They spoke about the burdensome sedative side effects of olanzapine, a concern that helped shape the trial’s patient-centred design,” says Prof Saito.

This phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 500 female patients with breast cancer in Japan receiving outpatient anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either olanzapine 5mg or placebo in combination with standard triplet antiemetic therapy (palonosetron, dexamethasone, and an NK-1 receptor antagonist). The olanzapine 5mg was taken at home after chemotherapy to help avoid sedation during hospital travel or treatment.

“This study uniquely investigates the timing of olanzapine 5mg administration, given within 5 hours post-chemotherapy administration and before the evening meal, to reduce sedation during hospital visits and transportation. This approach takes into account the onset of nausea and vomiting reported in previous studies. Among highly emetogenic chemotherapies, there is a significant difference between cisplatin, which usually requires hospitalisation for treatment, and other chemotherapies such as anthracycline-based regimens that are typically administered on an outpatient basis,” says Dr Iihara. The primary endpoint of the study was to investigate the proportion of patients achieving complete response, defined as no vomiting and no rescue medication use during the overall phase (0–120 hours post-anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide initiation).

The results demonstrated significant improvement, with 58.1% of patients in the olanzapine 5mg group achieving a complete response during the first 5 days after chemotherapy, compared to only 35.5% in the placebo group. Benefits also extended to delayed nausea and vomiting across a 7-day observation period.

While some patients reported drowsiness, the incidence of severe or very severe concentration impairment was low, occurring in 10% of patients in the olanzapine 5mg group vs 14% in the placebo group. Additionally, no major adverse events were observed in either group, indicating that there were no treatment-related deaths in either group.

The olanzapine 5mg dose offers an important financial and clinical advantage over the commonly used 10mg. By reducing side effects and cost, this strategy may make antiemetic treatment more accessible, particularly in lower-resource settings.

These new findings suggest that an olanzapine 5mg regimen, especially when administered after chemotherapy, can be just as effective, with fewer side effects. Although the study focused on Japanese women with breast cancer, the results are expected to influence international practices and future guideline updates.

In addressing both physical and financial toxicity and putting patients’ voices at the centre of the research, this trial represents more than a treatment tweak. It’s a step toward more humane, equitable cancer care.

Source: Juntendo University

Categories : Cancer GeneticsTags :

Women of African Ancestry May Be Biologically Predisposed to Early-onset or Aggressive Breast Cancers

On By ModernMedia
Photo by National Cancer Institute

While the incidence of breast cancer is highest for white women, Black women are more likely to have early-onset or more aggressive subtypes of breast cancer, such as triple-negative breast cancer. Among women under 50, the disparity is even greater: young Black women have double the mortality rate of young white women.

Now, research from the University of Notre Dame is shedding light on biological factors that may play a role in this disparity. The study published in iScience found that a population of cells in breast tissues, dubbed PZP cells, send cues that prompt behavioural changes that could promote breast cancer growth.

Funded by the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, the study set out to explore what biological differences in breast tissue could be related to early onset or aggressive breast cancers. Most breast cancers are carcinomas, or a type of cancer that develops from epithelial cells. In healthy tissue, epithelial cells form linings in the body and typically have strong adhesive properties and do not move.

The researchers focused on PZP cells as previous studies had shown that these cells are naturally and significantly higher in healthy breast tissues of women of African ancestry than in healthy breast tissues of women of European ancestry. While PZP cell levels are known to be elevated in breast cancer patients in general, their higher numbers in healthy, African ancestry tissues could hold clues to why early-onset or aggressive breast cancers are more likely to occur in Black women.

“The disparity in breast cancer mortality rates, particularly among women of African descent, is multifaceted. While socioeconomic factors and delayed diagnosis may be contributing factors, substantial emerging evidence suggests that biological and genetic differences between racial groups can also play a role,” said Crislyn D’Souza-Schorey, the Morris Pollard Professor of Biological Sciences at Notre Dame and corresponding author of the study.

The study showed how PZP cells produce factors that activate epithelial cells to become invasive, where they detach from their primary site and invade the surrounding tissue.

For example, a particular biological signaling protein known as AKT is often overactive in breast cancers. This study showed that PZP cells can activate the AKT protein in breast epithelial cells, which in part allows them to invade the surrounding environment. PZP cells also secrete and deposit certain proteins outside the cell that guide the movement of breast epithelial cells as they invade.

Overall, the results of the study emphasize multiple mechanisms by which PZP cells may influence the early stages of breast cancer progression and their potential contribution to disease burden.

The researchers also looked at how a targeted breast cancer drug, capivasertib, which inhibits the AKT protein, impacted PZP cells and found it markedly reduced the effects of the PZP cells on breast epithelial cells.

“It’s important to understand the biological and genetic differences within normal tissue as well as tumours among racial groups, as these variations could potentially influence treatment options and survival rates. And consequently, in planning biomarker studies, cancer screenings or clinical trials, inclusivity is important,” said D’Souza-Schorey, also an affiliate of Notre Dame’s Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health and Harper Cancer Research Institute.

Source: University of Notre Dame

Categories : Cancer Obstetrics & GynaecologyTags :

Breastfeeding’s Protective Effect Against Breast Cancer Explained by Metabolism

On By ModernMedia

Study shows a mother’s mitochondria determine if lactation is protective or not against breast cancer—and points to a possible intervention to increase the benefit to more women

Photo by Wendy Wei

Breastfeeding is often linked with better health for both mothers and babies, but it does not protect all women against breast cancer. The reason remains unknown. Since breast cancer in young women is on the rise, understanding why breastfeeding is protective in some women but not others is critical. 

A new study, led by a team of researchers from The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published in the journal Nature Communications, addressed this question. 

The study was performed in mice, which exhibit a similar phenomenon: lactation strongly protects some mice against breast cancer, but others are more susceptible. The researchers studied female mice that had the same basic DNA but different types of mitochondria. The team found that the way the body responds to breastfeeding could change depending on the mother’s mitochondria.  

In mice with specific types of mitochondria, the researchers found, lactation allowed a certain group of cells similar to those found in postpartum breast cancer in humans to expand and grow, explains Edmund Jenkins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr Jenkins served as the bioinformatics expert on the study. 

“We’ve always thought that breastfeeding is good for all women when it comes to lowering breast cancer risk,” said senior author Doris Germain, PhD, Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “But our study shows that it really depends on a woman’s metabolism and how her body responds to lactation at the cellular level.” 

The researchers also discovered that they could change the way the body reacts during breastfeeding by using a natural dietary supplement. In the mice that were at higher risk of developing postpartum breast cancer, this treatment switched their response from harmful to protective. This finding opens the door to a possible way to help more women benefit from breastfeeding by supporting their bodies in the right way.  

“Our research raises the possibility that one day, doctors might be able to identify women whose breastfeeding response puts them at risk and then offer them a simple, natural dietary intervention to change that,” said first author Mrittika Chattopadhyay, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. 

The team is now studying human breast milk with the goal of identifying milk metabolites that can show whether a woman’s body is reacting to breastfeeding in a way that is helpful or harmful. They also plan to develop a study in humans. One question then will be whether, because this dietary supplement may impact the development of the child, it should be tested only in mothers after they have stopped giving milk to their newborns.  

Source: Mount Sinai