Breast cancer survival linked to inflammation

[Forkboy]

CHICAGO - Testing for signs of inflammation in the blood might help doctors better predict which women are at greatest risk of dying from breast cancer, US researchers said yesterday.

They said women with high levels of two markers of inflammation - C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A - were two to three times more likely to die early or have their cancer return than women with lower levels.

The study confirms a link between chronic inflammation and breast cancer recurrence and suggests new approaches for helping women improve their odds of survival.

"Inflammation has been associated with several modifiable risk factors, such as obesity, low physical activity, and cardiovascular disease, all of which can affect a cancer survivor's prognosis," Robert Croyle of the National Cancer Institute, whose study appears in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, said in a statement.

He said looking for ways to reduce inflammation - through drugs or lifestyle changes - could help improve survival.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/05/27/breast_cancer_survival_linked_to_inflammation/