New Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Biomarker NVB-64 Visualizes Malignant Breast Tumors

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, supported in part by NuView Life Sciences, have published an article in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine reporting preclinical results of a novel PET biomarker designed to selectively detect malignant breast tumors[1]. "All tumors detected with the new biomarker were malignant and expressed the targeted VPAC1 receptors located on the plasma membrane of the tumor cells." These results have led to initiation of clinical trials, supported by NuView, at Jefferson using this agent in patients with known and suspected breast cancer.

To date, the unsettling report that a patient has a "suspicious mass" on an annual mammogram has automatically dictated a costly and invasive needle biopsy. Soon there may be a choice of care in selecting a diagnostic procedure to determine the benign or malignant nature of the mass. Rather than a protracted waiting period to locate a clinician, find time to schedule a biopsy, endure a painful procedure and wait additional days for lab results to be reported; novel procedures such as a NVB64-PET scan may eventually be available to discriminate between malignant and benign lesions.

source: Medical News Today

Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging Proves Cost-Effective For Pre-Surgical Planning Of Patients With Known Cancer Diagnosis

Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), a molecular breast imaging technique with comparable sensitivity to breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting breast carcinoma when used in pre-surgical planning for patients with known cancer diagnoses and is substantially less expensive than MRI, according to findings presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Symposium in San Francisco, California.

"BSGI proved to be a cost-effective breast diagnostic imaging modality, able to detect mammographically occult breast cancers and provide comparable sensitivity to MRI at a higher patient compliance rate and lower cost," said Dr. Margaret Bertrand, Director of Breast Imaging at Solis Bertrand Breast Center in Greensboro, N.C.

source: Dilon Technologies

Diffuse Optical Tomography For Breast Cancer Screening Fine-Tuned By Researchers

Clemson University researchers in collaboration with researchers at the University of Bremen, Germany, are working to make the physical pain and discomfort of mammograms a thing of the past, while allowing for diagnostic imaging eventually to be done in a home setting.

The group is fine-tuning Diffuse Optical Tomography (DOT) to create high-resolution images from a scattering of infrared and visible light for the early detection of breast cancer. While the method is less expensive, safer and more comfortable than X-rays used in mammograms, the problem has been generating a strong enough resolution to detect smaller breast cancers.

source: Medical News Today

Studies Advance Early Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of Breast Cancer

SAN FRANCISCO – New studies on the early detection, evaluation and treatment of breast cancer were released today in advance of the 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium. The symposium is being held October 8-10, 2009, at the San Francisco Marriott.

Four major studies were highlighted today in a presscast (press briefing via live webcast):

* Majority of breast cancer deaths occur among women who don’t receive regular mammography: A large, retrospective study shows that nearly three-quarters of breast cancer deaths occur among the minority of women who do not undergo regular screening mammograms.
* Women under age 44 with DCIS have a higher risk of recurrence: A study reports that women with ductal carcinoma in situ (a pre-invasive form of breast cancer) age 44 and younger have almost double the risk of recurrence following breast conservation surgery and radiation therapy than women age 45 to 50, suggesting that more aggressive treatment should be studied in this population.
* Adding low-cost ultrasound prior to surgery can reduce need for second breast cancer surgery: An analysis demonstrates that the addition of axillary ultrasound prior to initial breast-conserving surgery spared nearly one-third of women with early-stage breast cancer who had underarm (axillary) lymph node metastases from a second breast cancer surgery to remove additional axillary nodes.
* New technique identifies breast cancer subtypes and predicts response to adjuvant paclitaxel (Taxol) chemotherapy: A study validates a novel method of tissue analysis, called tissue microarrays, for determining the “intrinsic subtype” of a breast tumor, and accurately uses breast cancer sub-typing to predict response to a specific anticancer drug. These findings will improve physicians’ ability to personalize treatment to maximize benefits and spare patients from unnecessary side effects.

source: American Society of Clinical Oncology