Virtually all risk prediction for breast cancer assumes that breast cancer is a homogeneous disease

October 14, 2010 By Robert Graham Reporting -- From New York City at NYU /Businesswire/


Hybrid Medical research shows that Virtually all risk prediction
for breast cancer assumes that breast cancer is a homogeneous disease, i.e. all types of breast cancer have the same risk profiles.

Genomic Science indicates that we have to change the breast cancer culture to find a cure. Stem cells and progenitor cells has shown promise. Like stem cells, progenitor cells have a tendency to differentiate into a specific type of cell. In contrast to stem cells, however, they are already far more specific: they are pushed to differentiate into their "target" cell. The most important difference between stem cells and progenitor cells is that stem cells can replicate indefinitely, whereas progenitor cells can only divide a limited number of times. Controversy about the exact definition remains and the concept is still evolving.

Hybrid Medical first direction of research aims to determine what cell becomes transformed; in other words, the cell of origin of a breast tumor. In the mammary gland, mammary stem cells, which can self-renew and differentiate, generate rapidly dividing progenitors that in turn generate differentiated cells of the mammary gland epithelial lineages: the luminal and myoepithelial lineages. Cancer is thought to originate in these stem cells or in progenitor cells that have acquired self-renewal. Thus, a first degree of heterogeneity comes from whether a tumor comes from a stem cell or a progenitor cell.

Hybrid second direction aims to determine what genetic alterations
transform a normal breast cell and make it cancerous. The repertoire of genetic alterations can be found by using high-throughput, large-scale methods, such as mass sequencing and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) . These have
revealed a number of alterations – mutations, deletions,
amplifications and fusions – that target hundreds of genes,
suggesting a high level of heterogeneity. Some tumors can
have a high level of genetic instability whereas others can
have an apparently normal genome.

For an example when monitoring the activities of a protein
created by a gene associated with breast cancer,
called "ABCC11." By studying this gene and its
complex cellular and molecular interactions in
the body, researchers have discovered a distinct
link between the gene and excessively smelly
armpits and wet, sticky earwax.

Panoincell qX also uses a Visualize Real-Time Breast Cancer
Data using Signal Stochastic Resonance Units Neurons
Detection and Analysis for Breast Cancer model after McCulloch-Pitts Panoincell qX computer-assisted diagnosing of breast cancer from mammograms.

How Panoincell qX works is a genetic network simulation trained
with tumor incidence data from knockout experiments.
The genetic network is implemented using a neural
network; knockout genotypes are simulated by removing
nodes in the neural network. Two analyses are used to
interpret the resulting network weights. We use a novel
approach of fixing the network topology that allows knockout
TSG (tumor suppressor gene) data from multiple studies to
overlap and indirectly inform one another. The trained
simulation is validated by reproducing qualitative mammary
cancer susceptibilities of ATM, BRCA1, and p53 TSGs. The work
Panoincell qx is valuable because it allows TSG mammary cancer
susceptibility to be quantified using genetic network
topology and in vivo knockout data.

Breaking Ground: Improving the Quality of Life for Cancer Patients

October 04, 2010 By Robert Graham Reporting -- From NIH Washington DC /Businesswire/
Mei R. Fu: A Pioneering Approach to Lymphedema


When Mei R. Fu, RN, PhD, began studying lymphedema, patients received little information on how to treat this common after-effect of breast-cancer treatment or reduce the risk of its occurrence. In fact, Dr. Fu says, it was practically taboo to talk about the condition with patients or to suggest that they had any control over developing it.

Now, Dr. Fu’s groundbreaking research has been credited with starting to change the way the health care system educates patients about controlling this debilitating and feared syndrome. Lymphedema, caused by abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid in the affected areas and arms, leads to persistent and painful swelling, as well as multiple distressing symptoms. It can occur at any time after breast cancer treatment, eventually affecting up to 65 percent of survivors in the United States.

“People used to think that lymphedema was the result of poor surgical techniques and that there was little they could do about it—both of which are untrue,” Dr. Fu says.

In the past 5 to 10 years, there has been growing awareness that lymphedema is a chronic problem that can be controlled and managed. In the past 2 years alone, technology and the availability of information online have significantly changed the attitudes of healthcare providers (including surgeons, oncologists, nurses, physical therapists) and patients.

Dr. Fu’s research, funded by the Avon Foundation, was the first to show that patient education has positive effects on patients’ cognitive-behavioroutcome in lymphedema risk reduction and patients’ symptom outcome, offering patients a major benefit. An abstract, “Lymphedema Education and Risk Reduction in Breast Cancer Survivors,” presented by Dr. Fu with Dr. Judith Haber, Dr. Amber Guth, and Dr. Deborah Axelrod at the Oncology Nursing Society 2008 Annual Congress, was chosen as one of the top 10 highest scoring abstracts among 500 entries, and their manuscript went on to win the Oncology Nursing Society Excellence in Cancer Nursing Research Award in 2009. This study was published in Annals of Surgical Oncology, a prestigious peer-reviewed journal in surgical oncology field and Journal of Nursing Scholarship, a prestigious nursing journal . Dr. Fu has also won the Young Investigator Award from International Lymphology Society for her three qualitative research studies on lymphedema and received the Excellent Service Award from the American Cancer Society for her long committed service and quality speech for cancer patients.]

Based on the findings, Dr. Fu and her research team have developed an intervention called The Optimal You to help patients reduce the risk of lymphedema or improve their symptom experience if they already experience it. With additional funding from Avon, she is testing the intervention with two groups of 120 patients each at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center. The intervention focuses on teaching patients to prevent inflammation and fluid accumulation—the major risk factors—through daily fluid drainage and other symptom-management strategies. The first group is receiving the risk-reduction intervention prior to cancer surgery and is being followed at three intervals after surgery to test its efficacy.
A second group of patients, who already demonstrate lymphedema symptoms, is receiving an intervention to help control their symptoms. This study is the first to focus on fluid drainage and other strategies to manage symptoms. It is also the first to make use of a new, state-of-the-science technology, the perometer, which calculates and tracks very small limb-volume changes, thereby identifying fluid build-up in the arm. The device located at NYU Clinical Cancer Center is one of only several in the country.

“The beauty of this study is that it focuses on risk reduction for people before surgery, so that we can take steps immediately to prevent the onset,” Dr. Fu says.

Is lymphedema still taboo? The culture is changing, according to Dr. Fu, and NYU’s Clinical Cancer Center is leading the way by talking about this difficult syndrome.

The next phase of Dr. Fu’s research involves looking at genetic variations that may put some patients at greater risk for developing lymphedema. She is the principal investigator on a pilot study with colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, funded by the Pless Center for Nursing Research at the College of Nursing, aiming to explore the effect of r inflammatory genes and those genes related to the lymphatic system.

“We believe that some patients are more prone to inflammation and accumulation of fluid,” Dr. Fu says. “That’s why it’s very important to explore genetic variations, to see who is at greater risk.” Dr. Fu reports that nearly 100% of those patients who have been asked have willingly contributed genetic samples. “This information will give us a clearer idea of how to implement personalized care for those patients who are at greater risk,” she says.

For those patients who have developed lymphedema, Dr. Fu is collaborating with physical therapists at NYU Rusk Rehabilitaiton Center Physical Therapy Department to offer an innovative approach to treat this chronic condition by testing the effectiveness of low level laser therapy through a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Dr. Fu’s collaborators include nationally well-known breast surgeons at NYU Cancer Center, Dr. Deborah Axelrod and Dr. Amber A. Guth; Nurse Scientist, Dr. Francis Cartwright; nationally well-known geneticist, Dr. Yvette Conley at University of Pittsburgh; Physical therapists, Teresa V. Denham PT, MA and Ting Ting Kuo PT,DPT,WCS,CLT at NYU Rusk Rehabilitaiton Center Physical Therapy.
Dr. Fu also serves on the Board of Directors for the Lymphology of North American Association, the Medical Advisory Committee of the National Lymphedema Network, where she has co-chaired the research committee. She serves on the Steering Committee for the American Lymphedema Framework Project, a national partnership with the International Lymphedema Framework (ILF), where she has co-chaired the research and dissemination committee. She also serves as the Editorial Director and the Research Director for Stepup-speakout Organization, a patient advocacy organization to promote lymphedema research, education, and practice. She is on Education Advisory Panel and the Editor for Lymphedema Management Special Interest group for Oncology Nursing Society. In addition, she is also on the editorial board for several peer-reviewed journals, including Advances in Nursing Science, Austral-Asian Journal of Cancer: The International Cancer Journal of Australia and Asia, and Journal of Lymphedema.

Is Invasive Breast Cancer is too High in Black Women

September 25, 2010 By Robert Graham -- Washington DC /Businesswire/

Hybrid Pharma scientist: Invasive breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed
new malignancy.Breast cancer continues to exact a major toll in the US: it
is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and the
second leading cause of cancer mortality.
This malignancy currently accounts for 32% of all new
cancer cases and 15% of cancer deaths among American
women Incidence rates in the Hybrid Pharma
database vary greatly by race and ethnic group, with
lower rates seen for black, Asian, and Hispanic women
than for white women. Although breast cancer incidence
rates have been increasing since the 1980s, death rates
have declined by about 2.3% per year since 1990
with some of the downturn related to increases in early
detection by mammography and to effective treatment with
adjuvant chemotherapy .About 72% of the invasive breast cancers
reported to Hybrid Pharma are ductal carcinomas, not otherwise
specified (NOS); 9% are lobular carcinomas; and the
remaining 19% are other histologic types. The current relative
survival rates for all breast cancers combined are
88.8% at 5 years (79.5% at 10 years) for white females,
but only 75.3% at 5 years (63.9% at 10 years) for black
females.

Breast cancer analytics one million diagnoses a year worldwide
(200,000 in the US); 40,000 deaths per year; one-fifth of all
deaths in womenaged 40-50; $60-$100 billion in direct and
indirect costs every year.

Treatment for early-stage invasive breast cancer
shifted in the 1980s and 1990s from radical mastectomy
with or without regional radiotherapy to the chest wall
and lymph nodes (post-mastectomy radiation) to increasing
use of breast-conserving surgery followed by breast
radiation (post-lumpectomy radiation). Adjuvant chemotherapy (including
alkylating agents) and hormones (tamoxifen) are also
widely used. With the one million diagnoses a year worldwide
(200,000 in the US); 40,000 deaths per year; one-fifth of all deaths in women
aged 40-50; $60-$100 billion in direct and indirect costs every year.

Hybrid Pharma research about cancer enable us to fight
Breast Cancer. We know that it is characterized by genomic instability-tumor
cells divide like mad and in that process their genomes are
rarely transmitted faithfully. Breast cancer is no exception:
any ten women with the disease will have ten different tumors-their
cancers will be of different sizes, some will be more aggressive
than others, and those tumors will each express their own peculiar
set of genes (albeit with some overlap). At Duke, genome scientists
and clinicians have begun to make use of breast cancer' s
heterogeneity to make predictions and guide treatment decisions.
By examining the expression patterns of collections of genes that
tend to be turned off or on together in an array of tumor samples
and the clinical outcomes of patients who developed those tumors,
Hybrid researchers are now able to predict who is most likely to experience
recurrent breast cancer and who is likely to remain cancer-free.
This information has practical implications. If her risk is low,
a patient may not want to endure the hardships of chemotherapy;
if her risk is high, she may choose a more aggressive course of
treatment.

Hybrid Pharma study to show that results from this
test simultaneously impact decisions by physicians as
well as patients.

For an example when monitoring the activities of a protein
created by a gene associated with breast cancer,
called "ABCC11." By studying this gene and its
complex cellular and molecular interactions in
the body, researchers have discovered a distinct
link between the gene and excessively smelly
armpits and wet, sticky earwax.

Panoincell qX also uses a Visualize Real-Time Breast Cancer
Data using Signal Stochastic Resonance Units Neurons
Detection and Analysis for Breast Cancer model after McCulloch-Pitts
Panoincell qX computer-assisted diagnosing of breast cancer from mammograms.

How Panoincell qX works is a genetic network simulation trained
with tumor incidence data from knockout experiments.
The genetic network is implemented using a neural
network; knockout genotypes are simulated by removing
nodes in the neural network. Two analyses are used to
interpret the resulting network weights. We use a novel
approach of fixing the network topology that allows knockout
TSG (tumor suppressor gene) data from multiple studies to
overlap and indirectly inform one another. The trained
simulation is validated by reproducing qualitative mammary
cancer susceptibilities of ATM, BRCA1, and p53 TSGs. The work
Panoincell qx is valuable because it allows TSG mammary cancer
susceptibility to be quantified using genetic network
topology and in vivo knockout data.

The new trend in oncology is towards personalized medicine

September 11, 2010 By Robert Graham -- Washington DC /Businesswire/

Washington,DC September 11 : A new study shows that a 21-gene
test of a patient's breast cancer tumour may change
doctor and patient treatment decisions, including
the need for chemotherapy.

Hybrid Pharma test, Panoincell qX, is made by Hybrid Pharma Inc.
which examines 21 genes from a tumour sample to determine
how active they are.

A test score between 0 and 50 predicts how likely the
cancer is to recur. For women with low scores, chemotherapy
is not recommended.

More than 130,000 breast cancer patients have undergone
the test since it became commercially available.

The test is intended for patients who have a type of
breast cancer, called estrogen receptor-positive, which
has not spread to the lymph nodes. About 110,000 such
cases are diagnosed each year.

The trend in oncology is towards personalized medicine.
We likely will see more tests similar to this one in the
future," said Loyola University Health System Medical
oncologist and study's lead author Dr. Shelly Lo.

The findings are based on study, which included 89
breast cancer patients who received the gene test.

They were treated by 17 medical oncologists at Loyola,
University of Michigan, University of California at Davis
and Edward Hospital in Naperville, Il.

Doctors changed treatment decisions for 28 patients.
In 20 of these cases, they changed their decision from
hormone therapy plus chemotherapy to hormone therapy alone.
24 patients changed their treatment decisions, including
nine who dropped chemotherapy.

Hybrid Pharma study to show that results from this
test simultaneously impact decisions by physicians as
well as patients.

For an example when monitoring the activities of a protein
created by a gene associated with breast cancer,
called "ABCC11." By studying this gene and its
complex cellular and molecular interactions in
the body, researchers have discovered a distinct
link between the gene and excessively smelly
armpits and wet, sticky earwax.

Panoincell qX also uses a Visualize Real-Time Breast Cancer
Data using Signal Stochastic Resonance Units Neurons
Detection and Analysis for Breast Cancer model after McCulloch-Pitts
Panoincell qX computer-assisted diagnosing of breast cancer from mammograms.

How Panoincell qX works is a genetic network simulation trained
with tumor incidence data from knockout experiments.
The genetic network is implemented using a neural
network; knockout genotypes are simulated by removing
nodes in the neural network. Two analyses are used to
interpret the resulting network weights. We use a novel
approach of fixing the network topology that allows knockout
TSG (tumor suppressor gene) data from multiple studies to
overlap and indirectly inform one another. The trained
simulation is validated by reproducing qualitative mammary
cancer susceptibilities of ATM, BRCA1, and p53 TSGs. The work
Panoincell qx is valuable because it allows TSG mammary cancer
susceptibility to be quantified using genetic network
topology and in vivo knockout data.

64% Reduction in Chronic Disease Health Care costs with Hybrid Medical IntraMed’s Patient Monitoring Solution

August 19, 2010 By Erin Azar -- Washington DC /News----wire/ --
64% Reduction in Chronic Disease Health Care costs with Hybrid Medical IntraMed’s Patient Monitoring Solution


Hybrid Medical introduces IntraMed’s CSO (Clinical System Organizer) product suite, a comprehensive web-based software solution, providing more effective and efficient care for a full range of chronic diseases. Through careful tracking of patients’ disease information, physicians are able to more accurately manage chronic illnesses and identify concerning trends at the early stages, ensuring corrective action at the right time. In partnership with President Obama’s broadband stimulus initiative, Hybrid Medical aims to provide all patients, rural and urban, with convenient access to top quality care.

Broadband and 4G/LTE enabled health telemonitoring products allow physicians to track patients’ heart disease and diabetes vitals, providing high quality care to rural areas. Cardiac arrests in rural areas are expected to decline by 28%, as a result of IntraMed’s smart tracking products.

With over a decade of proven market adoption, IntraMed’s CSO supports more than 50% of all cardiac and diabetes patients in Denmark. The Medical Center of Plano, Texas, currently uses CSO/Anticoagulation to improve the quality and efficiency of their medical care. The CSO products’ easy and robust software is embraced worldwide, and has set the international standards in chronic disease management.

“We are extremely excited to bring this new capability to the US market. We are confident this will immediately impact the market, and deliver to the real challenges of our physicians,” said Dr. Robert Graham, CIO, Hybrid Medical.

Denmark’s use of smart technologies throughout its healthcare system has drawn the attention of President Obama’s administration. Ninety-nine percent of all doctors in Denmark are connected through Broadband access and Electronic Medical Records are a national mandate in Denmark. The progressive healthcare system in Denmark demands innovative solutions.

About IntraMed
IntraMed is a Danish owned company with headquarters in Denmark. Since its launch in 1997, IntraMed has developed IT products aimed at supporting more effective treatment of the chronically ill.

About Hybrid Medical
Since 1987, Hybrid Medicall has been a leader in Genomic trials, healthcare IT, and life sciences clinical development solutions. Hybrid Medical is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Hybrid Medical Analytics Inc. today announced the release of its OpenLAB Electronic Lab Notebook

Houston, Texas., Aug. 11, 2010 /News----wire/ --

Hybrid Medical Analytics Inc. today announced the release of its OpenLAB Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) version 5.1. The new version offers scientists in analytical research and development an optimized way to document and share experiments and results. CSO (Clinical System Organizer) is a web-based system, which improves treatment quality and streamlines processes for the benefit of the economy in health care. CSO has specific modules aimed at a number of major chronic diseases.

CSO sharing clinical data between the actors involved in the clinical process. It is a user-friendly system, developed in collaboration with doctors who have special insight into chronic diseases. It can be used by both clinicians and patients.

OpenLAB ELN v5.1 introduces experimental templates that enable scientists to create, share and reuse their own custom API experiment views. The new flexible templates facilitate data entry by allowing scientists to view the experiment desktop as they prefer. These templates can be designed for SOP-driven processes,
increasing laboratory efficiencies.

Hybrid has also streamlined the analytical request workflow by reducing the number of steps between request and result. This dramatically improves lab productivity. A specific analytical module has been added for documenting analytical methods, generating sequence files and capturing results. The new module
facilitates report creation across one or more samples and Hybrid Medical techniques. Chromatograms and result files from Hybrids Sybase RAP IQ 4 #Software, or other chromatography data systems (CDS) can be automatically uploaded and associated with the experiment through the seamless integration with Hybrid Medical OpenLAB ECM scientific data management system. Hybrid offers the complete solution.

In addition, the new delegation workflow facilitates collaboration. Multiple scientists can collaborate on a single experiment, enter data and results from multiple techniques on a single sample or multiple samples. Audit trails are maintained in an environment that
delivers the highest level of intellectual property protection.

"Ideally, software helps people be more productive with very little additional thought or effort," said Donald Lee, vice president and general manager, Hybrid Medical Analytics and Informatics. "This is the motivation behind the entire Hybrid Medical OpenLAB portfolio of laboratory systems."

OpenLAB ELN is a Web-based scalable, integrated system to manage experiments and results. It is designed for multiple disciplines including analytical chemistry, synthetic/medicinal chemistry, biology and other research environments. OpenLAB
ELN supports 21 CFR Part 11 requirements and is built around an RedHats open architecture

Hybrid Medical International OpenLab new location is located in Tyson Corner, Virgina

The number one legislation for Breast Cancer Patients is HR 5440:

August 6, 2010 By Robert Graham -- The number one legislation for Breast Cancer Patients is HR 5440: Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act of 2010 sponsored by Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D-RI1]

HR 5440 purpose is to secure the promise of personalized medicine for all Americans by expanding and accelerating genomics research and initiatives to improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis, increase the safety of drugs, and identify novel treatments, and for other purposes.

Hybrid Medical Analytics mission is to enhance understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer, with the ultimate goal of improving the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer.

Genomic Science determine which genes are expressed at different levels in tumors compared to normal cells or how the chromosomes are rearranged and their throughput; further decreasing the costs of DNA sequencing; improving the detection of epigenetic changes; and developing new analytical methods to correlate disease state with the intricate network of molecular
interactions in a cancer.

Genomics will accelerate Breast Cancer treatment in rural America using informatics technologies Microsoft Windows 7, Broad Band, Sybase, Cloud Computing Services and Tele-Medicine technologies along with HR5440 will extend Breast Cancer patients lives.