Coffee drinkers are less prone to aggressive breast cancer?

women who drink a substantial amount of coffee per day can reduce their risk of developing a particular type of breast cancer, Swedish researchers say.

Their study linked the consumption of five or more cups of coffee per day to a relatively marked reduction in the guarantee-responsive disease called ER-negative breast cancer. However, the consumption of coffee did not appear to reduce the risk of developing the ER-positive breast cancer, a form of receptors sensitive to estrogen hormones of the disease.

Daily coffee consumption may protect against the most aggressive type of cancer of the breast, ER-negative, said study co-author Dr. by Hal, Professor in the Department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

"Now, we have not all the details," he warned. "We don't know, for example, what specific type of coffee that we are talking about here. But we know it is that the protective effect is striking and remains same after adjustment for many other factors that have the potential to play a protective role. And we know that we are talking about what we could call a relatively normal amount of drinking coffee. Certainly, we speak not consuming huge amounts of coffee. It is therefore a very intriguing conclusion. ?

The study, reported online on 11 may in the Breast Cancer Research, 5929 Swedish involved, aged 50 to 74. About half of the women had breast cancer.

Questionnaires were used to evaluate the behaviour and characteristics of health, including tobacco and alcohol patterns, physical activity routines, family history of breast cancer, hormone treatment protocols, nutritional intake, body mass indexlevel of educational attainment and coffee consumption patterns. Status of the tumour and chest type of cancer have also been noted.

The tentative conclusion: drinking coffee appeared to stimulate a "large reduction" ER-negative breast cancer risk, the researchers wrote. Women who drank five cups of coffee a day that had a lower risk of 33 to 57% for cancer ER-negative, that is those who drank less than one cup a day.

The study revealed an apparent association between coffee consumption and a reduction in the risk of breast cancer, but not a relationship of cause and effect.

And Hal was not anxious for consumers to switch to conclusions.

"There are one or two other studies have pointed in the same direction as ours - but not many, to some", he warned. "So before that I would go not my neighbours to start drinking coffee more that say that they already do, I would like to know what is the biological mechanism at work here." And it is not yet clear. ?

HAL noted that he and his colleagues are currently working on a new study to tease this information.

Dr. Stephanie Bernik, Chief of surgical oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, described the findings as "interesting" and "provocation", given that the kind of cancer coffee appears to protect against is one for which there are relatively few effective treatments.

"It is this type of study that opens the door to the improvement of the treatments, as scientists seek to discover what biological factors in a substance are beneficial and then attempt to retrieve these factors and use them to defend themselves against cancer"noted Bernik. "The objective would be to try to discover what is in the coffee can be beneficial."

"The next step is to know what chemical factors in coffee cause the decrease in the rate of cancer, and then try to see if these same chemicals can be used to treat a patient once they are already diagnosed cancer"said.""

Coffee drinkers are less prone to aggressive breast cancer?

 women who drink a substantial amount of coffee per day can reduce their risk of developing a particular type of breast cancer, Swedish researchers say.

Their study linked the consumption of five or more cups of coffee per day to a relatively marked reduction in the guarantee-responsive disease called ER-negative breast cancer. However, the consumption of coffee did not appear to reduce the risk of developing the ER-positive breast cancer, a form of receptors sensitive to estrogen hormones of the disease.

Daily coffee consumption may protect against the most aggressive type of cancer of the breast, ER-negative, said study co-author Dr. by Hal, Professor in the Department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

"Now, we have not all the details," he warned. "We don't know, for example, what specific type of coffee that we are talking about here. But we know it is that the protective effect is striking and remains same after adjustment for many other factors that have the potential to play a protective role. And we know that we are talking about what we could call a relatively normal amount of drinking coffee. Certainly, we speak not consuming huge amounts of coffee. It is therefore a very intriguing conclusion. ?

The study, reported online on 11 may in the Breast Cancer Research, 5929 Swedish involved, aged 50 to 74. About half of the women had breast cancer.

Questionnaires were used to evaluate the behaviour and characteristics of health, including tobacco and alcohol patterns, physical activity routines, family history of breast cancer, hormone treatment protocols, nutritional intake, body mass indexlevel of educational attainment and coffee consumption patterns. Status of the tumour and chest type of cancer have also been noted.

The tentative conclusion: drinking coffee appeared to stimulate a "large reduction" ER-negative breast cancer risk, the researchers wrote. Women who drank five cups of coffee a day that had a lower risk of 33 to 57% for cancer ER-negative, that is those who drank less than one cup a day.

The study revealed an apparent association between coffee consumption and a reduction in the risk of breast cancer, but not a relationship of cause and effect.

And Hal was not anxious for consumers to switch to conclusions.

"There are one or two other studies have pointed in the same direction as ours - but not many, to some", he warned. "So before that I would go not my neighbours to start drinking coffee more that say that they already do, I would like to know what is the biological mechanism at work here." And it is not yet clear. ?

HAL noted that he and his colleagues are currently working on a new study to tease this information.

Dr. Stephanie Bernik, Chief of surgical oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, described the findings as "interesting" and "provocation", given that the kind of cancer coffee appears to protect against is one for which there are relatively few effective treatments.

"It is this type of study that opens the door to the improvement of the treatments, as scientists seek to discover what biological factors in a substance are beneficial and then attempt to retrieve these factors and use them to defend themselves against cancer"noted Bernik. "The objective would be to try to discover what is in the coffee can be beneficial."

"The next step is to know what chemical factors in coffee cause the decrease in the rate of cancer, and then try to see if these same chemicals can be used to treat a patient once they are already diagnosed cancer"said.""

Aggressive treatment may be beneficial to Prostate Cancer at the early stage

age 65 for men early stage prostate cancer, those who have removed prostate are less likely to die that those who adopt a "wait under surveillance" approach, according to a new study in the long term Europe.

But the conclusions are not likely to be practical - change, said Dr. Richard e. Greenberg, Chief of Urologic Oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, who did not participate in the study.

"It's relatively early stage of the disease, and it shows what we would expect to show: that those who have more years [to live] have better survival if treated aggressively,"he says. ".

Men with prostate cancer are confronted with a confusing maze of options today, including not only the surgery but a hormone therapy, different types of radiation therapy and medical treatment even simply above all monitoring cancer ("vigilant waiting")("," also called "active surveillance").

"Waiting, under surveillance" is often recommended when a man is not expected to die of cancer and I would like to avoid the risk of debilitating side effects associated with the treatment of prostate cancer. Can be: incontinence and erectile dysfunction (surgery); the treatment of erectile dysfunction and secondary cancers (radiotherapy). nausea, the growth of the breast, liver problems (HT); and weakness, loss of hair, retention (chemotherapy).

The data presented in the May 5 of the New England Journal of Medicine issue is a follow-up of 15 years of study for which three years of follow-up had been reported.

The earlier study also found that undergoing a radical prostatectomy reduced the risk of cancer spread, and the rate of death by cancer of the prostate or any other cause.

Researchers, Drs. Anna Bill-Axelson and Lars Holmberg of the Hospital of the University of Uppsala and colleagues enrolled nearly 700 men of prostate cancer at the beginning under the age of 75 who have been selected randomly to undergo a radical prostatectomy or to remain in "wait under supervision" mode.

After the death average follow-up of about 13 years, 14.6% of the men who had undergone surgery, compared to 20.7% in watchful waiting group, 38% reduction in risk.

The benefit was observed primarily in men aged less than 65 years, and the authors estimated that seven men aged less than 65 years of age and 8 more than 65 years should be treated to save a life.

There was also an advantage for men whose tumors had characteristics of low-risk.

Men whose cancer had moved off the prostate and which underwent an ablation of the prostate had a seven times greater risk of dying men whose tumors did not spread.

Radical prostatectomy may be a price, including erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence and incontinence of bowel even if these effects are not common that improve techniques. A radical prostatectomy nerve, for example, may be able to prevent erectile dysfunction.

In addition, the men in this study were diagnosed after that they had symptoms, unlike the majority of men, to the United States said Greenberg.

"The advantage of testing is that men are more likely to be cured of cancer, but they also have a greater chance of not succumbing to the consequences of surgical complications, if [such] erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence,"says Greenberg. ".

Also, he said, erectile dysfunction can also be a factor of aging and can be treated in most cases.

But much remains to be known about how to treat different types of prostate cancer.

"The management of cancer of the prostate stage continues to require more controlled randomised, studies that are underway, to determine the true benefit of the treatment or expectation," said Dr. Marc Danziger, an attending urologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York Citywho did not participate in the study.

"Currently, the potential benefits and adverse treatment must be resolved on an individual basis to the stratification of the risks of illness, patients desires, of tolerance status and health risks," Danziger added.

Aggressive treatment may be beneficial to Prostate Cancer at the early stage

age 65 for men early stage prostate cancer, those who have removed prostate are less likely to die that those who adopt a "wait under surveillance" approach, according to a new study in the long term Europe.

But the conclusions are not likely to be practical - change, said Dr. Richard e. Greenberg, Chief of Urologic Oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, who did not participate in the study.

"It's relatively early stage of the disease, and it shows what we would expect to show: that those who have more years [to live] have better survival if treated aggressively,"he says. ".

Men with prostate cancer are confronted with a confusing maze of options today, including not only the surgery but a hormone therapy, different types of radiation therapy and medical treatment even simply above all monitoring cancer ("vigilant waiting")("," also called "active surveillance").

"Waiting, under surveillance" is often recommended when a man is not expected to die of cancer and I would like to avoid the risk of debilitating side effects associated with the treatment of prostate cancer. Can be: incontinence and erectile dysfunction (surgery); the treatment of erectile dysfunction and secondary cancers (radiotherapy). nausea, the growth of the breast, liver problems (HT); and weakness, loss of hair, retention (chemotherapy).

The data presented in the May 5 of the New England Journal of Medicine issue is a follow-up of 15 years of study for which three years of follow-up had been reported.

The earlier study also found that undergoing a radical prostatectomy reduced the risk of cancer spread, and the rate of death by cancer of the prostate or any other cause.

Researchers, Drs. Anna Bill-Axelson and Lars Holmberg of the Hospital of the University of Uppsala and colleagues enrolled nearly 700 men of prostate cancer at the beginning under the age of 75 who have been selected randomly to undergo a radical prostatectomy or to remain in "wait under supervision" mode.

After the death average follow-up of about 13 years, 14.6% of the men who had undergone surgery, compared to 20.7% in watchful waiting group, 38% reduction in risk.

The benefit was observed primarily in men aged less than 65 years, and the authors estimated that seven men aged less than 65 years of age and 8 more than 65 years should be treated to save a life.

There was also an advantage for men whose tumors had characteristics of low-risk.

Men whose cancer had moved off the prostate and which underwent an ablation of the prostate had a seven times greater risk of dying men whose tumors did not spread.

Radical prostatectomy may be a price, including erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence and incontinence of bowel even if these effects are not common that improve techniques. A radical prostatectomy nerve, for example, may be able to prevent erectile dysfunction.

In addition, the men in this study were diagnosed after that they had symptoms, unlike the majority of men, to the United States said Greenberg.

"The advantage of testing is that men are more likely to be cured of cancer, but they also have a greater chance of not succumbing to the consequences of surgical complications, if [such] erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence,"says Greenberg. ".

Also, he said, erectile dysfunction can also be a factor of aging and can be treated in most cases.

But much remains to be known about how to treat different types of prostate cancer.

"The management of cancer of the prostate stage continues to require more controlled randomised, studies that are underway, to determine the true benefit of the treatment or expectation," said Dr. Marc Danziger, an attending urologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York Citywho did not participate in the study.

"Currently, the potential benefits and adverse treatment must be resolved on an individual basis to the stratification of the risks of illness, patients desires, of tolerance status and health risks," Danziger added.

Low vitamin d levels linked to more aggressive cancers of the breast (HealthDay)

patients with cancer with low levels of vitamin d have more aggressive tumors and poor results, a new study finds.

Experts say that new findings support that many oncologists suspected for a long time.

"He has been suspected that vitamin d is related to the health of breast somehow, even if the particular channel is still unknown,", said Dr. Laurie Kirstein, surgeon of the breast at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. "Many oncologists already are following levels of vitamin d in their patients with cancer and recommend supplements for low levels," added Kirstein, who was not involved in the new study. "To connect the levels of vitamin d to the aggressiveness of a particular type of breast cancer is an interesting conclusion;" one that should be validated with a controlled trial. ?

In the study, which will be presented Friday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, a team of the clinic of the University of Rochester (URMC) followed by 155 women who underwent surgery for cancer between January and September 2010.

The team examined the blood tests which provide levels of vitamin d for all patients in the period of one year before and after surgery. Also analyzed data on relevant patient breast cancer, such as age, race, the stage of cancer diagnosis, status of menopause, the expression of the genes and the State of estrogen and progesterone.

Researchers have found an association between low vitamin D (less than 32 milligrams per milliliter of blood) levels and poor scores on each major biological marker used to predict the outcome of the breast cancer patient.

"The magnitude of the conclusions was somewhat surprising," lead investigator Luke j. Peppone, radio-oncology research assistant professor, said in a press release URMC. "Based on these results, physicians strongly should monitor levels of vitamin d in the patients with breast cancer and correct as necessary."

Another expert said the findings raise a red flag, but a study more may be necessary.

"It seems to increase evidence connecting the levels of vitamin d and breast cancer," said Dr. Sharon M. Rosenbaum Smith, a surgeon breast full breast Center at St. Luke's - Roosevelt Medical Center in New York. "This study certainly shows another link between the two." However, a direct relationship of cause and effect has not been proven. This study certainly suggests that continued optimization of the level of vitamin d a patient can be advantageous. ?

Vitamin d is found in some foods, but humans synthesize most of the nutrients that they need the action of the Sun on exposed skin. Supplements may also stimulate vitamin d levels.

Rochester team said that their study was one of the first to examine the link between levels of vitamin d and breast cancer progression. Previous studies have concentrated on vitamin d deficiency and risk of development of cancer only.

According to the head of the study Peppone, more research is needed to learn more about the biological basis of the association between vitamin d and breast cancer results, but this study shows the importance of checking the levels of vitamin d in patients with breast cancer.

Experts point out that research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a refereed journal.