Background: Breast cancer is the most common female cancer worldwide. The lifetime risk of a woman being diagnosed with breast cancer is approximately 12.5%. For women who carry the deleterious mutation in either of the BRCA genes, BRCA1 or BRCA2, the risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer is significantly increased. In recent years there has been increased penetrance of BRCA1 and BRCA2 associated breast cancer, prompting investigation into the role of modifiable risk factors in this group. Previous investigations into this topic have relied on participants recalling lifetime weight changes and subjective methods of recording physical activity. The influence of obesity-related biomarkers, which may explain the link between obesity, physical activity and breast cancer risk, has not been investigated prospectively in this group. This paper describes the design of a prospective cohort study investigating the role of predictive and modifiable risk factors for breast cancer in unaffected BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation carriers.

Methods/design: Participants will be recruited from breast cancer family risk clinics and genetics clinics. Lifestyle risk factors that will be investigated will include body composition, metabolic syndrome and its components, physical activity and dietary intake. PBMC telomere length will be measured as a potential predictor of breast cancer occurrence. Measurements will be completed on entry to the study and repeated at two years and five years. Participants will also be followed annually by questionnaire to track changes in risk factor status and to record cancer occurrence. Data will be analysed using multiple regression models. The study has an accrual target of 352 participants.

Discussion: The results from this study will provide valuable information regarding the role of modifiable lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer in women with a deleterious mutation in the BRCA gene. Additionally, the study will attempt to identify potential blood biomarkers which may be predictive of breast cancer occurrence.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3618255PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-13-138DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

breast cancer
40
risk factors
20
brca1 brca2
16
cancer
13
modifiable risk
12
factors breast
12
physical activity
12
cancer occurrence
12
breast
11
risk
10

Similar Publications

In 2023, a breast cancer risk assessment and a subsequent positive test for the BRCA-2 genetic mutation brought me to the uncomfortable intersection of a longstanding career as an advocate for high-quality medical evidence to support shared patient-provider decision making and a new role as a high-risk patient. My search for studies of available risk-management options revealed that the most commonly recommended approach for women with a ⩾20% lifetime breast cancer risk, intensive screening including annual mammography and/or magnetic resonance imaging beginning at age 25-40 years, was supported only by cancer-detection statistics, with almost no evidence on patient-centered outcomes-mortality, physical and psychological morbidity, or quality of life-compared with standard screening or a surgical alternative, bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy. In this commentary, I explore parallels between the use of the intensive screening protocol and another longstanding women's health recommendation based on limited evidence, the use of hormone therapy (HT) for postmenopausal chronic disease prevention, which was sharply curtailed after the publication of the groundbreaking Women's Health Initiative trial in 2002.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Breast Cancer Patients' Experiences of Coping With Financial Toxicity: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

Psychooncology

January 2025

The Department of Breast Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China.

Objective: Breast cancer patients often face a significant financial burden, leading to financial toxicity due to the necessity for long-term care, costly treatment, and follow-up measures. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the available qualitative evidence on how breast cancer patients cope with financial toxicity and their unmet need to promote the implementation of effective intervention strategies.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, CNKI, Wan Fang Data, and VIP databases were systematically searched for literature related to the study topic.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tamoxifen (TAM) is employed to treat premenopausal ER-positive breast cancer patients, but TAM resistance is the main reason affecting its efficacy. Thus, addressing TAM resistance is crucial for improving therapeutic outcomes. This study explored the potential role of Tinagl1, a secreted extracellular matrix protein, whose expression is compromised in TAM-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells (MCF-7R).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Breast cancer is a frequently diagnosed malignant disease and the primary cause of mortality among women with cancer worldwide. The therapy options are influenced by the molecular subtype due to the intricate nature of the condition, which consists of various subtypes. By focusing on the activation of receptors, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase can be utilized as an effective drug target for therapeutic purposes of breast cancer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Management of pain associated with breast cancer surgeries is crucial in reducing incidence of postmastectomy pain syndrome. The pain distribution involves the anterior chest wall, axillary area and ipsilateral upper limb.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effect of bilevel erector spinae plane block (ESPB) with high thoracic block vs the conventional unilevel ESPB vs opioids in patients with cancer undergoing modified radical mastectomy regarding pain control and reducing pain in axilla.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!