Healthy lifestyle impact on breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality

Dietary patterns, cooking methods and breast cancer risk in Mexico: An exploratory case-control study

Background: Nutrition has an important influence on the risk of developing breast cancer (BC). Dietary patterns can capture the complex interplay of nutrients and cooking methods can contribute to the presence of heterocyclic amines, which are potent mammary carcinogens. Research on dietary patterns, cooking methods, and their association with BC in Mexican women is scarce. Aim: To evaluate the association of dietary patterns and cooking methods with BC risk among women from the Northwest region of Mexico. Methods: This case-control study included 120 women. Eligible cases (n = 60) were diagnosed and biopsy-confirmed in the past 2 years. Control subjects (n = 60) were hospital and population-based. Dietary intake and cooking methods were respectively assessed through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the National Cancer Institute survey. We obtained dietary patterns from a K-means cluster analysis (CA), and multivariate logistic regression tested the association of dietary patterns and cooking methods with BC risk. Results: Prudent and caloric dietary patterns were identified. The caloric pattern was associated with BC risk (Model 1: ORadj: 5.07, 95%CI:1.44-17.84, p = 0.011; Model 2: ORadj: 4.99 (95%CI:1.39-17.92, p = 0.014). Intense frying, meat grilling and poultry resulted in a significant BC risk (Model 1: ORadj: 5.54,95%CI: 2.13-14.41), p < 0.001; Model 2: ORadj: 5.12, 95%CI: 1.83-14.31, p = 0.002). At Oestrogen exposure of <32 years, there was an association between dietary patterns and BC risk (ORadj: 4.69, 95%CI: 1.01-21.92, p = 0.049). The relationship between BC risk and cooking intensity was found in both strata of exposure to oestrogens: <32 years (ORadj: 3.72, 95%CI:1.04-13.33, p = 0.044), and ≥32 years (ORadj: 6.06, 95%CI:1.34-27.42, p = 0.019). Conclusions: A caloric dietary pattern rich in refined carbohydrates and saturated fat, and intense meat product cooking may increase the risk of BC in Mexican women.

Post-diagnostic lifestyle and mortality of cancer survivors: Results from a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Lifestyle factors after cancer diagnosis could influence cancer survival. This study aimed to investigate the joint effects of smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, diet and sleep duration on all-cause, cancer and non-cancer mortality of cancer survivors in UK biobank.

METHODS

The follow-up period concluded in December 2021, with post-diagnostic lifestyle factors assessed at baseline. A lifestyle score ranging from 0 to 5 was assigned based on adherence to the selected lifestyle factors. The study employed Cox regression models for hazard ratios (HRs) and Kaplan-Meier for survival rates, with stratified and sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of our findings under various assumptions.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 12.7 years, 5652 deaths were documented from 34,184 cancer survivors. Compared to scoring 0-1, the HRs (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality with lifestyle scores of 2, 3, 4, and 5 were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.76), 0.57 (0.52, 0.62), 0.50 (0.45, 0.54) and 0.43 (0.38, 0.48), respectively. Specific cancer types, particularly digestive, breast, female reproductive, non-solid, and skin cancers, showed notable benefits from adherence to healthy lifestyle, with the HRs of 0.55 (0.39, 0.79), 0.54 (0.42, 0.70), 0.32 (0.19, 0.53), 0.58 (0.39, 0.86), and 0.36 (0.28, 0.46) for lifestyle score of 5, respectively. Stratified analyses indicated the association was particularly significant among those with normal/lower BMI and higher Townsend Deprivation Index (Pinteraction = 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Healthier lifestyles were significantly linked with reduced mortality among cancer survivors. These findings highlight the need for adherence to healthy lifestyle habits to improve survival.

Association between Dietary Indices and Dietary Patterns and Mortality and Cancer Recurrence among Cancer Survivors: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

The number of cancer survivors is growing rapidly; however, specific lifestyle recommendations for these patients are still sparse, including dietary approaches. Thus, the aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the associations between adherence to diet-quality indices and dietary patterns on overall mortality, cancer-specific mortality, and cancer recurrence among cancer survivors. The literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science between 18 May 2016 and 22 May 2022 with no language restrictions. Thirty-nine studies were included for quantitative analysis, providing data from 77,412 participants. Adherence to both diet-quality indices and a healthy/prudent dietary pattern was inversely associated with overall mortality (RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.77-0.86; RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.92, respectively) and with cancer-specific mortality (RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79-0.94; RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97, respectively). These associations could be observed following assessment of dietary patterns either pre- and/or postdiagnosis. For unhealthy/western dietary patterns, high adherence was associated with overall mortality (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08-1.47). Although the certainty of evidence was rated as low, we conclude that there are no reservations against high adherence to healthy dietary patterns or indices in cancer survivors.

Adherence to Cancer Prevention Lifestyle Recommendations Before, During, and 2 Years After Treatment for High-risk Breast Cancer

Importance

The American Institute for Cancer Research and American Cancer Society regularly publish modifiable lifestyle recommendations for cancer prevention. Whether these recommendations have an impact on high-risk breast cancer survival remains unknown.

Objective

To investigate whether adherence to cancer prevention recommendations before, during, and 1 and 2 years after breast cancer treatment was associated with disease recurrence or mortality.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The Diet, Exercise, Lifestyles, and Cancer Prognosis Study (DELCaP) was a prospective, observational cohort study designed to assess lifestyles before diagnosis, during treatment, and at 1 and 2 years after treatment completion, implemented ancillary to the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) S0221 trial, a multicenter trial that compared chemotherapy regimens in breast cancer. Participants were chemotherapy-naive patients with pathologic stage I to III high-risk breast cancer, defined as node-positive disease with hormone receptor-negative tumors larger than 1 cm or any tumor larger than 2 cm. Patients with poor performance status and comorbidities were excluded from S0221. The study was conducted from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2010; mean (SD) follow-up time for those not experiencing an event was 7.7 (2.1) years through December 31, 2018. The analyses reported herein were performed from March 2022 to January 2023.

Exposure

An aggregated lifestyle index score comprising data from 4 time points and 7 lifestyles, including (1) physical activity, (2) body mass index, (3) fruit and vegetable consumption, (4) red and processed meat intake, (5) sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, (6) alcohol consumption, and (7) smoking. Higher scores indicated healthier lifestyle.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Disease recurrence and all-cause mortality.

Results

A total of 1340 women (mean [SD] age, 51.3 [9.9] years) completed the baseline questionnaire. Most patients were diagnosed with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer (873 [65.3%]) and completed some education beyond high school (954 [71.2%]). In time-dependent multivariable analyses, patients with highest vs lowest lifestyle index scores experienced a 37.0% reduction in disease recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.48-0.82) and a 58.0% reduction in mortality (hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.30-0.59).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this observational study of patients with high-risk breast cancer, strongest collective adherence to cancer prevention lifestyle recommendations was associated with significant reductions in disease recurrence and mortality. Education and implementation strategies to help patients adhere to cancer prevention recommendations throughout the cancer care continuum may be warranted in breast cancer.

A systematic review of multimodal prehabilitation in breast cancer

PURPOSE

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in women. Prehabilitation may offer improvements in physical and psychological wellbeing among participants prior to treatment. This systematic review aimed to determine the efficacy of prehabilitation in participants diagnosed with breast cancer.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines. Studies exploring the impact of prehabilitation in participants with breast cancer were included. Studies were assessed independently according to pre-eligibility criteria, with data extraction and methodological quality assessed in parallel.

RESULTS

3184 records were identified according to our search criteria, and 14 articles were included. Articles comprised of quantitative randomised controlled trials (n = 7), quantitative non-randomised studies (n = 5), a qualitative study (n = 1), and a mixed-method study (n = 1). The majority of selected studies completed exercise programs (n = 4) or had exercise components (n = 2), with two focusing on upper-limb exercise. Five articles reported complementary and alternative therapies (n = 5). Two articles reported smoking cessation (n = 2), with a single study reporting multi-modal prehabilitation (n = 1). Mostly, prehabilitation improved outcomes including physical function, quality of life, and psychosocial variables (P < 0.05). The qualitative data identified preferences for multimodal prehabilitation, compared to unimodal with  an interest in receiving support for longer.

CONCLUSIONS

Prehabilitation for patients with breast cancer is an emerging research area that appears to improve outcomes, however, ensuring that adequate intervention timeframes, follow-up, and population groups should be considered for future investigations.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

The implementation of prehabilitation interventions for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer should be utilised by multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic care to patients as it has the potential to improve outcomes across the cancer care trajectory.

Sleep quality traits correlate with inflammatory markers in the breast tissue of women

BACKGROUND

Several mechanisms have been posited to play a role in the sleep and breast cancer association, including alterations in immune function, but evidence remains inconclusive. A closer look at how sleep quality traits affect the breast microenvironment may provide clues for molecular mechanisms underlying the link between sleep and breast cancer. We examined the association between sleep quality traits (sleep duration, sleep aids, and insomnia) and tissue-based protein levels and gene expression of several inflammatory markers associated with breast cancer.

METHODS

Breast tissues (normal n = 165 and adipose n = 74) were surgically obtained from women diagnosed with breast cancer. Protein levels by immunohistochemistry were determined using the quickscore method for 11 inflammatory markers in the normal epithelial breast tissue (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), leptin, serum amyloid A1 (SAA1), lactoferrin, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 markers (STAT3). Relative quantification of 4 genes (COX-2, IL-6, TNF-α and LEP) in the adipose breast tissue was carried out using qPCR. Patient characteristics and sleep traits (average sleep duration per night, taking sleeping aids in the past year, and the average number of insomnia episodes per month) were determined by telephone interview. Associations were tested using Spearman's rank correlation (r_s) coefficients adjusted (ar_s) for age at surgery, menopausal status and PCR batch when applicable. Sleep duration categories (<7, 7-9, >9 h) and root- or log-transformed biomarker levels were examined with adjusted linear mixed models.

RESULTS

TGF-β and CRP levels in normal epithelial breast tissue were positively correlated with sleep aids (ar_s = 0.28, p = 0.013), and insomnia (ar_s = 0.23, p = 0.044) in postmenopausal women, respectively. IL-6 in the adipose breast tissue was inversely correlated with sleep aids (ar_s = -0.26, p = 0.029) in all women. None of the sleep traits significantly correlated with inflammatory markers in premenopausal women. Several markers tended to correlate at 0.05 ≥ p ≤ 0.10. Adjusted mean levels of inflammatory markers were significantly different across sleep duration categories (<7, 7-9, >9 h). Higher mean levels of IL-6, CRP, IL-10, and IL-6 and COX-2 expression were noted in the breast tissues of women sleeping < 7, and particularly, >9 h per night (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that sleep duration, sleep aids, and insomnia may differently affect women's breast tissues depending on menopausal status. From a public health perspective, these results warrant further validation in larger studies. Since sleep is a modifiable factor, it may be an interesting approach for breast cancer prevention.

Combined lifestyle, mental health, and mortality in US cancer survivors: a national cohort study

Background

Adopting healthy lifestyles and staying mentally health are two cost-effective modifiable strategies that cancer survivors can implement in self-management. We aimed to evaluate the independent, mediation, interaction, and joint associations of combined lifestyle and mental health with mortality in cancer survivors.

Methods

We performed a cohort study including 3145 cancer survivors from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2018). A healthy lifestyle score was constructed based on post-diagnosis body mass index, physical activity, diet, smoking, and drinking. Post-diagnosis mental health was assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause, cancer, and non-cancer mortality were computed using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

After 20,900 person-years of follow-up (median, 6.3 years), cancer survivors with higher lifestyle score had decreased mortality, independent of mental health. Compared to participants with lower lifestyle score (0–1), HRs (95% CIs) for all-cause and non-cancer mortality among those with higher lifestyle score (3–5) were 0.68 (0.52–0.89) and 0.69 (0.56–0.85), respectively. 6.2–10.3% of the associations were mediated by mental health. Similar trends were observed among participants categorized by mental health, those with better mental health had lower mortality, independent of lifestyle. Participants with better mental health benefited more from adopting healthy lifestyles, and vice versa. Combinations of higher healthy lifestyle score and better mental health were associated with significant decreased mortality, the lowest mortality was seen in participants with highest healthy lifestyle score and concurrently with best mental health.

Conclusions

For the first time, in this cohort study with a nationally representative sample of US cancer survivors, we comprehensively explored the complex associations of lifestyle, mental health, and mortality. Evidence derived from this study may give much confidence to cancer survivors and healthcare providers that, changing one’s lifestyle and/or staying mentally healthy after cancer diagnosis can improve survival.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03584-4.

Electronic Health Interventions for Patients With Breast Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

PURPOSE

Ongoing supportive care using electronic health (eHealth) interventions has the potential to provide remote support and improve health outcomes for patients with breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of eHealth interventions on patient-reported outcomes (quality of life [QOL], self-efficacy, and mental or physical health) for patients during and after breast cancer treatment and patient-reported experience measures (acceptability and engagement).

METHODS

Systematic review with meta-analyses (random-effects model) of randomized controlled trials was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Nine databases were searched using a prespecified search strategy. Patient-directed eHealth interventions for adult patients during or after active breast cancer treatment measuring QOL, self-efficacy, and mental (depressive, anxiety, and distress symptoms) or physical (physical activity, nutrition, and fatigue) health outcomes were included. Data from eligible full-text articles were independently extracted by six observers.

RESULTS

Thirty-two unique studies (4,790 patients) were included. All were health self-management interventions, and most were multicomponent (videos, forums, and electronic reminder systems) websites. Meta-analyses revealed a significant effect of eHealth interventions on QOL (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.20 [95% CI, 0.03 to 0.36]), self-efficacy (SMD, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.24 to 0.65]), distress (SMD, -0.41 [95% CI,-0.63 to -0.20]), and fatigue (SMD, -0.37 [95% CI, -0.61 to -0.13]). Twenty-five studies (78.1%) measured patient-reported experience measures. Acceptability (n = 9) was high, with high ratings for satisfaction (range, 71%-100%), usefulness (range, 71%-95%), and ease-of-use (range, 73%-92%). Engagement (n = 25) decreased over time, but disease-focused information and interactive support were most engaging.

CONCLUSION

eHealth interventions may provide an acceptable and effective strategy for improving QOL, distress, self-efficacy, and fatigue among patients with breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Survivorship Programme: Follow-Up, Rehabilitation, Psychosocial Oncology Care. 1st Central-Eastern European Professional Consensus Statement on Breast Cancer

Follow-up includes ongoing contact with and health education of the patient, surveillance and control of the adverse effects of surgery, oncological therapies or radiotherapy, screening of metachronous cancers, and comprehensive (physical, psychological and social) patient rehabilitation, which may be enhanced by a healthy lifestyle. Primary attention should be paid to early detection and, when needed, curative treatment of local/regional tumour recurrences. Similarly, with the hope of curative solution, it is important to recognize the entity of a low-mass and relatively indolent recurrence or metastasis (oligometastasis); however, there is still no need to investigate distant metastases by routine diagnostic imaging or assess tumour markers. Below there is a list of possible sources of support, with respect to adjuvant hormone therapy continued during long-term care, social support resources, pivotal points and professional opportunities for physical and mental rehabilitation. Individual solutions for specific issues (breast cancer risk/genetic mutation, pregnancy) are provided by constantly widening options. Ideally, a complex breast cancer survivorship programme is practised by a specially trained expert supported by a cooperative team of oncologists, surgeons, breast radiologists, social workers, physiotherapists, psycho-oncologists and psychiatrists. The approach of follow-up should be comprehensive and holistic.

How inclusive are cell lines in preclinical engineered cancer models?

Diverse factors contribute to significant and dire disparities in cancer risk and treatment outcomes. To address this, there was a call for inclusion of sex as a biological variable, which resulted in more instances of careful inclusion of sex in preclinical studies of cancer. Another variable in cancer treatment is genetic ancestry. Although this is considered explicitly in clinical research, it is considerably neglected in preclinical studies. Preclinical research can use several 3D in vitro model systems, such as spheroids/organoids, xenografts, or other bioengineered systems that combine biomaterials and cellular material. Ultimately, the cellular base for all of these in vitro model systems is derived from human cell lines or patient samples, to investigate mechanisms of cancer and screen novel therapeutics, all of which aim to maximize successful outcomes in clinical trials. This in itself offers an opportunity to potentiate effective treatments for many groups of people, when diverse variables like genetic ancestry are consciously included into study design. This Perspective highlights the need for conscious inclusion of genetic ancestry in preclinical cancer tissue engineering, especially when it pertains to determining therapeutic outcomes.

Summary: Genetic determinants, like ancestry, impact cancer risk and therapeutic outcomes. Hence, this is an important variable to consider at the very initial stages of biomedical research at the bench.

Machine Learning to Discern Interactive Clusters of Risk Factors for Late Recurrence of Metastatic Breast Cancer

Simple Summary

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. After initial tumor resection, breast cancer may recur locally and/or in distant organs within several months to years or even decades. Multiple methods exist to prognosticate disease progression in the early months and years after diagnosis. However, further efforts are needed to identify risk factors that relate to recurrence beyond the initial 5-year window. In this study, we applied machine learning to retrieve single and interactive clinical and pathological risk factors of 5-, 10- and 15-year metastases.

Abstract

Background: Risk of metastatic recurrence of breast cancer after initial diagnosis and treatment depends on the presence of a number of risk factors. Although most univariate risk factors have been identified using classical methods, machine-learning methods are also being used to tease out non-obvious contributors to a patient’s individual risk of developing late distant metastasis. Bayesian-network algorithms can identify not only risk factors but also interactions among these risks, which consequently may increase the risk of developing metastatic breast cancer. We proposed to apply a previously developed machine-learning method to discern risk factors of 5-, 10- and 15-year metastases. Methods: We applied a previously validated algorithm named the Markov Blanket and Interactive Risk Factor Learner (MBIL) to the electronic health record (EHR)-based Lynn Sage Database (LSDB) from the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. This algorithm provided an output of both single and interactive risk factors of 5-, 10-, and 15-year metastases from the LSDB. We individually examined and interpreted the clinical relevance of these interactions based on years to metastasis and reliance on interactivity between risk factors. Results: We found that, with lower alpha values (low interactivity score), the prevalence of variables with an independent influence on long-term metastasis was higher (i.e., HER2, TNEG). As the value of alpha increased to 480, stronger interactions were needed to define clusters of factors that increased the risk of metastasis (i.e., ER, smoking, race, alcohol usage). Conclusion: MBIL identified single and interacting risk factors of metastatic breast cancer, many of which were supported by clinical evidence. These results strongly recommend the development of further large data studies with different databases to validate the degree to which some of these variables impact metastatic breast cancer in the long term.

Factors Impacting Management of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema (BCRL) in Hispanic/Latina Breast Cancer Survivors: A Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a treatment sequela with negative physical and psychological implications. BCRL is a lifetime concern for survivors and is currently incurable. With the increase in the Latino population in the United States, it is critical for the cancer care community to address factors that increase BCRL risk and negatively impact long-term quality of life. This literature review undertook to identify successful intervention strategies for BCRL among Latina survivors.

METHODS

Multiple databases were searched for published articles from 2006 to 2020. PRISMA guidelines were utilized. Data were extracted related to physical activity, diet, and psychosocial stress concerns of Latinas at risk for or living with BCRL.

RESULTS

Eleven interventions combined education and skill-building techniques to address physical activity, diet, and stress management for BCRL. Family involvement, peer-mentoring, culturally tailored education, and self-care skill development were identified as important for Latina survivors.

CONCLUSION

Latina survivors may benefit from culturally tailored BCRL education programs and self-management interventions. Health care professionals and researchers should consider cultural influences when developing clinical intervention strategies to enhance outcomes for Latinas at risk for living with BCRL. In addition, including family members and/or peers in such strategies may be helpful to Latina survivors.

Development of health behaviour questionnaire for breast cancer women in Mainland China

Aim

To develop a questionnaire on the health behaviour of breast cancer women with adjuvant endocrine therapy and to test its reliability and validity.

Design

An instrument‐development study was applied that comprised three steps: conceptualization, item generation, content validity and field testing of the health behavior properties.

Methods

On the basis of literature review, the conceptual framework and initial items of each dimension of were designed. The questionnaire investigation was divided into two steps: pre‐experiment (group 1) and psychometrics evaluation (group 2). Correlation procedure and factor analysis were employed to rescreen the items. Reliability testing and validity testing were conducted to analyse the psychometric properties of questionnaire.

Results

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded a five‐factor solution. Cronbach's α was 0.93, the sub‐semi‐reliability of the questionnaire was 0.79 and internal consistency coefficients was 0.70.

Breast cancer, screening and diagnostic tools: All you need to know

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies among women worldwide. Methods for screening and diagnosis allow health care professionals to provide personalized treatments that improve the outcome and survival. Scientists and physicians are working side-by-side to develop evidence-based guidelines and equipment to detect cancer earlier. However, the lack of comprehensive interdisciplinary information and understanding between biomedical, medical, and technology professionals makes innovation of new screening and diagnosis tools difficult. This critical review gathers, for the first time, information concerning normal breast and cancer biology, established and emerging methods for screening and diagnosis, staging and grading, molecular and genetic biomarkers. Our purpose is to address key interdisciplinary information about these methods for physicians and scientists. Only the multidisciplinary interaction and communication between scientists, health care professionals, technical experts and patients will lead to the development of better detection tools and methods for an improved screening and early diagnosis.

Numerical study of microwave induced thermoacoustic imaging for initial detection of cancer of breast on anatomically realistic breast phantom

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging (MITAI) represents an innovative imaging approach for detection of breast cancer at initial phases by integrating the benefits provided by procedures of microwave and ultrasound imaging. The present investigation examines an innovative three-dimensional numerical modeling of MITAI as a problem with multi-physics nature.

METHODS

Simulations are performed by the use of COMSOL software. An anatomically realistic breast phantom representing various parts of a real breast, such as three different types of tissue, fibro-connective/glandular, transitional; and fatty, is taken into consideration along with a tumor. This breast phantom with a tumor is irradiated by a 2.45 GHz pulsed rectangular waveguide. The temperature increase and its consequent pressure caused by electromagnetic absorption are analyzed.

RESULTS

More temperature increase occurs in the tumor area than in the other parts of the breast, the fact which results in further increase in the pressure in the tumor area than other parts. This makes the tumor distinguishable. The ability of the MITAI process regarding the tumor size, shape (both geometrical shape and spatial orientation), location, the irradiation power level, and the pulse width is also investigated. It is demonstrated that tumor size does not have a significant impact on the efficiency of detection. In fact, very small tumors in the early stages of cancer development (with a radius of 0.25 cm) are also detectable by employing the MITAI technique. The geometrical shape of the tumor does not considerably affect the detecting performance just by itself. The spatial orientation of the tumor actually has a great impact on it. The location of the tumor is an essential factor involved in detection efficiency of MITAI. Tumors located in the fatty tissues would be much easier to be detected than those in the glandular tissues. Moreover, results denote that with augmentation of the irradiation power level or increasing the pulse width, stronger acoustic waves would be produced to make tumor detection easier.

CONCLUSION

These modeling and techniques may be applied aiming for determination of the amount of the generated pressure differences and acoustic pressure magnitude, and can be utilized as an effective prognosticator in practical tests.

High atherogenic index of plasma and cardiovascular risk factors among Ghanaian breast cancer patients

Comorbidities impact negatively on breast cancer prognosis, especially in developing countries where cases are usually presented to clinics at advanced stages. This study aimed to determine the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and cardiovascular risk factors among Ghanaian women diagnosed with breast cancer. A total of 52 breast cancer patients were age-matched with 52 healthy controls. Sociodemographics of participants were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire. Pathological data of patients were obtained from medical records, and all clinical and anthropometric measurements were done using standard instruments. Lipid profile was determined from serum using enzymatic assays, and cardiovascular risk factors were calculated from estimated lipid parameters. Blood pressure, AIP, total cholesterol (T. chol), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in the breast cancer patients compared to the controls, but the reverse was observed for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (P < 0.01). Obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 2.51, P = 0.015), hypertension (OR = 4.04, P < 0.001), AIP (OR = 10.44, P < 0.001), and dyslipidemia (P < 0.01) were significantly associated with breast cancer. AIP correlated positively with age (r = 0.244, P < 0.05), body mass index (r = 0.225, P < 0.05), blood pressure (P < 0.01), T. chol (r =0.418, P< 0.01), and TG (r = 0.880, P < 0.01), but inversely correlated with HDL-c (r = -0.460, P < 0.01). A greater proportion (88%) of the patients presented with advanced breast cancer. AIP and cardiovascular risk factors were high in the breast cancer patients. Considering that AIP and cardiovascular disease risk factors are of interest in breast cancer patients, further studies are needed to understand the effect of AIP and cardiovascular risk factors on breast cancer outcomes.

A healthy lifestyle and survival among women with ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer has a poor survival rate and, understandably, women often want to know whether there is anything they can do to improve their prognosis. Our goal was to investigate the association between a healthy lifestyle prediagnosis and postdiagnosis and survival in a cohort of Australian women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. We calculated a healthy lifestyle index (HLI) based on women's self-reported smoking status, height, weight, physical activity, diet and alcohol consumption before diagnosis (n = 678) and after completing primary treatment (n = 512). Clinical data and vital status for each woman were ascertained through medical records. Cox proportional hazards regression was conducted to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for all-cause mortality. There was a suggestive association between a more healthy lifestyle before diagnosis and better survival (HR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.59-1.04), however, the association was stronger for lifestyle after diagnosis, with women in the highest tertile having significantly better survival than women in the lowest tertile (HR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.40-0.93; P-trend = .02). Current smoking, particularly postdiagnosis, was associated with higher mortality (HR 1.68, 95% CI: 1.17-2.42; HR 2.82, 95% CI: 1.29-6.14, for prediagnosis and postdiagnosis smoking, respectively), but women who quit after diagnosis had survival outcomes similar to nonsmokers (HR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.57-1.72). Higher physical activity after diagnosis was associated with better survival (HR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.39-0.92; P-trend = .02). A healthy lifestyle after diagnosis, in particular not smoking and being physically active, may help women with ovarian cancer improve their prognosis.

Toxicity of Saffron Extracts on Cancer and Normal Cells: A Review Article

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Medicinal plants have played an important role in human health since the Stone Age. According to WHO, 80% of Asian and African people rely on traditional medicine and medicinal plants to conserve their health. Saffron has received much attention among the herbal compounds related to cancer treatment.

METHODS

This review aims to provide an overview of in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation molecule mechanism for anti-tumor activity, cancer preventing and protective effects of saffron extract. The review is based on the available data accessible in PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran.ir, and SID.ir databases.

RESULTS

Saffron has selective toxic and preventive effects on cancerous cells and without adverse effects on normal cells and prevents tumor formation. Saffron appears to reduce the toxic effects of anticancer drugs. Saffron has toxicity effects when used in high amounts, which are far greater than those  are used in human food culture.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the observed effects of saffron on the removal of cancer cells, saffron extract can be used in the treatment and prevention of cancer after confirmation in human clinical trials. According to the high IC50 of saffron extracts in normal cells, its toxicity against non-cancerous cells is low and its use is safe. Besides, the studies suggested the cytotoxic effects of saffron on some of the  more cancers, including nervous system cancer and common cancers. Further studies are required to determine the effective dose and influence of mechanism of saffron in various animal type of cancers.

The Intake of Some Nutrients is Associated with the Risk of Breast Cancer: Results from Jordanian Case-Control Study

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and is considered the leading cause of cancer deaths in women globally. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between macro- and micronutrient intake and BC risk among Jordanian women. A case-control design was used in this study, and BC patients were recruited from the main two hospitals provide cancer therapy in Jordan. Four hundred women aged 20-65 years of age were enrolled in the study. For the cases, 200 recently diagnosed BC women were selected from the two hospitals and matched in age and marital status to 200 BC-free women. Dietary data were collected through face-to-face interview using a validated food frequency questionnaire between October 2016 and September 2017. To calculate odds ratio (OR), logistic regression was used; while for p-trend the linear regression was performed. The study results demonstrated that increasing the intake of total energy and percentage of fat was significantly and positively associated with BC (p-= 0.001). The risk of BC increased significantly and positively as carbohydrate, sugar, fat, saturated fat and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids intake increased. A significant trend in BC risk was found for cholesterol (p-= 0.005). The ORs for higher intakes of vitamins E, B1, B2, and B3, folate and phosphorus showed a significant association with the risk of BC (p-trend =0.001). A significant inverse effect was detected between iron intake and BC risk (p-=0.001). The study findings resulted in insight of the associations between the total energy intake and some macro/micronutrients intake can be an increasing risk of BC.

Assessing the effect of patient navigator assistance for psychosocial support services on health-related quality of life in a randomized clinical trial in Latino breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

After a diagnosis of prostate, breast, or colorectal cancer, Latinos experience higher mortality rates and lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in comparison with other ethnic/racial groups. Patient navigation (PN) and lay community health workers or promotores are effective in increasing cancer screening and early-stage diagnosis among Latinos. However, little is known about the effect of PN on HRQOL among Latino cancer survivors.

METHODS

Latinos previously diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer (n = 288) were randomized to 1 of 2 conditions: 1) the Patient Navigator LIVESTRONG Cancer Navigation Services (PN-LCNS) survivor care program or 2) PN only. HRQOL was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, and cancer-specific HRQOL was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors, respectively, at the baseline and at 3 follow-up time points. Generalized estimating equation analyses were conducted to estimate the effect of condition on HRQOL with adjustments for covariates and baseline HRQOL.

RESULTS

PN-LCNS demonstrated a significant improvement in HRQOL in comparison with PN only for colorectal cancer survivors but not for breast and prostate cancer survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced PN improves HRQOL among Latino colorectal cancer survivors. Future research should identify the best strategies for engaging Latino survivors in PN programs. PN programs should also be adapted to address HRQOL concerns among Latina breast cancer survivors.

Combined lifestyle factors, incident cancer, and cancer mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Background

Cancer poses a huge disease burden, which could be reduced by adopting healthy lifestyles mainly composed of healthy diet, body weight, physical activity, limited alcohol consumption, and avoidance of smoking. However, no systematic review has summarised the relations of combined lifestyle factors with cancer morbidity and mortality.

Methods

EMBASE and PubMed were searched up to April 2019. Cohort studies investigating the association of combined lifestyle factors with risks of incident cancer and cancer mortality were selected. Summary hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity and publication bias tests were conducted.

Results

The HRs (95% CIs) comparing individuals with the healthiest versus the least healthy lifestyles were 0.71 (0.66–0.76; 16 studies with 1.9 million participants) for incident cancer and 0.48 (0.42–0.54; 30 studies with 1.8 million participants) for cancer mortality. Adopting the healthiest lifestyles was also associated with 17 to 58% lower risks of bladder, breast, colon, endometrial, oesophageal, kidney, liver, lung, rectal, and gastric cancer. The relations were largely consistent and significant among participants with different characteristics in the subgroup analyses.

Conclusions

Adopting healthy lifestyles is associated with substantial risk reduction in cancer morbidity and mortality, and thus should be given priority for cancer prevention.

Association between healthy lifestyle score and breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Majority of earlier studies have assessed the association between individual lifestyle factors and the risk of breast cancer (BC); however, limited information is available linking the whole lifestyle factors to BC. We aimed to examine the association between combined lifestyle score (diet, physical activity (PA) and smoking) and risk of BC in Iranian population.

METHODS

This population-based case-control study included 350 newly diagnosed cases of BC and 700 healthy controls randomly selected from adult women. Dietary intakes, PA and smoking status of study participants were examined using validated questionnaires. The lifestyle risk factors examined in this study included cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, and Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010). The lifestyle score ranged from zero (non-healthy) to 3 (most healthy) points. Logistic regression models were fitted to investigate the association between combined lifestyle scores and odds of BC.

RESULTS

Mean age and body mass index (BMI) of study participants were 62.4 years and 24.3 kg/m², respectively. In the whole study population, individuals with the highest healthy lifestyle score (HLS) were 0.38 times less likely to have BC than those with the lowest score (OR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.93, P_trend = 0.01). The analysis by menopausal status showed that postmenopausal women with the highest HLS had 44% lower odds of BC compared with those with the lowest score (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.36, 0.88, P _trend = 0.004). Such association was not seen in premenopausal women. After analyzing each component of HLS, we found that individuals with the highest HEI score were 46% less likely to have BC than those with the lowest score (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.82, P_trend <  0.001). No other significant associations were found between PA and smoking and risk of BC.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant inverse associations were found between HLS and HEI with BC especially among postmenopausal women. Prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Impact of combined healthy lifestyle factors on survival in an adult general population and in high-risk groups: prospective results from the Moli-sani Study

BACKGROUND

There is poor knowledge on the association between combined lifestyles with mortality risk among individuals at high risk, and little is known on the biological mechanisms that could be on the pathway.

METHODS

Longitudinal analysis on 22 839 individuals from the Moli-sani Study (Italy, 2005-2010). Among them, we identified 5200 elderly individuals (≥65 year), 2127 subjects with diabetes and 1180 with cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline. A healthy lifestyle score (HLS) was calculated, allocating 1 point for each of the following: abstention from smoking; adherence to Mediterranean diet; physical activity; absence of abdominal obesity. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated by multivariable Cox regression and competing risk models.

RESULTS

During 8.2 years of follow-up, 1237 deaths occurred. In the general population, adherence to all four healthy lifestyles, compared with none or 1, was associated with lower risk of all-cause (HR = 0.53; 95%CI:0.39-0.72), CVD (HR = 0.54; 0.32-0.91), cancer (HR = 0.62; 0.39-1.00) and mortality from other causes (HR = 0.39; 0.19-0.81). A 1-point increase in HLS was associated with 20%, 22% and 24% lower risk of total mortality among the elderly, in subjects with diabetes or CVD, respectively. Traditional (e.g. blood lipids), inflammatory (e.g. C-reactive protein) and novel biomarkers (e.g. markers of cardiac damage) accounted for up to 24% of the association of HLS with all-cause mortality risk in the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of combined four healthy lifestyles on survival was considerable, both in the general population and among high-risk subgroups. Inflammatory and novel biomarkers of CVD risk explained a substantial proportion of this association.

Breast Cancer Survivors' Perceptions of Prevention versus Control of Future Cancer Recurrence

Background

The Institute of Medicine has established Survivorship Care Planning as a critical component of cancer care to ensure that cancer survivors receive the appropriate follow-up care in a timely manner and support cancer survivors in dealing with the risk of recurrence, yet little is known about how cancer survivors think about preventing or controlling future cancer recurrence. This study sought to assess breast cancer women's perceived prevention and perceived control of future cancer recurrence.

Methods

Women with a history of breast cancer (n=114) were surveyed, and data were analyzed using concurrent mixed methods. Binary logistic regression models examined predictors of perceived prevention and perceived control of cancer recurrence.

Results

Most women perceived that they could control cancer recurrence (89%); few (30%) perceived that they could prevent cancer recurrence. Women reported components of the timeline (e.g., early diagnosis), identity (e.g., cancer in body), causes (e.g., hereditary), consequences (e.g., witness success), and cure/control (e.g., exercise) or lack of cure/control. Women who reported lack of control were less likely to perceive that they could control cancer recurrence. Women who reported causes were less likely to perceive that they could prevent or control cancer recurrence.

Conclusions

Women's perceptions about the prevention and control of cancer recurrence are important and different factors in the minds of women with breast cancer. Most women believed they could control cancer recurrence; however, few believed they could prevent cancer recurrence. Interventions to focus on control of cancer recurrence, focusing on evidence-based clinical and lifestyle interventions, are needed.

Cell Signaling Pathways in Mammary Carcinoma Induced in Rats with Low versus High Inherent Aerobic Capacity

An inverse association exists between physical activity and breast cancer incidence and outcomes. An objective indicator of an individual’s recent physical activity exposure is aerobic capacity. We took advantage of the fact that there is an inherited as well as inducible component of aerobic capacity to show that experimentally induced mammary cancer is inversely related to inherent aerobic capacity (IAC). The objective of this study was to determine whether cell signaling pathways involved in the development of mammary cancer differed in rats with low inherent aerobic capacity (LIAC, n = 55) versus high inherent aerobic capacity (HIAC, n = 57). Cancer burden was 0.21 ± 0.16 g/rat in HIAC versus 1.14 ± 0.45 in LIAC, p < 0.001. Based on protein expression, cancer in LIAC animals was associated with upregulated glucose utilization, and protein and fatty acid synthesis. Signaling in cancers from HIAC rats was associated with energy sensing, fatty acid oxidation and cell cycle arrest. These findings support the thesis that pro-glycolytic, metabolic inflexibility in LIAC favors not only insulin resistance and obesity but also tumor development and growth. This provides an unappreciated framework for understanding how obesity and low aerobic fitness, hallmarks of physical inactivity, are associated with higher cancer risk and poorer prognosis.

Tumors and Their Microenvironment Dual-Targeting Chemotherapy with Local Immune Adjuvant Therapy for Effective Antitumor Immunity against Breast Cancer

Chemotherapy turns tumor cells into "tumor vaccines" by immunogenic cell death (ICD). However, it remains a challenge to exploit chemotherapy-induced "tumor vaccines" for solid cancer immunotherapy due to the inefficient effector T cells activation and tumor microenvironment immunosuppression. Here, a matrix metalloprotease 2 responsive liposome (PEG-FA-Lip) composed of cleavable PEG chains covering the folate (FA)-modified liposome is developed to deliver ICD inducer doxorubicin. In breast cancer-bearing mice, PEG-FA-Lip targets both 4T1 breast cancer cells and M2-tumor associated macrophages (M2-TAMs) via FA-receptor mediated endocytosis, resulting in abundant "tumor vaccines" and efficient elimination of M2-TAMs. The combination of local cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) therapy facilitates PEG-FA-Lip induced "tumor vaccines" to effectively arouse systematic effector T cells immune response through promoting dendritic cell maturation and immunostimulatory cytokines secretion. The simultaneous elimination of M2-TAMs ensures the activated effector T cells exert antitumor immunity within tumor via decreasing immunosuppressive cytokines secretion and tumor infiltration of Treg cells. After receiving the combined treatment, 30.1% of breast cancer-bearing mice (initial tumor volume > 100 mm3) achieves the goal of tumor eradication. Remarkably, this combination therapy greatly inhibits lung metastasis and controls the growth of already metastasized breast cancers (initial tumor volume > 100 mm3).

High maternal milk intake in the postnatal life reduces the incidence of breast cancer during adulthood in rats

Environmental factors during perinatal life can lead to changes in the mammary gland, making it susceptible to cancer in adulthood. Breastfeeding has a special importance since it takes place at a critical period of growth and development of the newborn. We aimed to analyze if an appropriate lactation protects the offspring against mammary carcinogenesis during adult life and explore the mechanisms involved in the protective effect. One-day-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly distributed in litters of three (L3), eight (L8) or 12 (L12) pups per dam, to induce a differential consumption of breast milk. At 55 days of age, the animals were treated with a single dose of dimethylbenzanthracene to study tumor latency, incidence and progression. Histological, immunohistochemical and Western blot studies were performed. We observed lower incidence and higher latency in L3 compared to the other groups. The mitotic index and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was significantly augmented in tumors of L12 rats compared to L3 and L8, while the apoptotic index was augmented in tumors of L3 v. L12. Cleaved caspase 8 was significantly higher in tumors from L3 compared to L12. Tumors developed in L3 have a greater number of apoptotic bodies and a greater expression of caspase 8. These results demonstrate that the animals that maintained a higher intake of maternal milk (L3) presented lower incidence and greater tumor latency. Lower consumption of breast milk (L12) would increase tumor mitosis and the expression of PCNA, explaining the higher tumor incidence observed in this group.