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In a study, women who used bisphosphonate drugs, such as Fosamax, Boniva and Zomita, for more than two years had a nearly 40 percent reduction in risk as compared to those who did not, according to lead author Polly Newcomb, Ph.D., M.P.H., head of the Cancer Prevention Program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

“This large study provides new evidence that the use of bisphosphonates is associated with a potentially important reduction in breast cancer risk,” Newcomb said.

The protective effect was observed only among women who were not obese. “Obese women may have elevated estrogen levels, so underlying hormones may influence the ability of bisphosphonates to reduce breast cancer risk,” Newcomb said.

The way in which these drugs may prevent breast cancer is not known, but several research observations may be relevant. “These drugs may affect cell function and be important in cell growth and death — specifically the death of tumors or even premalignant disease,” Newcomb said. Researchers have found that some kinds of bisphosphonates directly cause tumor apoptosis (cellular suicide), inhibit angiogenesis (prevent tumors from establishing a blood supply) and prevent tumor-cell adhesion (the ability of cancer cells to bind to one another).

The study involved nearly 6,000 Wisconsin women, aged 20 to 69. Half had been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and, for comparison purposes, half had not. The women were interviewed about their bone health — their history of fractures, whether they’d been diagnosed with osteoporosis and their history of bisphosphonate use.

Breast cancer risk factors such as first-degree family history of the disease, age at first birth, postmenopausal hormone use and body mass index were accounted for in the analysis. “Because we were able to account for important cofounders, these findings may reflect real benefits due to the anti-tumor mechanisms of these medications,” the authors wrote.

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CANCER RESEARCH UK SCIENTISTS have discovered a completely new route by which leukaemia develops, according to research published in Nature.

Scientists from the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge studied a gene called JAK2 which is faulty in many cases of leukaemia – but until now its role was not clear.

They [...]]]>

CANCER RESEARCH UK SCIENTISTS have discovered a completely new route by which leukaemia develops, according to research published in Nature.

Scientists from the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge studied a gene called JAK2 which is faulty in many cases of leukaemia – but until now its role was not clear.

They discovered that if JAK2 is faulty, the cell’s meticulously controlled message system ‘short circuits’. As a result many genes are switched on and off inappropriately and a completely new cell signaling route by which leukaemia can develop is turned on.

The scientists found that the enzyme made by the JAK2 gene – is also located inside the cell nucleus and plays an important role to control how genetic information is used by the cell. Previously it was only known to be located on the inner surface of cells – acting as a messenger between the outside of the cell and the cell’s nucleus.

The team discovered that the JAK2 enzyme acts in the nucleus to switch on and off a number of genes. It does this by changing the structure of histones – the proteins that pack and protect DNA – and which control the behavior of many genes. The garbled messages from the faulty JAK2 gene lead to mis-management of histones which results in catastrophic effects on the workings of a cell.

Lead author Professor Tony Kouzarides, director of the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge said: “This is a completely new route by which cancer can develop. In this exciting research we have revealed new unidentified parts of the cell’s messaging system which can become faulty and lead to leukaemia.”

In 2006, 7,237 people in the UK were diagnosed with leukaemia and the disease caused 4,350 deaths in the UK in 2007.

Professor Sir David Lane, Cancer Research UK’s chief scientist, said: “This is important research which will helps scientists find new and better ways to treat people with leukaemia.

Leukaemia can be difficult to treat because cancer cells are spread widely through the body so surgery is not an option. This makes it crucial to develop effective drugs to manage and treat the disease.

“These findings reveal a new route by which leukaemias develop – and gives scientists new opportunities to develop drugs which block it.”

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