Breast Cancer

Nearly one quarter of breast cancer patients with small, node-negative tumors have high-risk genomic characteristics and would likely benefit from chemotherapy, according to results of a new study presented at the 2017 ESMO Congress.

A new study found little difference with regard to efficacy or toxicity between two chemotherapy regimens used in combination with trastuzumab in older women with HER2-positive breast cancer. One of the regimens, containing docetaxel, was associated with a higher likelihood of completing trastuzumab treatment.

Annual mammography screening starting at age 40 prevents the most breast cancer deaths, according to a comparison of the three most common screening recommendations.

The AKT inhibitor ipatasertib offered improved progression-free survival over placebo when combined with paclitaxel in women with triple-negative breast cancer.

A novel ErbB inhibitor called pyrotinib was well tolerated and showed promising activity in patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, according to results of a phase I trial.

This video examines the use of molecular diagnostics for guiding adjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with breast cancer.

A recent analysis of 360 primary breast cancer genomes has identified some potentially important cancer-driving mutations found within noncoding genomic regions.

At this time RT following BCS remains the standard of care for most patients. Current tools, including prognostic scores and tumor genetics, have failed to identify a cohort for whom RT confers no benefit with respect to invasive recurrences.

To universally recommend breast irradiation for all women after excision of DCIS lesions ignores information now available to us that can spare the majority of women with DCIS the downsides of RT, but be applied in the treatment of DCIS patients at greater risk for invasive disease.

Low levels of cytotoxic stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are predictive of benefit derived from antibody- vs small molecule–based drug approaches to HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Comprehensive sequencing for all breast cancer genes may provide complete relevant genetic information for Ashkenazi Jewish patients.

Breast cancer subtypes generally did not respond differently to radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery, according to long-term follow-up of a randomized trial.

Researchers have discovered new associations between breast and ovarian cancer and genes that had not been previously detected, and which may help guide treatment decisions in the future.

The FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee has unanimously voted to recommend approval of the trastuzumab biosimilar MYL-1401O for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.

The FDA has approved neratinib (Nerlynx) for use as extended adjuvant treatment in adult patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer.

The use of bisphosphonates was not associated with a decrease in the incidence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, contrary to hypothesis.

The 70-gene test could aid clinicians and patients in determining the optimal treatment course for breast cancer patients with a very low risk of death from the disease.

A 46-year-old woman had a routine screening mammogram that showed new calcifications in the posterior left breast. A diagnostic mammogram showed several small punctate calcifications, and a 6-month interval follow-up was recommended.

T-DM1 administered for 12 weeks with or without endocrine therapy yields good rates of pathologic complete response in women with HER2-positive/hormone receptor–positive breast cancer, according to a new randomized trial.

A 70-gene expression score can identify women with indolent breast cancer at “ultralow” risk, according to a new study. Women with such a score have extremely low risk of disease-specific mortality over 20 years without systemic therapy.

A recent study shows that many women with early-stage breast cancer are still undergoing unnecessary chest CT, despite NCCN recommendations.

A new study that used prospective data provides estimates of cancer risk based on BRCA1/2 mutation status and shows the potential role of family history and the location of the mutation in assessing risk.

A new clinical trial is recruiting to determine whether a breath testing device can aid in the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Replacing a cyclophosphamide-based regimen with oral capecitabine does not sacrifice efficacy in adjuvant therapy for early breast cancer, and improves quality of life, according to a new study.

In this interview we discuss some of the novel therapeutics in development for HER2-amplified breast cancer.