Funding outcome

Overview: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women and it affects 1 in 8 Canadian women. It is a major cause of mortality since eight in ten women die within five years when the cancer has spread to other organs (metastasis). To prevent this, breast tumors are normally removed surgically (lumpectomy). This is followed by 25 daily doses of radiation to the remaining breast to kill remaining cancer cells and prevent their spread. However, this treatment is not always effective. Our group discovered that each dose of radiation damages the breast tissue and this produces inflammation and the release of a variety of inflammatory compounds. This inflammatory reaction protects breast cancer cells from further destruction by the radiotherapy. In addition, inflammation increases scarring (fibrosis) in the breast, which causes distress, discomfort and adverse physical changes in about one in five women following radiotherapy. Such scarring requires further medical treatment and cosmetic reconstruction. The purpose of our project is to learn how to decrease inflammation caused by radiotherapy. We will use a compound called dexamethasone, which is commonly used clinically to treat inflammation. However, dexamethasone has not yet been used to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy and prevent subsequent scarring. Hypothesis: I propose that treating human breast tissue with dexamethasone will decrease inflammation caused by irradiation. Methods: I will culture human breast tissue from breast reduction surgery and expose it to radiation in the presence or absence of dexamethasone. I will then measure inflammation through the release of a variety of inflammatory compounds. I will determine which of responds to dexamethasone therapy. Outcomes: If my hypothesis were to be correct, then dexamethasone could be given to breast cancer patients during radiotherapy. This should improve the effectiveness of the treatment and decrease scarring. Dexamethasone is approved for clinical use. Dexamethasone could easily be introduced into clinical trials to test if it improves radiotherapy and the health outcomes of women with breast cancer