CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE'S AMENDMENT TO ...

It is now commonly understood that breast cancer is not one form of cancer, but many different subtypes of cancer, says Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Washington, DC ? Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee released the following statement in regards to her amendment dealing with important study of Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) being accepted to the National Defense Authorization Act:

?I am pleased that my amendment to direct the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Health to work in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to provide resources to identify specific genetic and molecular targets and biomarkers for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) was accepted to today?s important Defense Bill. My amendment would require DOD and NIH to provide information useful in biomarker selection, drug discovery, and clinical trials design that will enable both TNBC patients to be identified earlier in the progression of their disease and develop multiple targeted therapies for the disease.

?My amendment is designed to advance the study of triple negative breast cancer which is an aggressive and deadly type of breast cancer. Currently, 70% of women with metastatic triple negative breast cancer do not live more than five years after being diagnosed. TNBC accounts for between 13% and 25% of all breast cancer in the United States. It is essential to support research to identify multifaceted targeted treatments for this type of breast cancer.

?TNBC is an extremely deadly form of breast cancer. Unlike traditional forms of breast cancer there are no targeted treatments for TNBC. Additional research is necessary to find the molecular cause for TNBC in order to develop an effective treatment regime.

?It is only in the last few years that professionals studying breast cancer have concluded that breast cancer is not one disease, but many different forms of cancer all originating in the breast. Depending on its stage of diagnosis, triple negative breast cancer can be extremely aggressive and more likely to recur and metastasize than other subtypes of breast cancer. It typically is responsive to chemotherapy, although it can be more difficult to treat because it is unresponsive to the most effective receptor targeted treatments.

?There is no question that researchers are increasingly recognizing the importance of TNBC as an entity and focusing their efforts on several key areas. Hopefully this amendment will help define exactly what comprises TNBC and developing more sensitive biomarkers for identifying which patients have this disease. ?

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CONTACT:
Michael J. McQuerry
Communications Director
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18)
2160 Rayburn HOB
Washington , DC 20515
202-225-3816 ? Office
202-225-7080 ? Cell
202-226-1504 ? Direct
202-225-3317 ? Fax
Mike.McQuerry@mail.house.gov

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