Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Levels Significantly Elevated in Women Who Developed Breast Cancer

Blood levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may be elevated in women up to 17 months prior to a diagnosis of breast cancer. These findings were recently presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 101st Annual Meeting.[1]?

In an attempt to improve survival by detecting breast cancer at an earlier stage, researchers are evaluating potential biomarkers of the disease. Levels of certain proteins in the blood, for example, may be higher in women with breast cancer than in women without breast cancer. If these markers reliably distinguish women with and without breast cancer, and if the markers can be identified early in cancer development (before the cancer would typically be diagnosed clinically), then they may contribute to the early detection of breast cancer.

In the current study, researchers first evaluated blood samples from 420 women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and a set of matched controls (women without breast cancer). For the women with breast cancer, blood had been collected up to 17 months prior to cancer diagnosis. Biomarkers that appeared promising at this first stage (that appeared to distinguish women with and without breast cancer) were then further evaluated in a separate set of women with and without breast cancer.

EGFR levels were significantly elevated in women who developed breast cancer compared with controls. Women with the highest levels of EGFR had a 2.9-fold increased risk of developing breast cancer compared with women with the lowest EGFR levels. In women who used estrogen plus progestin hormone therapy, high EGFR levels were associated with a ninefold increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Although the results of this study did not indicate that EGFR levels were sufficient to be used as a sole predictor of breast cancer, the researchers were optimistic that “there may indeed be detectable changes of proteins in blood within two years of making a clinical breast cancer diagnosis.” This type of research continues to hold promise. ??

Reference:

[1] Pitteri SJ, Amon LM, Buson TB, et al. Elevated plasma levels of epidermal growth factor receptor prior to diagnosis of breast cancer in preclinical specimens from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study. Proceedings from the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. April 17-21, 2010. Abstract 4815.

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Even Low Levels of Alcohol Slightly Increase Breast Cancer Risk

Women who have as few as three to six alcoholic beverages per week have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Heavier drinker further increases risk. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.?

Many previous studies have reported that higher levels of alcohol consumption increase the risk of breast cancer. The reasons for this are not well understood, but may involve alcohol’s effects on a woman’s estrogen levels.??

Whether low levels of alcohol also affect breast cancer risk has been less clear. To further explore the relationship between alcohol and breast cancer, researchers evaluated information from the Nurses’ Health Study. The study involved more than 105,000 women. Information about alcohol intake was collected at several different points between 1980 and 2006.?

Compared with nondrinkers, women who had three to six drinks per week had a 15% increase in risk of breast cancer. This means that if a woman has a 2% chance of getting breast cancer in the next 10 years, the chance is increased to 2.3%?Higher levels of alcohol intake further increased risk of breast cancer. Women who had at least two drinks per day had a 51% increase in risk of breast cancer.?When the researchers considered alcohol intake earlier in life (age 18 to 40) and later in life (after age 40), both time periods were important: alcohol intake during either time period increased breast cancer risk.?

These results suggest that even low levels of alcohol can increase breast cancer risk, although the effect is fairly small. The researchers note that “..an individual will need to weigh the modest risks of light to moderate alcohol use on breast cancer development against the beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease to make the best personal choice regarding alcohol consumption.”?

Reference: Chen WY, Rosner B, Hankinson SE, Colditz GA, Willett WC. Moderate alcohol consumption during adult life, drinking patterns, and breast cancer risk. JAMA. 2011;306;1884-1890.?

Posted November 16, 2011

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