FORCE's eXamining the Relevance of Articles for You (XRAY) program looks behind the headlines of cancer news to help you understand what the research means for you.
XRAY is a reliable source of hereditary cancer research-related news and information.
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Metastatic Breast Cancer
Relevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : A new method for determining whether genetic variants in BRCA1 increase cancer risk
Relevance: Medium-Low
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Most relevant for: People who have a Variant of Uncertain Significance in a gene associated with cancer risk.
Ever since BRCA1 was discovered, researchers have been trying to understand which of the thousands of possible DNA changes in this gene increase cancer risk and which are harmless changes. A new study in Nature reports how a cutting-edge technology called “genome editing” may be used to classify changes—known as variants of uncertain significance-in BRCA1 as harmful or harmless. Once validated, this same technology may be used to classify variants in other genes. (9/29/18)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : Gardening improves health outcomes for breast cancer patients
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with breast cancer who would benefit from increased activity and from eating more vegetables
Research has shown that adopting a healthier lifestyle may improve overall health and outcomes for cancer survivors. This study looked at a 1-year home-based gardening intervention to increase activity and wellbeing among breast cancer survivors. (08/31/18)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Study : Study identifies genes associated with risk of triple-negative breast cancer
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Post Approval
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer
Panel testing can identify women who are at increased risk for breast cancer. However, those at risk for triple-negative breast cancer cannot easily be identified because other than BRCA1, genes that increase the risk for triple-negative breast cancer are unknown. A new study uses panel testing to identify which genes increase the risk for triple-negative breast cancer. (8/23/18)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : Immunotherapy may lead to long-term remission of metastatic breast cancer
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Most relevant for: People with advanced cancers
Metastatic breast cancer is often difficult to treat. In a new approach, called adoptive cell therapy (ACT), a patient’s own T-cells (a type of cancer-fighting immune cells) are collected, multiplied in a lab, and then returned to the patient. The goal is to enhance the patient’s immune system with many more T-cells that recognize and attack metastasized tumor cells. This study reports on a single patient whose metastatic breast cancer is still in remission (no evidence of disease) after more than 22 months following ACT. (8/16/18)
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Article : High health insurance deductibles can interfere with breast cancer treatment decisions
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with breast cancer
A New York Times article published on May 4, 2018 examines the impact of high insurance deductibles on breast cancer treatment. (7/12/18)
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Relevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : Evaluation of some direct-to-consumer genetic testing reveals inaccuracies and misinterpretations
Relevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium
Research Timeline: Human Research
Most relevant for: People who are considering or have had direct-to-consumer testing
A clinical genetic testing laboratory examined results from direct-to-consumer genetic testing ordered directly by patients. They found many instances of false positives—reported mutations that were not actually present—and in some cases, reports of variants that "increased risk," but were actually benign. This study emphasized the importance of involving genetics experts in the interpretation of genetic test results. (6/28/18)
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Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : Mutations in Lynch syndrome genes MSH6 and PMS2 may be associated with breast cancer
Relevance: Medium-High
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
Most relevant for: Women with an MSH6 or PMS2 mutation
Some women with mutations in MSH6 and PMS2, two Lynch syndrome genes, may have a modest (2 to 3-fold) increased risk for breast cancer. (6/14/18 updated 09/25/19)
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Relevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
Study : Metastasis is affected by wound healing and inflammation in study on mice
Relevance: Medium
Strength of Science: Medium-High
Research Timeline: Human Research
Most relevant for: Cancer patients who will be, or have recently undergone surgery
This study in mice looked at how wound healing after surgery affects metastasis. Researchers found that wound healing caused changes in the mouse immune system that allowed some cancer cells to grow, but that treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) reduced inflammation and frequency of metastases. While this research is promising, it remains to be seen if similar effects occur in humans. (5/17/18)
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Guideline : American Heart Association examines the challenges of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with breast cancer
Current breast cancer treatments can negatively affect cardiovascular health. Recently, the American Heart Association released its first scientific statement on cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. This statement includes a comprehensive overview of the prevalence of both diseases, shared risk factors, cardiotoxic effects of therapy and the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in breast cancer patients. (5/2/18)
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Article : The right not to know when not knowing is dangerous
Most relevant for: People with Icelandic heritage
Healthcare providers are bound by the guiding principle of doing no harm. But how does this concept apply to their patients who have not consented to genetic testing or who do not want to know their results? In that case, is providing test results more harmful or not? Anna Clausen explores these issues in the context of breast cancer gene testing in her Global Health Now article “The Right Not to Know: When Ignorance is Bliss but Deadly.” (4/20/18)
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