New Research Could Lead Breast/Ovarian Cancer Preventions Away From Surgery

   Two studies have shown the effects of mutations in genes that can result in high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The genes BRCA1 and BRCA 2 are the mutations that serves for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. To date, women with these genes can opt for surgery such as a double mastectomy or have their ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, many disagree with the surgery option as it is not an ideal solution.
   Prof. Martin Widschwendter, an author of one of the two studies, says they would like to prevent breast cancer and are looking for ways to step forward with research rather than opting for the surgery to prevent cancer.
    Tee ovaries and pituitary gland can also be affected by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA 2 with hormones like progesterone. Hormones like progesterone can control the menstrual cycle to encourage the development of these cancers. In the first study, Prof. Widschwendter learned that women with the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 genes that are mutated have very low osteoprotegerin in their blood, which is known to block the effects of RANKL, a protein triggers breast cancer. Researchers think that a drug that could mirror the effect of OPG, or lessen the effect of progesterone could be a solution to the reduction of breast cancer risk.
  In the second study, Prof. Louis Dubeau and colleagues created a mouse model to simplify the examination of the menstrual cycle on breast and ovarian cancer risk. Prof. Dubeau explained the goal of preventing breast and ovarian cancer in women with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutations via the mouse model.
 The model consisted of mice that carried the mutations like those affecting the BRCA1 gene in humans. They mutations were made to occur in tissues, ovaries, and pituitary glands, where there would be an increased cancer.  This allows the researches to see the mutations effects on the menstrual cycle and the high risk tissue areas as independent variables.
  As a result, the researches came to the conclusion that some forms of ovarian cancer does originate in the tissues outside of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, further proving that removal surgery is no guarantee of cancer prevention.
 For the future, both research teams hope to see improvement in prevention plans and possibly eliminate surgery as an option.
  I think this is a good break through for cancer prevention studies. Surgery is no guarantee and the more we know about cancer formation, the more we can try to prevent it.

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