July 20, 2006 (Vol. 4, No. 2) The Life of Science E-newsletter is a quarterly publication of cancer research and health-care advances from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Award luncheon for business leadership is Sept. 29 Please join us Sept. 29 as we celebrate the achievements of Alaska Airlines, the 11th annual recipient of the E. Donnall Thomas Medal of Achievement. Named for the Center's pioneer of bone-marrow transplantation, Dr. Don Thomas, the award is presented annually to a visionary corporation or business leader. For more information, go to: Thomas Award Luncheon Breast-cancer prevention breakthrough One of the largest breast-cancer prevention trials ever conducted reports good news for postmenopausal women at increased risk of the disease. Initial results of the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, or STAR, show the drug raloxifene, currently used to prevent and treat osteoporosis, works as well as tamoxifen in reducing breast-cancer risk for postmenopausal women — with fewer side effects. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/center_news/2006/apr20/sart3.html Colon cancer: More bad news for smokers Research has shown that use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by up to 40 percent, but this protective effect doesn't appear to extend to long-term smokers, who already face an increased risk of the disease. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/ne/news/2006/07/01/aspirinandsmokers.html Baby? Maybe, if cancer patients learn options early New fertility-preservation guidelines could help millions of cancer patients consider their future reproductive options more thoroughly. Spearheaded by a Hutchinson Center oncologist, the guidelines urge doctors to discuss the risks of infertility with patients of childbearing age. Currently, little more than half of cancer patients recall receiving such information. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/center_news/2006/jun15/sart1.html Infectious disease experts join the Center Two of the world's leading experts in predicting how epidemics — such as HIV and bird flu — can be controlled have joined the Hutchinson Center faculty. Drs. M. Elizabeth (Betz) Halloran and Ira Longini, both biostatisticians, have collaborated for many years on problems involving vaccine creation and evaluation. They are key researchers in the development of the new Seattle Vaccine and Immunization Research Center, a joint project with the University of Washington. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/center_news/2006/jun1/sart1.html Private contributions fund many life-benefiting programs at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. For more information about how you can help make a difference, please visit http://www.fhcrc.org/donating » We want to hear what you think! Give us feedback on the Hutchinson Center e-newsletter by emailing us at enews@fhcrc.org. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home of three Nobel laureates, is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical technology to eliminate cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. For information on Fred Hutchinson's privacy policy, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/termsofuse_privacypolicy.html ISSN 1541-7433 Copyright 2006 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center P.O. Box 19024 Seattle, WA 98109-1024 http://www.fhcrc.org