Experts Close In on Breast Cancer Vaccine

Link to childbearing hormones could be prevention key
By Jess Kilby,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 6, 2008 5:43 AM CDT
Experts Close In on Breast Cancer Vaccine
A leading cancer researcher says enough is now known about the causes of breast cancer to begin research into a possible vaccine.   (Shutterstock)

The prevention of breast cancer has been strongly linked to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding, prompting a top cancer expert to predict that a vaccine could mimic such safeguards, reports the Guardian. The researcher called for increased efforts to prevent breast cancer in addition to treating it, noting that the number of new diagnoses continues to climb even as death rates drop.

Statistics have shown that the more children a woman has and the more time she spends breastfeeding, the less likely she is to develop breast cancer. The hormone prolactin—which enables lactation—may be the key. Preventative research has already led to a vaccine for cervical cancer after it was discovered that most cases are caused by the human papilloma virus.
(More breast cancer stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X