The Avon Products Foundation research grant supports a number of initiatives within the Cancer Center, all focused on furthering research and patient services in the area of breast cancer. A major aspect of this program is the provision of up to $50,000 in pilot funds for research projects, particularly directed towards young investigators. 
We would like to pay special tribute to more of these investigators whose research has focused in the area of cancer prevention and public health as it relates to breast cancer. (See Issue 4 ) 
 

Regina M. Santella, PhD, conducted a study entitled, “Relationship Between Polymorphisms and Carcinogen Metabolism in DNA Damage Levels in Breast Tissue.” A few studies have shown a slight increased risk of breast cancer in cigarette smokers. This may be caused by variances in metabolizing enzymes that are necessary for the risk to be expressed. To evaluate smoking exposure, Dr. Santella and her colleagues studied 4-aminobiphenyl (4ABP)-DNA adduct levels in breast tissue in a population-based study of 150 cases of breast cancer from New Jersey. All of these cases were under the age of 45 years with either in situ or invasive breast cancer. The adduct levels were measured by using an immunohistochemical assay. A variety of enzymes were explored, including NAT1, NAT2, and GST. In this study, the investigators did not find any association between these genes and the adduct levels. 

Mary Beth Terry, PhD, received funding for a project entitled “A Pilot Project to Study Alcohol Intake as Modified by Alcohol Dehydrogenase-3 Genotype Among Women With a Family History of Breast Cancer.” Evidence is accumulating that moderate alcohol use is related to breast cancer. One mechanism may be that the main type of alcohol (ethanol) is metabolized into acetaldehyde, a chemical that can damage DNA, by the enzyme alcohol dehyrogenase-3 (ADH-3). Dr. Terry and her colleagues hypothesized that among women with a family history of breast cancer, women with the ADH-3 genotype, will have an increased risk of breast cancer from alcohol intake, relative to women without this genotype who consume similar amounts of alcohol. This is the first study to examine this issue specifically among high-risk women who may face a higher risk in general from alcohol intake, according to a number of epidemiologic studies. The investigation utilizes questionnaire data and gene analyses from women participating in the Metropolitan New York Registry of Breast Cancer Families; the data analyses are currently underway. 

Sherri Sheinfeld Gorin, PhD, was awarded a pilot grant for “Effects of Individualized Breast Cancer Risk Counseling for African American Women With a Family History.” The aim of this study is to facilitate the participation of African-American first-degree relatives of women with breast cancer in a risk-assessment program and to improve adherence to screening recommendations. A variety of approaches were utilized for this purpose. Dr Gorin’s study is currently underway.