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Navy Genetic Studies Assess Cancer Risk Factors
Story Number: NNS031023-06
Release Date: 10/23/2003 2:04:00 PM
By Operations Specialist 2nd Class Wendy Kahn, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs
BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- Nearly eight years after the Breast Care Center (BCC) opened at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), its mission with the Genetics Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of conducting genetic research studies in high-risk cancer patients still continues. By sharing resources and expertise, these components provide counseling and education services to patients at high risk for cancer.
Genetic studies try to identify the attributes of people who may be predisposed to a potential cancer in the future. Using validating risk factors of both personal and family history, the intent is to determine which patients are at the highest level of risk for a certain type of cancer.
“NCI thought that collaborative studies were a good way to recruit patients and to have them be aware of these studies,” said Dr. Jean Jenkins, a clinical nurse specialist consultant at NCI’s Cancer Genetics Clinic. “NNMC wanted to provide the best care possible for these patients and access to services that might not otherwise be possible.
“The goal is to take the information learned from the studies, translate it into clinical practice and use it on NNMC patients for evaluation of treatment options," Jenkins explained. "It was an opportunity for both institutions to gain access to cutting edge services.”
As a result of ongoing research efforts by NNMC and NCI’s Genetics Branch, two studies are being conducted for colon cancer patients. The first was a counseling and education protocol for persons in high-risk families and genetic testing for hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, an inherited cancer syndrome.
The second study involved the use of an aspirin-type drug called Celebrex, which experts think may be used as an intervention to prevent certain types of colorectal cancer.
Available resources at both institutions have made it possible for NNMC’s patients to get education and counseling related to this hereditary form of colon cancer. With this technology, patients who complete the genetic testing study will know if they’re at risk for colon cancer or any other cancers that run in their family, according to Jenkins.
Since genetic testing began, as many as 95 percent of patients who were recruited for the colon cancer studies have completed the required follow-up.
In addition to ongoing genetic studies for colon cancer, there are also joint efforts of NNMC and NCI’s Genetics Branch that focus on breast cancer. As the Navy’s only active genetics program for assessing breast cancer risk, it receives worldwide referrals from military treatment facilities.
Similar to the joint research conducted in colon cancer studies, one of the breast cancer genetics studies looks at education methods in small groups or individualized sessions for genetic testing. A second ongoing study is underway in which different genetic variables are being evaluated for their association with susceptibility to breast cancer.
“We look at anyone who is potentially at risk, or already affected with breast cancer,” says Kathleen Calzone, a registered nurse at NCI’s Genetics Branch. “Some of NCI’s investigators are interested in looking at potential interventions, such as exercise, that would be much more benign than taking a medication. Exercise may be a more preferred option for women who are young and at increased risk for breast cancer.”
So far, multiple research studies have revealed certain risk factors that seem to increase a person’s chance of getting breast cancer. The presence of a gene mutation in a cancer susceptibility gene is a clear risk factor, and a prior breast biopsy (tissue sampling)showing “atypical hyperplasia” indicates an increase in risk. In addition, relatively late child bearing, early onset of the first menstrual period, late menopause, and a history of previous biopsies are all factors associated with an increased risk for breast cancer.
Progress in the understanding of cancer genetics through joint research studies has made it possible to identify individuals who may have a genetic susceptibility to cancer. This has resulted in the ability to better diagnose, prevent and treat cancer.
In the future, patients who develop breast cancer or colon cancer may have their treatment designed based on their genetic characteristics.
For related news, visit the National Naval Medical Center Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/nnmc.
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