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by Avichai Scher — People at risk of a tough-to-treat, deadly form of breast cancer may now have a better chance of early diagnosis and protection against relapse. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic identified genetic mutations associated with triple-negative breast cancer, a type that generally requires extensive chemotherapy and and has lower five-year survival rates than other forms of breast cancer, according to the study published Monday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. "This study is the first to establish which genes are associated with high lifetime risks of triple-negative breast cancer," said lead author and Mayo Clinic geneticist Dr. Fergus Couch.

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USA Today, Researchers identify genes linked to aggressive breast cancer by Brett Molina — Researchers with the Mayo Clinic said they have discovered specific genes linked to an increased risk of developing an aggressive form of breast cancer. The team performed genetic testing on more than 10,000 patients with triple-negative breast cancer, which has a five-year survival rate, said Mayo Clinic geneticist Fergus Couch, who lead the study, in a statement.

Post-Bulletin,Preliminary Mayo Clinic study points to new weight loss factor - gut bacteria by Anne Halliwell — Are you one of those people who counts calories, eats healthy and still doesn’t lose much weight? A new Mayo Clinic preliminary study may explain why. According to the preliminary study published today, specific gut bacteria may make it harder for some people to lose weight, whether or not they restrict their diets and exercise more. “I hear about this all the time, people say, ‘I’m doing everything I can,’ and they’re not losing weight,” said Dr. Purna Kashyap, M.B.B.S., a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and co-senior author of the study. Kashyap and other researchers knew that gut bacteria had a role in giving people more energy from their food. The microbes in our digestive tracts help humans gain, store and use the energy — or calories — in food. 

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Context: A research team led by Fergus Couch, Ph.D., a geneticist at Mayo Clinic, has identified specific genes associated with an increased risk for developing triple-negative breast cancer. Their research was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. “Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive type of cancer that cannot be treated using targeted therapies,” says Dr. Couch. “It accounts for 15 percent of breast cancer in the Caucasian population and 35 percent in the African-American population. It is also associated with a high risk of recurrence and a poor five-year survival rate. Our findings provide the basis for better risk management.” You can read more about the study on Mayo Clinic News Network.

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Tags: Breast Cancer, Dr. Fergus Couch, gene mutations, NBC News, Uncategorized