Breast Cancer

Problem: Several million women worldwide have survived breast cancer but are currently advised against the use of estrogen for the management of menopausal symptoms and for the prevention of early cardiovascular death and osteoporosis.

Based on a keynote address given by Marie Overgaard, md, at the 1998 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) meeting. Dr. Overgaard is consulting oncologist, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, as

States would be allowed the option to provide Medicaid coverage for women with breast and cervical cancer through the

ORLANDO-Breast cancer patients whose tumors respond to induction chemotherapy and who have no clinical axillary node disease following induction may be safely treated with axillary irradiation rather than axillary lymph node dissection, Jeffrey Lenert, MD, said at the Society of Surgical Oncology’s Annual Cancer Symposium.

Zeneca Pharmaceuticals has launched a nationwide educational campaign about breast cancer risk assessment and the use

ALEXANDRIA, Va-Preliminary findings from four of five randomized studies show no survival advantage for high-dose chemotherapy/autologous bone marrow transplantation (HDC/ABMT) in breast cancer patients with metastatic or high-risk disease (10 or more positive axillary lymph nodes), researchers said at an ASCO teleconference.

ORLANDO-Large numbers of younger breast cancer survivors living with chemotherapy-induced menopause are at increasingly high risk for osteo-porosis and heart disease.

Fornier et al present an excellent summary of current treatment options and strategies for patients with metastatic breast cancer. This review summarizes currently available data (through the May 1998 American Society of Clinical Oncology

Drs. Fornier, Munster, and Seidman provide a comprehensive update of the management of metastatic breast cancer. They review the latest innovations in both chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for advanced disease, and demonstrate just how

There are several million breast cancer survivors worldwide. In the United States, 180,000 women were

Recent trials comparing single-agent vs combination therapy in metastatic breast cancer suggest that it may be time to reconsider the belief that combination chemotherapy is the gold standard of treatment. Based on the

WASHINGTON-Sales of the 40-cent Breast Cancer stamp generated $5.2 million for breast cancer research in the first 7 months following its release in July 1998. The US Postal Service plans a sales campaign tied to Mother’s Day, and it will promote the stamp in partnership with the Revlon Run/Walk for Women fund-raiser in Los Angeles and New York City

HAMILTON, Ontario-A meta-analysis of published clinical trials, presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, supports the concept that locoregional radiation therapy after mastectomy in breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant systemic therapy reduces the risk of recurrence and improves overall survival.

SAN ANTONIO-A European metaanalysis suggests that breast cancer patients over age 73 may live just as long if treated with tamoxifen (Nolvadex) instead of surgery.

COLUMBUS, Ohio-Chemopre-vention trials in recent years have led to new chemoprevention agents and also unexpected negative findings, Winfred F. Malone, PhD, MPH, said at the 4th Annual Congress of the Society for Nutritional Oncology Adjuvant Therapy (NOAT). He described a number of published and ongoing clinical trials.

NEW YORK-Wearing pink roses, more than 100 breast cancer survivors toasted each other at the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations’ Celebrate Life luncheon, hosted by Academy Award winning actress Mira Sorvino.

COLUMBIA, Md-Celsion Corp.’s focused heat technology forms the basis of a system that may offer a minimally invasive alternative to prophylactic mastectomy for women at high risk for developing breast cancer. Massachusetts General Hospital will be testing the technology, and Mass General recently filed a patent application for the system.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla-With the first results from its Oncology Outcomes Database, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has “taken a step to move beyond the guideline development process into a process of connection,” William McGivney, PhD, CEO of the network, said at its Fourth Annual Conference. “That critical step is the implementation of guidelines through performance measurement.”

HOUSTON-Stress is an immediate reaction to cancer that generally becomes more intensified during the course of the disease. Barbara L. Andersen, PhD, Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, Columbus, and her colleagues are conducting a study to examine the effects of stress on the immune system in cancer patients.

BETHESDA, Md-The National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced that preliminary findings from two long-awaited breast cancer studies are expected to be made available April 15 on the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) website (www.asco.org).

There are several million breast cancer survivors worldwide. In the United States, 180,000 women were diagnosed

SAN ANTONIO-The addition of docetaxel (Taxotere) to the combination of doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide (AC) is an effective and safe first-line therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer, Jean-Marc A.Nabholtz, MD, said at a poster session of the 21st Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL-In a first-of-its kind, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) have collaborated to produce “Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients,” a detailed translation for the public of NCCN’s breast cancer practice guidelines. The NCCN is a coalition of 17 leading US cancer centers. Its practice guidelines have won acceptance among many oncologists as the “gold standard” of treatment.

HAMBURG, Germany-“Significant numbers of women with breast cancer have psychological distress that goes unidentified,” said David Payne, PhD, of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

SAN ANTONIO-A long-term Dutch study has provided additional evidence that the duration of tamoxifen (Nolvadex) therapy influences the degree of benefit for reducing breast cancer recurrence. However, the optimal duration of therapy remains an open question, Dr. Jan Vermorken, an oncologist at University Hospital, Antwerp, said at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

HAMBURG, Germany-“We need to help partners of women with breast cancer realize their role in helping their wives, express their concerns, and gain more information,” Barry Bultz, PhD, said at the Fourth International Congress of Psycho-oncology.

SAN ANTONIO-Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) reduces the risk of contralateral breast cancer to a degree similar to its effect on primary breast cancer, according to an analysis of data from National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) clinical trials.

African-Americans are leading the fight against breast cancer in communities across the country. The Witness Project, the East-West Breast Express, and the Navigator Program are just a few examples of innovative programs funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and their local affiliates that are improving the future for many African-American women.

SAN ANTONIO-Preliminary results from an ongoing clinical trial suggest that neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer with paclitaxel (Taxol) alone produces response rates comparable to those achieved with the three-drug FAC (fluorouracil, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide) regimen.

There are several million breast cancer survivors worldwide. In the United States, 180,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, and approximately 97,000 of these women have an extremely low chance of a suffering a recurrence of their cancer. With an average age at diagnosis of 60 years and a 25-year expected duration of survival, the current number of breast cancer survivors in the United States may approach 2.5 million women. Since breast cancer is now being detected at an earlier stage than previously and since adjuvant chemotherapy may cause ovarian failure, an increasing number of women are becoming postmenopausal at a younger age after breast cancer treatment. This conference was convened in September 1997 to consider how menopausal breast cancer survivors should be treated at the present time and what future studies are needed to develop improved therapeutic strategies. A total of 47 breast cancer experts and 13 patient advocates participated. The proceedings of the conference are being published in six installments in successive issues of oncology. This third part focuses on the prevention of osteoporosis and the cardiovascular effects of estrogens and antiestrogens. [ONCOLOGY 13(3):397-432, 1999]