In the past several years, there have been major advances in breast cancer research. The advances include understanding key information into the causes of breast cancer, as well as advancing current therapies to offer less invasive and, at times, less aggressive treatments without sacrificing survival rates. Currently there are many studies under way in nearly every aspect of breast cancer research, including ways to prevent, detect, diagnose and treat breast cancer, as well as tackling the psychological effects of the disease.

Some of the main areas of research on possible causes and risks of breast cancer include:

• Diet
• Hormonal factors
• Genetic predisposition
• Environmental factors
• Sedentary lifestyle

Other research being conducted focuses on detection and diagnosis, including:

• Standard mammography vs. digital mammography
• The use of MRIs and PET scans
• Tumor markers to detect recurrences

Some of the major areas of research in cancer prevention and treatment include:

• Hormone therapy drugs. The estrogen blocker tamoxifen has been used to treat breast cancer and to prevent new disease in high risk women and recurrence. A recently concluded study, the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR), investigated the use of tamoxifen or raloxifene (an osteoporosis drug) for breast cancer prevention in high risk menopausal women. Both drugs reduced the rate of invasive breast cancer by about 50 percent. Other studies continue to investigate hormone therapy drugs for breast cancer treatment.
  
  
• Biological therapy drugs. New studies in the use of the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab have shown improvement both in early stage breast cancer and for patients with advanced disease. Trastuzumab has also been used as targeted therapy with chemotherapy drugs.
  
  
• Antiangiogenesis drugs that block the growth of blood vessels feeding tumors.
  
  
• Other targeted therapies. Recent research on the drug lapatinib, which inhibits certain enzymes, has shown progress in cases of inflammatory breast cancer and some HER2-positive cancers that no longer respond to trastuzumab.
  
  
• Identification of other genes and proteins that affect tumor growth.
  
  
• Over the counter drugs (e.g., aspirin) for risk reduction.
  
  
• Tumor cell analysis and molecular genetics.
  
  
• Targeted therapies for delivering chemotherapy drugs.
  
  
• Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI).
  

There are many clinical trials being conducted in the area of breast cancer. Patients should discuss their participation in appropriate clinical trials with their cancer care team.

Research also continues into the genetic mutations associated with breast cancer. Some studies have identified nearly 200 gene mutations in breast cancer. Another study produced a genetic combination, or “signature” of tumors that may be useful to predict the course of the disease or potential response to treatment. Further genetic research may indicate more patterns in the gene expressions seen in breast cancer and help adapt classifications of tumors to improve treatment.