American Brain Tumor Association Conference to Help...

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 09, 2013

While recent advances in diagnosis and treatment have improved brain tumor survival rates, persistent neurological and cognitive deficits are common according to “A New Reality: Long-Term Survivorship With a Malignant Brain Tumor,” a recently published study funded by the American Brain Tumor Association. Lead investigator of the study Mary Lovely, PhD, RN, CNRN, is among presenters scheduled to address survivorship issues at the American Brain Tumor Association’s annual Patient & Family Conference Fri., July 26 and Sat., July 27.

According to Lovely, who is also a senior advisor for the ABTA’s national programs and services, “some of these deficits prevent survivors from resuming previously routine activities and lead to profound challenges as both patients and caregivers struggle to regain control of their lives.”

Lovely will present her findings on common challenges confronting brain tumor survivors including safety concern, seizures, emotional and behavioral changes, and loss of intimacy, and how all of these issues factor into both the patient’s and the family’s new normal.

Managing post-treatment cognitive and physical side effects, regaining and maintaining strength through nutrition and fitness, the decision of “if and when” to return to work, and reconciling with limitations when resuming daily activities will also be discussed.

“For many patients and families, surviving a brain tumor is the beginning of the journey,” said Elizabeth Wilson, president and CEO of the American Brain Tumor Association. “After a brain tumor diagnosis and completion of treatments, the road to wellness can be ongoing for both the patient and the caregiver as each learns to adjust and adapt to their brain tumor survivorship. This conference features professionals from a range of disciplines who are expert in assisting individuals, couples and families in this process.”

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and speak with prominent national experts from such prestigious institutions as Cleveland Clinic, Duke University, Emory University, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The Ohio State University and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The presenters will be available for Q&A sessions at the conclusion of their sessions.

The conference is being held at the Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel, 8500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago. To register, visit http://www.braintumorconference.org or call 800-886-ABTA (2282).

Sponsors for the 2013 Patient & Family Conference include Genentech, Inc., Northwest Biotherapeutics, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Alexian Brothers Neuroscience Institute, Cleveland Clinic Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Novocure Inc., Procure Proton Therapy Center, The Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute and The Ohio State University.

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ABOUT THE AMERICAN BRAIN TUMOR ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1973, the American Brain Tumor Association was first and is now the only national organization committed to funding brain tumor research and providing support and education programs for all tumor types and all age groups. For more information, visit http://www.abta.org.

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Vote against brain cancer comments on discovering the cause of...

New York, NY (press BOX) 10 July 2013

An organization dedicated to the 10th of July, voices against brain cancer, cancer, brain research and advocacy, commented a discovery by scientists who identified a cause of resistance to the therapy in cases of brain cancer.

After a 26 June 2013 ScienceDaily.com article with the title "brain cancer: A cumbersome way to therapy resistance," scientists of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and University of Heidelberg discovered that migrate microglia cells in tumors and deliver the cancer cells with a substance necessary for the repair of DNA damage. These cancer cells can then escape programmed cell death. Is this resistance mechanism to block, can lead to more effective treatments for malignant brain cancer.

Neurooncologist Professor Dr. Michael sheets which hospital conducts a cooperation unit DKFZ and Heidelberg University, says: "in the treatment of malignant gliomas, we currently radiotherapy the cancer drug Temozolomide combined with. In some patients, tumors become swiftly resistant to both treatments. We therefore need urgent new methods of treating diseases more effectively."

Michael Clipper, Chairman of voices against brain cancer, an organization for cancer brain research and advocacy, pays tribute to the scientists for this ground-breaking discovery. "This discovery is promising news for those who are affected by this terrible disease. It is reassuring to know that scientists work around the clock to find a cure for brain tumors."

VABC has a variety of initiatives for brain cancer research, awareness and support. The Organization grants research research programs of the Fund which will be monumental on the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors. VABC funds currently research at several prestigious institutions such as Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cleveland Clinic, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, John Hopkins, Memorial Sloan-Kettering and Yale, to name a few.

VABC's mission is to find, through the promotion of scientific research, raise awareness within the medical community and supporting patients, their families and carers with this devastating disease suffer from a cure for brain cancer.

For press inquiries, please contact: 5W-Offentlichkeitsarbeit

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Former Phillies Catcher Has Brain Cancer

Baseball All-Star Darren Daulton has been diagnosed with brain cancer. (Credit: Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

Darren Daulton, 51, who rose to fame when he led the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in 1993, has been diagnosed with brain cancer.

The All-Star player, ?nicknamed Dutch by Philadelphia fans, had “not been feeling well” during the last two weeks of June, prompting doctors to discover two brain tumors, according to 97.5 FM, where he hosted a nightly radio show after retiring from baseball. He underwent brain surgery last week and was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.

“It’s actually one of the most rapidly growing cancers in people,” said Dr. Reid Thompson, a neurosurgeon who directs the Vanderbilt Brain Tumor Center in Tennessee, who has not treated Daulton. “Glioblastoma can double in six weeks if not treated. I’ve seen situations where people had an MRI scan three or four months ago and then found a six centimeter tumor.”

Read about a mom who stunned doctors by beating her brain tumor.

Daulton returned to his home in Clearwater, Fla., and will start chemotherapy once he recovers from surgery, according to the radio station. Thompson said this is typical treatment.

It’s rare for someone with glioblastoma to live more than two years after diagnosis because the tumors are apt to return after surgery and chemotherapy, Thompson said.

According to the South Jersey Times, Daulton is the fifth Phillies player to be diagnosed with a brain tumor. Tug McGraw died of the disease in 2004.

Watch video about Gary Carter, a baseball player who died of a brain tumor last year.

When the station first announced news of Daulton’s brain tumors on June 27, it included an email address for fans to write to and wish Daulton well. According to the station, the email address has received thousands of messages from supportive fans.

Researchers still have a lot to learn about these tumors, but they know they tend to be more common in certain geographic areas, Thompson said. The South, for instance, is considered a “hot spot,” he said.

“Maybe it’s something in ?the environment in the South ?or something in the Southern diet,” he said. “It’s taking some smart epidemiologists to figure that out.”

Thompson said brain tumors present themselves differently for different patients depending on where they are located in the brain. He’s had one patient whose only symptom was a numb spot on his arm, and another one who experienced pressure headaches and difficulty walking.

“We know so much more than we did even five years ago,” Thompson said. “The pace of research is picking up, but it’s truly not fast enough for patients right now … but one thing is for sure: we’re learning more.”

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Virus Combination Effective Against Deadly Brain Tumor, Moffitt Cancer Center Study Shows

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 24 Jun 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Virus Combination Effective Against Deadly Brain Tumor, Moffitt Cancer Center Study Shows

A combination of the myxoma virus and the immune suppressant rapamycin can kill glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and deadliest malignant brain tumor, according to Moffitt Cancer Center research. Peter A. Forsyth, M.D., of Moffitt's Neuro-Oncology Program, says the combination has been shown to infect and kill both brain cancer stem cells and differentiated compartments of glioblastoma multiforme.

The finding means that barriers to treating the disease, such as resistance to the drug temozolomide, may be overcome. The study, by Forsyth and colleagues in Canada, Texas and Florida, appeared in a recent issue of Neuro-Oncology.

"Although temozolomide improves survival for patients with glioblastoma multiforme, drug resistance is a significant obstacle," said Forsyth, the study lead author. "Oncolytic viruses that infect and break down cancer cells offer promising possibilities for overcoming resistance to targeted therapies."

The authors note that oncolytic viruses have the potential to provoke a multipronged attack on a tumor, with the potential to kill cancer cells directly through viral infection and possibly through inducing the immune system to attack the tumor. The multipronged approach might get around some of the classical resistance mechanisms that have plagued both targeted therapies and conventional chemotherapies.

Several oncolytic viruses, both alone or in combination with small molecule inhibitors, have been tested and show promise for malignant gliomas. However, most have not been effective in killing cancer cells. Two likely obstacles may be the patient's own anti-viral immune response and limited virus distribution.

"Based on our previous work with myxoma virus, we considered it to be an excellent oncolytic virus candidate against brain cancer stem cells," explained Forsyth.

The researchers found that brain cancer stem cells were susceptible to myxoma virus in the laboratory cultures (in vitro) and in animal models (in vivo), including in temozolomide-resistant cell lines.

"We also found that myxoma virus with rapamycin is a potentially useful combination. The idea that cancer cells can be killed by a harmless virus is an exciting prospect for therapy," Forsyth said.

The precise mechanism rapamycin uses to enhance infection in brain cancer stem cells is unknown, and the combination therapy does not result in cures. However, researchers are investigating other drugs that may improve the effectiveness of myxoma virus when used in combination, and they are evaluating the use of other strains of myxoma virus that might be more effective.

"Although our study adds myxoma virus to the list of oncolytic viruses capable of infecting and killing these cells, which strengthens its candidacy for clinical application, our model will need clinical application to determine its safety for patients," concluded the authors. "We expect that intracranial injections of myxoma virus will be safe based on our extensive preclinical work and the demonstrated safety of other oncolytic viruses in clinical trials."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our cancer / oncology section for the latest news on this subject. This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01 AI080607, R21 CA149869, and R01 CA138541).

Researchers from the University of Florida, University of Calgary, University of Texas and Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre Research Laboratories contributed to this work and publication.

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

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Into Fearless, Uncharted Territory: The Brain Cancer Expedition

Into Fearless, Uncharted Territory: The Brain Cancer Expedition | Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure jQuery(document).ready(function(){ if(jQuery('#region-sidebar-first ul.menu li a.active')){ jQuery('#region-sidebar-first ul.menu li a.active').parent().append(''); } }); Skip to main content Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure

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Get InformedBrain Tumor FactsClinical TrialsNewsVideosSmarter ResearchWhat We FundHow We FundWho We FundScientific GatheringsGet InvolvedWays To GiveJoin An EventPersonal FundraisingAbout UsOur StoryOur TeamOur PartnersTHROUGH OUR EYES Into Fearless, Uncharted Territory: The Brain Cancer Expedition Article | January 29, 2013

Thanks to The Case Foundation for featuring this guest blog post by Max Wallace, CEO of Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure:

We often say that Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure’s role is like that of Lewis and Clark — we go out into the wilderness, create new trails, and send back maps for others to follow. In our case, the wilderness is brain cancer. This year, our small expeditionary and experimental team will build the first model system that will enable a large number of patients to have their brain tumor fully profiled and then use that information to help them get the most state-of-the-art treatment for their exact tumors. We’re calling it the “Precision Medicine” project and we believe it’s a disruptive innovation that can revolutionize the field.

Today, 41 people in the U.S. will die from the most common form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This happened yesterday and, unless something changes, it will happen again tomorrow. Sadly, we are still using the same basic treatment tools and techniques that we have used for decades and, in spite of our best efforts over that time, the average life expectancy for a GBM patient is still about a year.

However, brain cancer research is about to change dramatically thanks to advances in technology, and it's our moment to let urgency conquer fear. Genetic information and robotic and nano processes are intermingling and leading us into a new era of genomically-informed “precision” medicine. Our understanding of the genomic basis of cancer is increasing at an exponential rate. We now know that not all cancers are the same, even those which arise in the same organ. More and more people are being treated with new therapies targeted at changes specific to their individual tumor.

We are also beginning to understand that one type of cancer may use the same types of biochemical pathways as another type of cancer. This raises the possibility that a drug that works for one (e.g., melanoma) can be selected and quickly adapted for use against another with a similar molecular profile (e.g., GBM).

Not long ago, it cost tens of thousands of dollars to have a tumor profiled and you could only do it in a handful of academic laboratories. These technologies are being standardized and the cost of doing a tumor profile has now dropped to around $5,000 (and will continue to fall). Even at current levels, we can begin to integrate tumor profiling into regular brain cancer care.

Our “Precision Medicine” project will bring together researchers, clinicians and, most importantly, patients to take advantage of these new opportunities and help develop the most state-of-the- art personalized treatments. If the system works, we believe that we can transform research approaches and clinical practice. If we can do that, 12 months of survival might become two years, and two years might become four, and so on and so on. At that point, brain cancer will no longer seem like such an impenetrable wilderness.

Newsletter Issue:?February 2013 Share| More News April 2, 2013 10:00 AM White House Announces BRAIN Initiative The BRAIN Initiative Challenges Researchers to Unlock Mysteries of Human Mind. February 20, 2013 02:32 PM Improving The Lives Of Those Affected By Brain Tumors Ashley Varner guest blogs about her social work pilot study on the lived experience of family members who live with someone diagnosed with a primary malignant brain tumor. February 1, 2013 06:12 PM Low Grade Glioma Research Workshop In partnership with UCSF and MD Anderson, ABC2 brought together researchers from leading medical centers and biotech companies to strategize new therapeutic paths to treat Low Grade Gliomas. Join us in our fight for a cure! This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn't support. Sign up here insteadTo sign up to receive our emails, fill in the following fields and hit submit. Thanks, and welcome!first namelast name* email* required ? Links HomeDonateGet InformedSmarter ResearchGet InvolvedAbout us Get Involved DonateWays to GiveJoin an EventPersonal Fundraising Twitter Connect With Us Contact UsGet in touch with usFacebookMeet new friends and join the discussion in FacebookTwitterTweet and follow us. News, press & infoRSS Feeds Subscribe to News Copyright 2011 ABC2 All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy

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Improving The Lives Of Those Affected By Brain Tumors

Improving The Lives Of Those Affected By Brain Tumors | Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure jQuery(document).ready(function(){ if(jQuery('#region-sidebar-first ul.menu li a.active')){ jQuery('#region-sidebar-first ul.menu li a.active').parent().append(''); } }); Skip to main content Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure

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Get InformedBrain Tumor FactsClinical TrialsNewsVideosSmarter ResearchWhat We FundHow We FundWho We FundScientific GatheringsGet InvolvedWays To GiveJoin An EventPersonal FundraisingAbout UsOur StoryOur TeamOur PartnersTHROUGH OUR EYES Improving The Lives Of Those Affected By Brain Tumors By Guest Blogger: Ashley Varner, Oncology Social Worker Article | February 20, 2013

Recently ABC2 was generous enough to offer to post a blurb about a study I’m working on on their Facebook page.? You might have seen it – I am Ashley Varner, a social work doctoral study studying the lived experience of family members living with and caring for someone with a primary malignant brain tumor.

Between 4 pm on a Tuesday and 4 am on a Wednesday morning more than 100 individuals responded to this request!?

This remarkable show of interest moved me to tears. ?Clearly this research matters. Many of your emails were pages long, generously sharing your experience.? About 80% of the emails I received in those first 12 hours were from individuals whose loved ones had died, yet you are still dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by brain tumors.

For this initial study, my research question is, “What is the lived experience of adult family members who live with an individual diagnosed with a primary malignant brain tumor?”? This is a pilot, qualitative study using grounded theory.? Thanks to your generosity, I have completed data collection and am now transcribing the interviews. ?I look forward to sharing the results.? (If you responded and have not heard from me, please know I am responding to each email – it’s just taking a little time to work my way through the dozens and dozens of responses I received!)

But wait!? There’s more to come!

If you are still interested in a year or so, my dissertation will also focus on those who have cared or are caring for someone with a primary malignant brain tumor.? I am fortunate enough to have received a grant from the American Cancer Society to pursue this research.? If you’d like to be put on a list of people to be contacted when I begin this research study please email me at 39varner@cardinalmail.cua.edu.

Why This Topic of Research?

Some of you asked in your emails what made me pick this topic.? I came to it honestly, but not through family experience.? I’ve been an oncology social worker for more than 15 years.? (For those of you who have never heard of an oncology social worker, we are a growing profession who? focus on the emotional and social well-being of those affected by cancer, both those who are diagnosed and those who care about someone with a cancer diagnosis.)? I have had the incredible privilege throughout my career of working with many people affected by malignant brain tumors.? As most of you know, it is a different experience from other kinds of cancer.? I believe there is a tremendous need to understand the experience of those caring for someone with a brain tumor in order to develop programs and interventions that will improve the experience for both those who are diagnosed and those who care about them.? Of course we need to find a cure, but until we find a cure, we also need to find ways to improve quality of life for those living the experience.

A Shameless Plug

If you are in the Washington, D.C. area and affected by a brain tumor, please join our ABC2 sponsored support group on the 1st Thursday of every month at George Washington University’s Medical Faculty Associates.? For more information contact me at 39varner@cardinalmail.cua.edu

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Main Image Credit:?Ashley VarnerNewsletter Issue:?February 2013 Share| More News April 2, 2013 10:00 AM White House Announces BRAIN Initiative The BRAIN Initiative Challenges Researchers to Unlock Mysteries of Human Mind. February 1, 2013 06:12 PM Low Grade Glioma Research Workshop In partnership with UCSF and MD Anderson, ABC2 brought together researchers from leading medical centers and biotech companies to strategize new therapeutic paths to treat Low Grade Gliomas. January 31, 2013 08:48 PM ABC2-Funded Research Featured in Scientific American The collaboration between academic and industry researchers aims to develop a test to detect genetic brain tumor mutations in cerebral spinal fluid and blood.??? Join us in our fight for a cure! This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn't support. Sign up here insteadTo sign up to receive our emails, fill in the following fields and hit submit. Thanks, and welcome!first namelast name* email* required ? Links HomeDonateGet InformedSmarter ResearchGet InvolvedAbout us Get Involved DonateWays to GiveJoin an EventPersonal Fundraising Twitter Connect With Us Contact UsGet in touch with usFacebookMeet new friends and join the discussion in FacebookTwitterTweet and follow us. News, press & infoRSS Feeds Subscribe to News Copyright 2011 ABC2 All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy

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White House Announces BRAIN Initiative

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Get InformedBrain Tumor FactsClinical TrialsNewsVideosSmarter ResearchWhat We FundHow We FundWho We FundScientific GatheringsGet InvolvedWays To GiveJoin An EventPersonal FundraisingAbout UsOur StoryOur TeamOur PartnersTHROUGH OUR EYES White House Announces BRAIN Initiative Article | April 02, 2013

Today, President Obama announced an exciting new initiative to research the human brain. As the White House said, this project “aims to help researchers find new ways to treat, cure, and even prevent brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.” The funds to do this work will come from the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the National Science Foundation.?

"While this effort is not targeted at brain cancer,the results of the research will inform and enrich the work that we and our colleagues are doing to find brain cancer treatments," says Max Wallace, CEO of Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure.? "An increased understanding of the biology and functioning of the brain will enable brain cancer researchers to do their work in a more fully developed context. We applaud the effort and look forward to being able to integrate the results from this effort into our important work in brain cancer."

To read more about the White House announcement, click here.

Share| More News February 20, 2013 02:32 PM Improving The Lives Of Those Affected By Brain Tumors Ashley Varner guest blogs about her social work pilot study on the lived experience of family members who live with someone diagnosed with a primary malignant brain tumor. February 1, 2013 06:12 PM Low Grade Glioma Research Workshop In partnership with UCSF and MD Anderson, ABC2 brought together researchers from leading medical centers and biotech companies to strategize new therapeutic paths to treat Low Grade Gliomas. January 31, 2013 08:48 PM ABC2-Funded Research Featured in Scientific American The collaboration between academic and industry researchers aims to develop a test to detect genetic brain tumor mutations in cerebral spinal fluid and blood.??? Join us in our fight for a cure! This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesn't support. Sign up here insteadTo sign up to receive our emails, fill in the following fields and hit submit. Thanks, and welcome!first namelast name* email* required ? Links HomeDonateGet InformedSmarter ResearchGet InvolvedAbout us Get Involved DonateWays to GiveJoin an EventPersonal Fundraising Twitter Connect With Us Contact UsGet in touch with usFacebookMeet new friends and join the discussion in FacebookTwitterTweet and follow us. News, press & infoRSS Feeds Subscribe to News Copyright 2011 ABC2 All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy

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In Preclinical Studies, New Drug Enhances Radiation Treatment For Brain Cancer

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;??Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Article Date: 16 May 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
In Preclinical Studies, New Drug Enhances Radiation Treatment For Brain Cancer

A novel drug may help increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy for the most deadly form of brain cancer, report scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center. In mouse models of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the new drug helped significantly extend survival when used in combination with radiation therapy.

Recently published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, the study provides the first preclinical evidence demonstrating that an ATM kinase inhibitor radiosensitizes gliomas. Gliomas are brain tumors that originate from glial cells, which provide support for nerve cells and help regulate the internal environment of the brain. ATM, or ataxia telangiectasia mutated, is an enzyme that helps repair DNA damage. The scientists used an experimental drug, KU-60019, to block the activation of ATM, which led to the enhanced destruction of the gliomas due to their reduced ability to repair the DNA damage caused by the radiation treatment. The new approach was particularly effective against gliomas that have a mutation in the p53 tumor suppressor gene, which accounts for approximately 30 percent of all glioma cases.

"Sadly, the average life expectancy of patients diagnosed with glioblastoma is just 12 to 15 months," says the study's lead researcher Kristoffer Valerie, Ph.D., co-leader of the Radiation Biology and Oncology research program and a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at VCU Massey Cancer Center. "By limiting the tumor's ability to combat DNA damage caused by treatments such as radiation, we are hopeful that we can enhance our ability to specifically target the glioma, prolong survival and reduce damage to surrounding brain tissue."

Currently, GBM is treated with surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Potentially, ATM kinase inhibitors like the one used in this study could enhance the effectiveness of some other cancer treatments that kill tumor cells by damaging DNA. The scientists chose radiation therapy in this study since it is already standard care and can be delivered to brain tumors with extreme accuracy, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

"If these findings hold up in early phase clinical trials, we expect patients with p53 mutant gliomas to respond well to this treatment while showing few side effects. Also, we anticipate that this same treatment strategy could be effective for other cancers that are treated with DNA-damaging chemotherapies," says Valerie. "We are encouraged by these early findings and will continue to move forward with our research. However, more studies are needed before we can proceed with testing this new therapy in humans."

This first, 'proof-of-principle' study is an important follow-up of a study published several years ago on KU-60019 by Valerie and his research team that demonstrated KU-60019's superior efficacy, specificity and potency on glioma cells as compared to a predecessor ATM inhibitor.

Valerie and his team are conducting additional studies examining the effects of KU-60019 and other ATM kinase inhibitors on gliomas, including studies that combine ATM kinase inhibitors with a type of drug known as a PARP inhibitor to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. PARP inhibitors block the action of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), an enzyme that also aids in the repair of DNA damage. The researchers believe that combining an ATM kinase inhibitor with a PARP inhibitor may cause a condition referred to as "synthetic lethality," which arises when the functions of at least two interacting genes are simultaneously inhibited, which, in turn, leads to tumor cell death.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our cancer / oncology section for the latest news on this subject. Valerie collaborated on this study with Sumitra Deb, Ph.D., a member of the Cancer Molecular Genetics research program at VCU Massey Cancer Center and professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at VCU School of Medicine; Nitai D. Mukhopadhyay, M.Stat., Ph.D., a member of the Radiation Biology and Oncology research program at VCU Massey and assistant professor in the Department of Biostatistics at VCU School of Medicine; Laura Biddlestone-Thorpe, Muhammad Sajjad, Elizabeth Rosenberg, Jason M. Beckta, Nicholas C.K. Valerie, Mary Tokarz, Bret R. Adams, Alison F Wagner, Ashraf Khalil, Donna Gilfor and Sarah E. Golding, all from the Department of Radiation Oncology at VCU School of Medicine; David G. Temesi, Ph.D., Alan Lau, Ph.D., and Mark J. O'Connor, Ph.D., all from AstraZeneca; and Kevin S Choe, M.D., Ph.D., Luis F. Parada, Ph.D., and Sang Kyun Lim, Ph.D., all from the University of Texas Southwestern.

This study was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant R01NS064593 and National Cancer Institute Grants R21CA156995, T32CA113277, T32CA085159, T32CA085159 and F30CA171893. Additional support was provided by the American Brain Tumor Association and, in part, by funding from VCU Massey Cancer Center's NIH-NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016059.

The full manuscript of this study is available online at: http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2013/04/25/1078-0432.CCR-12-3408.abstract

Virginia Commonwealth University

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Older Chemotherapy Regimen for Breast Cancer Linked with Persistent “Chemo Brain”

Women who received CMF chemotherapy for breast cancer between 1976 and 1995 scored slightly lower than women with no history of cancer on tests of word learning, memory, and information processing. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.?

Studies of “chemo brain”—the foggy thinking and forgetfulness that patients may experience after chemotherapy—have suggested that the condition often improves with time. Some patients, however, may experience persistent problems.?

CMF is a chemotherapy regimen that was once commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer. It involves a combination of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil. ?

To explore long-term effects of CMF on cognitive function, researchers in Europe conducted a study among 196 breast cancer survivors who had been treated with CMF between 1976 and 1995. The cognitive function of these women was compared with the cognitive function of more than 1,500 women who had never had cancer.?????

The cognitive test scores of the women who had been treated with CMF were slightly lower than the scores of the women who had never had cancer. Scores were lower in the areas of word learning, memory, and information processing speed. ?The reduction in test scores among the CMF-treated women was comparable to roughly six years of age-related cognitive decline.?

Although CMF is given less frequently than in the past, it is still used in some patients.? It is not known how other chemotherapy regimens affect long term cognitive function.? For women who are experiencing subtle but persistent cognitive problems, coping strategies—such as developing systematic daily routines and preparing well for activities such as work or travel—may be helpful.????

Some people appear to be more likely than others to experience long-term cognitive problems after chemotherapy, and researchers are looking into the reasons for this.?

Reference: Koppelmans V, Breteler MMB, Boogerd W, Seynaeve C, Gundy C, Schagen SB. Neuropsychological performance in survivors of breast cancer more than 20 years after adjuvant chemotherapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Early online publication February 27, 2012.?

Posted March 1, 2012

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Some Evidence of Mild “Chemo Brain” in Breast Cancer Survivors

Breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy are at risk for mild cognitive deficits (sometimes referred to as chemo brain) after treatment, according to the results of a study published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. ?

A large portion of breast cancer patients will ultimately receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients undergoing chemotherapy have long complained of a phenomenon referred to as “chemo brain.” Chemo brain refers to changes in cognitive function, such as loss of memory and inability to think clearly or perform some daily functions. Thus far, researchers have not been able to pinpoint the cause of chemo brain, but studies are ongoing to evaluate brain structure and function in order to better understand the effects of chemotherapy on the brain.?

There is mixed evidence regarding the scope and duration of chemo brain. Many studies have not focused on the post-chemotherapy period and thus have produced little data regarding the long-term effects of chemotherapy on the brain. ?

Researchers from the Moffitt Cancer Center conducted a meta-analysis of 17 studies that included 807 patients previously treated with standard-dose chemotherapy for breast cancer. The goal was to evaluate cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors more than six months after being treated with chemotherapy. The studies included neuropsychological tests categorized according to eight cognitive domains: attention, executive functioning, information processing, motor speed, verbal ability, verbal memory, visual memory, and visuospatial ability.?

The results of the analysis indicated that patients treated with chemotherapy had mild impairments in verbal ability and visuospatial ability compared to non-cancer controls. Cognitive impairment varied across survivors; however, the researchers reported that age, education, time since treatment, and hormonal therapy did not seem to have an effect on the observed cognitive deficits. ?

The researchers concluded that, on average, cognitive deficits in breast cancer patients who were previously treated with chemotherapy are mild and are limited to verbal and visuospatial abilities. They suggest that this information can be used to educate patients regarding the long-term impact of chemotherapy so that patients can develop interventions and modifications to cope with cognitive effects. Breast cancer patients who experience cognitive deficits may need to visit a neuropsychologist for evaluation and coping strategies. ?

Reference:?

Jim HSL, Phillips KM, Chait S, et al. Meta-analysis of cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors previously treated with standard-dose chemotherapy. ?

Posted September 17, 2012

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Herceptin and Chemotherapy Benefit Breast Cancer Patients with Brain Metastases

Among women with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain, treatment with HerceptinR (trastuzumab) and/or chemotherapy can prolong survival. These results were published in Clinical Cancer Research.???

Although important advances have been made in breast cancer treatment, the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) remains challenging. The brain is one area to which breast cancer may spread, and researchers continue to explore how best to manage patients with brain metastases.?????

To assess the frequency and outcome of brain metastases in women with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, researchers conducted a study among 1,023 newly diagnosed patients. HER2-positive breast cancer refers to cancer that overexpresses (makes too much of) the HER2 protein. Treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer often includes a HER2-targeted therapy such as Herceptin.???

Brain metastases were more common in younger women, those with hormone receptor-negative breast cancer, and those with a greater amount of cancer.?Among women who were free of brain metastases at the time of their initial diagnosis but later developed brain metastases, brain metastases were diagnosed a median of 13 months after initial diagnosis.?After the diagnosis of brain metastases, treatment with Herceptin and chemotherapy each significantly improved overall survival.??

These results suggest that even after HER2-positive breast cancer spreads to the brain, standard breast cancer treatments can prolong survival.?

Reference: Brufsky AM, Mayer M, Rugo HS et al. Central nervous system metastases in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: incidence, treatment, and survival in patients from registHER. Clinical Cancer Research. 2011; 17: 4834–43.?

Posted July 20, 2011

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