Latest news with #metastasis
Medscape
4 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
49-Year-Old Patient's Pleomorphic Breast Relapse in Weeks
A 49-year-old woman with a history of bilateral breast cancer (right breast, cT2cN0M0, clinical stage IIA; left breast, cT2cN1M0, clinical stage IIB) presented with local recurrence in the right breast. Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the patient achieved a partial pathologic response and underwent breast-conserving surgery with axillary lymph node dissection and radiotherapy. After 6 years and 7 months, local recurrence in the right breast was identified, and the patient subsequently underwent mastectomy. However, 4 weeks later, metastasis to the contralateral breast was detected. An additional 13 weeks later, metastatic pleural tumours occupied approximately 70% of the thoracic cavity. Only detailed pathologic analysis revealed the underlying diagnosis of pleomorphic breast carcinoma. Nobuyuki Takemoto, MD, from the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery at Japan Medical Alliance East Saitama General Hospital in Satte, Japan, and colleagues documented the extremely rare case. The Patient and Her History The patient visited the hospital complaining of swelling and erosion of the right nipple. Her medical history included bilateral breast cancer diagnosed more than 6 years earlier. The right-sided tumour was the nonluminal type (oestrogen and progesterone receptor positive; HER2 3+; Ki-67, 31%), and the left-sided tumour was luminal A-like (oestrogen and progesterone receptor positive; HER2-; Ki-67, < 5%). As neoadjuvant chemotherapy, four cycles of adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (60/600 mg/m²) every 3 weeks, followed by paclitaxel (80 mg/m²) and trastuzumab (loading dose 4 mg/kg, maintenance 2 mg/kg) weekly for 12 weeks, were administered. The patient achieved a clinical partial response on imaging. Bilateral breast-conserving surgery and axillary lymph node dissection were performed. The pathologic evaluation of the therapeutic effect was grade 1 (right: ypT1bypN0M0, ypstageI; left: ypT1cypN0[i+]M0, ypstageI). After radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions) of the residual mammary gland, trastuzumab (6 mg/kg) was administered. However, the patient requested to discontinue treatment after two courses. She was subsequently followed with endocrine therapy (tamoxifen). Six years and 7 months after the initial operation, local recurrence occurred. Findings and Diagnosis On admission, all vital signs were within normal limits. Physical examination, including inspection, auscultation, palpation, and percussion, showed no abnormalities. Routine laboratory test results were unremarkable. A CT revealed a swollen right nipple. and three stump cytology tests for erosion were negative, but the nipple itself showed a tendency to grow, so a core needle biopsy (CNB) was performed. Pathologic findings showed invasive carcinoma and suggested metaplastic carcinoma. As no metastases to other organs were found, a right mastectomy was performed. After chemotherapy with carboplatin, radiation therapy to the supraclavicular fossa was planned; however, 4 weeks after the operation, a round mass of approximately 1 cm was found in the left breast. CNB revealed a suspicious malignant metaplastic carcinoma. It was determined that there was a high possibility of metastasis to the contralateral side, and a left mastectomy was performed. However, 12 weeks later, a left pleural tumour and a right chest wall mass appeared. After another 13 weeks, the left thoracic cavity was occupied by almost 70% of the pleural mass, and the right chest wall mass grew to 10 cm in size. Furthermore, the white blood cell count rose rapidly to 98.8 × 103/µL, with 94.8% neutrophils, 2.5% lymphocytes, and 1.8% monocytes. Bone marrow metastasis was suspected, but bone marrow aspiration could not be performed due to the patient's poor general condition. The patient died 25 weeks after the diagnosis of local recurrence. Pathologic examination revealed a pleomorphic carcinoma (PC) transitioning from ductal carcinoma, with a subtype of triple-negative breast cancer. Immunohistochemical staining showed positive expression of AE1/3 (anti-pan cytokeratin), beta-catenin, E-cadherin, and vimentin. Staining was negative for CAM5.2 (cytokeratin), HMB45 (human melanoma black 45), and LCA (leukocyte common antigen). Discussion 'When a rapidly growing breast mass is encountered, it is necessary to consider PC as one of diagnostic candidate. Little research has been done on PC, particularly on diagnosis and therapy. Thus, further case accumulation and analyses are awaited to gain more insight on the characteristics of PC,' the authors wrote.
The Independent
01-08-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Link between flu and Covid-19 with cancer revealed
New research suggests that respiratory viruses, including Covid-19 and influenza, can awaken dormant cancer cells and cause them to multiply and spread. Experiments on mice demonstrated that infection with these viruses led to a rapid expansion of metastatic cells in the lungs, with the inflammatory protein interleukin-6 (IL-6) identified as a key factor. Two human population studies, utilising data from the UK Biobank and the US Flatiron Health database, corroborated these findings. One study revealed that cancer patients who contracted Covid-19 faced an almost doubled risk of cancer-related mortality compared to those who did not. The research indicates that cancer survivors may be at an increased risk of metastatic relapse after common respiratory viral infections, underscoring the importance of precautions such as vaccination.
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Huge breast cancer breakthrough as scientists discover key way to prevent deadly disease
Scientists have discovered how breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body—and it could revolutionise how the disease is treated in its earlier stages. Scottish researchers discovered that cancer changes the metabolism—the way cells make and use energy—of specific immune cells. They found that they release a certain sort of protein, called uracil, which can be used as a 'scaffold' by cancerous cells, allowing them to grow on other organs. Scientists were able to block the uracil-powered scaffold from forming in mice. This restored the ability of the creatures' immune systems to kill secondary cancer cells, and stop the cancer from spreading. The scientists achieved this by blocking an enzyme called uridine phosphorylase-1 (UPP1), which produces uracil. They hope that detecting uracil in the blood may help spot early signs the cancer spreading—and blocking UPP1 with drugs could stop the spread before it even starts. The findings of the study, which was carried out in the labs of Professor Jim Norman and Professor Karen Blyth, were published in the Embo Reports journal. Lead author of the study, Dr Cassie Clarke, said: 'This study represents a major shift in how we think about preventing the spread of cancer. 'By targeting these metabolic changes as early as possible we could stop the cancer progressing and save lives.' Meanwhile, Dr Catherine Elliot, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: 'Metastasis—when cancer spreads—is a major factor in breast cancer becoming harder to treat, especially if the cancer returns months or even many years later. 'This discovery gives us new hope for detecting and stopping metastasis early and ensuring people have many more years with their families and loved ones.' The research may also help stop the spread of other cancers to other parts of the body, too added Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now. 'Now we need more research to see if this new insight can be turned into new drugs that stop secondary breast cancer, and potentially other secondary cancers,' he said. The team of researchers at from the Cancer Research UK Institute and University of Glasgow are now testing the ability of drugs to prevent cancer occurring. It comes amid an alarming prediction earlier this year that breast cancer deaths in the UK will soar by more than 40 per cent by 2050. By the same year, globally, another study estimated there will be 3.2million new cases and 1.1million breast-related deaths per year if current trends continue. The disease is far more prevalent in those over 50, which is the age women typically experience the menopause. It is the most common type of cancer in the UK, taking the lives of around 11,500 Britons and 42,000 Americans each year. Early signs of the disease are a lump in the breast, swelling or lump in the armpit, change in size or shape of breasts, discharge of fluid from the nipple. Others include dimpling, a rash or redness on skin, as well as crusting, scaly or itchy skin on the nipple. Despite years of pleas from cancer charities, more than a third of women in the UK still do not regularly assess their breasts. However, it should be part of your monthly routine, so you can notice any unusual changes, charity CoppaFeel previously said. You can check in the shower, when you are lying down in bed or in the mirror before you get dressed. Because breast tissue isn't just found in your boobs, it's also important that men and women check the tissue all the way to their collarbone and underneath their armpit. There is no right or wrong way to check your breasts, as long as you know how your breasts usually look and feel, says the NHS. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called 'invasive'. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule. Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare. Staging indicates how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit. How is breast cancer diagnosed? Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours. Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer. If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray. How is breast cancer treated? Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used. Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour. Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery. Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying. Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the 'female' hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer. How successful is treatment? The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure. The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 71 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage. For more information visit or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000 But one of the most popular methods online involves using the pads of your fingers. Examining your entire breast and armpit area, simply, rub and feel from top to bottom of the breast. You should also feel in semi-circles and in a circular motion around your breast tissue to feel for any abnormalities, according to a guide shared in a blog post by the University of Nottingham. Then look in the mirror for any visual lumps, skin texture and changes and changes in nipple shape or abnormal discharge. If you spot any changes, you should get it checked out by your GP. Women aged between 50 and 70 should also be attending routine breast cancer screenings.
Times
27-07-2025
- Health
- Times
Scientists' discovery could stop breast cancer spreading
Scottish scientists have made a discovery that could help stop breast cancer spreading to other parts of the body. Experts at Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and the University of Glasgow have found there are key metabolic changes that take place before tumours grow elsewhere. Their work is being hailed as a significant breakthrough because it is often cancer moving from the breast that kills patients. • How I told my sons that I had a rare form of breast cancer Researchers writing in the journal EMBO Reports said identifying the metabolic changes offered a vital window to intervene. Detecting these changes early could allow therapies to stop cancer cells moving around the body and forming tumours elsewhere. Dr Cassie Clarke, lead researcher, said: 'This study represents a major shift in how we think about preventing the spread of breast cancer. By targeting these metabolic changes as early as possible we could stop the cancer progressing and save lives.' About 56,800 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United Kingdom each year and 11,300 people lose their lives to the disease. Dr Catherine Elliott, Cancer Research UK's director of research, said: 'Discoveries in cancer research have made huge strides in making breast cancer a far more treatable disease than ever before. • Why the way we diagnose, label and treat cancer is changing 'However, metastasis — when cancer spreads — is a major factor in breast cancer becoming harder to treat, especially if the cancer returns months or even many years later. 'This discovery gives us new hope for detecting and stopping metastasis early and ensuring people have many more years with their families and loved ones.' The study focused on how breast cancer changes the immune system so it cannot tackle cancer cells as they begin their spread. The researchers found that cancer changes the metabolism — the way cells make and use energy — of specific immune cells, resulting in them releasing a prominent metabolite called uracil. Uracil is a molecule key to essential processes in the body which was found to help distant organs build a 'scaffold' to grow secondary tumours elsewhere in the body. By blocking an enzyme called uridine phosphorylase-1 (UPP1), which produces uracil, the scientists were able to stop this scaffold forming in mice and restore the ability of the immune system to kill secondary cancer cells to prevent metastasis. This opens the door to potentially powerful new tools to tackle cancer. Detecting uracil in the blood could help spot early signs of cancer spread, while blocking UPP1 with drugs could stop the spread before it starts. • The Times View: It is time to be optimistic about cancer The research was funded by Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council, Breast Cancer Now and Pancreatic Cancer UK. Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now, said: 'The researchers discovered that high levels of a protein called UPP1 may make some cancers, including breast cancer, more likely to spread to other parts of the body, where the disease becomes incurable. 'In mice, targeting the UPP1 protein before secondary breast cancer developed led to fewer secondary breast tumours and a boosted immune response in the lungs. 'Now we need more research to see if this new insight can be turned into new drugs that stop secondary breast cancer, and potentially other secondary cancers, in their tracks. With around 61,000 people living with secondary breast cancer in the UK, research like this is vital.' The team are further investigating exactly how UPP1 changes the behaviour of immune cells, exploring the role of immune cell metabolism in early breast cancer initiation, and testing the ability of drugs that block immune cell metabolism to prevent cancer occurring.
South China Morning Post
19-07-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Chemotherapy can speed up cancer spread, Chinese study finds
A team of Chinese scientists has found that the spread of cancer from original tumour sites to distant organs can be caused by chemotherapy triggering the awakening of dormant cancer cells Advertisement Their findings shed light on why breast cancer patients can experience cancer metastasis in organs like the lungs despite successful treatment of their primary tumours. The team also found that the use of specific drugs in combination with chemotherapy could be used to inhibit this process in mice, and a clinical trial is already under way in breast cancer patients. 'We demonstrate that chemotherapeutic drugs, including doxorubicin and cisplatin, enhance proliferation and lung metastasis of dormant breast cancer cells ,' the team wrote in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Cancer Cell on July 3. 'This study provides direct evidence of dormancy awakening and reveals a mechanism underlying [the] detrimental effect of chemotherapy on metastasis, highlighting potential strategies to improve cancer treatment.' Advertisement
