John Erik Stacey (JES): Can you tell us about the research you are doing at FHCRC?
Anita: The main focus of my work here is to add to the understanding of how genes, lifestyle, environmental factors and hormone levels influence women's risk of breast cancer. I am working with data from a Norwegian study called the EBBA-I study (Energy Balance and Breast cancer Aspects) supervised by Dr Anne-Sofie Furberg and Dr Inger Thune. Here at Fred Hutch I am now focusing on the genetic studies; blood samples from the EBBA women have been genotyped by Dr.Karen W. Makars lab at FHCRC in collaboration with Dr. McTiernan. It's great for me to be able to collaborate with Dr. McTiernan and Dr.Makar when working on these data. Hopefully, my work will improve our knowledge regarding how genetic and environmental factors may interact in relation to levels of sex-hormones of importance for breast cancer risk and recurrence.
JES: Are hormone levels influenced by exercise and body fat?
Anne and Inger: We have shown that when we get previously sedentary postmenopausal women to exercise regularly at moderate intensity for about 45 minutes/day, 5 days/week, they significantly lower their levels of estrogens, testosterone, insulin, and inflammation, all of which can increase risk for various cancers if present at excessive levels.
JES: So exercise affects cancer rates?
Anne and Inger: Epidemiologic studies, including our own in Seattle and Norway have shown that people who keep their weight at normal levels and lead physically active lives have lower risk of developing several types of cancer. The International Agency on Research in Cancer in 2002 estimated that 25% of cancers could be prevented by weight control and physical activity, and recent research supports this. Individuals who exercise at moderate levels for about 150-300 minutes per week reduce their risk for colon cancer by half and for breast cancer by about 20-30 percent.
JES: Do cancer rates in the US and Norway differ?
Inger: Yes, interestingly, there are large differences for some cancer types comparing US and Norway. If we compare rates of the four most common types of cancer in both countries: cancer of the breast, prostate, lung and colon/rectum, the cancer rates in Norway are still between 10-60 % lower than the cancer rates in the US. For both countries breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men.
JES: Anita, how long will you be at the FHCRC on this project?
Anita: I will stay at FHCRC for 10 months until the end of June 2010.
JES: What does it mean to be a "stipendiat"?
Anita: A "stipendiat" is a 3-4 years postgraduate position including a research educational program and scientific work. The final PhD thesis should include at least three scientific papers produced from a well described scientific research project. I am in a doctoral program at the University of Tromsø and attend a graduate school called EPINOR (epidemiology in the high north). The four year program is training me to become a researcher.
JES: How is your research and studies supported?
Anita: The EBBA-I study is supported by the Norwegian Research Council, as well as The Norwegian Cancer Society. My research fellowship is supported by grants obtained by Dr. Furberg in Tromsø and Dr. Thune as the PI of the EBBA-Study. The University of Tromsø pays my salary and also gave me a scholarship that made it possible for me to bring my whole family to Seattle.
JES: What part of Norway do you come from and how do you find life in Seattle?
Anita: I was born in Bodø in Nordland, but for the last 20 years I have lived in Tromsø. Seattle is a great city to live in. I can understand why many of my ancestors decided to settle here. With the fjords and the hills, we pretty much feel closer to home. I also find it amazing that Norwegians living in the US are far better at taking care of the Norwegian culture than we are back home. Getting the children (12, 14, 16 years) settled in the American school system has been a challenge, but they are all enjoying the multiple learning aspects of being a foreigner. As a family I think this as a huge investment for the future. A great opportunity to create ever-lasting family bonds that at the same time allows each one of us to grow on all the experiences we get to have here. Even though I find life busy back home, I think people in the US seem even busier. I really think people should allow themselves time to experience life itself, keeping in mind that quality of life may play an important role also in prevention of getting serious disease.
Anne-Sofie Furberg, MD, PhD, is a researcher at the University Hospital of North Norway.
Inger Thune, MD, PhD, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål
More about Anita's advisors: Inger Thune, MD, PhD, is an oncologist and chair of the Norwegian Research group, Oslo University Hospital at Ullevål; Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD, is the principal investigator at the Seattle Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) at FHCRC; Anne-Sofie Furberg, MD, PhD, is a researcher at the University Hospital of North Norway.