Screening/Prevention
Removal of Ovaries During Hysterectomy for Benign Condition Carries Health Risks
(05/12/2009)
Among women who have a hysterectomy for reasons other than cancer, those who also have their ovaries removed have a slightly higher overall risk of death from cancer and heart disease than those who do not have their ovaries removed. These results were published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Many BRCA Carriers Opt for Prophylactic Mastectomy to Ease Concerns of Future Cancers
(04/13/2009)
Women who carry a BRCA mutation are more likely to believe that prophylactic mastectomy is the best way to reduce their risk and worry of breast cancer compared with other high-risk women, according to the results of a study published in Cancer.
New ACOG Guidelines Recommend Routine Genetic Risk Assessment
(04/08/2009)
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) recommend routine assessment of a woman’s risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, in order to identify those who may benefit from a more thorough hereditary cancer risk assessment. Women who eventually undergo genetic testing and are found to carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have options available to manage their increased risk of cancer. These guidelines were published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Genetic Variants Linked with Risk of Breast Cancer
(04/07/2009)
A large-scale effort to identify genetic markers of breast cancer has identified two new genetic variants that increase the risk of breast cancer among women of European ancestry. These results were published in Nature Genetics.
Moderate Alcohol Consumption Increases Risk of Cancer in Women
(03/10/2009)
Women who regularly consume low to moderate amounts of alcohol have an increased risk of cancers of the upper digestive tract, rectum, liver, and breast when compared with women who do not drink, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Carcinoma In Situ
HER2 Overexpression Predicts Invasive Breast Cancer in Women with DCIS
(06/01/2009)
According to the results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that has high levels of the HER2 protein are several times more likely than other women with DCIS to have invasive breast cancer.
Rate of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Increasing Among Women with DCIS
(03/23/2009)
The rate of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) among women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has drastically increased in the United States in recent years—by as much as 188%, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Radiation Delays Associated with Worse Outcomes in Localized Breast Cancer
(11/25/2008)
Women who delay radiation treatment after surgery for early-stage breast cancer have worse outcomes than women who undergo radiation sooner, according to two recent studies, one published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and the other in Cancer.
Breast Cancer and Environment Research Act Calls for Research into Causes of Breast Cancer
(06/02/2008)
If signed into law, the Breast Cancer and Environment Research Act (H.R. 1157) would create programs and funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for increased research into environmental causes of breast cancer. According to a press release from the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC), at a Wednesday, May 21, 2008, hearing before the House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health, representatives for the NBCC testified in support of H.R. 1157.
Specific Gene Mutations May Affect Response to Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer
(05/06/2008)
Mutations within the CYP2D6 gene may affect the way in which a patient with hormone-positive breast cancer responds to tamoxifen (Nolvadex®). These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Stage I Node Negative
Oncotype DX® and Clinical Characteristics Influence Chemotherapy Decisions in Early Breast Cancer
(06/22/2009)
According to research conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, among women with early breast cancer who underwent testing with Oncotype DX®, decisions about the need for chemotherapy were influenced by the Oncotype DX recurrence score as well as by the size and grade of the cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Denosumab Provides Bone Benefits in Prostate and Breast Cancer
(06/15/2009)
Among prostate patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy, the investigational drug denosumab increases bone density and reduces the risk of fractures. Denosumab also improves bone density in breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors. These were the results of two studies presented at the 2009 annual meeting the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Partial Breast Irradiation Appears Safe and Feasible for Early Breast Cancer
(06/10/2009)
Partial breast irradiation (PBI) appears to produce the same overall survival results as whole-breast radiation (WBRT) in women with early-stage breast cancer; however, more research will be necessary before this investigational treatment replaces WBRT as the standard of care in this patient group. The results of this study were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Florida.
Sentinel Node Micrometastases Indicate Need for Additional Axillary Treatment in Patients with Early Breast Cancer
(06/04/2009)
According to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, breast cancer patients with small areas of cancer (“micrometastases”) in the sentinel lymph nodes should receive additional lymph node treatment (such as axillary lymph node dissection) in order to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
Some Antidepressants May Interfere with Tamoxifen Effectiveness
(06/03/2009)
According to the results of a study conducted in the United States and presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), certain types of antidepressants may interfere with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) effectiveness. In contrast, a study conducted in the Netherlands and also presented at ASCO found no such effect.
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Stages II-III
Oncotype DX® and Clinical Characteristics Influence Chemotherapy Decisions in Early Breast Cancer
(06/22/2009)
According to research conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, among women with early breast cancer who underwent testing with Oncotype DX®, decisions about the need for chemotherapy were influenced by the Oncotype DX recurrence score as well as by the size and grade of the cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Denosumab Provides Bone Benefits in Prostate and Breast Cancer
(06/15/2009)
Among prostate patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy, the investigational drug denosumab increases bone density and reduces the risk of fractures. Denosumab also improves bone density in breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors. These were the results of two studies presented at the 2009 annual meeting the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Partial Breast Irradiation Appears Safe and Feasible for Early Breast Cancer
(06/10/2009)
Partial breast irradiation (PBI) appears to produce the same overall survival results as whole-breast radiation (WBRT) in women with early-stage breast cancer; however, more research will be necessary before this investigational treatment replaces WBRT as the standard of care in this patient group. The results of this study were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Florida.
Sentinel Node Micrometastases Indicate Need for Additional Axillary Treatment in Patients with Early Breast Cancer
(06/04/2009)
According to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, breast cancer patients with small areas of cancer (“micrometastases”) in the sentinel lymph nodes should receive additional lymph node treatment (such as axillary lymph node dissection) in order to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
Some Antidepressants May Interfere with Tamoxifen Effectiveness
(06/03/2009)
According to the results of a study conducted in the United States and presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), certain types of antidepressants may interfere with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) effectiveness. In contrast, a study conducted in the Netherlands and also presented at ASCO found no such effect.
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Inflammatory
Tykerb® Shows Benefit in Inflammatory Breast Cancer
(05/14/2009)
In a Phase II clinical trial, treatment with the targeted therapy Tykerb® (lapatinib) reduced the extent of cancer in 39% of women with HER2-positive, relapsed or refractory inflammatory breast cancer. These results were published in Lancet Oncology.
FDA Approves New Test to Detect HER2 Status in Breast Cancer
(07/10/2008)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new laboratory test to help identify patients with breast cancer who may benefit from treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab).
Tykerb® Effective in Recurrent Inflammatory Breast Cancer
(06/06/2008)
Among women with recurrent HER2-positive inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), treatment with Tykerb® (lapatinib) is effective, even among patients whose cancer has progressed following treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab). These results were recently reported at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Specific Gene Mutations May Affect Response to Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer
(05/06/2008)
Mutations within the CYP2D6 gene may affect the way in which a patient with hormone-positive breast cancer responds to tamoxifen (Nolvadex®). These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Large Majority of Breast Cancer Information on Internet Is Accurate
(02/11/2008)
Approximately 95% of information about breast cancer that is found on the Internet is accurate. These results were recently published in the journal Cancer.
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Metastatic
Targeted Therapy Shows Promise in Treatment of Triple-negative Breast Cancer
(06/01/2009)
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial presented at a plenary session of the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), treatment with chemotherapy plus the investigational drug BSI-201—a type of targeted therapy known as a PARP inhibitor—improved outcomes among women with triple-negative breast cancer.
Study Assesses Risk of Gastrointestinal Perforation in Patients Treated with Avastin®
(05/28/2009)
Gastrointestinal perforation is a potentially serious side effect of the targeted therapy Avastin® (bevacizumab). To explore how frequently this side effect occurs, a study published in Lancet Oncology evaluated information from 17 clinical trials. The results indicate that Avastin users are roughly twice as likely as nonusers to experience gastrointestinal perforation but that the risk appears to vary by Avastin dose and tumor type.
Risk Assessment and Individualized Therapy: A Report from the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
(01/29/2009)
The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) marked its 31st anniversary with its 2008 meeting, which was the first SABCS presented in collaboration by the CTRC (Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center), AACR (American Association for Cancer Research), and the Baylor College of Medicine.
Breast Cancer Update from the 2008 Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
(01/27/2009)
While there was no overriding theme to breast cancer presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) annual meeting in 2008, it is clear that progress continues to be steadily made in defining optimal chemotherapeutic regimens in the adjuvant setting, extending our knowledge of biological therapy, and improving HER2-directed therapy in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Provocative results were presented regarding use of bisphosphonate therapy for improvement in breast cancer-specific endpoints, changes in phenotype during the course of the disease, and linking breast cancer outcome to nutritional status.
Ixempra™ plus Xeloda® Improves Progression-free Survival in Triple-negative Metastatic Breast Cancer
(12/23/2008)
The combination of Ixempra® (ixabepilone) and Xeloda® (capeciteabine) significantly increases progression-free survival in women with triple-negative metastatic breast cancer, according to the results of a study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 12, 2008.
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Recurrent
Risk Assessment and Individualized Therapy: A Report from the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
(01/29/2009)
The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) marked its 31st anniversary with its 2008 meeting, which was the first SABCS presented in collaboration by the CTRC (Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center), AACR (American Association for Cancer Research), and the Baylor College of Medicine.
The 2008 Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Symposium
(11/18/2008)
The 2008 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breast Cancer Symposium, held this year on September 5-7 in Washington, DC, delivered results encompassing advancements in screening, diagnosis, treatment, supportive care, and individualized therapies for patients with breast cancer. The event brought together world-renowned clinicians and researchers who are dedicated to improving outcomes for those diagnosed with breast cancer.
Number of Circulating Cancer Cells Associated with Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer
(10/30/2008)
Cancer cells found circulating in the blood are a strong predictor of mortality among patients with metastatic breast cancer. Patients with large numbers of cancer cells found circulating in the blood may benefit from more aggressive or novel therapeutic approaches. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Nexavar® May Overcome Resistance to Arimidex® in Breast Cancer
(10/08/2008)
The addition of Nexavar® (sorafenib) to Arimidex® (anastrozole) helps restore sensitivity to Arimidex among women with breast cancer. These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) breast cancer symposium.
Continuous Low-dose Chemotherapy Effective Against Anthracycline-resistant Breast Cancer
(09/26/2008)
The use of low-dose Taxotere® (docetaxel) on a weekly basis plus Xeloda® (capecitabine) on a daily basis provided benefit for a significant portion of patients with breast cancer that has stopped responding to anthracyclines. The addition of Celebrex® (celecoxib), however, did not provide any additional benefit. These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) breast cancer symposium.
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Supportive Care
Advances in Breast Cancer Treatment 2008
(03/11/2009)
Twenty to 25 percent of breast cancers overexpress (make too much of) a protein known as HER2. Overexpression of this protein leads to increased growth of cancer cells and a worse breast cancer prognosis.
Healthy Diet Can’t Hurt, May Help Breast Cancer Patients
(01/08/2009)
Women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer might benefit from a healthier diet that includes foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and minimizes refined foods and red meat, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Although this diet was not shown to impact breast cancer-related outcomes, it was associated with a decreased risk of overall death and death from causes other than breast cancer.
Hypnosis Decreases Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors
(09/25/2008)
Hypnosis appears to reduce hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. These results were published in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Neulasta® Deemed Cost-effective for Prevention of Febrile Neutropenia in Breast Cancer Patients
(08/15/2008)
The prophylactic use of Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) is cost-effective for the prevention of febrile neutropenia in patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The details of this study appeared in the March-April 2008 issue of Value Health.
Nurse-delivered Therapy Improves Depression Among Cancer Patients
(07/08/2008)
Therapy delivered to cancer patients by oncology nurses improves cancer-related depression compared with standard therapies. These results were recently published in the Lancet.
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