Gene Methylation and Cytological Atypia in Random Fine-Needle Aspirates for Assessment of Breast Cancer Risk.

Methods to determine individualized breast cancer risk lack sufficient sensitivity to select women most likely to benefit from preventive strategies. Alterations in DNA methylation occur early in breast cancer. We hypothesized that cancer-specific methylation markers could enhance breast cancer risk assessment.

A short-term biomarker modulation study of simvastatin in women at increased risk of a new breast cancer.

Observational studies have demonstrated a decreased incidence of cancers among users of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and a reduced risk of recurrence among statin users diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. We initiated a prospective study to identify potential biomarkers of simvastatin chemopreventive activity that can be validated in future trials. The contralateral breast of women with a previous history of breast cancer was used as a high-risk model.

Preclinical and clinical evaluation of intraductally administered agents in early breast cancer.

Most breast cancers originate in the epithelial cells lining the breast ducts. Intraductal administration of cancer therapeutics would lead to high drug exposure to ductal cells and eliminate preinvasive neoplasms while limiting systemic exposure. We performed preclinical studies in N-methyl-N'-nitrosourea-treated rats to compare the effects of 5-fluorouracil, carboplatin, nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel, and methotrexate to the previously reported efficacy of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) on treatment of early and established mammary tumors.

Changes in breast density and circulating estrogens in postmenopausal women receiving adjuvant anastrozole.

Factors associated with an increased risk of breast cancer include prior breast cancer, high circulating estrogens, and increased breast density. Adjuvant aromatase inhibitors are associated with a reduction in incidence of contralateral breast cancer. We conducted a prospective, single-arm, single-institution study to determine whether use of anastrozole is associated with changes in contralateral breast density and circulating estrogens.

White Paper Report of the 2010 RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries: identifying sustainable strategies for imaging services in the developing world.

The 2010 RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries was a multidisciplinary meeting to discuss data, experiences, and models pertaining to radiology in the developing world, where widespread shortages of imaging services reduce health care quality. The theme of this year's conference was sustainability, with a focus on establishing and maintaining imaging services in resource-limited regions. Conference presenters and participants identified 4 important components of sustainability: (1) sustainable financing models for radiology development, (2) integration of radiology and public health, (3) sustainable clinical models and technology solutions for resource-limited regions, and (4) education and training of both developing and developed world health care personnel.

The role of breast MRI in the management of patients with breast disease.

Breast MRI has paved the way for new thinking regarding the workup of women recently diagnosed with breast cancer and the screening of high-risk women. The routine use of MRI preoperatively is advocated, particularly in young patients and women with dense breasts where mammography is significantly less sensitive for the detection of malignancy. Additionally, MRI is particularly helpful in those women who have core biopsy results showing extensive intraductal component (>25%) orinvasive lobular carcinoma, and in those women with increased risk of positive margins.

Elevated tissue sodium concentration in malignant breast lesions detected with non-invasive 23Na MRI.

Background: The hypothesis that physiological and biochemical changes associated with proliferating malignant tumors may cause an increase in total tissue sodium concentration (TSC) was tested with non-invasive, quantitative sodium ((23)Na) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with benign and malignant breast tumors.

Methods: (23)Na and (1)H MRI of the breast was performed on 22 women with suspicious breast lesions (> or =1 cm) at 1.5 Tesla.