Breast Cancer

Two human genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2), produce proteins that block the growth of cancer, such as breast or ovarian cancer. These proteins ensure the stability of each cell’s genetic material and help to repair damaged DNA. A mutation in either BRCA results in these proteins not functioning correctly. Specifically, DNA damage may not be repaired effectively, which can lead to cancer. Read Article ›

Options for the treatment of patients with advanced hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer are expanding. The updated National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline (version 1.2019) for the management of invasive breast cancer is focused on HR-positive, HER2-­negative disease. William J. Gradishar, MD, Director, Maggie Daley Center for Women’s Cancer Care, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, discussed the updated guideline at the NCCN 2019 Conference. Read Article ›

On February 28, 2019, the FDA approved a combination of the HER2/neu receptor agonist trastuzumab plus the endoglycosidase hyaluronidase-oysk (Herceptin Hylecta; Genentech) subcutaneous (SC) injection for adults with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer in the ad­­juvant setting, as part of a regimen with chemotherapy or as monotherapy after multimodality anthracycline-based therapy; and as first-line treatment for metastatic disease, in combination with paclitaxel, or as monotherapy after ≥1 chemotherapies in the metastatic setting. Read Article ›

On April 4, 2019, the FDA approved a new indication for palbociclib (Ibrance; Pfizer), an oral kinase inhibitor, for men with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Read Article ›

The adjuvant use of the antibody-drug conjugate ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1; Kadcyla) led to a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in invasive disease-free survival (ie, survival free of invasive disease or death) compared with trastuzumab (Herceptin) in patients with HER2-­positive early-stage breast cancer and residual invasive disease, despite the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus HER2-­targeted therapy, according to the preliminary results of the phase 3 KATHERINE trial. These findings were reported at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read Article ›

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered one of the most difficult breast cancers to treat, with few therapeutic options. In an overall analysis of the phase 3 IMpassion130 trial, investigators showed that using the checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq), a PD-L1 inhibitor, with nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) chemotherapy improved disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced or metastatic TNBC compared with placebo plus nab-paclitaxel. Read Article ›

On April 4, 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the indication of palbociclib (Ibrance; Pfizer), a kinase inhibitor, in combination with specific endocrine therapies for men with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer. This is the first hormonal-based therapy to be approved for men. Read Article ›

On March 27, 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert from its Office of Women’s Health announcing that, after more than 20 years of regulatory oversight, the agency is proposing amendments to the existing policy governing mammography services. Read Article ›

San Antonio, TX—An interim analysis of a randomized clinical trial showed that a lifestyle intervention aimed at weight loss achieved approximately a 1-kg weight loss in patients with early breast cancer who received chemotherapy, whereas patients in the control group gained approximately 1 kg over the course of the study. Read Article ›

A 12-month supervised exercise program improved cardiovascular function in women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, including anthracyclines and taxanes. These results of a randomized clinical trial were presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read Article ›