Avash News: Dr. Asiyeh Olfatbakhsh said that the Motamed Cancer Research Center initially began its activity as a clinic where a group of expert specialists provided medical services to patients. “Along with these specialists, a group of researchers were also gathering patients’ data, analyzing them, and publishing the results in the form of papers and reports,” Olfatkhah added.
Olfatkhah said that the research group gradually turned into a “Research Center for Breast Cancer,” and “with the expansion of research groups and the increase in the volume of activities,” the center was upgraded to the “Motamed Research Center.” She explained that the center has now evolved into the National Cancer Research Center, which operates through three main research groups formed as a result of merging nine previous groups.
The activities of the research center: From treatment to technology
Olfatbakhsh said that the activities of the center range from specialized clinical services to basic research, laboratory and animal studies, and continue with the expansion of modern technologies. These technologies include diagnostic, medical, and modern methods such as gene therapy and cell therapy, which are now at the clinical trial stage.
The development of AI in cancer detection
Olfatbakhsh said that the center’s approach this year is focused on technology. “Our focus on AI has increased this year. AI-assisted recognition software kits in the fields of imaging, including ultrasound and mammography, as well as software for pathologists, are under development to increase precision in cancer detection.”
Virtual clinic for cancer
Olfatbakhsh said that a virtual clinic for cancer diagnosis is under construction. The researcher also said that special kits such as EndoPredict are currently used in the research center to determine patients’ needs for chemotherapy. “Kits to identify circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are in the process of receiving permits from the Health Ministry.” “The kit has been produced for the first time in the country and will be applied for clinical and commercial use in laboratories as soon as it receives official approval,” she said.
National project to assess the risk of polygenic breast cancer
Olfatbakhsh announced the implementation of a national program titled “Polygenic Risk Assessment,” which is being carried out in collaboration with the Iran National Science Foundation (NIMAD). Under this project, the risk of cancer among patients with a positive family history but without recognized mutated genes will be examined. She added that the outcome of the project will be access to a scoring system that can be used to identify gaps in patient screening, and possibly, the current screening methods may be replaced by this new one. The gene therapy of breast cancer is being conducted for the first time in Iran.
Technological achievements in recognizing and treating breast cancer
Olfatbakhsh said that cancer treatment in Iran is at the same level as that in developed nations. She stated that “gene therapy for breast cancer using adenoviruses is among our key projects and has entered the clinical trial stage for the first time in Iran.”
The importance of recognizing breast cancer at early stages
Pointing to the importance of early recognition of cancer, Olfatkhah said that an exact time cannot be determined for all patients because every patient seeks treatment at a different stage. However, statistics show that the five-year survival rate among cancer patients is about 70 percent, but this figure depends on when patients come for treatment.
“If a patient comes at stage 0, the likelihood of complete recovery is 100 percent. However, if they come at stage 4, the chance of recovery decreases to 20–30 percent. For example, a patient with a one-centimeter tumor and no lymph node involvement has a 95 percent chance of full recovery. However, if the tumor is larger or the lymph nodes are involved, the chance of cure decreases by 90 percent.” The researcher said that for this reason, early diagnosis of the disease is very important, and Iran is among the developed countries in terms of the quality and standards of diagnosis.
The genetic and environmental factors causing breast cancer
Olfatbakhsh said that, generally, cancers are caused by genetic and environmental factors. “The share of genetics in breast cancer is 15 percent, which means a person with the breast cancer gene has inherited it from either their father or mother. In this case, the person has no role in developing the disease. If they have a defective gene, the possibility of getting the disease during their lifetime increases by 85 percent.”
Olfatbakhsh said that under this condition, a genetic test is recommended, and if the result is positive, preventive measures should be taken. But in other cases, hormonal and environmental causes play an important role. Factors such as the age at which a person experiences her first period, the age of menopause, the age of first pregnancy, and whether or not she breastfeeds all contribute to the disease. For example, breastfeeding reduces the likelihood of developing the disease.
The role of lifestyle and obesity in increasing the risk of the disease
The cancer researcher said that lifestyle plays a significant role in cancer. “Obesity, particularly after menopause, is among the most important risk factors because the estrogen hormone accumulates in fat tissue. Therefore, diet, regular physical activity, and avoiding obesity play an influential role in decreasing the risk of the disease.” She added that smoking and alcohol use are among the causes of breast cancer. Overall, shifting to a healthy diet, maintaining regular physical activity, and controlling weight play an important role in preventing cancer.
No connection between cancer and electromagnetic waves
Olfatkhah rejected rumors about the role of mobile waves, MRI, or new technologies in causing breast cancer, saying that no scientific study has proved a direct link between radio waves, mobile phones, or new technologies such as 5G and cancer in humans.
Olfatbakhsh said that only those who have had cancer and received high doses of radiotherapy in the chest area are at risk and must undergo periodic examinations. Regarding the link between using deodorants and breast prostheses, Olfatbakhsh said that so far, no scientific link between them and breast cancer has been reported.
Increase in cancer rate in Iran and the World
Olfatbakhsh said that the rate of breast cancer in France, the US, and Italy is between 90 and 100 per 100,000 women, while in Iran it is about 35 to 40 per 100,000 women, which means the rate of breast cancer among Iranian women is one-third that of developed nations. However, Olfatbakhsh said that in countries like Afghanistan, the breast cancer rate is also very low, which may be due to weaknesses in detection. She noted, however, that the rate of breast cancer is increasing worldwide, including in Iran. “It is predicted that by 2030, the likelihood of breast cancer will increase by between 1.5 and 1.9 times.”
