News Release

Summary of AACR press releases distributed following cancellation of annual meeting in Toronto

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Association for Cancer Research

Researchers Identify New Gene Associated with Breast Cancer
Researchers have identified a new gene, C 35, that appears to be closely associated with breast cancer. Of the breast cancer tissues tested, more than 60 percent over-expressed the C35 gene. The study, a collaboration between the University of Rochester and Vaccinex, Inc., also found that the C35 gene was only over-expressed in breast cancer cells, and is not evident in any normal tissues in women.

Lead investigator: Deepak M. Sahasrabudhe, M.D., director of the Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program and Professor of Medicine and Oncology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York

Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers Effective in Protecting Against Breast Cancer
Regular use of ibuprofen and aspirin inhibits the formation and growth of breast cancer, according to data taken from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. The results suggested that weekly doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) had a significant effect in reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Lead investigator: Randall Harris, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Biometrics at Ohio State University.

Study Demonstrates that Low-Dose Tamoxifen May Be Effective in Treating Breast Cancer
Administering tamoxifen at lower doses than the current standard dose appears to effectively reduce breast cancer proliferation while causing fewer side effects. Unlike standard chemotherapy, estrogen-based agents such as tamoxifen work by saturating the estrogen receptor. Once saturation occurs, there is no longer any treatment benefit regardless of regimen frequency or dosing, and additional drug may cause an increase in side effects.

Lead investigator: Andrea Decensi, M.D., director of the Division of Cancer Prevention, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.

Novel COX-2 Combination Treatment May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk
A combination of low-dose COX (cycloxygenase)-2 inhibitors (celecoxib) and a biologically active component of fish oil (n-3 PUFAs, such as docosahexanoic acid, DHA) may preveznt, and even treat, colon cancer. This effect of the low-dose combination regimen on human colon cancer cells was more pronounced than the use of each agent separately at high doses.

Lead investigator: C.V. Rao, Ph.D., associate chief, Division of Nutritional Carcinogenesis, Institute for Cancer Prevention, American Health Foundation-Cancer Center, Valhalla, New York.

###

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is a professional society of more than 20,000 laboratory and clinical scientists engaged in cancer research in the United States and more than 60 other countries. AACR's mission is to accelerate the prevention and cure of cancer through research, education, communication and advocacy. Its principal activities include the publication of five major peer-reviewed scientific journals (Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention). AACR's annual meeting attracts more than 12,000 participants who share new and significant discoveries in the cancer field, and the AACR's specialty meetings throughout the year focus on all the important areas of basic, translational and clinical cancer research.

Contact: Warren Froelich/AACR
froelich@aacr.org
215/440-9300

Aimee Frank/Spectrum Science
amf@spectrumscience.com
202/955-6222

In Washington, DC: (7/11-7/14)
Washington Convention Center
202/249-4060


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.