Target: Breast Cancer UMass scientists investigate what causes the insidious disease and how to prevent it.

Breast cancer begins with one lethal rogue cell. Cancerous cells in the breast then grow out of control in a mind-boggling process that researchers worldwide have yet to fully understand, despite years of study and billions of dollars in funding.  At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, researchers in many areas, backed by government organizations and private foundations, are attacking breast cancer on multiple fronts. They are investigating environmental toxins and breast milk, leading large epidemiological studies, creating new treatments, identifying individuals likely to get breast cancer, and advocating for changes in chemical testing and regulation.

UMass Amherst scientists work in the forefront of research into breast cancer prevention and causes. This investigative focus is not the norm; most breast cancer funding supports research into early detection and treatment rather than prevention and causes. Three years ago, however, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the largest funder of cancer research in the U.S., made prevention research a higher priority. Now, 5 percent of the NCI’s budget is allocated to grants for breast cancer prevention. UMass Amherst received $3.5 million as one of six institutions to receive funding from a breast cancer research program cofunded by the NCI and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Profiled here are five UMass Amherst researchers who are targeting breast cancer, including VASCI researchers, Joe Jerry and Kathleen Arcaro.

Their work is vitally important to women, as 12 percent are predicted to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes. This research gives hope to the 268,670 women and men who are expected to learn they have breast cancer this year and it will help lower the 41,400 annual breast cancer deaths.