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Home >News : Sigurdson Seminar

Division Hosts Seminar on Radiation-related Breast Cancer Risks

Bruce Alexander and Alice Sigurdson

(Octotober 23, 2008) -- "Polymorphisms and Interaction with Radiation-related Breast Cancer Risk in the U.S. Radiologic Technologists (USRT) Cohort Study" was the title of a seminar delivered by National Cancer Institute Epidemiologist Alice Sigurdson, PhD, on Wednesday, October 22 at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Sigurdson's presentation was based on her recent investigation into genetic characteristics that may make an individual more susceptible to breast cancer when exposed to certain levels of ionizing radiation. The USRT cohort includes radiologic technologists registered with the American Association of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for 2 years prior to 1983. This study is a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota Division of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Cancer Institute, and the ARRT.

Specific topics presented in the seminar included: the interaction between genes and the environment; polymorphic SNPs (parts of the gene that express themselves differently from the gene and the environment); and the cancer risks of occupational radiation exposure versus diagnostic radiation exposure.

Links

Article in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention

U.S. Radiologic Technologists (USRT) study website