Media Highlights

Science Article
February 6, 2003

PHS' Shanghai breast self-exam study gets worldwide attention

[With center researchers' help, Fred Hutchinson maintains a high profile with local and, often, national media. To tell us about Hutch happenings or research that may be of media interest, or to request copies of news clips, call Susan Edmonds, 206-667-2896, or e-mail her at sedmonds@fhcrc.org, or call Kristen Woodward, 206-667-5095, or e-mail her at kwoodwar@fhcrc.org.]

The International Herald Tribune, United Press International, Voice of America, Agence France Presse, BBC News and People's Daily (China) were among the international media to cover the results of the Shanghai Breast Self-Examination Study by Dr. David Thomas (PHS). This decade-long study of Chinese textile workers found that intensive instruction in breast self-examination did not reduce deaths from breast cancer. Results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Thomas did interviews with a wide variety of national media, including ABC-TV's World News Tonight, the Associated Press, United Press International, Reuter's Health, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time, Newsweek, Prevention, Newsday, WebMD, Associated Press Radio, ABC Radio, NBC News Channel, CBS News and CNN. Other national coverage included ABC's Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, MSNBC and Reuters. Thomas and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance/University of Washington colleagues Drs. Julie Gralow, Ben Anderson, Georgiana Ellis and Connie Lehman (all UW/SCCA) also did a variety of interviews with local media, including the Seattle Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The Herald (Everett), News Tribune (Tacoma), Northwest Cable News, and all local TV stations and news-radio stations.

United Press International and Reuters quoted Dr. Thomas Spies (Clinical Research) in an article on reasons some tumors escape attack by the immune system. This new insight could lead to earlier diagnosis of breast, lung, colon and other cancers as well as possible new ways to treat these malignancies. Such tumors produce high levels of a protein called MIC and a blood test with high levels of MIC could indicate the presence of a tumor.

The Associated Press, Reuters, Reuters Health, Associated Press Radio and CBS Radio interviewed Dana Mirick (PHS) about recent findings that antiperspirants and deodorants are not linked to higher risk of breast cancer. Mirick was a co-author on the paper, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The AP story ran pm Web sites and newspapers nationwide. Locally, KIRO-AM and mentions on KCPQ-TV, KING-TV and KIRO-TV ran stories

United Press International featured an article on Dr. Irwin Bernstein (Clinical Research), who leads a research team to determine how best to use stem cells derived from umbilical-cord blood. The team exposed cord blood to a protein molecule called Delta-1. Although it is still unclear how the molecule works, it somehow increases the number of immature stem cells. Delta-1 also increased the number of cells found in blood that can evolve into any type of cell, which are known as hematopoeitic stem cells.

Forbes magazine interviewed Dr. Linda Buck (Basic Sciences) for its 85th anniversary issue, which focused on 85 innovative people, companies and ideas. The magazine ran a profile and photo of Buck, whose research explores the genetics of taste and smell.

Internal Medicine News and For the Record magazines quoted Dr. Lawrence Corey (Clinical Research) in an article on the drug valacyclovir reducing the transmission rates of the herpes simplex 2 virus. For the first time, an antiviral reduced sexual transmission of a sexually transmitted disease.

United Press International, USA Today and Reuter's Health interviewed Dr. Peter Nelson (Human Biology/Clinical Research) about a recent study of his, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, that sheds new light on the mechanisms of PC-SPES, an herbal supplement taken by men with advanced prostate cancer. Local coverage included interviews with KOMO-TV, KIRO-TV and KIRO-AM. Northwest Cable News also picked up the story, as did ABC affiliates across the nation.

Ladies' Home Journal magazine featured a story on Dr. Lee Nelson's (Clinical Research) research on autoimmune disorders. Nelson theorizes that foreign cells lingering within our own bodies, such as fetal cells passed on to a pregnant woman, may be a factor in disrupting the immune system.

KOMO-TV and KIRO-TV ran stories on the Hutch Holiday Gala. This year's gala raised $4.5 million for Fred Hutchinson. Stories also appeared in the Seattle Times.

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