Risk And Prognostic Factors For Breast Cancer Of Different Immunohistochemical Subtypes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$294,461.00
Summary
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Gene expression analysis has identified a number of subtypes that are different with respect to pathology, prognosis, and response to treatment. Building on an existing cohort study, we aim to identify risk and prognostic factors for molecular subtypes of breast cancer.
Why Do Some Breast Cancers Present At An Advanced Stage In Women In Australia?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,950.00
Summary
Each year since 1994, some 10,000 Australian women have been diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,500 have died from it; these deaths have led to loss of some 31,000 years of life before 75 years of age. There is no effective way to prevent breast cancer in most women at risk of it, the only possible intervention is early detection and treatment to reduce the impact of being diagnosed with the disease. The smaller the cancer at treatment, the better the outcome. The national mammographic screening ....Each year since 1994, some 10,000 Australian women have been diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,500 have died from it; these deaths have led to loss of some 31,000 years of life before 75 years of age. There is no effective way to prevent breast cancer in most women at risk of it, the only possible intervention is early detection and treatment to reduce the impact of being diagnosed with the disease. The smaller the cancer at treatment, the better the outcome. The national mammographic screening program, BreastScreen Australia, began in 1991. We expect that screening, through early detection, would reduce the numbers of women who die of breast cancer. Death rates from breast cancer have been falling in Australia since 1994. Despite this program, however, rates of larger breast cancers, more likely to have spread beyond the breast, are not falling. In 1997-98, the woman or her doctor detected nearly half of all breast cancers diagnosed outside of screening by detecting a change in the breast. Given that screening can detect cancers when they are small and that women themselves are also able to detect symptoms that may be small breast cancers and seek medical advice, we must ask why so many cancers are not diagnosed and treated until they are 2cm or larger and threaten life. This project aims to examine reasons in three broad areas: the woman herself, the cancer, and the wider health system, including the medical practitioner to whom symptoms or signs are first presented. Our study aims to understand the factors that contribute the most to the occurrence of larger breast cancers so that public health campaigns can be designed to increase the numbers detected at an early stage.Read moreRead less
GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS OF MAMMOGRAPHIC DENSITY: A TWINS AND SISTERS STUDY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$703,100.00
Summary
Breast cancer is a major cause of early death and disability in Australian women. Breast density, a characteristic of women's breast that can be mesured by mammograms such as those conducted by BreastScreen, has been shown by a number of large studies to be a major risk factor for breast cancer. It is a characteristic that cannot be measured by breast examination, but is very well measured by a breast scan. Although breast density decreases with age at and after menopause, there is a large diffe ....Breast cancer is a major cause of early death and disability in Australian women. Breast density, a characteristic of women's breast that can be mesured by mammograms such as those conducted by BreastScreen, has been shown by a number of large studies to be a major risk factor for breast cancer. It is a characteristic that cannot be measured by breast examination, but is very well measured by a breast scan. Although breast density decreases with age at and after menopause, there is a large difference in breast density across women of the same age. Identifying the reasons why women of the same age differ so much in breast density will lead to a better understanding of the causes of breast cancer and have implications for prevention. We have conducted a large twin study, in collaboration with Dr Norman Boyd in Toronto, Canada, that has shown that most of this large variation in breast density could be due to as yet undiscovered genetic factors. The genes involved are not BRCA1 and BRCA2, the currently known breast cancer susceptibility genes. We have also found that lifestyle factors, such as number of children, also influences breast density. In this larger study of twins and sister pairs, we shall test whether specific hormone genes, such as those involved with estrogen and progesterone, explain part of the genetic effects. We will also study more closely the effects of environmental and lifestyle factors on breast density, especially how their effects interact with those of any genetic factors we identify, by comparing twins and sister of the same or similar age. By studying women who have had endometriosis, we will be able to find out if their small increased risk of breast cancer is reflected in their breast density. By collecting a blood sample from all participants we will build a large resource that will be used for future genome scan studies, trying to discover new genes that influence breast density, and by implication, risk of breast cancer.Read moreRead less
A Case-control Study Of Environment And Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$808,948.00
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women and there have been a number of recent events which have raised public concern that occupational exposures are contributing to the increasing occurrence of this cancer. In this study, we will investigate occupational causes of breast cancer, particularly shift work, industrial solvent use and combustion products. We will compare occupations of 1000 women with breast cancer and 2000 women without cancer.
Trials To Prevent The Transmission And Complications Of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Including HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$306,123.00
Summary
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are important causes of illness in some sectors of the community. Even though they can be effectively prevented and treated, many health services do not give them priority. This research project will study ways in which general practitioners can better diagnose and treat STIs. We will carry out trials that compare new approaches to supporting doctors in this area, that involve a mixture of training, reminders and technical support as needed.
This study will follow up over 12,000 men aged 65-83 years who have previously completed a questionnaire about their medical, social, family and occupational history and lifestyle and have undergone a simple physical examination (height, weight, waist, girth at the hips and blood pressure). The first aim is to determine which of these factors predicts serious ill-health from heart disease, stroke and certain cancers in old age. In addition, we will test the hypothesis that risk factors for heart ....This study will follow up over 12,000 men aged 65-83 years who have previously completed a questionnaire about their medical, social, family and occupational history and lifestyle and have undergone a simple physical examination (height, weight, waist, girth at the hips and blood pressure). The first aim is to determine which of these factors predicts serious ill-health from heart disease, stroke and certain cancers in old age. In addition, we will test the hypothesis that risk factors for heart disease also predict the development of dementia because it seems that part of dementia in some patients is explained by their having suffered multiple small strokes. Finally, we will examine the relationship between development of dementia and previous major surgery as there is growing evidence that major surgical operations in older patients can be followed by confusion and impairment of thinking that may never recover fully. The overall aim is to discover preventable factors for several of the leading causes of ill-health in old age.Read moreRead less
Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation And Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Busselton
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,300.00
Summary
The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It could affect up to 30% of the population and often leads to diabetes and heart disease. Fatty liver disease is a chronic liver condition that often has no symptoms but can lead to serious liver damage. It could affect up to 25% of the population and is common even in people who drink very little alcohol. The rising prevalence of obesity in Australia suggests that the metabolic synd ....The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It could affect up to 30% of the population and often leads to diabetes and heart disease. Fatty liver disease is a chronic liver condition that often has no symptoms but can lead to serious liver damage. It could affect up to 25% of the population and is common even in people who drink very little alcohol. The rising prevalence of obesity in Australia suggests that the metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease may be on the increase and therefore so too could diabetes and heart disease which already consume significant health resources. Using the unique health data collection of the Busselton Health Study in Western Australia, this project will help to determine how common these conditions are in Australia and lead to a better understanding of the nature and causes of these conditions including the possible role of chronic inflammation. This important information will be used to provide opportunities for better risk assessment, disease prevention, and earlier intervention.Read moreRead less
The Real And Changing Atherothrombotic Disease Burden And Secondary Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,387.00
Summary
Absolute numbers of Australians with diseased narrowed blood vessels in the heart, brain or leg are increasing, dominating health priorities and expenditure. By linking Department of Health datasets, without identifying individual's, trends in hospital admissions, prescription of chronic protective medications and the cost consequences to the health system among and across conditions will be determined. The findings will provide quality measures of hospital care and inform quality improvement