Breast cancer conference draws researchers

Wednesday November 16th 2022

Diabetes, physical fitness and early diagnosis have been among the early topics at a major European conference on breast cancer.

One of the studies included at the 13th European Breast Cancer Conference, in Barcelona, Spain, found that women with type 2 diabetes are likely to have cancer diagnosed at a later stage.

Dr Anna Jansana of the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, and colleagues explain that this finding applies to cancer types which, unlike breast cancer, do not have national screening programmes.

They analysed figures on 11,945 people in six European countries. Participants were diagnosed with cancer between 1992 and 2012.

For breast cancer there was no link between a later stage of diagnosis and pre-existing type 2 diabetes.

Dr Jansana said: "Our results underline the importance of paying particular attention to patients with pre-existing diseases of the heart, blood vessels or metabolism, such as type 2 diabetes, so that signs of cancer can be identified at an earlier stage when it is more likely to be treated successfully."

A second study of 4,330 cancer patients and survivors found that mental and physical health can benefit from a gradual increase in daily activity supported by psychological therapies.

The programme used in the study is called 'behavioural graded activity' - a physiotherapist helps patients gradually increase their physical activity towards personalised goals.

Ms Astrid Lahousse of the Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium, led the study. She said: "Long-term use of pain medication is not appropriate and non-pharmacological treatments are needed.

"Until now, there has been no systematic review of the effects of behavioural graded exercise on different outcomes among cancer patients.

"Doctors should consider transferring the care of patients to other appropriate healthcare providers, such as physiotherapists and psychologists."

Early markers

Markers of breast cancer could be present in blood up to two years before diagnosis, researchers told the conference.

The study was led by Professor Rob Tollenaar at Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands. They recruited 1,174 women at raised risk of breast cancer due to family history or genetics.

These women are offered more regular breast screening starting at a younger age and provided blood samples for the study. Proteins in the blood were analysed over time using mass spectrometry.

Three women in the group have been diagnosed with breast cancer and their samples compared to three women who have not.

This showed "distinct differences" between the women, highlighting six proteins at higher or lower levels one or two years before diagnosis.

Details are presented today at the 13th European Breast Cancer Conference, held in Barcelona, Spain.

The researchers believe these proteins could form the basis of a new test for earlier diagnosis.

Team member Ms Sophie Hagenaars pointed out: "Testing should probably be based both on proteins that differ between women with and without breast cancer and on proteins that alter in an individual person over time."

A larger study will now be carried out to confirm the findings. "If further research validates our findings, this testing could be used as an add-on to existing screening techniques," said Ms Hagenaars.

"Blood tests are relatively simple and not particularly painful for most people, so people could be offered screening as often as needed."

Abstract no 1, "Early detection of breast cancer in high-risk women based on longitudinal changes in serum-based proteins: the TESTBREAST study", 16 November 2022

Abstract no 25, "Impact of pre-existing cardiometabolic diseases on cancer stage at diagnosis in the EPIC study". 16 November 2022.

Abstract no 23, "The effect of behavioural graded activity on physical activity level, health-related quality of life, and symptom management in cancer patients and survivors: systematic review and meta-analysis". 16 November 2022.

Tags: Cancer | Diabetes | Europe | Fitness | Mental Health

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