Local woman coordinates breast cancer study at UA

A groundbreaking five-year study to see if the hormone oxytocin and positive social and emotional support at home results in improved breast cancer outcomes is currently under way at the University of Arizona.

The study is being conducted by Karen Weihs, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry at the U of A and Study Coordinator Laura Eparvier, R.N., a Quail Creek resident.

The Arizona Cancer Center is one of approximately 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S.

It is currently ranked No. 16 for NCI grant funding.

Weihs, who is medical director of Psychosocial Support and PsychoOncology Services at ACC, said this funding allows for leading-edge research.

She had the grant for the innovative study when she arrived at University Medical Center from George Washington University in 2005.

Originally from Iowa and the oldest of seven children, Weihs said she’s had a long-standing interest on how family relationships influence health.

In this study she hopes to learn how oxytocin, in combination with positive social support, affects breast cancer outcomes.

“We’re looking for the strength of oxytocin and the quality of women’s relationships in emotional and physical closeness… We’re testing a hypothesis; women with breast cancer who have better quality relationships will have higher than average blood levels of oxytocin than women without such relationships.”

The study will examine the relationship between oxytocin levels and the quality of close relationships during the experience of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Weihs recommends the book “Breast Cancer Husband-How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) Through Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond” by Marc Silver.

Oxytocin is a hormone that aids in bonding and forming and maintaining relationships.

In addition to emotional support at home from a spouse or partner support from a patient’s children or close friends may also be an important factor.

If it is found that oxytocin levels increase with supportive relationships, it may help explain why women with more support have a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence.

The study

Currently 62 women from Southern Arizona are participating; two are from Green Valley. Weihs and Eparvier hope to more than double the enrollment in the next 12 months.

As the study’s coordinator, Eparvier acts as a local resource to a patient, which she said is often a very helpful connection during the difficult time of diagnosis and surgery.

Aware of the traumatic time she said, “Decisions are made in a step-by-step fashion. Often women may think, ‘Why did this happen to me?’...then think ‘maybe I can help,’ and they choose to participate. Some women decide to participate because they have daughters.”

Women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer and who show no evidence of metastasis are eligible to participate. Weihs and Eparvier are accepting women before and after surgery who have not begun chemotherapy.

Once accepted, participants meet one-on-one with Eparvier and an oncology nurse quarterly for two years. Using a combination of questionnaires, blood tests to measure levels of oxytocin and interviews about close relationships the study is the first of its kind.

“On the initial visit we encourage a patient to bring someone close… husbands or another support person are encouraged to talk with the social worker about their concerns. They’re an important part of the process,” Eparvier said, adding that she is very flexible and is willing to meet with Green Valley participants at their homes.

She is gratified that the study is being done in such a positive way that no participants have dropped out since deciding to take part.

Women interested in being a participant may contact Eparvier at leparvier@email.arizona.edu or 520-626-7325. A small stipend for transportation to UMC is available.

Funding for the study is by the Department of Defense and the Army Medical Research Program. Weihs said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) was responsible for amending the DOD’s appropriation bill to fund this research grant, and it is because of the very strong lobby of women with breast cancer that this grant was made.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer for the Green Valley News.