Roswell Park Receives Grant To Study Link Between Breast Cancer And Low Vitamin D Levels

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 11 Dec 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Roswell Park Cancer Institute is the recipient of a $199,998 award from The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to study the link between vitamin D and the occurrence of breast cancer in white and African-American women.

The study, led by Christine Ambrosone, PhD, Chair, Cancer Prevention and Control, and entitled "Basal-like breast cancers in black and white women: role for Vitamin D?" is seeking to better understand the link between vitamin D levels in women and rates and severity of cancer diagnoses. Compared to white women, black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier age (before age 40) and to have more aggressive breast cancers that are harder to treat successfully. Black women also generally suffer from a vitamin D deficiency-likely due to higher skin melanin concentration which blocks absorption from sun exposure-and perhaps from lower intake of sources of vitamin D, such as fortified milk.

The investigation will build upon growing evidence of vitamin D's anticancer potential, and will examine relationships between basal-like breast cancers (aggressive breast cancers associated with a poor prognosis) and vitamin D levels, as well as variants in the vitamin D receptor, in the context of an ongoing multi-center case-control study entitled the Women's Circle of Health Study (WCHS). Equal numbers of black and white women with breast cancer and matched controls will be enrolled (3200 women in all). The results of the study may present an easily-implemented method of reducing the risk of breast cancer by increasing vitamin D intake through supplements and increased sun exposure.

"Thanks to generous support from The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the findings from this study could have a significant impact on reducing the risk of aggressive breast cancers among both black and white women," said Dr. Ambrosone. "Roswell Park is proud of its national leadership in studying the potential role of vitamin D in preventing or suppressing many cancers, and our research among breast cancer patients will allow us to take these findings to the next level."

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organization whose mission is to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime by providing critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research at leading medical centers worldwide, and increasing public awareness about good breast health.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center. The Institute was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit RPCI's website at http://www.roswellpark.org

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

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