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Breast Cancer... Breast Cancer... Breast Cancer... Breast Cancer...

Sylvester Comprehensive West Boca Medical Center

Cancer Center Finding New Ways Offers New 3D Mammography to

to Treat Breast Cancer Better Diagnose Breast Cancer

Despite advances in early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, it remains a
leading cause of cancer death in women. Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive
Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine are making West Boca Medical Center is now offering 3D mammography (breast
important progress identifying pathways that help determine the severity of a tomosynthesis) for breast cancer screening. Breast tomosynthesis produces
patient’s breast cancer, new ways it can be controlled, and whether it recurs or a three-dimensional view of the breast tissue that helps radiologists identify
spreads to other organs. These discoveries are critical because they will identify tar- and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of
gets for breast cancer treatment and lead to the design of ever more effective thera- overlapping tissue.
pies. These adjuvant treatments, added on to traditional surgery and radiation, sig- The center’s Selenia® Dimensions® breast tomosynthesis system is
nificantly decrease the risk of the cancer recurring and so improve patients’ survival. made by Hologic, a world leader in digital mammography. The Selenia
Dr. Joyce M. Slingerland, director of the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Dimensions system offers exceptionally sharp breast images, an advanced
Sylvester, is leading a major study looking at the increased risk of developing breast ergonomic design providing more patient comfort, and a tomosynthesis
cancer and the greater likelihood of metastasis (or more aggressive behavior of the platform designed to deliver superior screening and diagnostic perform-
disease) in obese patients. Dr. Slingerland’s team has found that as breast cancers ance for all breast types.
invade breast fat, their contact with fat cells increases production of proteins that “We believe breast tomosynthesis will benefit all screening and diagnos-
drive inflammation, and stimulate growth of very aggressive cancer cells, called tic mammography patients, and is especially valuable for women receiving
stem cells, which resist treatment and can initiate the cancer’s spread to other a baseline screening, those who have dense breast tissue and/or women
organs. The team is discovering pathways that might be effective targets for treat- with a personal history of breast cancer,” says Mitch Feldman, chief exec-
ment to reduce obesity-related inflammation, and they are launching new research utive officer at West Boca Medical Center.
to find out if diet and exercise programs during or after adjuvant therapy can help Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis when combined with a con-
reduce the probability of metastasis and improve survival. ventional 2D mammography has a 41% higher invasive cancer detection
In another groundbreaking trial that is blocking metastasis in models of human rate than conventional 2D mammography alone. Tomosynthesis technolo-
cancer, Drs. Marc Lippman and Barry Hudson of Sylvester have identified a pathway gy gives radiologists increased confidence with up to a 40% t reduction in
which when activated causes inflammation and makes breast cancer much worse. recall rates.
The pathway is called RAGE, which stands for receptor for advanced glycation end- The tomosynthesis screening experience is similar to a traditional mam-
products. When certain proteins bind to RAGE, they cause inflammation that sup- mogram. During a tomosynthesis exam, multiple, low-dose images of the
ports metastatic breast cancer. Drugs are working against this target in early inves- breast are acquired at different angles. These images are then used to pro-
tigations, and the next step will be clinical trials to show that they work against duce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a 3D
breast cancer in humans. reconstruction of the breast.
Hundreds of investigators at centers around the world are working together to
maximize the effectiveness of treatments for all breast cancer patients. The future
promises exciting advancements in overcoming this often-aggressive disease.

The New Reality of Healthcare

October 12-13, 2017

Hilton Palm Beach Airport - West Palm Beach

For registration visit www.pbcms.org/events

CME/CEU’s Jointly provided by
West Palm Beach VA Medical Center and Alzheimer’s Community Care

Making a Difference in Healthcare.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com October 2017 21