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Breast Cancer: Not One but 10 Diseases

Genetic study offers 'completely new way of looking at breast cancer'

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 19, 2012 6:12 AM CDT

(Newser) – Breast cancer isn't a single disease but an umbrella term for 10 genetically distinct diseases, according to the biggest-ever study of the genetics of breast tumors. The researchers, who split the disease into 10 categories after examining samples from 2,000 tumors, say the study offers a "completely new way of looking at breast cancer" that will allow much more precisely targeted therapies for sufferers in the future, the BBC reports.

The researchers compared breast cancer to a map of the world, saying that while current tests split the disease into continents, the new research will allow hospitals to split it into counties. "Essentially we've moved from knowing what a breast tumor looks like under a microscope to pinpointing its molecular anatomy—and eventually we'll know which drugs it will respond to," the lead researcher says. "This research won't affect women diagnosed with breast cancer today. But in the future, breast cancer patients will receive treatment targeted to the genetic fingerprint of their tumor." The BBC notes that could happen in as little as three years.

The study will have an enormous impact in the years to come in diagnosing and treating breast cancer, the chief of Cancer Research UK says.
The study will "have an enormous impact in the years to come in diagnosing and treating breast cancer," the chief of Cancer Research UK says.   (Shutterstock)
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This is incredibly exciting research, which has the potential to change the face of breast cancer; from how we diagnose and treat it, to how we follow it up afterwards. - Julia Wilson, head of research
at Breakthrough Breast Cancer

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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
jakkson
Apr 19, 2012 10:07 AM CDT
Thank you for this article that touches on what more people should know about not only breast cancers, but all cancers. Breast cancer is most commonly a cell type called INTRA-DUCTAL ADENOCARCINOMA which is a mammilian (human and animal that are breast-fed) tumor type and these cancers comprise the majority of cancers of the human system. However, there are other less common CELL types of breast cancer and they have differing outcomes and different  patterns of spread. For instance, there is ductal carcinoma, lobular carcinoma, comedocarcinoma, inflammatory carcinoma and the current medical experts are investigating no less than 10 types of breast cancer. In addition to the cell type are the stages of the cancer. What? Staging is the process of evaluating the progression of the cancer at the time of diagnosis(when first found). Stage 1 is the earliest diagnosis of invasive cancer and Stage 4 is the most advanced, typically. In addition to cell type and staging is spread or patterns of spread. For insatnce, are local and/or regional lymph nodes involved? Local and regional lymph nodes in Breast Cancer would be in the armpit (axillary), the neck (cervical), the chest(mediastinum) and the example of distant lymph node involvement would be other areas of the body, but that is not typical for breast cancer to spread to lymph nodes far from the breast such as the groin. Other types of spread are "seeding" where the cancer cells travel through the blood stream to liver, lungs, bones and brain and take up residence and grow there. So, you see, when someone says they have breast cancer or lung cancer or prostate cancer or ANY type of cancer, the story has just been broken and for us to know more about cancers and their stage and their spread and their cell type is for us to know more about how to help and support and encourage the victim, or how to encourage the victim to prepare for the worst and maybe to prepare for the eventual death and it's aftermath. While that may be a morbid thought, I cannot see where and why someone would not want to have more information about illness and how to expect or treat the patient, particularly when the patient is oneself. Also, there are FOUR types of cancers that affect the human system: Carcinomas- soft tissue and secreting organs, Sarcomas - hard tissue such as bone and cartilage and also muscle and tendon, Centrat Nervous System (CNS) cancers - Brain, Spinal column and nerves,  Blood-Forming system (Hematapoetic) such as bone marrow and lymphatic system.  THAT'S ALL, THAT'S IT. ALL CANCERS FALL INTO ONE OF THOSE FOUR CATEGORIES. Jakkson 
blingranger
Apr 19, 2012 8:36 AM CDT
This is not news. In fact, this variation exists in almost every cancer that humans face - and is the major reason why a "cure" is not the proper way to talk about cancer. Cancer is not one disease, it does not have one cure. Of course, I think most scientists would rather have this report released in this imperfect way, so the layperson can understand these facts, than not released at all.
 

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