Nature Podcast Why breast cancer treatments might work best just after your period
11 snips
Dec 4, 2024 Kalinda Shaler is a researcher at KU Leuven focused on breast cancer and chemotherapy. In a fascinating discussion, she uncovers how the timing of chemotherapy can enhance its efficacy based on a woman's menstrual cycle, suggesting personalized treatment strategies. Celeste Beaver highlights recent advances in AI, particularly OpenAI's progression towards artificial general intelligence, sparking debate about its societal implications. They also touch on intriguing findings about coffee's effects on gut health and the discovery of ancient amber in Antarctica.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Chemotherapy Timing
- Breast cancer cells are more vulnerable to chemotherapy during the first half of the menstrual cycle.
- This is linked to lower progesterone levels and reduced macrophage activity in the tumor environment.
Research Origins
- Kalinda Schaler's team's research began with their frustration over inconsistent chemoresistance results.
- They realized the estrus cycle in mice could be playing a role, leading to the study's core finding.
Hormone Receptor Status
- Chemotherapy timing effects are independent of hormone receptor status.
- This suggests the impact is on the tumor microenvironment, not directly on cancer cells via hormone receptors.