DES, a drug given to women 40 years ago to help prevent miscarriages, may increase the risk of breast cancer in those women's daughters. According to preliminary results of a long-term study, exposure to DES while in the womb increased risk of breast cancer in women over 40 years of age. Though further data are needed to confirm the results, the study suggests that daughters of women who were given DES may need to be diligent about receiving regular breast cancer screenings.

A study of a vaccine that targets one of the main causes of cervical cancer showed promising results, according to a recent report. The vaccine targets a certain strand of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted disease that can increase the risk of cervical cancer. In the study, women who were given the vaccine were protected against cervical cancer while women who were given inactive inoculations were more likely to experience pre-cancerous cervical tissue changes. While the women need to be followed for a longer period of time to determine whether the vaccine remains effective, the results
provide hope that a cervical cancer vaccine will be available in the near future.

High dose chemotherapy, often combined with a bone marrow transplant, is an experimental treatment used on some patients with advanced forms of breast cancer. However, new research finds that women who are given high dose chemotherapy do not live longer than patients who receive the standard dose of chemotherapy. The research did find that Herceptin, a drug that targets a certain genetic component in breast cancer cells, was helpful for treating the disease.

A new study finds that women with HPV, a common sexually transmitted disease, are at significantly higher risk of developing cervical cancer if they smoke. The study also examined the use of oral contraceptives and childbirth on cervical cancer risk, but found that smoking was the only factor associated with a higher risk of cancer in the HPV-positive women. According to the researchers, the study's findings have important implications for public health officials and may be particularly relevant in developing countries where women have poor access to cervical cancer screening and treatment.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning which states that severe complications can result from the cement substance used in procedures to treat spinal fractures. According to the FDA, polymethylmethacrylate bone cement, used during vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty surgical procedures, could leak, and this leakage could result in soft tissue damage and nerve root pain and compression. While the FDA works with other agencies to evaluate the long-term risks of the surgical procedures, it urges physicians to consider the warning before recommending vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty to patients.