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Irish breast cancer breakthrough could end mammograms

Major cancer discovery from team at Galway University

By
ANTOINETTE KELLY,
IrishCentral.com

Published Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 1:50 PM
Updated Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 4:24 PM

 

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Patient undergoes mammogram test
Patient undergoes mammogram test

Irish scientists may have found an alternative to the dreaded mammogram in a bid to reduce the incidence of breast cancer.

Researchers from the National University of Ireland Galway have identified a new blood test that can act as an "early warning" system.

The test, which is being discussed as a potential replacement for mammograms, can alert doctors if the disease is recurring.

The researchers from the school's department of surgery presented their study results at the world’s biggest breast cancer conference in San Antonio in the U.S.

The study found a link between breast cancer and substances called microRNAs which are found in the blood of patients with breast cancer.

Professor Michael Kerin, who led the team, said there was good reason for optimism.

“This early work suggests a combination of mir195 and Let7a (two specific types of microRNA) are sensitive markers for the presence of breast cancers in over 90 percent of cases," he said. "This raises the possibility of their use in screening for breast cancer.”

MicroRNAs are tiny fragments of genetic code which act as both suppressors and promoters of cancer growth.

The MicroRNAs called mir195 and Let7a are powerful players in the development and propagation of breast cancer.

The study looked at 83 women with breast cancer and 44 women who did not have the disease who acted as controls.

They found that levels of the two miRNA markers were more than 10 times greater in the women with breast cancer.

They also found that blood levels of mir195 dropped to the level found in the cancer-free women after surgeons removed the cancers.

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4 Comments

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Posted by AmericanLassie on May 12, 2010, 07:22 PM EDT
The problem with mammograms is that they expose the patient to radiation. A blood test would be a healthier alternative.
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Posted by beachline on Jan 20, 2010, 10:17 AM EST
Iwelcome any developments that will help to discover and cure cancer. We still have a long way to go, but someday there will be a cure. I am a thirteen year survivor of colon cancer, and during post surgical treatment I agreed to use of a new chemo drug that cut chemo treatment in half. It was a once a week injection with no side effects for me . Every day I thank God, my surgeon, and the experimental drug that helped me.
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Posted by sissybiff on Dec 24, 2009, 03:23 PM EST
The number of test subjects is extremely small, but optimistic results may prove valuable.
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Posted by Meggie01 on Dec 23, 2009, 10:36 PM EST
As a breast cancer survivor I would welcome an accurate test for recurrence, but I disagree that mammograms are worse for everyone than having blood drawn. After chemo and all the regular blood work, I dread having a mammogram far less than getting stuck with needles.
 


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