+ A
A -
How would you describe breast cancer in layman’s terms?
Breast cancer occurs when normal cells of the breast accumulate sufficient genetic changes to lose their ability to control cell division. There are numerous risk factors associated with breast cancer, including family history, age, and exposure to hormones and therapeutic radiation. However, while hereditary factors account for between 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancers, the overwhelming majority of cases can be attributed to environmental factors and lifestyle choices.
As things stand, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with the incidence rate growing in many countries, including the Arab world. There is currently a 1 in 8 chance that a woman will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Recent statistics highlight that breast cancer currently accounts for 31 percent of all cancer cases among women in Qatar.
What’s the link between obesity and breast cancer?
Being overweight or obese is associated with a number of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Recent data by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also linked obesity to thirteen different types of cancers, including breast cancer. This troubling statistic builds on research undertaken in 2014 which determined that excessive bodyweight was associated with 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States.
Recent studies have also established a strong correlation between obesity and an increased postmenopausal risk (~ 30% increase) of breast cancer. Taken together, data shows that there is a strong connection between obesity and breast cancer incidence. One possible explanation is that fatty tissue in obese individuals release large number of growth factors and hormones, such as insulin and estrogen, which stimulate the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Additionally, adipose tissue in obese individuals releases inflammatory cytokines, which could reduce the number and activity of anti-tumor immune cells.
So does losing weight reduces the chances of developing breast cancer?
A number of studies involving postmenopausal women have made the connection between weight loss and a reduced risk of breast cancer. More recently, a study conducted on approximately 18000 women who’ve undergone bariatric surgery highlighted that reduced bodyweight significantly lowered the risk of pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer. On the other hand, weight gain post- diagnosis is associated with shorter recurrence time and higher mortality rates, in both pre- and postmenopausal women. This highlights a clear connection between obesity and increased incidence, recurrence rates, and morbidity from breast cancer.
Accordingly, rises in the incidence, recurrence, and reduced treatment response to breast cancer in obese women gives new urgency to a familiar problem. According to recent statistics, the number of overweight and obese people in the Gulf region has steadily increased over the last two decades, and Qatar is no exception. The IHME Global Disease Burden 2015 Study highlighted obesity and overweight as the number one risk factor contributing to mortality in Qatar.
What common sense steps should be taken to reduce risks?
One of the leading causes of the obesity outbreak is excessive energy uptake accompanied by limited energy consumption. Consequently, regular physical exercise and a balanced diet are essential features of all weight loss strategies. Such strategies should, in turn, be supported by public information activities that encourage individuals to eat healthily and engage in physical activities, especially in schools and the workplace. Healthcare professionals also have a role to play in inspiring patients to get fit and control their weight.
Public campaigns should also be supported by initiatives that minimise the consumption of unhealthy fast foods. Given the links between childhood and adult obesity, children should be particularly encouraged to spend more time participating in physical activity as well as learning the essentials of healthy eating.
How is HBKU contributing to the regional and global fight against breast cancer?
The Cancer Research Center (CRC) at Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular basis of cancer initiation and progression, with a particular focus on breast cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Our research team is on a quest to decode the genetics and understand the biology of breast cancer across the Middle East and North Africa region. To assist, we’ve embarked on range of national and international collaborative efforts, including with King Hussain Cancer Center (Jordan) and Hamad Medical Corporation. The aim of this particular initiative is to decode the genetics of breast cancer and identify potential novel biomarkers for early detection and prediction of treatment response in this region. Our team has recently conducted transcriptome analysis and identified a number of altered signaling networks in breast cancer from this region, a step further toward our goal of better understanding this disease.
In addition to understanding the biology of breast cancer, other initiatives at the CRC focus on the role of various immune cells in combating the condition. Understanding the role of the immune system in breast cancer could offer novel therapeutic opportunities through manipulation to better combat this disease.
Despite our research and recent success, efforts to better understand breast cancer – particularly how tumor cells resist treatment – remains ongoing. We’re determined to continue our journey.
(Dr Nehad Alajez is a senior
scientist at Qatar Biomedical
Research Institute, part of
Hamad Bin Khalifa University)
Breast cancer occurs when normal cells of the breast accumulate sufficient genetic changes to lose their ability to control cell division. There are numerous risk factors associated with breast cancer, including family history, age, and exposure to hormones and therapeutic radiation. However, while hereditary factors account for between 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancers, the overwhelming majority of cases can be attributed to environmental factors and lifestyle choices.
As things stand, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with the incidence rate growing in many countries, including the Arab world. There is currently a 1 in 8 chance that a woman will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Recent statistics highlight that breast cancer currently accounts for 31 percent of all cancer cases among women in Qatar.
What’s the link between obesity and breast cancer?
Being overweight or obese is associated with a number of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Recent data by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also linked obesity to thirteen different types of cancers, including breast cancer. This troubling statistic builds on research undertaken in 2014 which determined that excessive bodyweight was associated with 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States.
Recent studies have also established a strong correlation between obesity and an increased postmenopausal risk (~ 30% increase) of breast cancer. Taken together, data shows that there is a strong connection between obesity and breast cancer incidence. One possible explanation is that fatty tissue in obese individuals release large number of growth factors and hormones, such as insulin and estrogen, which stimulate the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Additionally, adipose tissue in obese individuals releases inflammatory cytokines, which could reduce the number and activity of anti-tumor immune cells.
So does losing weight reduces the chances of developing breast cancer?
A number of studies involving postmenopausal women have made the connection between weight loss and a reduced risk of breast cancer. More recently, a study conducted on approximately 18000 women who’ve undergone bariatric surgery highlighted that reduced bodyweight significantly lowered the risk of pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer. On the other hand, weight gain post- diagnosis is associated with shorter recurrence time and higher mortality rates, in both pre- and postmenopausal women. This highlights a clear connection between obesity and increased incidence, recurrence rates, and morbidity from breast cancer.
Accordingly, rises in the incidence, recurrence, and reduced treatment response to breast cancer in obese women gives new urgency to a familiar problem. According to recent statistics, the number of overweight and obese people in the Gulf region has steadily increased over the last two decades, and Qatar is no exception. The IHME Global Disease Burden 2015 Study highlighted obesity and overweight as the number one risk factor contributing to mortality in Qatar.
What common sense steps should be taken to reduce risks?
One of the leading causes of the obesity outbreak is excessive energy uptake accompanied by limited energy consumption. Consequently, regular physical exercise and a balanced diet are essential features of all weight loss strategies. Such strategies should, in turn, be supported by public information activities that encourage individuals to eat healthily and engage in physical activities, especially in schools and the workplace. Healthcare professionals also have a role to play in inspiring patients to get fit and control their weight.
Public campaigns should also be supported by initiatives that minimise the consumption of unhealthy fast foods. Given the links between childhood and adult obesity, children should be particularly encouraged to spend more time participating in physical activity as well as learning the essentials of healthy eating.
How is HBKU contributing to the regional and global fight against breast cancer?
The Cancer Research Center (CRC) at Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular basis of cancer initiation and progression, with a particular focus on breast cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Our research team is on a quest to decode the genetics and understand the biology of breast cancer across the Middle East and North Africa region. To assist, we’ve embarked on range of national and international collaborative efforts, including with King Hussain Cancer Center (Jordan) and Hamad Medical Corporation. The aim of this particular initiative is to decode the genetics of breast cancer and identify potential novel biomarkers for early detection and prediction of treatment response in this region. Our team has recently conducted transcriptome analysis and identified a number of altered signaling networks in breast cancer from this region, a step further toward our goal of better understanding this disease.
In addition to understanding the biology of breast cancer, other initiatives at the CRC focus on the role of various immune cells in combating the condition. Understanding the role of the immune system in breast cancer could offer novel therapeutic opportunities through manipulation to better combat this disease.
Despite our research and recent success, efforts to better understand breast cancer – particularly how tumor cells resist treatment – remains ongoing. We’re determined to continue our journey.
(Dr Nehad Alajez is a senior
scientist at Qatar Biomedical
Research Institute, part of
Hamad Bin Khalifa University)
