Description

The long term goal of the proposed research is to determine if the incidence of breast cancer in a high risk population can be reduced by 29% by a reduction of dietary fat intake to a target of 15% of calories. We propose to meet this goal by means of a multi-centre randomized controlled trial in Canada that will enroll 4,500 subjects with extensive mammographic densities from 6 centres.

The trial is designed, as its title indicates, as an explanatory study whose purpose is the detection of a biological effect. We have therefore consciously restricted entry to the trial to subjects with characteristics shown in previous work to be associated with an increased risk of cancer and with willingness to participate and comply with the goals of the trial. Further, preliminary data show that the dietary intervention in these subjects causes changes in plasma sex hormone levels and mammographic densities that indicate potential mechanisms by which a reduction in risk of breast cancer might be achieved.

Principal Investigator

• N. Boyd (Ontario)

Co-Principal Investigator

• Gregory Hislop (BC)

Research team

• Selina Chan, Vancouver site dietitians
• , Surrey site dietitians
• Evelyn Wu, Surrey site dietitians