NBOCC Research Summaries
New research is published on a daily basis about all aspects of breast and ovarian cancer - from causes, prevention, early detection and diagnosis through to treatment, supportive care and follow-up.
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre provides clear, concise summaries of relevant new research to help consumers, media and health professionals better understand its implications for the future of breast and ovarian cancer detection and care in Australia.
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Genetic factors may explain poorer breast cancer survival in younger women
August 2008
A study has identified gene expression profiles unique to breast tumours in younger women that may explain their poorer prognoses... more »
Combination of tests may improve early detection of ovarian cancer
August 2008
Researchers have found that the combination of a symptoms questionnaire and the CA125 blood test may improve the early detection of ovarian cancer... more »
Young women may reduce risk of breast cancer with regular exercise
August 2008
Researchers have found that young women who exercise regularly may substantially reduce their risk of developing breast cancer before menopause... more »
Cancer risk persists after ceasing combined hormone replacement therapy
April 2008
New results from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) show that the cancer risks associated with long-term use of combined hormone replacement therapy persist three years after a woman stops taking the drugs... more »
Protein triggers aggressive breast cancer
April 2008
Researchers have discovered a protein that appears to control the spread of breast cancer cells to other parts of the body... more »
Benefits of risk reduction surgery differ for carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations
April 2008
Researchers have examined the impact of surgical removal of the ovaries on BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers separately for the first time... more »
Blood test detects early stage ovarian cancer
March 2008
Yale researchers have developed a blood biomarker test with the ability to detect ovarian cancer in its early stages... more »
Oral contraceptives give long-term protection against ovarian cancer
February 2008
An analysis of 45 studies involving over 110,000 women has found the use of oral contraceptives provides long-term protection against ovarian cancer... more »
Study confirms long-term superiority of anastrozole over tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer recurrence
January 2008
New data shows anastrozole is better than tamoxifen in preventing cancer recurrence in post-menopausal women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer. The benefits of anastrozole over tamoxifen continue to increase up to four years after active treatment has finished.... more »
New gene linked to breast cancer
11 December 2007
Researchers in a multicentre international study have discovered a new gene, HMMR that, if mutated, may increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer... more »Four new breast cancer genes discovered
July 2007
An international study involving more than 50,000 women has discovered four new gene variants found to increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer... more »
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and ovarian cancer risk
20 April 2007
Research published in The Lancet has reported that women who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are at increased risk of ovarian cancer... more »
Obesity and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer
March 2007
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 studies has found an association between obesity and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer... more »
Questions raised about soy and breast cancer risk
February 2007
There was significant media coverage recently of a Position Statement issued by The Cancer Council NSW entitled Soy, Phyto-oestrogens and Cancer. Phyto-oestrogens are compounds found in plants that may act like oestrogen when they are consumed... more »
Sentinel node biopsy as accurate as routine axillary clearance but with fewer side effects
February 2007
A clinical trial involving 1088 women in Australia and New Zealand has shown the benefits of sentinel node biopsy in determining whether breast cancer cells have spread beyond the breast to regional nodes... more »
Research into oral contraceptive pill use and risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer
December 2006
A review published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings examined 34 studies published in or after 1980 looking into a link between the use of the oral contraceptive pill and an increased risk of breast cancer... more »
Research into potential new methods for early detection of breast cancer
December 2006
Research into potential new ways of detecting breast cancer has been featured in the Australian media recently... more »
Research shows ‘DES daughters’ at increased risk of breast cancer after the age of 40 years
August 2006
Researchers from the United States have found ‘DES daughters’, or women born to mothers who used the anti-miscarriage drug diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy, are at greater risk of developing breast cancer after the age of 40 years compared to women who were not exposed to the drug ... more »
Research shows experimental drug lapatinib (Tykerb®) slows the spread of HER-2 positive breast cancer in women with advanced disease
June 2006
Clinical trial results have shown the experimental drug lapatinib (Tykerb®) slows the spread of advanced breast cancer when used in combination with chemotherapy ... more »
Patients with early breast cancer may benefit from fewer but larger doses of radiotherapy
May 2006
Giving women with early breast cancer fewer but more concentrated doses of radiotherapy as part of breast conserving treatment may be as safe and effective as the current standard treatment at reducing the risk of cancer returning, according to Cancer Research UK trial results published in the 30 May edition of Lancet Oncology... more »
Research shows raloxifene (Evista®) as effective as tamoxifen in reducing the risk of breast cancer, but with fewer side effects
April 2006
Initial results of a trial involving 19,000 post-menopausal women at increased risk of developing breast cancer have found the drug raloxifene (Evista®), currently used to treat osteoporosis, is as effective as tamoxifen in reducing the risk of breast cancer but with fewer side effects. These initial results from the STAR trial (Study of tamoxifen and raloxifene) were released by the National Cancer Institute in the United States on 18 April... more »
New research confirms oestrogen-only HRT not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer
April 2006
New findings released from a major American study known as the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) have confirmed oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. These findings were published in the 12 April issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association... more »
New research into a contraceptive pill which may cut risk of breast cancer
March 2006
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh are developing a contraceptive pill which they hope will not carry the same increased risk of breast cancer associated with the current combined oral contraceptive pill. The researchers also anticipate the new contraceptive pill will be helpful in the treatment of fibroids, endometriosis and pre-menstrual syndrome and will reduce the risk of blood clots... more »
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy trial shows improved survival in women with advanced ovarian cancer
January 2006
Results of a trial involving over 400 women indicate significant survival benefits in delivering chemotherapy directly into the abdomen of women with advanced ovarian cancer. The new findings about the therapy, known as intraperitoneal chemotherapy, were published in the 5 January edition of the New England Journal of Medicine ... more »