Breast Arterial Calcification And Cardiovascular Disease – Exploring Mechanisms And Outcomes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Heart disease remains the major of cause of death in women in the Western world and current methods of screening women for heart disease are out-dated and inaccurate. Calcification in the breast arteries that can be diagnosed on screening mammograms has been associated with future heart disease. This may represent a unique way to screen and treat patients for heart disease without the need for additional testing and our research program aims to investigate this.
Improved And Automated Measures Of Breast Cancer Risk Based On Digital Mammography And Family History Data Collected By BreastScreen That Will Enable Tailored Screening For Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$741,180.00
Summary
We will use mammograms and family history information collected by BreastScreen to update and improve our automated measures of mammographic density for the new era of digital mammograms. We will then develop a new risk prediction tool by combining the measure of mammographic density for digital mammograms with other risk factors so that information on risk can be given to women at the time of their scans. The results of this project will enable Australian women to receive tailored screening.
We will conduct a study of more than 500 Australian female twin pairs in which one or both have had breast cancer. We will also study measured and unmeasured genetic and environmental causes of risk factors.
Quantifying Breast Cancer Over-diagnosis In An Organized Mammography Screening Program
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,314.00
Summary
While breast screening reduces breast cancer deaths by finding cancers earlier, it may also find cancers that would never have required treatment. Currently there is no clear consensus about the level over-diagnosis. This study will examine the extent of over-diagnosis by comparing the breast screening histories of women diagnosed with breast cancer and women who have not had breast cancer. Findings will inform policy on breast screening in Australia.
Automated Mammographic Measures That Predict Breast Cancer Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,260.00
Summary
Mammographic density (MD) is one of the strongest predictors of breast cancer risk but its impractical measurement prevents its use in a clinical setting. An automated measure of MD would allow screening programs to identify and target women at higher risk of breast cancer which could lead to earlier diagnoses and better breast cancer outcomes. We aim to develop an automated measurement, maximized by its ability to predict breast cancer risk, and applicable to both film and digital mammograms.
Exposure To High Dose Estrogens In Adolescence: Long Term Effects On Mammographic Breast Density
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$89,050.00
Summary
Breast density is a well established risk factor for breast cancer, and has been shown to be reversibly influenced by hormone exposures in adult life. As one of the important roles of sex hormones during puberty is mammary cell proliferation, it is plausible that exposures at this earlier life stage might have a sustained influence on breast tissue composition and density, and subsequent breast cancer risk. This project aims to increase our understanding of the influence of sex hormones in adole ....Breast density is a well established risk factor for breast cancer, and has been shown to be reversibly influenced by hormone exposures in adult life. As one of the important roles of sex hormones during puberty is mammary cell proliferation, it is plausible that exposures at this earlier life stage might have a sustained influence on breast tissue composition and density, and subsequent breast cancer risk. This project aims to increase our understanding of the influence of sex hormones in adolescence on breast cancer risk by testing the hypothesis that exposure to large doses of sex hormones during adolescence has long-term effects on mammographic density. This will be done by comparing the mammographic densities of women who were treated with high doses of estrogen for tall stature during adolescence with women who were similarly assessed for tall stature but not treated. No previous study in humans has examined the long-term effects on breast tissue of high dose estrogen exposure at this early life stage. This is not surprising, given the difficulty in finding a suitable exposed population. This cohort of women, assessed or treated for tall stature, provides us with a unique opportunity to examine these influences. This research will add to our understanding of the influence of sex hormones in adolescence on mammographic density and breast cancer risk. If hormonal factors in adolescence are shown to influence mammographic density, this may lead to new avenues for breast cancer prevention efforts that are targeted much earlier in life. This information may lead to new research directions examining adolescent hormonal exposures (both endogenous and exogenous) and their influence on breast tissue.Read moreRead less
Informing Women About Over-diagnosis In Mammography Screening: A Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$441,666.00
Summary
Overdiagnosis (detection of inconsequential disease) is a serious and important harm of breast cancer screening. Women have little or no knowledge of it and there is no evidence about how information on overdiagnosis affects women’s views about breast cancer and screening. This study will examine how women respond to evidence-based information about overdiagnosis in breast screening, in terms of their screening decisions, attitudes and understanding, and other relevant aspects of their experienc ....Overdiagnosis (detection of inconsequential disease) is a serious and important harm of breast cancer screening. Women have little or no knowledge of it and there is no evidence about how information on overdiagnosis affects women’s views about breast cancer and screening. This study will examine how women respond to evidence-based information about overdiagnosis in breast screening, in terms of their screening decisions, attitudes and understanding, and other relevant aspects of their experience.Read moreRead less