All News
Prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy in BRCA1/2 carriers
September 1st 2006Prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy has been widely recommended for women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations based on evidence from retrospective studies that have found a strong protective effect against cancers of the ovary and fallopian tube. Now a new international prospective study that included approximately 1,800 women with germline BRCA1 or 2 mutations has found the procedure reduces the overall risk of ovarian, tubal and peritoneal cancers by 80%.
Vitamin K supplementation reduces bone loss
September 1st 2006Oral vitamin K (phytonadione and menaquinone-4) is associated with increased bone mineral density and reduced fracture incidence of up to 80% for hip fractures, according to a meta-analysis. Pooling the results of seven trials with fracture outcomes, researchers calculated an odds ratio favoring menaquinone of 0.40 (95% CI; 0.25–0.65) for vertebral fractures, 0.23 (95% CI; 0.12–0.47) for hip fractures, and 0.19 (95% CI; 0.11–0.35) for all nonvertebral fractures.
No chest x-rays for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers?
September 1st 2006The amount of ionizing radiation conferred by an ordinary chest x-ray significantly increases the already high risk of breast cancer in young women with BRCA1/2 germline mutations, according to a recent international retrospective cohort study.
Single dose of methotrexate enough for unruptured ectopic pregnancy
September 1st 2006A single methotrexate (MTX) injection is as effective as multiple doses for managing unruptured ectopic pregnancy, according to the results of the first randomized, prospective study to compare the two medical regimens.
Trastuzumab may cause cardiac toxicity, but effects are usually reversible
September 1st 2006In women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, trastuzumab can cause cardiac toxicity, which can be reversed with beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors. Additional trastuzumab treatment can be considered after recovery of cardiac function, according to a study published online August 14 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Women with more body fat at birth have reduced fertility and higher cancer risk as adults
September 1st 2006Women who have more body fat at birth do not exhibit ovarian suppression after moderate physical exercise and have higher levels of estradiol as adults compared to women with less body fat, which may reduce fertility and increase cancer risk, according to a study published online August 14 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.
Radiotherapy cuts recurrence in ductal carcinoma in situ
September 1st 2006Radiotherapy after local excision of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast reduces the risk of local recurrence for up to 10 years, according to results from a European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer trial.
