BREAST CANCER

First-line treatment with lapatinib (Tykerb) and a taxane failed to improve progression-free survival (PFS) versus trastuzumab (Herceptin) plus a taxane in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, according to final results from the phase III MA.31 trial.

The FDA’s recent approval of the first PARP inhibitor, coupled with current research, suggests that this new class of targeted therapy has great potential to help not only patients with ovarian cancer for whom the agent is indicated but also individuals with breast cancer.

Heterogeneity, which can result in treatment resistance, is commonly underestimated and misunderstood, representing an important area of future research.

Jennifer H. Kuo, MD, director, Thyroid Biopsy Program, Columbia University, discusses a study looking at the incidence of thyroid cancer among breast cancer survivors.

While not appropriate for all patients with ER-positive breast cancer, neoadjuvant endocrine therapy could play an important role in select groups of women with comorbidities or those with ER-rich/luminal A disease.

Growth in healthcare spending in the United States continues to outpace growth in European countries that enjoy a similar standard of living.

Tumor genome profiling identifies driver mutations in breast tumors, however, it is still too early to use this information in clinical decision making, according to Hope S. Rugo, MD.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a multifunctional, chromatin-regulating protein. PARP inhibitors are currently undergoing clinical trials as potential targeted therapies for the treatment of breast, uterine, colorectal, and ovarian cancer.

The oral androgen receptor inhibitor, enzalutamide, blocks several steps in the androgen receptor signaling pathway and prevents the entry of androgen receptor into the cell nucleus.

Patients with a history of breast cancer have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer than do the general population, particularly if they receive adjuvant radiation therapy.

Clifford A. Hudis, MD, chief, Breast Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses dose-dense chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

Moving early to diagnose and treat lymphedema after breast cancer treatment can reverse this side effect or prevent it from becoming severe.

Prudence Francis, MD, discusses the SOFT trial, which examined suppression of ovarian function, and the impact it could have on the future treatment of women under 35 with HR+ breast cancer.

Representatives Diana DeGette (D, Colorado) and Fred Upton (R, Michigan) recently released a "discussion draft" of the 21st Century Cures Act.

Acting two months ahead of its deadline, the FDA granted an accelerated approval to palbociclib (Ibrance) as a first-line treatment for patients with ER-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Metastatic disease accounts for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths. Ensuring a definitive diagnosis and the most effective treatment in a timely fashion is essential for extending life expectancy.

Joan Lunden discusses the diagnostic approach that led to the early detection of triple-negative breast cancer, which was undetected by mammogram and 3D mammogram but was detected with ultrasound.

In an analysis of more than 17,000 patients with breast cancer, who are at risk for a genetic mutation, subjects were as likely to have a mutation in a gene other than BRCA1 and BRCA2 as they were to have these common mutations.

Christopher Twelves, MD, Professor of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Leeds, discusses a pooled analysis of eribulin for the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

Researchers will dissect topline results from the MARIANNE trial in an effort to understand why T-DM1 failed to triumph as a first-line treatment in the metastatic setting for patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer despite the promise of earlier findings.

Two HER2-targeting regimens anchored by T-DM1 failed to outperform the standard strategy in women with previously untreated advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, dealing a blow to efforts to move the drug into frontline settings.

More breast cancer lesions were diagnosed in women with dense breasts when ultrasound screening was conducted in conjunction with mammography compared with mammography alone.

An international team of investigators is evaluating the novel topoisomerase-1 inhibitor etirinotecan pegol in patients with metastatic breast cancer, and at the same time evaluating target-specific biomarkers in CTCs.

A potential pathogenic role for the androgen receptor (AR) exists for some breast cancer (BC) subtypes according to 2 new studies presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) 2014.

An ongoing clinical trial will determine whether the addition of weekly nab-paclitaxel to gemcitabine or carboplatin improves PFS versus the gemcitabine-carboplatin doublet as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic TNBC.