Effective control of a complex disease such as breast cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach that bridges the gap between the """"""""why and what"""""""" of cancer causation and the """"""""how"""""""" to prevent cancer incidence morbidity and mortality. This Preventive Oncology Academic Award will provide the candidate the opportunity to strengthen her skills in clinical trial design and biostatistics, develop her knowledge in molecular biology, pharmacology and toxicology and give her the necessary research experience to successfully integrate a multidisciplinary approach into the design of effective chemoprevention strategies. The candidate will attend courses offered at Johns Hopkins as well as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) focusing on clinical trial design and the use of biomarkers in epidemiological and clinical research. She will participate in conferences, rounds and seminars both in the Department of Epidemiology and in the Oncology Center. She will also engage in a limited amount of teaching and clinical oncology work relevant to her cancer prevention activities. In keeping with the candidates goal to become proficient in the design, conduct and analysis of intervention trials two clinical studies are proposed to examine the efficacy of an aqueous extract of broccoli sprout or """"""""tea"""""""" (BST) as a chemopreventive agent for breast cancer. The first study evaluates the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic action of broccoli sprouts tea in 30 healthy women undergoing breast reduction surgery by conducting a two-week dose-finding clinical trial that measures both phase 2 inducer activity and isothiocyanate metabolites in mammary tissue. In the second study, a phase II randomized trial design will be used to test whether a 3 months intervention of BST modulates a panel of specific tissue biomarkers of breast cancer risk compared to placebo, in 126 women at increased risk for breast cancer. Together these planned developmental experiences along with the supportive environment and research infrastructure of Johns Hopkins and the mentorship of Dr Kathy Helzsouer and Dr Nancy Davidson will ensure Dr Visvanathan's successful transition into an independent cancer prevention and control investigator with expertise in chemoprevention trials.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Academic/Teacher Award (ATA) (K07)
Project #
1K07CA111948-01A1
Application #
6973270
Study Section
Subcommittee G - Education (NCI)
Program Officer
Gorelic, Lester S
Project Start
2005-09-30
Project End
2010-08-31
Budget Start
2005-09-30
Budget End
2006-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$140,130
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
McCarthy, Anne Marie; Menke, Andy; Visvanathan, Kala (2013) Association of bilateral oophorectomy and body fatness in a representative sample of US women. Gynecol Oncol 129:559-64
Nichols, Hazel B; Trentham-Dietz, Amy; Newcomb, Polly A et al. (2013) Pre-diagnosis oophorectomy, estrogen therapy and mortality in a cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 15:R99
Nichols, Hazel B; Trentham-Dietz, Amy; Newcomb, Polly A et al. (2012) Postoophorectomy estrogen use and breast cancer risk. Obstet Gynecol 120:27-36
Heaphy, Christopher M; Subhawong, Andrea Proctor; Gross, Amy L et al. (2011) Shorter telomeres in luminal B, HER-2 and triple-negative breast cancer subtypes. Mod Pathol 24:194-200
Schonfeld, Sara J; Pfeiffer, Ruth M; Lacey Jr, James V et al. (2011) Hormone-related risk factors and postmenopausal breast cancer among nulliparous versus parous women: An aggregated study. Am J Epidemiol 173:509-17
Nichols, Hazel B; Visvanathan, Kala; Newcomb, Polly A et al. (2011) Bilateral oophorectomy in relation to risk of postmenopausal breast cancer: confounding by nonmalignant indications for surgery? Am J Epidemiol 173:1111-20
Visvanathan, Kala; Vang, Russell; Shaw, Patricia et al. (2011) Diagnosis of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma based on morphologic and immunohistochemical features: a reproducibility study. Am J Surg Pathol 35:1766-75
Olivo-Marston, Susan; Graubard, Barry I; Visvanathan, Kala et al. (2010) Gender-specific differences in birthweight and the odds of puberty: NHANES III, 1988-94. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 24:222-31
McCarthy, Anne Marie; Dumanovsky, Tamara; Visvanathan, Kala et al. (2010) Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in mortality among women diagnosed with cervical cancer in New York City, 1995-2006. Cancer Causes Control 21:1645-55
Nassar, Hind; Sharafaldeen, Bashar; Visvanathan, Kala et al. (2009) Ductal carcinoma in situ in African American versus Caucasian American women: analysis of clinicopathologic features and outcome. Cancer 115:3181-8

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