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TEAS
Breast cancer disparities in South Carolina: early detection, special programs, and descriptive epidemiology.
Adams SA, Hebert JR, Bolick-Aldrich S, Daguise VG, Mosley CM, Modayil MV, Berger SH, Teas J, Mitas M, Cunningham JE, Steck SE, Burch J, Butler WM, Horner MJ, Brandt HM.
J S C Med Assoc. 2006 Aug;102(7):231-9. Review.
"A discrepancy exists between mortality and incidence rates between African-American and European-American women in South Carolina. The relationship between tumor grade and the estrogen/ progesterone receptor status is different in African-American and European-American women. African-American women with breast cancer should be encouraged to participate in clinical trials, with the goal of identifying biological factors that might facilitate the detection of tumors at an earlier stage and the development of more effective therapies. The most important of our goals is to design studies to reduce the incidence of the disease and interventions to improve survival and quality of life. The importance of participation in research cannot be overstated. Reproductive factors such as early pregnancy and multiple pregnancies are strongly related to breast cancer risk, however, promotion of these factors as a "prevention strategy," clearly does not lead to cogent, comprehensive public health messages. Data from ecological and migrant studies point clearly to other factors that may be important such as diet. Additional research around primary prevention strategies is needed. In addition, yearly mammograms (secondary prevention) are recommended for women over 50 years old or those with relatives who have developed breast cancer. The Best Chance Network, as a provider of screenings to low-income, uninsured women, has helped to narrow the racial gap in screening that otherwise might exist (see Figures 3 and 4) to a large extent. The determination for timing of surgery after diagnosis needs additional consideration. For example, factors such as effective screening in younger women, timing of screening and surgery in relationship to the ovulatory cycle, and season of screening and surgery may have a great impact on outcomes and may offer some insight into the process of carcinogenesis and therapeutic efficacy. Research into this area is so novel that the impact on possible ethnic disparities is completely unknown. The South Carolina Cancer Disparities Community Network (SCCDCN) has identified the following areas as potential research foci: Identification of small media interventions as an effective strategy to motivate targeted populations, especially those least likely to seek screening for breast cancer and those least likely to participate in research programs (African-Americans). Utilization of breast cancer survivors, self-identified as community natural helpers, can share their experiences with their church congregation. A replication of such a program in South Carolina has great potential because of the strong presence of the church, especially in rural parts of the state. Programs that closely integrate religion with screening women for breast cancer are promising in this state. Development of a mammography registry whereby information on all mammography procedures would be collected within a single database system (much like a central cancer registry). This would aid in identifying population groups that could be targeted for special programs and in the examination and exploration of the most appropriate modalities of detection. Such a resource could also be a useful tool to encourage screening. Thus, this focus area has the potential to benefit epidemiologic and health promotion research on many different levels. Additional breast cancer screening methods should not be overlooked as a potential research focus. Mammography is not the only valid screening method for breast cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging has shown some promise for screening among women with a genetic predisposition for cancer. Another promising avenue is thermography. Because detection rates may depend on age, ethnicity, and breast mammographic characteristics, women for whom regular screening methods do not detect their cancers (e.g. older age, African-American ethnicity, dense breasts) must be identified and other screening methods promoted within these populations. The above-mentioned mammography registry would support this type of research."
The macrobiotic diet in cancer.
Kushi LH, Cunningham JE, Hebert JR, Lerman RH, Bandera EV, Teas J.
J Nutr. 2001 Nov;131(11 Suppl):3056S-64S. Review.
"Macrobiotics is one of the most popular alternative or complementary comprehensive lifestyle approaches to cancer. The centerpiece of macrobiotics is a predominantly vegetarian, whole-foods diet that has gained popularity because of remarkable case reports of individuals who attributed recoveries from cancers with poor prognoses to macrobiotics and the substantial evidence that the many dietary factors recommended by macrobiotics are associated with decreased cancer risk. Women consuming macrobiotic diets have modestly lower circulating estrogen levels, suggesting a lower risk of breast cancer. This may be due in part to the high phytoestrogen content of the macrobiotic diet. As with most aspects of diet in cancer therapy, there has been limited research evaluating the effectiveness of the macrobiotic diet in alleviating suffering or prolonging survival of cancer patients. The few studies have compared the experience of cancer patients who tried macrobiotics with expected survival rates or assembled series of cases that may justify more rigorous research. On the basis of available evidence and its similarity to dietary recommendations for chronic disease prevention, the macrobiotic diet probably carries a reduced cancer risk. However, at present, the empirical scientific basis for or against recommendations for use of macrobiotics for cancer therapy is limited. Any such recommendations are likely to reflect biases of the recommender. Because of its popularity and the compelling evidence that dietary factors are important in cancer etiology and survival, further research to clarify whether the macrobiotic diet or similar dietary patterns are effective in cancer prevention and treatment is warranted."
Dietary seaweed (Laminaria) and mammary carcinogenesis in rats.
Teas J, Harbison ML, Gelman RS.
Cancer Res. 1984 Jul;44(7):2758-61.
[abstract only]
"To test the potential in vivo antitumor effect of dietary seaweed, we induced mammary tumors in female Sprague-Dawley rats with the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. Twenty-one-day-old rats (n = 108) were divided into two groups. Controls were fed a standard semipurified diet, and experimental rats received the control diet with 5% Laminaria, a brown seaweed, replacing 5% alphacel . At 55 days of age, each rat received 5 mg 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene intragastrically. Rats were palpated for mammary tumors and weighed weekly for 26 weeks. Complete autopsies were then done on all rats. The seaweed diet did not alter weight gain or weights of body organs at autopsy. Experimental rats had a significant delay in the time to tumor (p = 0.007); median time until tumor was 19 weeks in experimental rats and 11 weeks in control animals. Among mammary adenocarcinoma tumor-bearing animals, experimental rats had fewer adenocarcinomas/individual (p less than 0.05). There was also an overall 13% reduction in the number of experimental rats with histologically confirmed adenocarcinomas (76% among the control rats compared to 63% among the experimental rats). Components of Laminaria which might account for the observed difference in mammary tumor growth are varied and include the sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan . Rats in the top row of cages had a significant (p = 0.01) delay in time to tumor compared to rats in the lower four rows. In each row, the seaweed-fed rats had a longer time to tumor than did the control rats."
The dietary intake of Laminaria, a brown seaweed, and breast cancer prevention.
Teas J
Nutr Cancer. 1983;4(3):217-22. Review.
[abstract only]
"Based on epidemiological and biological data, Laminaria, a brown kelp seaweed, is proposed as an important factor contributing to the relatively low breast cancer rates reported in Japan. Several possible mechanisms for the influence of Laminaria on breast cancer are proposed: Laminaria is a source of nondigestible fiber, thereby increasing fecal bulk and decreasing bowel transit time; it changes the posthepatic metabolism of sterols; it contains an antibiotic substance that may influence fecal ecology; it contains 1-3 beta glucan, which alters enzymatic activity of fecal flora; and it stimulates the host-mediated immune response. It is suggested that Laminaria may play a role in preventing either the initiation of breast cancer or its promotion by endogenous physiological factors."
The consumption of seaweed as a protective factor in the etiology of breast cancer.
Teas, J
Med Hypotheses. 1981 May;7(5):601-13.
"A review of the biological properties of seaweed is presented and the role of seaweed as a breast cancer anticarcinogen is suggested. Proposed mechanisms of action are: reduction of plasma cholesterol, binding of biliary steroids, inhibition of carcinogenic fecal flora, binding of pollutants, stimulation of the immune system, and the protective effects of beta-sitosterols. In an experiment using sarcoma-180 in mice, seaweed extract appeared to have an antitumor effect. Thus it is suggested that breast cancer may be prevented and that this dietary habit among the Japanese could be an important factor in understanding the lower breast cancer rates reported in Japan."
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