Bibliographic Analysis of Oral Precancer and Cancer Research Papers from Saudi Arabia

Objective: Oral cancer and precancers are a major public health challenge in developing countries. Researchers in Saudi Arabia have constantly been directing their efforts on oral cancer research and have their results published. Systematic analysis of such papers is the need of the hour as it will not only acknowledge the current status but will also help in framing future policies on oral cancer research in Saudi Arabia. Method: The search string “oral cancer” OR “Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma” OR “oral premalignant lesion” OR “oral precancer” OR “Oral Potentially malignant disorder” AND AFFIL (Saudi AND Arabia ) was used for retrieval of articles from Scopus database. Various tools available in Scopus database were used for analyzing the bibliometric related parameters. Results: The search revealed a total of 663 publications based on the above query. Maximum affiliations were from King Saud University (163) followed by Jazan University (109) and then King Abdulaziz University (106). A large number of international collaborations were observed, the maximum with India (176) and the USA (127). The maximum number of articles were published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (34) followed by the Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice (33) and Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine (19). Conclusion: Saudi researchers are directing their efforts towards the public health menace of oral cancer. However, it was also observed that some institutions have emerged as front runners in research, whereas others are contributing significantly less. The health department should encourage and take necessary steps to increase the involvement of other institutions.     

Mexican Breast Cancer Research Output, 2003-2012

The objetive of this study was to explore a bibliometric approach to quantitatively assess current researchtrends with regard to breast cancer in Mexico. Articles were analyzed by scientific output and researchperformances of individuals, institutes, and collaborative countries with Mexico. Data were retrieved from theWeb of Science database from 2003 to 2012; this was searched using different terms related to breast cancer,including “breast cancer”, “mammary ductal carcinoma” and “breast tumour”. Data were then extracted fromeach file, transferred to Excel charts and visualised as diagrams. A total of 256 articles were retrieved. Theinstitutions with the majority of publications were the National Autonomous University of Mexico (22.3%), theNational Institute of Cancerology (21.9%), and Social Security Mexican Institute (20.3%); clinical observationstudies were the dominant investigation type (64%), and the main types of research were metabolics (24.2%) andpathology (21.5%). This article demonstrates the usefulness of bibliometrics to address key evaluation questionsand to establish priorities, define future areas of research, and develop breast cancer control strategies in Mexico.     

Skin cancer coverage in a national newspaper: A teachable moment

Background. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the number of published articles related to skin cancer inThe New York Times newspaper from 1980–2004; (2) assess the content of the articles related to skin cancer, and (3) examine the trends in media coverage of skin cancer over time.Methods. We performed a content analysis on articles related to skin cancer appearing inThe New York Times during January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2004, using the ProQuest® online content repository database and key wordsskin cancer. We conducted an advanced focus search of all “skin cancer” articles using key words “melanoma,” “squamous cell carcinoma,” “basal cell carcinoma,” “sunscreen,” “tanning,” “sunbathing,” and “tanning salon.”Results. We identified 874 published articles relating to skin cancer. Melanoma was the primary subject of the 874 articles, with 29% of the articles focusing on some aspect of melanoma. Coverage of other major subjects included sunscreen (11%), tanning (9%), basal cell carcinoma (7%), squamous cell carcinoma (3%), sunbathing (2%), and tanning salon (2%). The remaining 37% of articles contained some mention of skin cancer, but skin cancer was not the main topic nor were any of the focus terms. Over the 25-year period we examined, there was slight upward trend in the number of skin-cancer-related articles, although we observed year-to-year variation.Conclusions. Understanding how the print media portrays skin cancer issues provides valuable feedback for federal agencies and cancer organizations and may ultimately help promote skin cancer prevention and education.     

Exploring novel targets of basal-like breast carcinoma by comparative gene profiling and mechanism analysis

Current adjuvant treatment modalities for breast cancer that express the estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor include adjuvant anti-estrogen therapies, and tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Bone, including the jaw, is an endocrine-sensitive organ, as are other oral structures. This review examines the potential links between adjuvant anti-estrogen treatments in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer and oral health. A search of PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and the Web of Knowledge was conducted using combinations of key terms “breast,” “cancer,” “neoplasm,” “Tamoxifen,” “Aromatase Inhibitor,” “chemotherapy,” “hormone therapy,” “alveolar bone loss,” “postmenopausal bone loss,” “estrogen,” “SERM,” “hormone replacement therapy,” and “quality of life.” We selected articles published in peer-reviewed journals in the English. The authors found no studies reporting on periodontal diseases, alveolar bone loss, oral health, or oral health-related quality of life in association with anti-estrogen breast cancer treatments in postmenopausal women. Periodontal diseases, alveolar bone density, tooth loss, and conditions of the soft tissues of the mouth have all been associated with menopausal status supporting the hypothesis that the soft tissues and bone of the oral cavity could be negatively affected by anti-estrogen therapy. As a conclusion, the impact of adjuvant endocrine breast cancer therapy on the oral health of postmenopausal women is undefined. The structures of the oral cavity are influenced by estrogen; therefore, anti-estrogen therapies may carry the risk of oral toxicities. Oral health care for breast cancer patients is an important but understudied aspect of cancer survivorship.     

Survival Rate of Breast Cancer in Iran: A Meta-Analysis

Background: There has not been a general estimation about survival rates of breast cancer cases in Iran. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess survival using a meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: International credible databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Science direct and Google Scholar and Iranian databases such as Magiran, Irandoc and SID, from 1997 to 2015 were searched. All articles covering survival rate of breast cancer were entered into the study without any limits. Quality assessment of the articles and data extraction were performed by two researchers using the modified STROBE checklist, which includes 12 questions. Articles with scores greater than 8 were included in the analysis. A limitation of this meta-analysis was different methods for presenting of results in the papers surveyed. Results: A total of 21 articles with a sample of 12,195 people were analyzed. The one-year, three-year, five-year and ten-year survival rates of breast cancer in Iran were estimated to be 95.8% (94.6-97.0), 82.4% (79.0-85.8), 69.5% (64.5-74.5), 58.1% (39.6-76.6), respectively. The most important factors affecting survival of breast cancer were age, number of lymph nodes involved, size of the tumor and the stage of the disease. Conclusion: The five- and ten- year survival rates in Iran are lower than in developed countries. Conducting breast cancer screening plan support (including regular clinical examination, mammography), public training and raising awareness should be helpful in facilitating early diagnosis and increasing survival rates for Iranian women.     

Health Damaged Context: Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening from Viewpoint of Iranian Health Volunteers

Background: Breast cancer is common among cancer diseases and the second leading cause of death among womenworldwide. The breast cancer-caused death is directly associated with diagnosis time of the disease. Screening is one ofthe major methods for health promotion in human societies. However, many women still refuse to do the periodicscreening. The present study is aimed to analyze the experiences of health volunteers in order to understand the barriers tobreast cancer screening among women at southeast of Iran. Methods: Data collection was performed through focusgroups. Using the purposive sampling method, 24 participants were selected and then were allocated to 6-membergroups. The data were analysed using Lundman and Graneheim qualitative content analysis. Results: The main theme of“Health Damage Context” was extracted with four main categories, including: family barriers, cultural and social barriers,personal barriers and organizational barriers. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, there are numerousbarriers to regular breast cancer screening, and for the same reasons, the willingness to screening is sometimes notsatisfactory. Therefore, in case of the women’s referral to health centers, nurses and other health-care professionalsshould inform them about the role of different screening methods in early diagnosis and rapid treatment of breast cancer.     

Breast cancer screening among females in Iran and recommendations for improved practice: a review

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer amongst women, in Iran comprising 21.4% of female cancers. There are several screening modalities for breast cancer including breast self-examination, clinical breast examination and mammography. This research reviews the literature surrounding the implementation of these screening approaches in the Islamic Republic of Iran. After initial results produced approximately 208 articles, a total of 96 articles were included because they specifically addressed epidemiological characteristics of breast cancer, culture, religion, health seeking behavior, screening programs and the health system in Iran. Literature showed that breast self-examination and clinical breast examination were most common as there is no population-based mammography screening program in Iran. Additionally, most women appear to obtain information through the mass media. Results also indicate that Islamic beliefs and preventative medicine are very much aligned and can be used to promote breast cancer screening in Iran. These results highlight that there is a need for aggressive preventative measures focusing on breast self examination and gradually moving towards national mammography programs in Iran ideally disseminated through the media with government support.     

North Korea Must be Global Scale Cohort,Not a Galapagos in the Medical Research Field

Objective: This study aimed to compare the research trend regarding gynecologic malignancies in North Korean medical journal and South Korean medical journal. Methods: Articles published in the journal of “Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynecology” in North Korea and “Obstetrics & Gynecology Science” in South Korea from 2006 to 2016 were analyzed by using frequency analysis. Studies on gynecologic malignancies were classified by international classification of disease (ICD-10). Results: Out of 3361 reviewed articles, 116 articles published in North Korean journal and 519 articles published in South Korean medical journal were classified as gynecologic oncology. We found a distinct difference between North and South Korean medical journals regarding research trends on gynecologic oncology. The proportions of gestational trophoblastic disease, cervical cancer, and anogenital warts were higher in North Korean medical journal, but proportions of ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, peritoneal cancer, corpus uterine cancer, and vulvar cancer were higher in South Korean medical journal. Conclusion: This study enforced an analysis of research trends on gynecologic malignancies in North Korean and South Korea medical journals, and a distinct difference was observed in this regard. In the future, grand scale cohort study in the genetic identical two Korean population is needed for research of environmental effect on gynecologic cancer.     

Summing it up: An integrative review of studies of cancer survivorship care plans (2006‐2013)

In 2006, the Institute of Medicine recommended that cancer survivors who are completing primary treatment receive a survivorship care plan (SCP) based on face validity. The state of scientific knowledge regarding the SCP is unclear. The authors conducted an integrative review of existing evidence regarding SCPs. The MEDLINE/PubMed database, the Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) database were searched for relevant studies published between 2006 and 2013 using a combination of keywords: “survivors,” “survivorship,” “care plans,” “care planning,” “treatment summaries,” and “cancer.” Articles were included if they 1) reported results from an empirical study, 2) included cancer survivors who were diagnosed at age ≥18 years, 3) related to SCP, and 4) were published in English. In total, 781 records were retrieved; 77 were identified as duplicates, and 665 were abstracts or presentations that did not relate to SCPs for adults or were not empirical, which left 42 articles for inclusion in this review. Studies regarding SCP fell into 3 categories: 1) content (n=14), 2) dissemination and implementation (n=14), and 3) survivor and provider outcomes (n=14). SCPs have been endorsed and are associated with improved knowledge, but SCP use remains sporadic. Only 4 studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that avoided many biases associated with observational studies. Other limitations included cross‐sectional or pre‐SCP–post‐SCP (“pre‐post”) designs, limited generalizability caused by a lack of sample diversity, and a lack of systematic testing of data‐collection tools. The quantity and quality of SCP research are limited. SCPs have been endorsed, but evidence of improved outcomes associated with SCP is limited. Future research that addresses the methodological concerns of extant studies is needed regarding SCP use, content, and outcomes. Cancer 2015;121:978–996. © 2014 American Cancer Society.     

Do VDR Gene Polymorphisms Contribute to Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is the first or second leading cancer among females across the globe. A large number of studies have been conducted to assess any relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and breast cancer development. Epidemiological studies have indicated that ethnic traits exhibited by a group of people with a common ancestry and culture, alter the link between VDR gene and breast cancer. It has been hypothesized that VDR polymorphisms have the capacity to impact both on incidence of breast cancer occurrence and to predict its outcome. A survey was here conducted to assess and compare the impact of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms Fok1, Bsm1, Taq1, Apa1 and poly (A) on development of breast cancer. Information was obtained from electronic databases including PubMed and Google Scholar for articles published during the period from 1996 to 2015. This search was achieved by using the terms “genetics”, “breast cancer”, “VDR gene”, “polymorphisms”. However, due to inconsistent results, no conclusive statements could be presented about the significance of the VDR genotype as far as the development of breast carcinoma is concerned’     

Cancer-related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Review

Fatigue has been the most distressing and frequent symptom in breast cancer (BC) survivors after treatment. Although fatigue can occur in other cancer survivors, women with a history of BC might share some distinctive features. The present study aimed to recapitulate the knowledge about risk factors and correlates of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in BC survivors after oncologic therapy. An electronic data search was conducted in PubMed using the terms “fatigue,” “breast,” “cancer,” and “survivors.” Records were included if they were original articles, available in English, had used a quantitative scale, had > 100 participants, and had excluded women with BC relapse. BC survivors were required to have finished their treatments ≥ 2 months before, except for hormonal therapy. The physiopathology and other interventions were considered beyond the scope of our review. The correlates were subsequently classified into 7 main categories: (1) sociodemographic data, (2) physical variables, (3) tumor- and treatment-related variables, (4) comorbidities, (5) other symptoms, (6) psychological issues, and (7) lifestyle factors. Fatigue was consistently greater in younger, obese, and diabetic women. Women reporting fatigue often communicated symptoms such as pain, depression, insomnia, and cognitive dysfunction. Coping strategies such as catastrophizing could play an important role in the persistence of fatigue. However, tumor characteristics, previous treatments received, and physical activity were not consistently reported. CRF was a strong predictor of the quality of life of BC survivors after treatment. In conclusion, we found CRF was a frequent and serious symptom that severely affects the quality of life of BC survivors after treatment. Health practitioners require more awareness and information about CRF.     

Meta-Analysis of Breast Cancer Risk in Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine System Users

To map and assess evidence regarding use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and its association with breast cancer, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. A search strategy was developed using the terms “Levonorgestrel-releasing,” “LNG-IUS,” “intrauterine system,” and “breast cancer. The electronic databases searched were MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Latin American & Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, and Google Scholar for studies published until August 2020. We included observational studies: prospective or retrospective cohort, case–control, and cross-sectional. A total of 494 studies were identified, 294 studies were evaluated by title and abstract, and 262 were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. A total of 32 studies were read in full, and 24 were excluded. Thus, eight studies were included in the systematic review. The meta-analysis included four studies (two cohort and two case–control studies). Two subgroup analyses were performed for different study designs. The estimated relative risk for the two cohort studies (144,996 cases), with moderate-quality evidence, was 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.840-1.03). The odds ratio estimated for the two case–control studies (5556 cases and 35987 controls), with moderate-quality evidence, was 1.07 (95% CI, 0.91-1.26). Evidence of an increased risk of breast cancer was not observed in levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system users.     

A Bibliometric Analysis of Diets and Breast Cancer Research

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The primary aim of this work was toprovide an in-depth evaluation of research publications in the field of diets and breast cancer. The impact ofeconomic outcome on national academic productivity was also investigated. Data were retrieved using Pubmedfor English-language publications. The search included all research for which articles included words relatingto “diets and breast cancer”. Population and national income data were obtained from publicly availabledatabases. Impact factors for journals were obtained from Journal Citation Reports® (Thomson Scientific).There were 2,396 publications from 60 countries in 384 journals with an impact factor. Among them, 1,652(68.94%) publications were Original articles. The United States had the highest quantity (51% of total) andhighest of mean impact factor (8.852) for publication. Sweden had the highest productivity of publication whenadjusted for number of population (6 publications per million population). Publications from the Asian nationincreased from 5.3% in 2006 to 14.6% in 2012. The Original article type was also associated with geography(p<0.001; OR=2.183; 95%CI=1.526-3.123), Asian countries produced more proportion of Original articles (82%)than those of rest of the world (67.6%). Diets and breast cancer-associated research output continues to increaseannually worldwide including publications from Asian countries. Although the United States produced the mostpublications, European nations per capita were higher in publication output.     

Complications and Carcinogenic Effects of Mustard Gas - a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Iran

Background: Catastrophic effects of mustard gas as a chemical warfare agent have always been a major problem for those exposed to this agent. In this meta-analysis it was tried to evaluate carcinogenesis, ocular, cutaneous and respiratory complications of mustard gas exposure among Iranians who had been exposed to this agent during the Iran-Iraq war. Materials and Methods: In this meta-analysis, the required data were collected using keywords “mustard gas”, ”sulfur mustard”, “cancer”, “neoplasm”, “respiratory complications”, “ocular complications” , “lung disease”, “chronic complication”, “eye”, “skin”, “cutaneous complication”, “carcinogenesis” and their combination with keywords “Iran”, “Iranian”, “prevalence”, “mortality” and their Farsi equivalent terms from the databases of SID, Iranmedex, Magiran, Pubmed, Science Direct, Google Search engine, Gray Literature and Reference of References. To determine the prevalence of each complication and perform meta-analysis, CMA: 2 (Comprehensive Meta-Analysis) software with a randomized model was used. Results: Of the 542 articles found, 7 national articles, consistent with the aims of this study were selected. Metaanalysis of seven papers revealed that cancer risk, especially cancer of the respiratory system was elevated, so that the relative risk (RR) of cancer role of mustard gas was inconsistent from 2/1 to 4 in this survey. Also prevalence of delayed skin disorders due to sulfur mustard was 94.6%, pulmonary complications 94.5% and ocular complications 89.9%. The incidence of various cancers in victims exposed to mustard gas was 1.7% worldwide where the rate was 2.2% in Iranian victims of the Iraq-Iran war. Conclusions: Based on present study the prevalence of delayed mustard gas related cutaneous, pulmonary and ocular complications is above 90% and risk of carcinogenesis is higher in comparison to worldwide statistics. This may suggest need for long-term and persistent follow-up and rehabilitation procedures for populations exposed to this agent.     

The role of religion and spirituality in cancer care: An umbrella review of the literature

Although some studies have suggested a strong relationship between religion and spirituality (R&S) and patient outcomes in cancer care, other data have been mixed or even noted adverse effects associated with R&S in the healthcare setting. We sought to perform an umbrella review to systematically appraise and synthesize the current body of literature on the role of patient R&S in cancer care. A systematic search of the literature was conducted that focused on “cancer” (neoplasm, malignant neoplasm, malignancy), “spirituality” (beliefs, divine), and “religion” (specific practices like Christianity, faith, faith healing, prayer, Theology). A total of 41 review articles published from 1995 to 2019 were included: 8 systematic reviews, 6 meta-analyses, 4 systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and 23 other general reviews. The number of studies included in each review ranged from 7 to 148, while 10 studies did not indicate sample size. Most articles did not focus on a specific cancer diagnosis (n = 36), stage of cancer (n = 32), or patient population (n = 34). Many articles noted that R&S had a positive impact on cancer care, yet some reviews reported inconclusive or negative results. Marked variation in methodological approaches to studying R&S among cancer patients, including operational definitions and measurement, were identified. Resolving these issues will be an important step to understanding how patients seek to have R&S integrated into their patient-centered cancer care experience.     

Innovation Status of Gene Therapy for Breast Cancer

Background: To analyze multi-source data including publications and patents, and try to draw the wholelandscape of the research and development community in the field of gene therapy for breast cancer. Materialsand Methods: Publications and patents were collected from the Web of science and databases of the five majorpatent offices of the world, respectively. Bibliometric methodologies and technology are used to investigatepublications/patents, their contents and relationships. Results: A total of 2,043 items published and 947 patentsfrom 1994 to 2013 including “gene therapy for breast cancer” were retrieved. The top five countries in globalpublication share were USA, China, Germany, Japan and England. On the other hand, USA, Australia, England,South Korea and Japan were the main producers of patents. The universities and enterprises of USA had thehighest amount of publication and patents. Adenovirus- and retrovirus-based gene therapies and small interferingRNA (siRNA) interference therapies were the main topics both in publications and patents. Conclusions: Theabove results show that global research in the field of gene therapy for breast cancer is increasing and the mainparticipants in this field are USA and Canada in North America, China, Japan and South Korea in Asia, andEngland, Germany, and Italy in Europe. Also, this article demonstrates the usefulness of bibliometrics to addresskey evaluation questions and define future areas of research.     

Meta‐analysis of the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and cancer outcomes

Proinflammatory dietary patterns have been associated with increased cancer risk and mortality. We present a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the current published literature on a dietary inflammatory index (DII) score and its association with cancer risk and mortality outcomes. Published articles from online databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Embase) examining the association between DII and any cancer risk, incidence, or mortality between 1980 and November 2016 were selected for review. Results of studies meeting inclusion criteria were summarized and meta‐analyzed using STATA to generate summary measures of association across studies. Sixty‐three published articles were identified from the search, and following title, abstract and full‐text review, twenty‐four studies met inclusion criteria. All articles calculated DII scores based on study‐specific food‐frequency questionnaires using methodology from the same article. Of the 24 included studies, 13 were case–control, 6 were prospective cohort, 1 was a retrospective cohort, 3 were RCTs, and 1 did not specify study design. The most common cancers examined were colorectal, breast, lung, and prostate. Individuals in the highest versus lowest DII categories had 25% increased risk of overall cancer incidence (RR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.16–1.35), 75% higher odds of cancer (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.43–2.16) and 67% increased risk of cancer mortality (RR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.13–2.48). Upon stratification for cancer type, positive associations remained (RR_breast: RR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03–1.22) (RR_colorectal: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.22–1.46) (RR_lung: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.13–1.50). There were consistent and significant positive associations between higher DII and cancer incidence and mortality across cancer types, study populations, and study design.     

Triple Negative Breast Cancer in People of North East India: Critical Insights Gained at a Regional Cancer Centre

Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease comprising of distinct biological subtypes with manytargeted prognostic biomarkers having therapeutic implications. However, no specific targeted therapy fortriple negative breast cancer has been discovered to date and hence further research is needed. Aim: The aimand objectives of the present study were to examine the prevalence of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)in North-East India and to compare the clinicopathological parameters in two study groups defined byimmunohistochemistry (IHC) –“TNBC” and “Others”. Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospectivestudy in a cohort of 972 patients diagnosed with invasive breast carcinoma in the Department of Pathology, Dr.B. Borooah Cancer Institute, a Regional Cancer Centre for treatment and research, Guwahati, for a period of 3years and 10 months from January 2010 to October 2013. Based on IHC findings, patients were divided into twogroups - “TNBC” and “Others”. All relevant clinicopathological parameters were compared in both. TNBC weredefined as those that were estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2/neu negative whilethose positive for any of these markers were defined as “Others”. Results: In this study, out of total 972 cases31.9% (310 cases) were defined as TNBC and 662 cases (68.1%) as “Others” based on IHC markers. Comparedto the “Others” category, TNBC presented at an early age (mean 40 years), were associated with high gradelarge tumours and high rate of node positivity, IDC NOS being the most common histological subtype in TNBC.Conclusions: TNBC accounts for a significant portion of breast cancers in this part of India and commonlypresent at younger age and tend to be large high grade tumours.     

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of Cross-Sectional Studies in Iran

Objective: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and has more severe mental and emotional effects than other types. Depression as a mental disorder affects people’s mental well-being, physical symptoms, occupational performance, and finally quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine depression levels in Iranian women with breast cancer. Methods: A systematic review study was conducted in 2017. English and Persian databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SID, Magiran) were searched with key words such as Depression Or Depressive Disorders AND Women AND Breast Cancer OR Tumor OR Neoplasm OR Malignancy AND Iran. Inclusion criteria allowed for cross-sectional studies conducted in Iran (published in English or Persian language journals), studies that had key words in their keywords or their titles and standard instruments for measuring depression in patients. Of the 160 publications found, eight were selected after reviewing the title, abstract and full article. Results: Age of women with breast cancer in selected studies ranged from 43.8 (SD = 47.1) to 55.9 (SD = 14.6) years. Duration of cancer in most studies was about 1-2 years. In most studies, mild levels of depression for women with breast cancer were present. However, in one study it was stated that 69.4% of participants had serious levels of depression. Conclusions: There is increase in the risk of depression in women with breast cancer. Therefore, it seems necessary to plan preventive and therapeutic measures in order to improve the mental health and quality of life of the affected patients.