Vol. 11 Issue 3, Summer 2006

BCERF Collaborates with the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo for its Spring 2006 Regional Cancer and Environment Forum
The Ribbon 

BCERF worked with faculty and staff at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) to bring its Regional Cancer and Environment Forum to the Buffalo area on June 2, 2006. We had complementary topic goals for this Forum: we wanted to bring information we had presented in the eastern part of the state in October 2005 to those in the western region and to integrate some of the current work of our colleagues doing breast cancer epidemiology at RPCI. We also wanted a panel of local researchers and activists that would reflect the scope of related scholarship and activism taking place in the region. Over 70 participants took part in the day.

Occupational cancers in women and mammary carcinogens

The morning's presentations were updated versions of the talks that Dr. Suzanne Snedeker of BCERF, and Nellie Brown, Director of Workplace Health and Safety Programs for the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor relations, delivered at the previous Forum, held in Albany last fall. Overviews of these presentations, "Women, the Workplace, and Cancer Risk," and "Mammary Carcinogens: Scenarios for Exposures" can be read in the Volume 10, Number 4 issue of The Ribbon, or at http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/Newsletter/minutes/Oct05.cfm

Genetic/environment interaction and breast cancer risk

Dr. Christine Ambrosone, of RPCI and the University at Buffalo, gave the afternoon's scientific presentation entitled, "The Study of Genetics to Clarify Relationships between Breast Cancer and the Environment." Dr. Ambrosone opened by providing an overview of known and suspected breast cancer risk factors, and the epidemiologic rationale behind inquiry into breast cancer and the environment. The theme of her talk was that in studying environmental risk factors for breast cancer, it is becoming increasingly clear that common genetic variants in the population may modify the effects of a given exposure on risk outcome. One example that Dr. Ambrosone provided was PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and breast cancer risk. She cited four studies indicating that the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer risk with a high PCB body burden and a particular genotype (CYP1A1) was significantly elevated. This genotype is carried by 10-15% of the Caucasian population. She also overviewed data on breast cancer risk and cigarette smoking, where there is some evidence the genotype NAT2 may increase susceptibility (studies have been inconsistent). In addition to introducing the group to these concepts of "biochemical individuality" in the population, and how that bears on breast cancer epidemiology, Dr. Ambrosone also touched on issues of life stage and breast cancer risk, including gene/environment interaction and puberty onset. She outlined the many exposures of interest, with regard to potential hormonally-active agents.

Emerging science on breast cancer and the environment: Where do we go from here?

At this Forum, we were fortunate to feature a diverse panel, with rich academic, activist and personal experiences to share with the group. Special thanks to Greg Beehler at RPCI for helping to organize the panel. Panel participants were:

• Dr. Kirsten Moysich, epidemiologist, of RPCI and the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo;
• Nellie Brown, Director of Workplace Health and Safety Programs for the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations, in Buffalo;
• Dr. Erin Robinson, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Canisius College in Buffalo;
• Joan Morrissey, Outreach Specialist for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers' Buffalo Districts' Special Projects Branch;
• Marcia Heaney, President of the Breast Cancer Network of Western New York;
• Marilyn Deans, President of the Sisters Network, Buffalo Chapter, an affiliate of Sisters Network, Inc., a national African-American breast cancer survivorship organization.

All panel participants introduced themselves and described to the group either their research or whom they represented, and their immediate comments on the day and its topics. A unique feature of this panel was that we had two risk communication practitioners, Dr. Robinson and Ms. Morrissey, both of whom have experience working with affected communities on critical environmental health topics, such as, in Dr. Robinson's case, Love Canal. We also had three panelists who themselves had experienced or were currently experiencing breast cancer, and who shared important information on how breast (and other) cancer organizations were maturing in western New York. All panelist enthusiastically shared ideas on how they would bring back information and new contacts from the day, and help push breast cancer and environment research and education forward.

Last Update 11.06.06

Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors
Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine
Vet Box 31, Ithaca, NY 14853-6401
Phone: 607.254.2893; Fax: 607.254.4730
Email: breastcancer@cornell.edu
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