For Immediate Release
June 8, 2005

Christine Ambrosone to Address the 2005 Era of Hope Meeting

BUFFALO, NY - Christine Ambrosone, PhD, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Science, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, (RPCI) will address the Plenary Session “Understanding Risk as a Basis for Preventing Breast Cancer” at the Fourth Annual Era of Hope meeting for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Ambrosone will speak on “The Interaction of Genes and External Environmental Exposures in the Development of Breast Cancer,” Thursday, June 9 at 8:10 am.

 The Era of Hope meeting provides a forum for scientists, physicians, breast cancer survivors and advocates, policymakers, and the general public to learn about the advances against breast cancer.

Dr. Ambrosone will present data to illustrate how consideration of genetic susceptibility factors, such as those involved in metabolism of carcinogens, can clarify relationships between exposure to environmental contaminants and risk of breast cancer. Gene-environment interactions also will be considered in elucidating the role of a diet high in fruits and vegetables in reducing risk of breast cancer. 

In a separate presentation (June 10, 6:30 - 8:30 pm), Dr. Ambrosone will discuss findings from a study “Oxidative Stress, DNA Repair, and Acute Side Effects of Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients,” conducted in collaboration with colleagues at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, Germany (Co-PI, Jenny Chang-Claude, PhD) and several radiation units in Germany. This study sought to identify predictors of skin toxicities caused by radiation therapy in 479 women with breast cancer who were treated with lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy. 
The investigators found that women with a common gene variant that reduces activity of GSTP1, an enzyme that protects cells from the reactive oxidant species generated by radiation therapy, were more likely to have severe skin side effects from treatment. Variability the capability to repair DNA also was associated with toxicity, particularly in the genes XRCC1 and APE1. 

Dr. Ambrosone noted that “in addition to genetics, higher body mass index (weight/height) also was also associated with greater skin toxicity, and some genetic effects were observed only among heavier women.” The investigators are conducting follow-up to determine the role of these and other genes in long-term disease free survival among these women who received lumpectomy and radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York.  RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers.  For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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