Breast Cancer

Anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara), and exemestane (Aromasin) are members of the third generation of aromatase inhibitors that has now replaced aminoglutethimide (Cytadren), the progestins, and tamoxifen

SAN FRANCISCO-Preliminary results of an ongoing phase III study suggest that weekly paclitaxel (Taxol) followed by FAC (fluorouracil/Adriamycin/cyclophosphamide) provides improved pathologic complete response rates, compared with standard paclitaxel followed by FAC, M.D. Anderson researchers reported at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), held in San Francisco.

In two phase II clinical trials presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers found that gemcitabine (Gemzar) alone and in combination with docetaxel

SAN FRANCISCO-Canadian breast cancer patients who tested a decision aid called the Decision Board in a randomized trial were better informed about their chemotherapy options and more satisfied with the decision-making process than a control group of patients who relied on a traditional medical consultation.

SAN FRANCISCO-One in five women in a population-based study of breast cancer patients did not fill all her tamoxifen (Nolvadex) prescriptions during the first year of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy. The oldest and youngest patients and nonwhite patients were least likely to adhere to their tamoxifen regimens.

DALLAS-Responding to a growing body of research that suggests cognitive dysfunction and asthenia are prevalent side effects of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD, of US Oncology is investigating recombinant human erythropoietin as a neuroprotective agent.

Weekly administration of the drug paclitaxel (Taxol) is as effective and well tolerated in advanced breast cancer patients over

Two senators have introduced legislationaimed at exploring potential links between environmental exposure and breast

WASHINGTON-Fear that hormones may increase the risk of cancer recurrence has long discouraged US physicians from recommending estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) to breast cancer survivors, despite its proven advantages for health and quality of life.

Research presented at the 37th annual meeting ofthe American Society of Clinical Oncology

NEW YORK-"I’m going to die," Jerri Nielsen, MD, recalled thinking when she discovered a lump in her right breast while she was the physician at the Admundsen-Scott South Pole Station. "I’m going to die here, or I’m going to die after I get off the ice."

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla-Eighty percent of breast cancer survivors were found to have osteoporosis or osteopenia at the outset of a University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing pilot study into preventing osteoporosis among survivors.

SAN FRANCISCO-The addition of docetaxel (Taxotere) to an anthracycline (doxorubicin)-containing regimen may improve response rates in the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The findings come from a large international trial, TAX 307, presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in San Francisco.

WASHINGTON-Cutting-edge molecular research supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) promises revolutionary changes in the way physicians screen, diagnose, and treat breast cancer, NCI director Richard D. Klausner, MD, told the Senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees the NCI.

SAN FRANCISCO-Elderly women who survived breast cancer received more preventive health care overall than a matched control group of cancer-free women. This finding was based on a review of financial records by researchers at the Center for Outcomes and Policy Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

SAN FRANCISCO-The impact of achieving amenorrhea during treatment for premenopausal breast cancer is controversial, according to data from the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) Clinical Trials Group (CTG). A common occurrence among premenopausal breast cancer patients, treatment-induced amenorrhea is often considered a positive prognostic factor. The NCIC CTG data was unable to demonstrate such an effect.

The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) has launched a new phase III clinical trial that will

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will conduct apriority review of the supplemental New Drug Application submitted by Roche for

SAN FRANCISCO-Anemic breast cancer patients receiving chemoradiotherapy who are also treated with weekly recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin alfa [Procrit, Eprex, Erypo]) have not only better hemoglobin levels but also improved energy, activity levels, and overall quality of life.

SEATTLE-When used as an adjunct to mammography and clinical breast examinations, thermal imaging may help reduce the number of unnecessary breast biopsies, according to Karleen Callahan, PhD, director of Clinical Research for Breast Cancer at Computerized Thermal Imaging, Inc (CTI).

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla-Nurses frequently tell breast cancer patients that they can expect less pain and discomfort following a sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) than an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).

Assessing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer starts with obtaining a complete and accurate family history. This can reveal evidence of inherited cancer risk. The highest risk of cancer is associated with germ-line abnormalities

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla-Walking 60 minutes or more a week could have a positive effect on fatigue and sleep disturbance in breast cancer patients, according to preliminary results presented by Barbara Poniatowski, MS, RNC, AOCN, at the Oncology Nursing Society’s Sixth National Conference on Cancer Nursing Research.

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia-Documentation of widespread fraud in a 1985 study supporting high-dose chemotherapy/transplant for metastatic breast cancer patients has led the Journal of Clinical Oncology to retract the influential report and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to recommend that breast cancer patients not receive high-dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplants outside of clinical trials.

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center report that very low doses of a potent new bisphosphonate, zoledronic acid (Zometa), reduces the complications arising from multiple myeloma and breast cancer that have metastasized to the bone. The

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla-Breast cancer survivors experienced significantly worse hot flashes, compared with age-matched healthy women, in a Vanderbilt University study. The Research also raised doubts about the accuracy of hot flash reports in patient diaries.

ASCO-Genomic resequencing of DNA in blood samples from the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT) conducted during the 1990s shows that tamoxifen (Nolvadex) reduced the incidence of breast cancer by 62% in women with BRCA2 mutations, but had no effect in women with BRCA1 mutations.

Contrary to speculation, long-term use of tamoxifen (Nolvadex) does not affect mood or sexual functioning, according to British researchers who studied the use of this antiestrogenic drug in women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer

NEW ORLEANS-Pediatric cancer survivors face an increased risk of second malignancies later in life, especially breast cancer, according to a large database of some 14,000 persons diagnosed with cancer before age 21 and alive 5 years or longer.

Drs. Armstrong and Davidson have nicely reviewed the use of dose-intensive chemotherapy in the treatment of metastatic and high-risk early-stage breast cancer, and we agree with the basic premise of the article-that there are no conclusive data