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Important Issues // Breast Cancer

Spotlight on Alternatives

Three-Dimensional (3-D) in vitro Tissue-Culture Models of Breast Cancer
The field of breast cancer research is currently being revolutionized by a new type of in vitro technology—3-D tissue-culture modeling. Unlike traditional cell cultures that are grown on flat surfaces, 3-D cultures grow in the same geometrical forms and structures that real breast tumors do. Scientists can now experiment on exact models of breast tumors in well-defined, controlled environments. The development of 3-D in vitro modeling makes animal models increasingly archaic and obsolete.

In their seminal review of this emerging technology, Kim et al. write: “As well as increasing our understanding of homeostasis, cellular differentiation, and tissue organization, they provide a well defined environment for cancer research in contrast to the complex host environment of an in vivo model. With the recent availability of relevant stromal elements together with the vast array of extracellular matrix constituents available, in vivo-like microenvironments can be recreated. These tissue-like structures more realistically model the structural architecture and differentiated function of breast cancer than a cellular monolayer providing in vivo-like responses to therapeutic agents. Three dimensional in vitro models allow the study of cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, in addition to the influence of the microenvironment on cellular differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and gene expression.”32

Kim et al. highlight just how revolutionary this technology is. These 3-D cultures allow scientists to study cancer formation, growth, and suppression as they actually occur in the human body, but at the same time, the technology allows scientists unparalleled control over every facet of the experiment. Additionally, 3-D cultures can replace the main role traditionally played by animals—testing therapeutic agents on whole cancers. And 3-D cultures are far superior to animal models for testing therapeutic agents because “they provide a well defined environment for cancer research in contrast to the complex host environment of an in vivo model,” as Kim et al. observed. Overall, 3-D cultures have all the advantages associated with using animals but none of the drawbacks:

  • The use of 3-D cultures eliminates the uncontrollable variables that are associated with stress and fear in laboratory animals and the physiological differences that exist between individuals even within the same species.
  • Using 3-D cultures allows scientists to manipulate the environment around the tumor in ways that are impossible in live animals and thus allows for sophisticated tests on the interaction of cancer cells and the surrounding tissue.
  • The use of 3-D cultures allows scientists to more closely monitor the progression of a cancer and the effects of different experimental conditions and treatments because the tumor is not hidden in an animal’s flesh.
  • Perhaps most importantly, 3-D cultures use human cells to study human diseases. Kim et al. stress that “[c]ellular composition of the model affects the relevance greatly in that human cells and tissue vary greatly from animal tissues, as well as tumour cell behaviour widely varying between them.”33
In short, 3-D in vitro tissue-culture modeling is one of many non-animal technologies that prove animal models are outdated and show that they are only holding back breast cancer research.

Human Studies
Thanks to advances in epidemiology, we now know many of the risk factors that women can avoid to reduce their chances of contracting this disease. In fact, Italian scientists estimate that about one-third of breast cancer cases can be prevented simply by reducing alcohol intake, by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and by increasing physical activity. By making other lifestyle changes, such as going vegan and not smoking, you can cut your risk of developing breast cancer even more dramatically:

Eat Right
Studies have shown that women who consume meat and dairy products contract breast cancer at a rate that is five times higher than the rate at which vegan women contract the disease. Dr. Rowan Chlebowski of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute has conducted tests that show a 20 percent decrease in breast cancer recurrence among women who follow a low-fat diet after cancer treatment.34 If that isn’t enough to convince you to go vegan, consider the fact that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officially classifies grilled meat as a carcinogen.35

A review of 12 epidemiological studies published in the April 2005 issue of The International Journal of Cancer Prevention shows a 22 percent reduction in the risk of breast cancer among women who regularly eat soy. These results confirm the theory that the relatively large amount of soy in the typical Japanese diet contributes to the low incidence of breast cancer among Japanese women.36

Exercise
Women who exercise for at least one hour a day reduce their breast cancer risk by 18 percent, and those who work up a sweat for a mere 30 minutes each day can still cut that risk by 10 percent. Even walking counts—it provides the same benefits of more strenuous types of exercise. This good news about the link between exercise and the prevention of breast cancer was documented in the Nurses’ Health Study, which tracked the long-term health of more than 120,000 female nurses.37 A recent clinical study conducted by Dr. Anne McTiernan of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center confirms that exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer. The study, which was published in the journal Cancer Research, explains that fat cells are a main source of excess estrogen, which has been linked to cancer growth.38

Consider Taking Aspirin or Ibuprofen
Studies have linked nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, to dramatic reductions in breast cancer risk. An Ohio State University study of approximately 81,000 women found that women who regularly took aspirin had a more than 20 percent reduction in their risk of getting breast cancer and that women who regularly took ibuprofen had almost a 50 percent reduction.39 Additionally, a study published in the May 2004 Journal of the American Medical Association found that former cancer patients who took aspirin just once a week for six months or longer were 20 percent less likely to have a recurrence of the disease than women who didn’t take the weekly dose.40 These results are important because pharmaceutical companies and animal researchers see preventative breast cancer medications as a potential gold mine. They want to put every healthy woman on expensive and risky “designer drugs” for life. However, none of these designer drugs has proven to be as effective as taking aspirin or ibuprofen.

28. National Cancer Institute, “Abortion, Miscarriage, and Breast Cancer Risk, 23 Nov. 2005 <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/abortion-miscarriage>.
29. “DMPA and Breast Cancer: The Dog Has Had Its Day,” editorial, Lancet 338(8771) (1991): 856-7.
30. Steven Reinberg, “Stress May Raise Endometrial Cancer Risk: Animal Study Suggests That It Doubles Odds of Disease.” Women’s Health Issues. 13 Jul. 2004 <http://www.womenshealthissues.net/ms/news/520007/main.html>.
31. “Alcohol,” Harvard School of Public Health, 23 Nov. 2005 <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/alcohol.html>.
32. Kim et al., “Three-Dimensional.” 1.
33. Kim et al., “Three-Dimensional.” 8.
34. Gina Kolata and Lawrence K. Altman, “Study of Breast Cancer Patients Finds Benefit in Low-Fat Diets,” The New York Times 17 May 2005.
35. “List of Cancer-Causing Agents Grows,” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. 31 Jan. 2005, 23 Nov. 2005 <http://www.niehs.nih.gov/oc/news/canceragents.htm>.
36. “Steady Diet of Soy Cuts Breast Cancer Risk,” HealthDay News 27 Apr. 2005.
37. B. Rockhill et al., “A Prospective Study of Recreational Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Risk,” Archives of Internal Medicine 159(19) (1999): 2290-6.
38. Anne McTiernan et al., “Effect of Exercise on Serum Estrogens in Postmenopausal Women: A 12-Month Randomized Clinical Trial,” Cancer Research 64 (2004): 2923-8.
39. R.E. Harris et al., “Breast Cancer and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Prospective Results From the Women’s Health Initiative,” Cancer Research 63(18) (2003): 6096-101.
40. Mary Beth Terry et al., “Association of Frequency and Duration of Aspirin Use and Hormone Receptor Status With Breast Cancer Risk,” JAMA 291 (2004): 2433-40.