Association of the CHEK2 c.1100delC variant, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment with contralateral breast cancer risk and breast cancer-specific survival

Background Breast cancer (BC) patients with a germline CHEK2 c.1100delC variant have an increased risk of contralateral BC (CBC) and worse BC-specific survival (BCSS) compared to non-carriers. Aim To assessed the associations of CHEK2 c.1100delC, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment with CBC risk and BCSS. Methods Analyses were based on 82,701 women diagnosed with a first primary invasive BC including 963 CHEK2 c.1100delC carriers; median follow-up was 9.1 years. Differential associations with treatment by CHEK2 c.1100delC status were tested by including interaction terms in a multivariable Cox regression model. A multi-state model was used for further insight into the relation between CHEK2 c.1100delC status, treatment, CBC risk and death. Results There was no evidence for differential associations of therapy with CBC risk by CHEK2 c.1100delC status. The strongest association with reduced CBC risk was observed for the combination of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy [HR (95% CI): 0.66 (0.55–0.78)]. No association was observed with radiotherapy. Results from the multi-state model showed shorter BCSS for CHEK2 c.1100delC carriers versus non-carriers also after accounting for CBC occurrence [HR (95% CI): 1.30 (1.09–1.56)]. Conclusion Systemic therapy was associated with reduced CBC risk irrespective of CHEK2 c.1100delC status. Moreover, CHEK2 c.1100delC carriers had shorter BCSS, which appears not to be fully explained by their CBC risk

Environmental Radioactive Particles - a New Challenge for Modern Analytical Instrumental Techniques in Support to Radioecology

Environmental radioactive particles have assumed in recent years a predominant role for the understanding of the transport mechanisms in the environment as well as for the availability of radionuclides to humans. Their characterization by non-destructive instrumental methods can be very useful as applied to radioecological studies. Three specific cases of radioactive environmental particles stemming from different release scenarios are discussed in terms of the information available when characterized bu non destructive spectroscopic methods. In particular, application of SEM-EDX, SIMS and synchrotron-based techniques like nu-XRF, 3D-nu tomography and nu-XANES are considered. The complementarity of the methods is also highlighted.JRC.E.5-Nuclear chemistr

Sample Clean-up by On-line Chromatography for the Determination of Am in Sediments and Soils by Alpha-Spectrometry.

Abstract not availableJRC.E-Institute for Transuranium Elements (Karlsruhe

Characterization of a Radioactively Contaminated Marine Sediment Core by Radiometric and Mass Spectrometric Techniques.

Abstract not availableJRC.E-Institute for Transuranium Elements (Karlsruhe

Characterization of a Radioactively Contaminated Marine Sediment Core by Radiometric and Mass Spectrometric Techniques

A radioactively contaminated marine sediment core stemming from Irish Sea has been characterized by radiometric and mass spectrometric techniques as for 237Np, 241Am, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, 137Cs and 154Eu. The data obtained with independent methods in the framework of a QA/QC program as compared with the source term discharges, as well as with those reported in literature, are in good agreement.JRC.E.5-Nuclear chemistr

Non-Destructive Characterization of Low Radioactive Particles from Irish Sea Sediment by Micro X-Ray Synchrotron Radiation Techniques: Micro X-Ray Fluorescence ( µ-XRF) and Micro X-Ray Absorption near Edge Structure ( µ-XANES) Spectroscopy.

Abstract not availableJRC.E-Institute for Transuranium Elements (Karlsruhe

Frequency Distribution, Isotopic Composition and Physical Characterization of Plutonium-Bearing Particles from the Fig-Quince Zone on Runit Island, Enewetak Atoll

Abstract Runit Island on Enewetak Atoll was very heavily impacted by the U.S. nuclear testing campaign in the northern Marshall Islands (1946¿58). The primary source of contamination on Runit Island was the 1958 Quince safety test where a large quantity of device plutonium (Pu) was scattered over the area near the GZ. A second low-yield device was detonated on the same site 10 days later, further disturbing the soil and leaving behind a very heterogeneous pattern of contamination including milligram-size particles of plutonium. A limited cleanup of the Fig-Quince zone was carried out in 1979. During this period, the effectiveness of the cleanup operations was primarily evaluated on the basis of bulk soil concentration data with little consideration given to the heterogeneity and long-term material-, biological-, and environmentalspecific impacts of residual high activity (hot) particle contamination. The aim of the present study was twofold; (i) to characterize the levels and distribution of residual contamination in the Fig-Quince zone, and (ii) to develop pertinent data on the frequency distribution, elemental and isotopic composition, and physico-chemical properties of hot particles isolated from surface soils from Fig-Quince with a view towards providing recommendations on the future management and possible cleanup of the site. Today, Runit Island remains under an administrative quarantine.JRC.E.5-Nuclear chemistr

Source Term Identification of Environmental Radioactive Pu/U Particles by their Characterisation with Non-Destructive Analytical Techniques.

Abstract not availableJRC.E-Institute for Transuranium Elements (Karlsruhe

A genome-wide gene-environment interaction study of breast cancer risk for women of European ancestry

Background Genome-wide studies of gene-environment interactions (GxE) may identify variants associated with disease risk in conjunction with lifestyle/environmental exposures. We conducted a genome-wide GxE analysis of similar to 7.6 million common variants and seven lifestyle/environmental risk factors for breast cancer risk overall and for estrogen receptor positive (ER +) breast cancer. Methods Analyses were conducted using 72,285 breast cancer cases and 80,354 controls of European ancestry from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. Gene-environment interactions were evaluated using standard unconditional logistic regression models and likelihood ratio tests for breast cancer risk overall and for ER + breast cancer. Bayesian False Discovery Probability was employed to assess the noteworthiness of each SNP-risk factor pairs. Results Assuming a 1 x 10(-5) prior probability of a true association for each SNP-risk factor pairs and a Bayesian False Discovery Probability < 15%, we identified two independent SNP-risk factor pairs: rs80018847(9p13)-LINGO2 and adult height in association with overall breast cancer risk (ORint = 0.94, 95% CI 0.92-0.96), and rs4770552(13q12)-SPATA13 and age at menarche for ER + breast cancer risk (ORint = 0.91, 95% CI 0.88-0.94). Conclusions Overall, the contribution of GxE interactions to the heritability of breast cancer is very small. At the population level, multiplicative GxE interactions do not make an important contribution to risk prediction in breast cancer