Breast Cancer News

Many Women at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer Refuse MRIs

In a breast cancer screening study, 42% of intermediate- and high-risk women who were offered breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) refused the procedure. The most common reason given for refusal was claustrophobia. These results were published in Radiology.

12/29/2009

Addition of Avastin® to Chemotherapy Delays Breast Cancer Progression

According to the results of two Phase III clinical trials, the addition of Avastin® (bevacizumab) to first- or second-line chemotherapy delays cancer progression but may not improve overall survival among women with advanced breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

12/17/2009

Combination of Tykerb® and Herceptin® Benefits Breast Cancer Patients Who Have Progressed on Herceptin

Among women with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer that has progressed during treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab), the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Herceptin appears to be more effective than Tykerb alone. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/17/2009

Combination of Herceptin® with Non–anthracycline-based Chemotherapy Appears to Be Effective

Among women with early, HER2-positive breast cancer, the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to adjuvant chemotherapy reduces the risk of cancer recurrence and improves survival. Herceptin provides a benefit in combination with either anthracycline- or non–anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/17/2009

Neratinib Shows Promise in Treatment of HER2-positive Breast Cancer

According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the addition of the investigational drug neratinib to paclitaxel chemotherapy produced promising response rates among women with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/17/2009

Herceptin® Given Concurrently with Chemotherapy May Provide Most Benefit

The results of a Phase III clinical trial confirm that Herceptin® (trastuzumab) reduces the risk of recurrence among women with early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer, and also suggest that treatment with Herceptin should begin concurrently with chemotherapy. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/17/2009

Oncotype DX® Influences Treatment Decisions in Node-positive Breast Cancer

Use of the Oncotype DX® test to estimate recurrence risk and chemotherapy benefit influences treatment decisions for women with node-positive breast cancer. These results were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

12/14/2009

Black Women with HR-positive Breast Cancer Have Worse Outcomes

Black women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer have worse disease-free and overall survival than women of other races, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/14/2009

Nexavar® Evaluated in Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer

According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the addition of the targeted therapy Nexavar® (sorafenib) to chemotherapy may delay cancer progression among women with locally recurrent or metastatic, HER2-negative breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/14/2009

Higher Dose of Faslodex® May Delay Breast Cancer Progression

Among postmenopausal women with advanced, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer that has progressed or recurred after prior hormonal therapy, a higher dose of Faslodex® (fulvestrant) appears to be more effective than the standard dose. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/14/2009

Anti-estrogens May Reduce Risk of Lung Cancer Death

Anti-estrogens (such as tamoxifen [Nolvadex®]) used as treatment for breast cancer may also reduce the risk of death from lung cancer, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/14/2009

Oncotype Dx® Predicts Chemotherapy Benefit in Node-positive Breast Cancer

Among women with node-positive, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, use of the Oncotype DX® test identifies a subset of women who do not appear to benefit from adjuvant (post-surgery) anthracycline-based chemotherapy. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and were also published in Lancet Oncology.

12/11/2009

MRI Screening May Detect Breast Cancer Earlier Among BRCA Carriers

The addition of MRI to mammography screening in women with a BRCA mutation appears to significantly reduce the incidence of advanced breast cancer, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/11/2009

Obesity Linked with Worse Breast Cancer Prognosis

According to a study conducted in Denmark, women who are overweight or obese tend to have more advanced breast cancer at the time of diagnosis and also have higher breast cancer mortality. These results were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/11/2009

Bisphosphonates May Provide Breast Cancer Benefits

Studies presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium suggest that the class of bone drugs known as bisphosphonates may reduce the risk of breast cancer and may help to maintain bone density in breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors.

12/11/2009

Denosumab Reduces Bone Complications in Breast Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases

Among women with bone metastases from breast cancer, the investigational drug denosumab was more effective than Zometa® (zoledronic acid) at delaying or preventing bone complications such as fracture. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

12/10/2009

Sterotactic Radiosurgery Alone Is Preferred Treatment for Newly Diagnosed Brain Metastases

Patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases who undergo sterotactic radiosurgery plus whole-brain radiation therapy experience significant memory loss; therefore, stereotactic radiosurgery alone is the preferred method of treatment for these patients, according to the results of a study published in the Lancet Oncology.

12/9/2009

Home Care Nursing Improves Symptom Management

Among breast and colorectal cancer patients treated with the oral chemotherapy drug Xeloda® (capecitabine), symptom management was better among patients who received home care nursing than among patients who received standard care. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

12/4/2009

Mammography May Increase Breast Cancer Risk in Some High-risk Women

According to a combined analysis of previous studies, low-dose radiation from annual mammograms may increase the risk of breast cancer among women with genetic or familial predisposition to the disease. These results were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

12/2/2009

Dense Breasts Linked with Higher Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence

After breast-conserving surgery for invasive breast cancer, women with high breast density tend to have a higher risk of local (within the breast) cancer recurrence than women with low breast density. The effect of breast density is most apparent among women who do not receive radiation therapy. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

11/23/2009