Philadelphia, PA – The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) seeks approximately 2,800 women at high risk for breast cancer to participate in a national clinical trial to evaluate ultrasound as a screening tool. The ACRIN study, co-sponsored by the Avon Foundation and the National Cancer Institute, will enroll women at The University of Southern California (USC) and 19 other sites throughout the United States and Canada. This study is an example of how the money raised by the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a project of the Avon Foundation, is being used in the Los Angeles area.

Mammography, a widespread breast cancer screening exam, employs x-rays to detect abnormalities and can sometimes miss tumors in women with “dense,” or nonfatty, breast tissue. Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to form a picture, has been shown in some studies to find early breast cancers in dense breast tissue that mammography misses.

“This study will help determine if ultrasound should be used routinely in addition to mammography for women with dense breasts,” said Linda Hovanessian, M.D., the study’s investigator at USC.

“The goal of breast cancer screening is to identify tumors at an early stage, when there is a greater likelihood that the disease has not spread and chances of survival are high. Mammography does not always do that for women with dense breasts,” said Wendie Berg, M.D., Ph.D., American Radiology Services, Johns Hopkins at Greenspring, who is heading the study on behalf of the American College of Radiology Imaging Network.

To be eligible for the study, women must have breast tissue that appears dense on a mammogram and be at high risk for breast cancer. Women at high risk include those who have a history of breast cancer, have a strong family history of breast cancer, and those who have had a breast biopsy showing precancerous cells. Women entering the study will have both a mammogram and an ultrasound each year for three years, and will answer questions about their health.

“We are proud to support this study into potential new diagnostic opportunities,” explained Kathleen Walas, President, Avon Foundation. “The mission of the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade is to fund access to care and finding a cure, and we know early detection is a key to successful treatment. Thanks to walkers in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, including the one in Los Angeles on September 11-12, we are able to support efforts such as this ACRIN study.”

To arrange an interview with Drs. Hovanessian or Berg, please contact ACR Public Relations Manager Shawn Farley at (703) 648-8936 or shawnf@acr.org.

For more information about the study call USC at 323-865-3228, the NCI Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER, or visit www.acrin.org.

Participants, friends and family of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Los Angeles can gain information on ways to detect early breast cancer, including details on participating in the Screening Breast Ultrasound trial, at the Avon Foundation display at the Avon Walk “Wellness Village” Saturday evening. The Wellness Village is located at West Los Angeles College in Culver City, and is open to participants and their guests. For more information on the Avon Foundation please visit www.avonfoundation.org.

# # #

The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) is a National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Cooperative Group. It is made up of investigators from over 100 academic and community-based medical facilities in the United States and several international institutions. ACRIN’s mission is to develop information, through clinical trials of diagnostic imaging and image-guided therapeutic procedures, that will result in: 1) the earlier diagnosis of cancer, 2) allaying the concerns of those who do not have cancer and 3) improving the length and quality of lives of cancer patients. Further information about ACRIN can be found at www.acrin.org.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) is a national professional organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic radiologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists, with programs focusing on the practice of radiology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services. Further information on ACR can be found at www.acr.org.