February 2007 CEBP Highlights

PDF Version for Printing

Selected Articles from the February 2007 Issue

The articles referenced in this Highlights section will be available online in HTML and PDF formats to all interested users at no charge until the next issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention is published. Click on the article title to view the complete article.

View the Table of Contents for the February 2007 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

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Nevi Numbers Independent of Melanoma Risk

Cockburn et al.

Page 200

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Preventive Value of Activity Confirmed

Sprague et al.

Page 236

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Higher Health Literacy Linked to Recall

Lillie et al.

Page 249

New genomic technology now allows physicians to provide women with individualized and highly accurate breast cancer recurrence risk estimates that are a key factor in post-surgical therapy decisions. Because these genomic tests are so new, little is known about how well patients understand the tests and their results. Lillie et al. found that women with lower health literacy recalled less of the information provided about the recurrence risk test than women with higher health literacy. Health literacy was not related to the amount of additional information women desired. Women with higher health literacy preferred to have a more active role in decisions about the test. Health literacy may affect women’s capacity to learn about the new genomic tests as well as their desire for informed participation in their medical care.

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HPV Awareness Low among Women in U.S.

Tiro et al.

Page 288

Women need to understand the link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer in order to make appropriate, evidence-based choices among existing prevention strategies (Pap test, HPV DNA test and HPV vaccine). Assessment of the public’s knowledge in nationally representative samples is a high-priority for cervical cancer control. Tiro et al. examined factors associated with American women’s awareness of HPV and knowledge about its link to cervical cancer. Awareness about HPV among American women is low. Having heard about HPV did not ensure accurate knowledge. Strategies for communicating accurate information about HPV transmission, prevention, and detection as well as risk and treatment of cervical cancer are needed. 

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Metabolic Syndrome Synergistic with Vitamin D

Page 302

Factors related to the metabolic syndrome (MS) and low levels of vitamin D have been implicated as risk factors for prostate cancer (PCa). Thus far, no studies have assessed their joint effects on PCa risk. Tuohimaa et al. studied the associations of vitamin D with the MS factors body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and HDL-cholesterol; and the PCa risk associated with these factors, and especially their joint effects with vitamin D on risk of PCa. Only in the presence of low levels of vitamin D do factors associated with the metabolic syndrome influence PCa risk. 

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