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Breast Cancer

Trastuzumab Biosimilar for HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer

ON DECEMBER 14, 2018, trastuzumab-pkrb (Herzuma) was approved as a biosimilar to trastuzumab for patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.1 Trastuzumab-pkrb is indicated for adjuvant treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer and metastatic HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.2 Health-care ...

breast cancer
survivorship

Patient Preferences for Oncologist and Primary Care Provider Roles After Initial Breast Cancer Treatment

In a study reported in the Journal of Oncology Practice, Radhakrishnan et al found that the level of involvement of medical oncologists and primary care physicians during initial cancer care in women with early-stage breast cancer affected patients’ preference for provider roles after initial ...

breast cancer

Breast Density Assessment Variation by Screening Modality

Fewer women are assigned to a dense-breast category when evaluated with advanced mammographic screening technologies compared to standard digital mammography, according to a new study published by Gastounioti et al in Radiology. Density Assessment A woman’s breast density is assessed during ...

breast cancer
cost of care

Genomic Testing Associated With Lower Health-Care Costs in Patients With High-Risk Breast Cancer

New research published by Dinan et al in JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network provides evidence that genomic recurrence score testing using the 21-gene assay is associated with decreased cancer care costs in real-world practice among certain patients with breast...

breast cancer

Artificial Intelligence vs Radiologists in Breast Cancer Detection With Digital Mammography

In a study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Rodriguez-Ruiz et al found that a stand-alone artificial intelligence (AI) system had accuracy comparable to an average breast radiologist in detecting breast cancer using digital mammography. Study Details In the retrospective...

breast cancer

Melinda L. Telli, MD, on NCCN Guidelines Updates for HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Melinda L. Telli, MD, of the Stanford Cancer Institute, discusses the various systemic therapies for patients with early-stage hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative disease.

breast cancer

William J. Gradishar, MD, on HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: NCCN Guidelines Updates

William J. Gradishar, MD, of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, discusses evidence-based first-line treatment options for patients with advanced hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer and toxicities associated with the various therapeutic options.

breast cancer

Validation Study of Several Models of Breast Cancer Risk

In a validation study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Terry et al found that the Breast and Ovarian Analysis of Disease Incidence and Carrier Estimation Algorithm model (BOADICEA) and the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study model (IBIS) were the best of 4 models tested for predicting...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Number of Pregnancies May Influence Breast Cancer Risk in Women With BRCA Mutations

Researchers have found the lower risk of breast cancer associated with multiple pregnancies and breastfeeding in the general population extends to those at the highest risk of breast cancer. These results were published by Terry et al in the JNCI Cancer Spectrum. Methods and Findings The...

breast cancer

Neratinib Plus Capecitabine Active Against HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Brain Metastases

In the phase II TBCRC 022 trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Freedman et al found that the combination of neratinib and capecitabine was active against brain metastases in women with HER2-positive breast cancer. Modest activity of neratinib monotherapy had been found in previous...

Breast Cancer

Restarting My Life After Terminal Cancer

At the end of 2015, I was dying. I was just 50 years old and a wife and mother of 2 teenage boys. Twelve years earlier, I had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ in my left breast. Despite a modified radical mastectomy and removal of nearly all of the lymph nodes in my left underarm—which ...

breast cancer
colorectal cancer
lung cancer
pain management

Opioid Use Among Older Survivors of Colorectal, Lung, and Breast Cancers

In a linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results and Medicare study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Salz et al found that chronic opioid use varied by cancer among older cancer survivors. By 6 years after diagnosis, survivors were no more likely to be chronic opioid users...

breast cancer

Use of Specialized PET/CT to Assess Estrogen Receptor Status in Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer

In a Korean study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Chae et al found that 16α-[18F]fluoro-17β-oestradiol (18F-FES) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) may permit accurate reevaluation of estrogen receptor status in recurrent or metastatic breast cancer when repeat...

breast cancer
leukemia
multiple myeloma
issues in oncology

FDA Pipeline: Assay Approval, Breakthrough Designations for AI Technology and CLL, and More

In the past week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a companion diagnostic assay, granted Breakthrough Device and Breakthrough Therapy designations, and extended the review period of a proposed treatment. The agency also published four draft guidances and one final guidance...

breast cancer

Addition of Preoperative Breast MRI to Standard Evaluation in Local Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

In a French phase III trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Balleyguier et al found that the addition of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to standard radiologic evaluation did not improve surgical reintervention rates in women with ductal carcinoma in situ undergoing...

breast cancer
gastroesophageal cancer
gastrointestinal cancer

FDA Approves Trastuzumab-qyyp in HER2-Overexpressing Breast and Gastric Cancers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved trastuzumab-qyyp (Trazimera), a biosimilar to trastuzumab (Herceptin), for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer and HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal...

breast cancer
solid tumors
gynecologic cancer
lymphoma
survivorship

Subsequent Primary Neoplasms in Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers

In a UK population-based cohort study (Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Survivor Study) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Bright et al found that subsequent primary neoplasms were most common in survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) breast, cervical, and testicular cancers, as well as Hodgkin...

Breast Cancer

Factors Influencing Conversion to Mastectomy in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

In a prospective cohort clinical trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Constance D. Lehman, MD, PhD, and colleagues found that multiple factors, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, played a role in conversion to mastectomy among women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who were...

Breast Cancer

Outcomes With Dose-Intense Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Early Breast Cancer

In a patient-level meta-analysis reported in The Lancet, the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group found that an increased dose intensity of adjuvant taxane and anthracycline chemotherapy in early breast cancer was associated with a decreased risk of recurrence and death from breast...

Breast Cancer

We Need Better Screening Methods for Detecting Breast Cancer

MY BREAST CANCER was probably a decade in the making, although I only became aware that there might be a problem in 2014, when I noticed some slight pain in my left breast. A routine mammogram and ultrasound found benign cysts in my dense breasts, which most likely explained the pain, I was told,...

breast cancer
immunotherapy

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Atezolizumab/Nab-Paclitaxel; Regular Approval Contingent on Confirmatory Trials

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to atezolizumab (Tecentriq) plus nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel (Abraxane) for the treatment of adults with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive ...

breast cancer
issues in oncology
cost of care

Patients With Breast Cancer Provide Recommendations to Ease Financial Toxicity

A qualitative study yielded nine patient-driven recommendations across circumstances that include changes to insurance, supportive services, and financial assistance to reduce long-term, breast cancer–related economic burden. The study was published by Dean et al in Cancer. Unique...

breast cancer
gynecologic cancer
hematologic malignancies
leukemia
lymphoma
symptom management

FDA Pipeline: Updates on Treatments for Cervical Cancer, Myelofibrosis, Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting, and More

The FDA recently issued announcements on a Fast Track designation, a Priority Review, two supplemental new drug applications, an investigational new drug application, and a marketing clearance. The agency also released a safety communication on cancer-related surgery. Fast Track Designation for...

breast cancer
immunotherapy

G. Travis Clifton, MD, on Breast Cancer and Disease Recurrence: Final Analysis From a Study of Nelipepimut-S, GM-CSF, and Trastuzumab

G. Travis Clifton, MD, of Brooke Army Medical Center, discusses phase IIb trial findings on nelipepimut-S plus GM-CSF with trastuzumab vs trastuzumab alone to prevent recurrences of high-risk, HER2 low-expressing breast cancer (Abstract 1).

breast cancer
immunotherapy

Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, MD, PhD, on Breast Cancer Immunotherapy: Building on Recent Successes

Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, MD, PhD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses the encouraging data on atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel in the first-line setting for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, and the potential benefits of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with targeted treatment in breast cancer.

Breast Cancer

Neoadjuvant Palbociclib Plus Letrozole Reduces Ki67 Levels

In the neoadjuvant setting, adding palbociclib to letrozole significantly enhanced the suppression of malignant cell proliferation, as measured by Ki67 levels, in patients with primary estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer but did not increase the clinical response rate over 14 weeks, according ...

Breast Cancer

Long-Term Study Finds Axillary Radiotherapy Safe and Effective After Positive Sentinel Node Biopsy

Following identification of a positive sentinel lymph node, surgical axillary lymph node dissection and axillary radiation therapy provide comparable locoregional control and survival, according to a 10-year follow-up of the large European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer AMAROS...

breast cancer

Biologic Age and Elevated Breast Cancer Risk

Biologic age—a DNA-based estimate of a person’s age—may be associated with development of breast cancer, according a report published by Kresovich et al in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Study Methods Scientists from the National Institute of Environmental Health...

Breast Cancer

More Data Show Small Benefit From Extended Endocrine Therapy

Two studies presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium validated a small benefit of extending adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy beyond thestandard 5 years for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer. In a meta-analysis of 24,912 patients from 12...

breast cancer

Does Adjuvant Denosumab Improve DFS in Postmenopausal Women With Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer Receiving Aromatase Inhibitors?

As reported by Gnant et al in The Lancet Oncology, disease-free survival (DFS) was improved with adjuvant denosumab vs placebo in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive, early-stage breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitor treatment. A primary analysis of the phase III...

breast cancer
survivorship
symptom management

Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Improve Treatment-Induced Menopausal Symptoms in Survivors of Breast Cancer?

In a Dutch study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Atema et al found that an Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) intervention improved treatment-induced menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors compared with a waiting list control group. In the study, 254 women...

breast cancer
immunotherapy

2019 ASCO-SITC: Combination Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer With Trastuzumab and a HER2-Targeted Vaccine

After preclinical findings showed shared activity between trastuzumab and HER2-targeted vaccines, researchers evaluated adjvuant nelipepimut-S plus granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) with trastuzumab compared to trastuzumab with GM-CSF alone in patients with HER2...

breast cancer

FDA Approves Trastuzumab and Hyaluronidase-oysk for Subcutaneous Injection in Certain HER2-Positive Breast Cancers

On February 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved trastuzumab and hyaluronidase-oysk (Herceptin Hylecta) for subcutaneous injection for the treatment of certain patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (node-positive, or node-negative and estrogen receptor/progesterone...

breast cancer

Sacituzumab Govitecan-hziy in Heavily Pretreated, Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

In a phase I/II trial reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Bardia et al found durable responses with the antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab govitecan-hziy in patients with heavily pretreated, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. The monoclonal antibody sacituzumab targets the...

breast cancer
immunotherapy

Addition of Pembrolizumab to Trastuzumab in PD-L1–Positive, Trastuzumab-Resistant, HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

In the phase II portion of a phase Ib/II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Loi et al found evidence of activity of pembrolizumab plus trastuzumab in programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive, trastuzumab-resistant, HER2-positive advanced breast cancer. Study Details In the...

Breast Cancer

Expert Point of View: Carlos L. Arteaga, MD

CARLOS L. ARTEAGA, MD, Director of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Associate Dean of Oncology Programs at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, expressed some caution about the overall applicability of the findings of the PADDY trial. Primarily, he...

Breast Cancer

Prognostic Value of Disseminated Tumor Cells in Early Breast Cancer

IN THE PADDY TRIAL, involving more than 10,000 women with early invasive breast cancer, the presence of disseminated tumor cells at diagnosis or primary surgery was an independent prognostic factor for overall, disease-free, and distant disease–free survival. The study findings were presented at...

Breast Cancer

SABCS Presentations Offer New Data on Biomarkers and Novel Treatment Approaches in Early and Metastatic Breast Cancers

REPORTERS FOR The ASCO Post captured the following summaries of noteworthy studies presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. In HER2-Negative Metastatic Disease, CTCs Frequently HER2-Positive ALMOST HALF of all patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer have circulating...

Breast Cancer

Adherence to Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer in Black Women and White Women

In a study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Stephanie B. Wheeler, MPH, PhD, of the Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and colleagues found that black women reported nonadherence to endocrine therapy for breast cancer more ...

Breast Cancer

Estradiol as Potential Treatment for Subset of Triple-Negative Breast Cancers

Mayo Clinic researchers have identified estradiol as a potential new treatment for a subset of women with triple-negative breast cancer. Their findings were published by Reese et al in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. “Triple-negative breast...

Breast Cancer

Increased Risk of Bone Loss Extends to Younger Women Treated for Breast Cancer

Younger women who have been treated for breast cancer have a higher risk for osteopenia and osteoporosis than do their cancer-free peers, and that risk seems to rise when treatment involves chemotherapy plus hormone therapy or aromatase inhibitors alone. Researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg...

breast cancer

Benefit of Annual Screening in Women Aged 35–39 With a Family History of Breast Cancer

Annual screening for women aged 35–39 who have a family history of breast cancer may be highly effective in detecting tumors earlier, according to findings published by Evans et al in The Lancet’s online journal EClinicalMedicine. The FH02 trial found that annual mammograms for...

breast cancer

Meta-analysis of Outcomes With Dose-Intense Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Early Breast Cancer

In a patient-level meta-analysis reported in The Lancet, the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) found that an increased dose intensity of adjuvant taxane and anthracycline chemotherapy in early breast cancer was associated with a decreased risk of recurrence and death ...

breast cancer

New Approach to Predicting Response to Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab in Breast Cancer

In the phase II TBCRC026 study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Connolly et al found that early changes in tumor maximum standardized uptake values corrected for lean body mass (SULmax) on [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) were...

breast cancer

Recent Decrease in Deaths Attributable to Breast Cancer in the United States

The latest U.S. estimates indicate that since 1989, hundreds of thousands of women's lives have been saved by mammography and improvements in breast cancer treatment. In a study published by Hendrick et al in Cancer, findings point to progress made in the early detection and management of...

breast cancer

MRI and Assay Results May Influence Treatment of DCIS

In a prospective cohort clinical trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Lehman et al found that multiple factors, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, played a role in conversion to mastectomy among women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who were candidates for wide local excision...

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Surgical Terminology Should Be Updated to Reflect Modern Medical Practice

BREAST CANCER is a microscopic disease, with most patients presenting with “localized” stage I to III disease, for which they are offered curative-intent surgery often accompanied by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. More accurately, we now know that patients with localized...

breast cancer

Postmastectomy Hypofractionated vs Conventionally Fractionated Radiotherapy for High-Risk Breast Cancer

In a Chinese, single-center, noninferiority phase III trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Wang et al found that postmastectomy hypofractionated radiotherapy was noninferior to and associated with similar toxicities vs conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in patients with high-risk breast...

breast cancer

CYP2D6 Genotypes, Endoxifen Levels, and Clinical Outcome in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treated With Adjuvant Tamoxifen

In a Dutch-Belgian study (CYPTAM) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Sanchez-Spitman et al found no associations between CYP2D6 genotypes or levels of endoxifen (active metabolite of tamoxifen) and clinical outcomes in patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen for early-stage breast cancer....

breast cancer

Effect of Peer Review Within a Cancer Care Network on Use of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Oncology Practice, Ganju et al found that implementation of a cancer care network–wide peer review process aimed at standardizing treatment resulted in increasing use of hypofractionated radiotherapy in early-stage breast cancer at community-based...

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