Pathobiology of Mammographic Breast Density (MD)

VCCC Alliance Breast Cancer Grand Round with Professor Erik Thompson

What you will learn

Join the Translational Research Lead from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) who will explore innovative new therapies available to reduce breast cancer risk. These ground-breaking therapies may also assist in early detection, as well as better treatment for patients already diagnosed with breast cancer.

Mammographic Density (MD) is a dense tissue that can create an environment for cancers to grow and thrive. It is the white area on the mammogram that's usually associated with increased breast cancer risk and can impair mammographic screening by obscuring features revealing disease.

Researchers at QUT have created a comparison model of MD regions from mastectomy tissues. They used histology, molecular characterisation, 3D explant culture, imaging techniques, and in vivo bio chamber assays, to identify processes that may contribute to the pathobiology of MD, and regulation by reproductive hormones.

The team are hopeful that their work will also lead to improvements in predicting who may be at increased risk of getting breast cancer.

Aim: To explore innovative new therapies available to reduce breast cancer risk.

Learning Objective: To be aware of how these new therapies may assist in early detection, as well as better treatment for patients already diagnosed with breast cancer.

The VCCC Alliance Breast Cancer Grand Round is targeted at a clinical audience and features open discussion about real cases and patients. While these cases are de-identified, the imagery, content and discussion can be graphic. It is not appropriate for consumer participants.