MEMORANDUM FOR: Science Writers and Editors on the Journal Press List: Short-Term Risk for Breast Cancer Predicted by Breast Cells Obtained by Random Fine-Needle Aspiration

Extract

July 27, 2000 (EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE 4 P.M. EST August 1)

Among women with a high risk of developing breast cancer, microscopic examination of breast cells taken from near the nipple by a process known as fine-needle aspiration can help identify which women in this group are at very high short-term risk of developing breast cancer.

The incidence of breast cancer may be substantially reduced in high-risk women by use of tamoxifen or by prophylactic removal of the breasts or ovaries. Such approaches are costly and can be risky. Consequently, techniques are needed to identify which high-risk women are most likely to benefit from preventive therapy. Examining cells from fine-needle aspirates may help refine risk estimates calculated using the Gail model. U.S. physicians use the Gail model to help women make decisions regarding use of chemoprevention medicines or prophylactic surgery. Carol Fabian, M.D., University of Kansas Medical Center, and colleagues, present the results of their research on random fine-needle aspiration in the August 2 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.