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breast cancer
issues in oncology

MRI Screening More Sensitive Than Mammography and Ultrasound for Familial Breast Cancer Irrespective of Age, Mutation Status, or Breast Density

In a single-center study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Riedl et al found that screening with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had greater sensitivity for detection of breast cancer in high-risk women vs mammography or ultrasound irrespective of age, mutation status, or breast...

breast cancer
head and neck cancer

New Analysis Reports Increased Risk of Thyroid Cancer After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Breast cancer survivors are at increased risk of developing thyroid cancer, especially within 5 years of their breast cancer diagnosis, according to a new analysis of a large national database. The study results were presented at the Endocrine Society's 97th Annual Meeting. “Recognition of...

breast cancer

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Increases Chances of Lumpectomy, Decreases Chances of Mastectomy

Patients with larger malignant tumors of the breast who undergo chemotherapy before a breast cancer operation are more likely to undergo a lumpectomy than a mastectomy, according to a study published by Killelea et al in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Study investigators from...

breast cancer

Immunologic Factors Predict Pathologic Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy With or Without Carboplatin in Breast Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Denkert et al found that increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the presence of lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer were associated with increased rates of pathologic complete response in patients receiving neoadjuvant...

breast cancer

Acceptable Cardiac Safety of Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine After Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy in Early-Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Krop et al found that ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) had an acceptable cardiac safety profile when used after anthracycline-based (neo)adjuvant therapy in women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. Study Details In the study,...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Lower Household Net Worth and Black Race Associated With Nonadherence to Hormonal Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Hershman et al found that nonadherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy for early-stage breast cancer was more common among black women and patients with lower household net worth, with the latter factor partly accounting for the racial...

breast cancer
lung cancer

Aurora Kinase A Inhibitor Alisertib Active in Solid Tumors

In a phase II study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Melichar et al found that the oral aurora kinase A inhibitor alisertib was active in solid tumors, particularly breast cancer and small cell lung cancer. Aurora kinases play central roles in mitosis. Inhibition of aurora kinase A, which is...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Decision Aid Including Information on Overdetection Increases Informed Choice in Breast Screening and Reduces Intention to Be Screened

In a study reported in The Lancet, Hersch et al found that use of a decision aid containing information on overdetection in breast cancer screening was associated with an increased rate of informed choice regarding screening, a reduced rate of positive attitudes toward screening, and reduced...

breast cancer

CLEOPATRA Study: Significant Overall Survival Benefit of Adding Pertuzumab to Trastuzumab/Docetaxel in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Swain et al, the final prespecified overall survival analysis in the phase III CLEOPATRA study showed a significant 15.7-month increase in median overall survival over 50 months of follow-up with the addition of pertuzumab (Perjeta) to...

breast cancer

Inconclusive Outcome for Lapatinib vs Trastuzumab Plus Capecitabine in Preventing CNS Metastases as First Relapse Site in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

In the phase III CEREBEL study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Pivot et al compared lapatinib (Tykerb)-capecitabine vs trastuzumab (Herceptin)-capecitabine in the prevention of central nervous system (CNS) metastases as first relapse site in patients with metastatic HER2-positive...

breast cancer

Improved Prognosis for Patients With Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer With Large Reductions in Mammographic Density After Tamoxifen Initiation

Improved prognosis for women with estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer who experience a large reduction in mammographic density following the initiation of tamoxifen treatment extends to premenopausal as well as postmenopausal women, researchers reported in the Journal of the National...

breast cancer

Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalizations Are Common Among Women With Early Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

Emergency room visits and hospitalizations are common among patients with early breast cancer receiving chemotherapy, particularly among those receiving a regimen containing docetaxel, according to a report by Enright et al in the Journal of Oncology Practice. “In this population-based cohort ...

breast cancer

No Progression-Free Survival Benefit of Adding Bevacizumab to Endocrine Therapy in First-Line Treatment for Advanced Breast Cancer

In a Spanish-German phase III LEA trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Martín et al found that adding bevacizumab (Avastin) to endocrine therapy with letrozole or fulvestrant (Faslodex) in the first-line treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer did not...

breast cancer
issues in oncology
issues in oncology

Sensor Technology May Help Improve the Accuracy of Clinical Breast Exams

Sensor technology has the potential to significantly improve the teaching of proper technique for clinical breast exams, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The results of the study were published in a correspondence in The...

breast cancer

Axillary Ultrasound After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Node-Positive Breast Cancer Could Reduce Sentinel Lymph Node False-Negative Rate

In the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z1071 trial, sentinel lymph node surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a 12.6% false-negative rate in breast cancer patients with cN1 disease. In an analysis of axillary ultrasound findings in the trial, a secondary endpoint,...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Higher Folate Intake Associated With Reduced Risk of Hormone Receptor–Negative Breast Cancer in Premenopausal Women

In an analysis from the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, de Batlle and colleagues found reduced risks of estrogen receptor–negative and progesterone receptor–negative breast cancer for highest...

breast cancer

Higher Than Expected Incidence of Marrow Neoplasms after Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Wolff et al found a low but higher-than-expected incidence of marrow neoplasms in patients receiving adjuvant radiation therapy or chemotherapy for breast cancer. The study used the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Breast Cancer...

breast cancer

Interval Cancers Are More Aggressive in Nondense Breasts vs Screen-Detected Cancers

In a Swedish study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Holm et al found that interval cancers in women with low mammographic density breasts were more aggressive vs screen-detected cancers in these women and vs interval cancers in women with dense breasts. Use of hormone replacement...

breast cancer
supportive care
issues in oncology

Women Who Undergo Delayed Breast Reconstruction May Experience More Cancer‑Related Distress Than Women Who Undergo Mastectomy Alone

In women who have undergone mastectomy, those who underwent delayed breast reconstruction experienced greater cancer-related distress over the long term compared with women who underwent mastectomy alone, according to a prospective study by Metcalfe et al in the Journal of Surgical Oncology. For...

breast cancer

Omitting Radiotherapy Ups Local Recurrence Risk in Older Women With Low-Risk Breast Cancer After Breast-Conserving Surgery and Endocrine Therapy

In a phase III trial to assess whether whole-breast irradiation could be omitted in women aged ≥ 65 years with early-stage breast cancer undergoing breast-conserving surgery and receiving adjuvant endocrine treatment, Kunkler et al found increased risk of local recurrence in women not receiving...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Analysis of Key Breast Cancer Genes Reveals Distinct Profiles for African American, European American Women

Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) have uncovered new information that may begin to explain why many African American women are more likely to be diagnosed with aggressive, often deadly forms of breast cancer. Their findings also strengthen evidence that increased dietary folate...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Immune Gene Profile Strongly Associated With Benefit of Adjuvant Trastuzumab in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Perez et al found that an immune function gene profile was associated with significantly improved relapse-free survival among patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who had trastuzumab (Herceptin) added to adjuvant chemotherapy ...

breast cancer

FDA Approves Palbociclib in Combination With Letrozole for Advanced Breast Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval to palbociclib (Ibrance) in combination with letrozole for the treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor–positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who have not yet received an endocrine-based therapy. ...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

California Primary Care Physicians Struggle to Adapt to Breast Density Law, Study Shows

Ten months after California legislators enacted a controversial law mandating that radiologists notify women if they have dense breast tissue, University of California (UC), Davis researchers have found that half of primary care physicians are still unfamiliar with the law, and many don't feel...

breast cancer

Prospective Cohort Study Indicates No Association Between Migraine and Breast Cancer Risk

Some data suggest that migraine is associated with reduced risk of breast cancer. In a prospective cohort study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Winter et al found no association between migraine and breast cancer risk or endogenous sex hormone levels. A meta-analysis...

breast cancer

RTOG 9804 Trial Shows Reduced Local Failure With Radiotherapy After Breast-Conserving Surgery in Patients With Good-Risk DCIS

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by McCormick et al, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 9804 trial showed that radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery reduced local failure vs observation in women with good-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The study was designed...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Study Finds Many Women Lack Understanding of Their Breast Cancer, Especially Minority Patients

A population-based study of women who had undergone surgery for breast cancer has found that many lacked understanding of the basic characteristics of their disease, including stage, grade, and tumor characteristics. Minority patients were less likely than white patients to have the correct...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

New Breast Exam Nearly Quadruples Detection of Invasive Breast Cancers When Added to Screening Mammography in Women With Dense Breast Tissue

A new breast imaging technique developed at Mayo Clinic nearly quadruples detection rates of invasive breast cancers in women with dense breast tissue, according to the results of a study published by Rhodes et al in the American Journal of Roentgenology. What Is MBI? Molecular breast imaging...

breast cancer

No Utility of AJCC Stage IA vs Stage IB Designation in Breast Cancer

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Mittendorf et al found no differences in recurrence-free, disease-specific, or overall survival between patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage IA breast cancer and those with stage IB disease. Estrogen receptor status...

issues in oncology
breast cancer
gynecologic cancer
issues in oncology

Next-Generation Sequencing Uncovers Potential Genetic Drivers of Rare Breast Tumors

A new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center characterizes the genetic underpinnings of phyllodes tumors, a rare type of breast tumor. The study offers the first comprehensive analysis of the molecular alterations at work in these tumors, according to Cani...

breast cancer

Low Sentinel Node Biopsy False-Negative Rate With Immunohistochemistry After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Biopsy-Proven Node-Positive Breast Cancer

In the phase II SN FNAC (Sentinel Node Biopsy Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy) trial, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Boileau et al found a sentinel node biopsy false-negative rate of 8.4% with mandatory use of immunohistochemistry and a sentinel node biopsy identification rate of...

breast cancer

Are Physicians Choosing Wisely When Imaging for Distant Metastases in Early-Stage Breast Cancer?

Patients with early-stage breast cancer still undergo imaging for distant metastases despite evidence-based local, national, and international guidelines, and a recommendation from ASCO to avoid such imaging, according to a retrospective review of staging imaging for distant metastases in patients...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Almost Half of Women Taking Tamoxifen for Primary Prevention of Breast Cancer Discontinue Use Before 5 Years

After 4.5 years of taking tamoxifen for primary prevention of breast cancer, 46% of women discontinued use, according to research conducted within the Sister Study, a prospective cohort of women who had a sister who had been diagnosed with breast cancer but did not have breast cancer themselves....

breast cancer

Phase II Study Shows Activity of Paclitaxel Added to Trastuzumab/Pertuzumab in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

In a phase II trial reported in Journal of Clinical Oncology, Dang et al found that the addition of weekly paclitaxel to trastuzumab (Herceptin)/pertuzumab (Perjeta) produced good activity in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Paclitaxel may be a less toxic alternative to...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Breast Cancer Diagnoses and Survival Outcomes Vary by Race/Ethnicity

Among nearly 375,000 U.S. women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, the likelihood of diagnosis at an early stage, and survival after stage I diagnosis, varied by race and ethnicity, with much of the difference accounted for by biologic differences, according to a study reported by Iqbal et al...

breast cancer

No Association of Aromatase Inhibitor–Related Musculoskeletal and Vasomotor Symptoms With Relapse-Free Survival in NCIC CTG MA.27 Analysis

Retrospective analyses of the ATAC, TEAM, and BIG 1-98 adjuvant endocrine therapy trials in breast cancer have suggested that treatment-emergent endocrine symptoms may be associated with superior survival outcomes. In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Stearns et al found no...

breast cancer

Increased Mastectomy Use in Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer

In a national retrospective cohort study reported in JAMA Surgery, Kummerow et al found that an increased proportion of women with breast cancer eligible for breast-conserving surgery have undergone mastectomy during recent years. The study involved data from > 1.2 million women with...

breast cancer

Chemotherapy Plus Targeted Therapy Reduces Recurrence in Women With Early-Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

A phase II clinical study of adjuvant paclitaxel and trastuzumab (Herceptin) in women with stage I HER2-positive breast cancer has found the 3-year rate of survival free from invasive disease was 98.7%. The findings may help establish the combination therapy as the first standard treatment approach ...

breast cancer
supportive care
survivorship

Low-Level Laser Therapy May Reduce Limb Volume and Pain in Patients With Breast Cancer–Related Lymphedema

In a meta-analysis of patients with breast cancer–related lymphedema, low-level laser therapy was associated with reduced limb volume and pain levels, according to a report by Smoot et al in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship. However, the investigators noted that regarding pain management,...

breast cancer

Changes in Temporal Patterns and Risk of Recurrence in Breast Cancer Between 1986–1992 and 2004–2008

In a Canadian study reported in Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cossetti and colleagues found that temporal patterns of breast cancer relapse according to estrogen receptor and HER2 status in the period 2004–2008 were similar to those in 1986–1992 but at markedly reduced relapse rates....

breast cancer

Palbociclib/Letrozole Improves Progression-Free Survival in First-Line Treatment of Estrogen Receptor–Positive/HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer

In the phase II PALOMA-1/TRIO-18 trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Finn et al found that the addition of palbociclib to letrozole resulted in significant improvement in progression-free survival as first-line treatment for advanced disease in postmenopausal women with estrogen...

breast cancer
supportive care

Exercise Improves Aromatase Inhibitor–Induced Arthralgia in Breast Cancer Survivors

In the HOPE study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Irwin et al found that a program of aerobic exercise and strength training produced significant improvement in aromatase inhibitor–associated arthralgia in breast cancer survivors. Study Details In the study, 121 women with...

breast cancer

Postdiagnosis and Pre-/Postdiagnosis Use of Bisphosphonates for Osteoporosis Reduces Risk of Skeletal Metastases in Women With Breast Cancer

In a Canadian study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Kremer et al found that postdiagnosis use only or pre-and postdiagnosis use of bisphosphonates for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with breast cancer was associated with a significant...

breast cancer

Worse Anxiety/Depression Symptoms in Patients Adopting ‘Helper’ Role in Breast Cancer Internet Support Group

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lepore et al found that patients assigned a helper role in a breast cancer Internet support group had worse anxiety/depression symptoms after completion of the intervention than those not assigned a helper role. Study Details In the study,...

breast cancer
issues in oncology

Telephone Peer-Support Program Reduces Breast Cancer Distress for Women Carrying BRCA Mutation

In an Australian study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, White et al found that a telephone-based peer-support intervention reduced breast cancer distress among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. Study Details In the study, 207 mutation carriers reporting interest in talking...

breast cancer

Hypofractionated Whole-Breast Irradiation After Breast-Conserving Surgery Used in One-Third or Less of Eligible Patients

In a study reported in JAMA, Bekelman et al found that approximately two-thirds of patients with early-stage breast cancer for whom hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation is endorsed receive conventional whole-breast irradiation after breast-conserving surgery. Health-care expenditures were...

breast cancer

SABCS 2014: BOLERO-3: Everolimus Plus Trastuzumab/Paclitaxel Misses the Mark in First-Line HER2 Advanced Breast Cancer

The addition of everolimus to weekly trastuzumab (Herceptin) plus paclitaxel did not improve outcomes in the phase III BOLERO-1/TRIO-019, but did provide a “signal” in the hormone receptor–negative subset. The study was reported at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium by...

breast cancer

SABCS 2014: Fulvestrant Improves Survival Over Anastrozole for Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer

Among patients with advanced, hormone receptor–positive breast cancer who had not been treated previously for advanced disease, those who took fulvestrant (Faslodex) lived longer than those who took anastrozole, according to data from the phase II FIRST trial presented at the 2014 San Antonio ...

breast cancer

SABCS 2014: Oncotype DX DCIS Score Reliably Predicts Breast Cancer Recurrence in Patients With DCIS

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which accounts for 30% of all newly diagnosed breast cancer, is actually a precancerous lesion. A proportion of patients will have progression to invasive breast cancer, but up until recently, it has not been possible to identify which patients require further...

breast cancer

SABCS 2014: Lowering Dietary Fat Intake Reduces Death Rates in Some Women With Breast Cancer

Among early-stage breast cancer patients who reduced their dietary fat intake for 5 years following a diagnosis, after over 15 years follow-up, death rates from all causes were significantly reduced in those who had hormone-unrelated breast cancer, according to data from the Women’s...

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