“We hope our research on mammographic density will eventually help identify women at higher risk of getting breast cancer. That is still a way off, but for now women should follow national guidelines for screening,” he says.

The findings have come from contributions from researchers in the University’s School of Population Health and Department of Pathology along with key national and international collaborators. The paper was published today in the prestigious international journal Cancer Research.

“Previous twin studies have suggested there is a genetic link between mammographic density and breast cancer. For the first time, we have been able to identify some of the breast cancer genetic variants involved.”

The amount of light areas on a mammogram reveals the mammographic density of a woman’s breast. Women who have high mammographic density for their age are at an increased risk of breast cancer.

Using mammograms and blood samples from a study of 830 twin pgairs and 600 of their sisters aged between 30 and 80 years recruited via the Australian Twin Registry, researchers investigated 12 genetic variants which are known to be associated with breast cancer.

Dr Jennifer Stone, who led the measurement of mammographic density, says, “We aimed to determine if these genetic variants associated with breast cancer risk also influenced mammographic density. We found at least two variants were linked.”

“To date, three other studies had examined this question but have not provided a convincing answer.”

“Finding that several genetic variants associated with breast cancer genes are also associated with mammographic density could help explain some of the biological reasons why women of the same age differ so much in mammographic density,” Professor Hopper says.

“In doing so, it could also help unravel how these genetic variants are associated with breast cancer risk. This is the beginning of a new research focus on how cancers begin and the role mammographic density plays.”

The research was conducted in collaboration with BreastScreen services across the country, the Australian Twin Registry and the Cancer Council Victoria, and supported by the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Cancer Australia, the Victorian Breast Cancer Research Consortium and the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The researchers will now undertake a pooled international study to identify more genetic variants that are linked to mammographic density and breast cancer

Currently, BreastScreen Victoria recommends women aged 50 to 69 years have a screening mammogram every two years.

“This innovative mobile screening vehicle is specifically designed to reach remote areas in the Middle East and is built to take into account the desired level of privacy and the often severe weather conditions in the region,” said Diederik Zeven, General Manager of Philips Healthcare for the Middle East. “This is yet another example of Philips’ commitment to patient-focused healthcare solutions, improving the accessibility of professional screening facilities in the region.”

The incidence of breast cancer is common in the Middle East – for instance, in Saudi Arabia, over 20 percent of total cancer cases are breast cancer . Awareness of the need for preventative screening is growing and medical professionals in the Middle East are searching for new ways to cope with the increasing need for early diagnosis of the disease.

Philips and Smit Mobile Equipment partnered closely with breast screening program operators to translate their experience into a solution designed to meet the specific needs of patients and care providers in the Middle East. The design of the Mobile Mammography Screening Unit thus includes dressing facilities, a staff room and an examination room, as well as a self supporting air conditioning system. The vehicle also includes a built-in Philips Ambient Experience lighting system that contributes to a more pleasant patient experience and significantly reduces anxiety levels.

In addition to providing a high level of patient comfort, the vehicle contains state-of-the-art screening equipment such as the Mammo Diagnost DR, Philips’ digital solution for mammography, designed for efficient high-volume screening. It provides excellent image quality and the streamlined intuitive user interface at the console makes working with the system comfortable and efficient for the radiographer and allows for a quick and easy examination for the patient.

The Mobile Mammography Screening Unit takes into consideration the care cycle from the screening of patients to transmission of data to medical centers, reporting and immediate follow-up. This could include making further appointments at hospitals where treatment may be provided.