Breast cancer: major risk factors and recent developments in treatment

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15(8):3353-8. doi: 10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.8.3353.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common in women worldwide, with some 5-10% of all cases due to inherited mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Obesity, hormone therapy and use of alcohol are possible causes and over-expression of leptin in adipose tissue may also play a role. Normally surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy allow a good prognosis where screening measures are in place. New hope in treatment measures include adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant therapy, and introduction of mono-clonal antibodies and enzyme inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / epidemiology*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / therapy
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / epidemiology*
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / therapy
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Estrogen Replacement Therapy / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Genes, BRCA1
  • Genes, BRCA2
  • Humans
  • Leptin / metabolism
  • Mastectomy
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Risk Factors
  • Sedentary Behavior
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Leptin
  • Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators