Breast Cancer News

Making Sense of New Mammography Recommendations

11/17/2009

The U.S. Preventive Services Tasks Force (USPSTF) has reversed its position on screening mammography for women in their 40s: the group no longer recommends routine screening mammography for average-risk women in this age group. The American Cancer Society, however, has stated that it will continue to recommend annual mammograms starting at the age of 40.

Persistent Pain Common After Breast Cancer Surgery

11/16/2009

Two to three years after breast cancer surgery, persistent pain continues to affect close to half of all women. The results of this study, which was conducted in Denmark, were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Excess Body Weight Linked with More Than 100,000 New Cancer Diagnoses Each Year in U.S.

11/9/2009

According to estimates from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), excess body weight may be responsible for more than 100,000 new cancer diagnoses each year in the United States.

Even Small HER2-positive Breast Cancers Have a Higher Risk of Recurrence

11/5/2009

Among women with small, node-negative breast cancers, those with tumors that are HER2-positive have a higher risk of cancer recurrence. This suggests that consideration of HER2-targeted therapy such as Herceptin® (trastuzumab) may be important, even for women with small tumors. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Breast Tenderness During Hormone Replacement Linked with Increased Breast Cancer Risk

10/19/2009

Women who experience new-onset breast tenderness after starting postmenopausal hormone therapy with combined estrogen plus progestin may have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who do not experience breast tenderness. These results were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Young Women with DCIS Have Higher Risk of Recurrence

10/12/2009

After treatment of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy, women age 44 or younger have a higher rate of recurrence than older women. These results were presented at the ASCO 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium.

Additional Evidence Regarding the Benefit of Regular Mammograms

10/9/2009

According to the results of a study presented at the ASCO 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium, nearly three-quarters of breast cancer deaths occur among the minority off women who do not get regular screening mammograms.

Smoking May Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer

10/7/2009

Women who have smoked 100 or more cigarettes in their life have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer, according to the results of a study published in The Breast Journal.

Surgery Improves Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer

10/2/2009

Women who have distant metastatic disease upon diagnosis of breast cancer still benefit from removal of the primary tumor. In fact, these patients survive significantly longer than those who do not undergo surgery, according to the results of a study presented on September 22, 2009 at Europe’s largest cancer congress, ECCO 15-ESMO 34, in Berlin.

Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Continue to Decline

10/1/2009

According to a report issued by the American Cancer Society, breast cancer death rates in the United States continue to decline by more than 2% per year. This and other breast cancer statistics were published in Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010.

Nexavar Shows Promise in Advanced Breast Cancer

9/30/2009

According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the addition of the targeted therapy Nexavar® (sorafenib) to chemotherapy may delay the progression of advanced breast cancer. These results were presented at a European cancer conference.

Lifestyle Factors Increase Risk of Second Breast Cancer

9/23/2009

Obesity, alcohol consumption, and smoking significantly increase the risk of second breast cancers among breast cancer survivors, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Surgical Decision-making in Early-stage Breast Cancer

9/15/2009

Patients with early-stage breast cancer who take an active role in decision-making tend to opt for mastectomy over lumpectomy, despite the fact that the procedures have been shown to produce equivalent outcomes, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Cancer Caregivers Devote Substantial Time and Effort

9/9/2009

On average, informal caregivers of cancer patients devote more than eight hours per day to caregiving. These results were published in Cancer.

Preoperative MRI in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Shows Little Benefit

8/26/2009

Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in breast cancer leads to more extensive surgery without evidence of improvement in surgical outcomes or long-term prognosis, according to the results of a study published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Sequential Treatment of Breast Cancer with Femara® and Tamoxifen Is Not Superior to Femara Alone

8/25/2009

Sequential treatment with Femara® (letrozole) and tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) does not improve disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer when compared with therapy with Femara alone, according to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Many High-risk Women Opt for Preventive Removal of Breasts and Ovaries

8/19/2009

Many women who are considered to be at high risk for developing breast or ovarian cancer are choosing to undergo preventive mastectomy (removal of breasts) and/or oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) in order to reduce their risk of developing the disease, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention.

Adjuvant Therapy Benefits Breast Cancer Patients with Small Areas of Cancer in Lymph Nodes

8/19/2009

Breast cancer patients with very small areas of cancer in the axillary lymph nodes (micrometastases or isolated tumor cells) appear to benefit from post-surgery treatment with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or both. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Weight Lifting May Be Safe for Breast Cancer Survivors with Lymphedema

8/19/2009

Among breast cancer survivors with stable lymphedema, a program of twice-weekly, slowly progressive weight lifting increased strength and reduced lymphedema symptoms without affecting arm and hand swelling. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Breastfeeding Reduces Breast Cancer Risk in High-risk Women

8/19/2009

Among women with a first-degree family history of breast cancer, breastfeeding cut the risk of premenopausal breast cancer by more than half. These results were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Early Diagnosis of Second Breast Cancers Improves Survival

7/28/2009

Early detection of second breast cancers (prior to symptoms) results in a diagnosis of early-stage cancer and improves survival by 27-47%, according to the results of a study published in the Annals of Oncology.

Schizophrenia Associated with Increased Cancer Mortality

7/24/2009

Patients with schizophrenia appear to have an increased risk of mortality from cancer, especially breast cancer in women and lung cancer in men, according to the results of a study published in Cancer.

Stem Cell Transplants Effective for Breast Cancer Survivors with Secondary Leukemia

7/20/2009

Stem cell transplantation is an effective treatment option for breast cancer survivors who develop acute leukemia or myelodysplasia following adjuvant chemotherapy, according to the results of a study published in the Annals of Oncology.

Mammography Screening Important After Lumpectomy for DCIS

7/16/2009

Surveillance mammography after breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) appears to decline over time, despite the increased risk of invasive cancer, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Breast Cancer Patients Use Antioxidant Supplements During Treatment

7/15/2009

Although the consequences of supplementing with antioxidants during cancer treatment remain unknown, many patients with breast cancer continue to use the supplements in an effort to maintain health and diminish the side effects of treatment, according to the results of a study published in Cancer.

Breast Cancer Screening May Lead to Over-diagnosis

7/15/2009

One-third of women may be unnecessarily treated for breast cancer as a result of public screening programs that over-diagnose the disease, according to the results of a study published in the British Medical Journal.

Diet and Exercise Intervention Produces Results in Long-term Survivors

7/14/2009

Long-term survivors of breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer who participated in a year-long home-based diet and exercise intervention reported a smaller decline in physical function compared with their counterparts who did not participate in the program, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Breast Cancer Less Common in Migraine Sufferers

7/13/2009

Women with a history of migraines appear to be less likely than other women to develop breast cancer. The results of this study were published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention.

Denosumab More Effective than Zometa® in Patients with Bone Metastases

7/8/2009

Among women with bone metastases from breast cancer, the investigational drug denosumab was more effective than Zometa® (zoledronic acid) at reducing the risk of bone complications such as fracture. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were made available in a press release from Amgen.

Oncotype DX® and Clinical Characteristics Influence Chemotherapy Decisions in Early Breast Cancer

6/22/2009

According to research conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, among women with early breast cancer who underwent testing with Oncotype DX®, decisions about the need for chemotherapy were influenced by the Oncotype DX recurrence score as well as by the size and grade of the cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Denosumab Provides Bone Benefits in Prostate and Breast Cancer

6/15/2009

Among prostate patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy, the investigational drug denosumab increases bone density and reduces the risk of fractures. Denosumab also improves bone density in breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors. These were the results of two studies presented at the 2009 annual meeting the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Partial Breast Irradiation Appears Safe and Feasible for Early Breast Cancer

6/10/2009

Partial breast irradiation (PBI) appears to produce the same overall survival results as whole-breast radiation (WBRT) in women with early-stage breast cancer; however, more research will be necessary before this investigational treatment replaces WBRT as the standard of care in this patient group. The results of this study were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Florida.

Sentinel Node Micrometastases Indicate Need for Additional Axillary Treatment in Patients with Early Breast Cancer

6/4/2009

According to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, breast cancer patients with small areas of cancer (“micrometastases”) in the sentinel lymph nodes should receive additional lymph node treatment (such as axillary lymph node dissection) in order to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

Some Antidepressants May Interfere with Tamoxifen Effectiveness

6/3/2009

According to the results of a study conducted in the United States and presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), certain types of antidepressants may interfere with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) effectiveness. In contrast, a study conducted in the Netherlands and also presented at ASCO found no such effect.

HER2 Overexpression Predicts Invasive Breast Cancer in Women with DCIS

6/1/2009

According to the results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that has high levels of the HER2 protein are several times more likely than other women with DCIS to have invasive breast cancer.

Targeted Therapy Shows Promise in Treatment of Triple-negative Breast Cancer

6/1/2009

According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial presented at a plenary session of the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), treatment with chemotherapy plus the investigational drug BSI-201—a type of targeted therapy known as a PARP inhibitor—improved outcomes among women with triple-negative breast cancer.

Study Assesses Risk of Gastrointestinal Perforation in Patients Treated with Avastin®

5/28/2009

Gastrointestinal perforation is a potentially serious side effect of the targeted therapy Avastin® (bevacizumab). To explore how frequently this side effect occurs, a study published in Lancet Oncology evaluated information from 17 clinical trials. The results indicate that Avastin users are roughly twice as likely as nonusers to experience gastrointestinal perforation but that the risk appears to vary by Avastin dose and tumor type.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Premenopausal Women with Breast Cancer

5/27/2009

Despite recent data indicating that vitamin D may have a preventive effect against cancer, 74% of premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer are deficient in the vitamin, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Furthermore, daily supplementation of 400 IU of vitamin D does not appear to correct the deficiency.

Gene Alterations Linked with Anthracycline Benefit in Breast Cancer

5/14/2009

Breast cancers that contain alterations in a gene known as TOP2A tend to respond better to an anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimen than to a non-anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimen. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Tykerb® Shows Benefit in Inflammatory Breast Cancer

5/14/2009

In a Phase II clinical trial, treatment with the targeted therapy Tykerb® (lapatinib) reduced the extent of cancer in 39% of women with HER2-positive, relapsed or refractory inflammatory breast cancer. These results were published in Lancet Oncology.

Removal of Ovaries During Hysterectomy for Benign Condition Carries Health Risks

5/12/2009

Among women who have a hysterectomy for reasons other than cancer, those who also have their ovaries removed have a slightly higher overall risk of death from cancer and heart disease than those who do not have their ovaries removed. These results were published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Many BRCA Carriers Opt for Prophylactic Mastectomy to Ease Concerns of Future Cancers

4/13/2009

Women who carry a BRCA mutation are more likely to believe that prophylactic mastectomy is the best way to reduce their risk and worry of breast cancer compared with other high-risk women, according to the results of a study published in Cancer.

New ACOG Guidelines Recommend Routine Genetic Risk Assessment

4/8/2009

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) recommend routine assessment of a woman’s risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, in order to identify those who may benefit from a more thorough hereditary cancer risk assessment. Women who eventually undergo genetic testing and are found to carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have options available to manage their increased risk of cancer. These guidelines were published in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Genetic Variants Linked with Risk of Breast Cancer

4/7/2009

A large-scale effort to identify genetic markers of breast cancer has identified two new genetic variants that increase the risk of breast cancer among women of European ancestry. These results were published in Nature Genetics.

Post-mastectomy Radiation Underutilized in Women Who May Need It

4/6/2009

Nearly 20% of women who would benefit from post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) are not receiving the treatment, according to the results of a study published in Cancer.

Pregnant Women with Breast Cancer Do Not Have Worse Outcomes

3/27/2009

Although pregnancy may contribute to a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, pregnant women with breast cancer do not appear to have worse outcomes than their non-pregnant counterparts, according to a study published in Cancer.

Rate of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Increasing Among Women with DCIS

3/23/2009

The rate of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) among women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has drastically increased in the United States in recent years—by as much as 188%, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Advances in Breast Cancer Treatment 2008

3/11/2009

Twenty to 25 percent of breast cancers overexpress (make too much of) a protein known as HER2. Overexpression of this protein leads to increased growth of cancer cells and a worse breast cancer prognosis.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption Increases Risk of Cancer in Women

3/10/2009

Women who regularly consume low to moderate amounts of alcohol have an increased risk of cancers of the upper digestive tract, rectum, liver, and breast when compared with women who do not drink, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Role of Breast MRI in Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer

2/27/2009

According to guidelines published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the addition of high-quality breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to other imaging techniques such as mammography can help evaluate the extent of the cancer in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, and can also be used to screen the opposite breast for cancer.

Zometa® Improves Outcomes in Premenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer

2/17/2009

Among premenopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, treatment with Zometa® (zoledronic acid) improved disease-free survival. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and were previously presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Preventive Removal of the Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes Reduces Risk of Breast, Ovarian, and Fallopian Tube Cancers Among Women with BRCA Mutations

2/4/2009

Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO), or the preventive removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, is strongly associated with a reduction in the risk of breast, ovarian, and fallopian tube cancers in women who carry a BRCA mutation. The results of this study were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Advances in the Treatment of Early-stage Breast Cancer: A Report from the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

2/3/2009

The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) marked its 31st anniversary this year. As usual, the annual SABCS delivered results encompassing the entire spectrum of breast cancer, including prevention, screening, prognostic factors, adjuvant chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and treatment of metastatic disease.

Childhood Cancer Survivors Not Getting Recommended Mammograms

1/30/2009

Among women at increased risk of breast cancer as a result of chest radiation for childhood cancer, many are not receiving regular mammographic screening for breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Risk Assessment and Individualized Therapy: A Report from the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

1/29/2009

The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) marked its 31st anniversary with its 2008 meeting, which was the first SABCS presented in collaboration by the CTRC (Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center), AACR (American Association for Cancer Research), and the Baylor College of Medicine.

Breast Cancer Update from the 2008 Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology

1/27/2009

While there was no overriding theme to breast cancer presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) annual meeting in 2008, it is clear that progress continues to be steadily made in defining optimal chemotherapeutic regimens in the adjuvant setting, extending our knowledge of biological therapy, and improving HER2-directed therapy in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Provocative results were presented regarding use of bisphosphonate therapy for improvement in breast cancer-specific endpoints, changes in phenotype during the course of the disease, and linking breast cancer outcome to nutritional status.

Healthy Diet Can’t Hurt, May Help Breast Cancer Patients

1/8/2009

Women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer might benefit from a healthier diet that includes foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and minimizes refined foods and red meat, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Although this diet was not shown to impact breast cancer-related outcomes, it was associated with a decreased risk of overall death and death from causes other than breast cancer.

ACS Guidelines for Breast Screening with MRI May Be Excluding Some High-risk Women

1/6/2009

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has developed a set of guidelines to recommend which high-risk women need to undergo screening with breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, these guidelines may unwittingly exclude some women who are at a high risk of carrying the BRCA mutation yet still don’t meet the limitations set by the ACS. The results of this study were published in the journal Cancer.

Breast Cancer Is More Common but Less Deadly Among Women Who Use Postmenopausal Hormones

12/29/2008

Additional information from the Women’s Health Initiative firmly establishes that postmenopausal hormone therapy with combined estrogen plus progestin increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. According to another study, however, breast cancers that develop in women who have used estrogen plus progestin tend to be less deadly than breast cancers in other women. The results of both studies were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

OncoVue® Offers Improved Estimation of Risk for Breast Cancer

12/23/2008

OncoVue® offers a significantly more accurate estimation of the risk of breast cancer than the Gail Model, according to the results of a study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 12, 2008.

Ixempra™ plus Xeloda® Improves Progression-free Survival in Triple-negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

12/23/2008

The combination of Ixempra® (ixabepilone) and Xeloda® (capeciteabine) significantly increases progression-free survival in women with triple-negative metastatic breast cancer, according to the results of a study presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 12, 2008.

Addition of Xeloda® Reduces Recurrence Risk in Early Breast Cancer

12/22/2008

Among women with high-risk early breast cancer, the addition of Xeloda® (capecitabine) to a standard chemotherapy regimen reduces the risk of cancer recurrence. These results were recently presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

Reduced Breast Density May Indicate a Response to Tamoxifen

12/22/2008

New research indicates that when the use of tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) results in a reduction of breast density, this change in breast density serves as an indicator that the drug is effectively working to reduce the risk of breast cancer. In other words, changes in breast density may indicate whether a woman is actually benefiting from the use of tamoxifen. The results of this study were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on Saturday December 13, 2008.

Addition of Herceptin® to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Shows Benefit in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

12/19/2008

Among women with locally advanced, HER2-positive breast cancer, neoadjuvant (before surgery) therapy with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) plus chemotherapy resulted in longer survival without recurrence or progression than neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Combination of Tykerb® and Femara® Delays Progression of Metastatic Breast Cancer

12/19/2008

Among postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer, the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Femara® (letrozole) resulted in longer progression-free survival than treatment with Femara alone. These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

MRI Does Not Improve Staging Compared with Conventional Methods in Early Breast Cancer

12/18/2008

The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to breast-conserving surgery does not improve loco-regional staging compared with conventional staging methods among women with early breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Oncotype DX® Predicts Recurrence Risk in Node-negative and Node-positive Breast Cancer Treated with Tamoxifen or Arimidex®

12/18/2008

Among women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated with either tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) or Arimidex® (anastrozole), the Oncotype DX test predicts the risk of distant cancer recurrence in both node-negative and node-positive patients. These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Breast Cancer Risk Varies Among Young Women with Benign Breast Disease

12/18/2008

Women under the age of 50 who have atypical hyperplasia (a type of benign breast disease) are more than six times more likely to develop breast cancer than women in the general population. These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Zometa in Combination with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy May Shrink Breast Tumors

12/18/2008

The bisphosphonate agent Zometa® (zoledronic acid) appears to do more than just prevent bone loss; it may actually have anti-tumor activity when combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. These results were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 13, 2008.

Gene Influences Response to Tamoxifen Among Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients

12/17/2008

Among postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, those with certain inherited variations in a gene known as CYP2D6 derived little benefit from tamoxifen (Nolvadex®); based on these findings, researchers at the Mayo Clinic recommend CYP2D6 testing for postmenopausal women being considered for tamoxifen therapy. These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Even Small HER2-positive Breast Cancers Have Elevated Risk of Recurrence

12/17/2008

Without HER2-targeted therapy, HER2-positive breast cancer has a higher risk of recurrence than HER2-negative breast cancer, even when the breast cancer is small (1 cm or less); this raises the possibility that even women with very small HER2-positive breast cancers may benefit from a HER2-targeted therapy such as Herceptin® (trastuzumab). These results were presented at the 2008 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Aromatase Inhibitors Improve Outcomes in Early Breast Cancer

12/17/2008

According to a combined analysis of previous studies, adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment with an aromatase inhibitor results in fewer recurrences than treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) among postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2008 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

Denosumab Improves Bone Density in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy

12/16/2008

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial, the experimental drug denosumab significantly improves bone density among women with non-metastatic breast cancer treated with an aromatase inhibitor. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Some Breast Cancers May Spontaneously Regress

12/9/2008

According to the results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, some early breast cancers may disappear on their own.

Family History of Breast Cancer Increases Risk Regardless of BRCA Status

12/9/2008

Women with a significant family history of breast cancer but no BRCA mutation are four times more likely to develop breast cancer than women in the general population. These results were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s Seventh Annual International Conference in Washington, D.C. on November 17, 2008.

Breast Brachytherapy Provides Good Cosmetic Outcomes Among Women with Breast Implants

12/8/2008

For women with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone breast augmentation, lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy (placement of radioactive “seeds” in the breast) appears to be effective and to provide better cosmetic outcomes than lumpectomy followed by whole-breast radiation therapy. These results were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

Link Between Obesity and Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women Not Related to Frequency or Accuracy of Mammography

12/8/2008

Obesity has long been associated with an increased risk and severity of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. New research now shows that this risk is not the result of differences in the use or accuracy of mammography screening but instead may actually be the result of biologic differences in tumor development. The results of this study were published in the December 3, 2008 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Avastin® plus Chemotherapy Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

12/1/2008

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial among women with metastatic, HER2-negative breast cancer, treatment with a combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy results in a longer progression-free interval than treatment with chemotherapy alone.

Radiation Delays Associated with Worse Outcomes in Localized Breast Cancer

11/25/2008

Women who delay radiation treatment after surgery for early-stage breast cancer have worse outcomes than women who undergo radiation sooner, according to two recent studies, one published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and the other in Cancer.

Breast Cancer Incidence Higher Among Young African-American Women than Young White Women

11/21/2008

The incidence of breast cancer among African-American women under 40 is higher than that of White women under 40, according to the results of an analysis published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Avastin® Linked with Increased Risk of Blood Clots

11/20/2008

According to a combined analysis of previously published studies, cancer patients who use Avastin® (bevacizumab) may have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (a blood clot in a vein). These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Psychological Intervention May Improve Survival in Breast Cancer

11/19/2008

Breast cancer patients who receive psychological intervention during treatment experience improved overall survival, as well as a reduced risk of cancer recurrence, according to the results of a study published in an early online issue of Cancer.

The 2008 Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Symposium

11/18/2008

The 2008 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breast Cancer Symposium, held this year on September 5-7 in Washington, DC, delivered results encompassing advancements in screening, diagnosis, treatment, supportive care, and individualized therapies for patients with breast cancer. The event brought together world-renowned clinicians and researchers who are dedicated to improving outcomes for those diagnosed with breast cancer.

Calcium plus Vitamin D Supplementation Is Not Associated with a Reduced Risk of Breast Cancer

11/17/2008

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation may not reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to the results of a study recently published in an early online version of the November 2008 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Poor Compliance with Tamoxifen Leads to Higher Recurrence Rates

11/13/2008

Researchers from St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York have reported that 37% of women with estrogen receptor-positive localized breast cancer are not compliant with prescribed tamoxifen (Nolvadex®), resulting in a higher rate of recurrent disease. The details of this study were published in the October, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Surgery.

Oncotype DX® Influences Treatment Decisions in Large Portion of Breast Cancer Patients

11/10/2008

Results from Oncotype DX® affect treatment decisions in a large portion of breast cancer patients who undergo the test. These results were recently published in the American Journal of Surgery.

Migraines Associated with Reduced Breast Cancer Risk

11/7/2008

Women suffering from migraines appear to have a reduced risk for developing breast cancer, possibly due to fluctuating hormone levels. These results were recently published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

Breast Cancer Patients Suffering Side Effects from Hormone Therapy Have Reduced Risk of Recurrence

11/6/2008

Patients with hormone-positive breast cancer who are treated with hormone therapy and suffer from joint or vasomotor symptoms (contracting or dilating of blood vessels that can affect nerves and muscles) have a reduced risk of a recurrence. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.

Folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 Not Shown to Protect Against Cancer in Women

11/5/2008

Supplementation with folic acid, B6, and B12 for more than seven years neither reduced nor increased the risk of breast cancer or other invasive cancer among women. These results were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Vigorous Physical Activity Lowers Risk of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer

11/3/2008

Women who engage in vigorous physical activity can significantly lower their risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. These results were recently published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

Number of Circulating Cancer Cells Associated with Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

10/30/2008

Cancer cells found circulating in the blood are a strong predictor of mortality among patients with metastatic breast cancer. Patients with large numbers of cancer cells found circulating in the blood may benefit from more aggressive or novel therapeutic approaches. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Tamoxifen Associated with Reduction in Bone Fractures

10/24/2008

The use of the hormone agent Novaldex (tamoxifen) may reduce the risk of bone fractures in women 50 years or older. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Aromasin® and Nolvadex® Both Effective as Initial Therapy for Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer

10/22/2008

Both Aromasin (exemestane) and Nolvadex (tamoxifen) are effective as initial therapy for metastatic breast cancer among postmenopausal women. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Coffee Consumption Not Associated with Overall Risk of Breast Cancer

10/15/2008

Amount of caffeine consumption is not associated with an overall increased risk of breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

NSAIDs May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer

10/10/2008

The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), including both aspirin and ibuprofen, appears to significantly reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Nexavar® May Overcome Resistance to Arimidex® in Breast Cancer

10/8/2008

The addition of Nexavar® (sorafenib) to Arimidex® (anastrozole) helps restore sensitivity to Arimidex among women with breast cancer. These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) breast cancer symposium.

Arimidex® Not Associated with Cognitive Impairment Among Postmenopausal Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer

10/7/2008

The use of the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex® (anastrozole) does not appear to be associated with cognitive impairment among postmenopausal women at a high risk of developing breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.

Single Reading with Computer-aided Detection Equivalent to Double Reading of Mammograms

10/7/2008

The results of a study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that using computer-aided detection (computer programs that identify suspicious areas on mammograms) along with a single reader of mammograms could be an alternative to using double readers and could also improve the cancer detection rate from mammograms that are read by a single reader.

Hormone Therapy May Not Increase Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women with a BRCA1 Mutation

10/2/2008

According to the results of a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, hormone therapy for postmenopausal women with a BRCA1 mutation does not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer.

Continuous Low-dose Chemotherapy Effective Against Anthracycline-resistant Breast Cancer

9/26/2008

The use of low-dose Taxotere® (docetaxel) on a weekly basis plus Xeloda® (capecitabine) on a daily basis provided benefit for a significant portion of patients with breast cancer that has stopped responding to anthracyclines. The addition of Celebrex® (celecoxib), however, did not provide any additional benefit. These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) breast cancer symposium.

Hypnosis Decreases Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors

9/25/2008

Hypnosis appears to reduce hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. These results were published in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Shorter Radiation Course as Effective as Longer Course in Early Breast Cancer

9/23/2008

A shorter course and lower doses of radiation therapy to the breast results in equivalent outcomes among patients with early breast cancer who have undergone surgery compared to the standard longer course and higher doses. These results were recently presented at a plenary session at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Oncotype DX® Accurately Determines HER2 Status in Breast Cancer

9/11/2008

Oncotype DX® appears to determine HER2 status as accurately as standard laboratory testing methods. By the end of 2008, Genomic Health intends to provide HER2 status with results from all Oncotype DX testing. These results were recently presented at the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breast Meeting.

Oncotype DX® Adds to Information from Adjuvant! Online for Node-negative and Node-positive Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer Patients

9/10/2008

Use of Oncotype DX® contributes information about treatment of hormone-positive breast cancer with up to three positive lymph nodes in addition to that already available on Adjuvant! Online. These results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Does Eating More Fruit and Vegetables Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer?

9/10/2008

Women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer often pay extra attention to their diet as a way to prevent recurrence of their cancer. Healthcare professionals and researchers alike have long suspected a correlation between healthful eating patterns and reduced risk of chronic diseases such as certain forms of cancer and heart disease.

Zometa® Helps Prevent Bone Loss in Early Breast Cancer

8/29/2008

Including Zometa® (zoledronic acid) in a treatment regimen for early breast cancer reduces bone loss associated with endocrine therapy among premenopausal women. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.

Preventive Dental Care Reduces Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Associated with Bisphosphonates

8/20/2008

Patients who undergo preventive dental care prior to receiving therapy with bisphosphonates have a significantly reduced risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw. These results were published in an early online publication in the Annals of Oncology.

Livial® Reduces Breast Cancer Risk but Increases Stroke Risk

8/18/2008

Livial® (tibolone), an agent used to reduce menopausal symptoms as well as bone loss, significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer and prevents bone loss and fractures; however, it doubles the risk of stroke among postmenopausal women. These results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Some Women at Risk for Recurrences Long After Breast Cancer Therapy

8/15/2008

Some women with early breast cancer remain at a substantial risk for developing a cancer recurrence years following therapy. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Neulasta® Deemed Cost-effective for Prevention of Febrile Neutropenia in Breast Cancer Patients

8/15/2008

The prophylactic use of Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) is cost-effective for the prevention of febrile neutropenia in patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The details of this study appeared in the March-April 2008 issue of Value Health.

Forty Percent of Postmenopausal Breast Cancers Preventable by Lifestyle Changes

8/14/2008

Approximately 40% of breast cancers among postmenopausal women may be prevented through lifestyle changes. These results were recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Radiofrequency Ablation Effective for Primary Lung Tumors and Lung Metastases from Breast Cancer

7/30/2008

The use of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of lung cancer and lung metastases from breast, colon, and prostate cancers and melanoma is effective and safe for some patients. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.

Topical Gel May Reduce Discomfort with Mammography

7/24/2008

Application of the topical gel, lidocaine, prior to a mammography appears to reduce discomfort caused by the procedure. These results were recently published in the journal Radiology.

FDA Approves New Test to Detect HER2 Status in Breast Cancer

7/10/2008

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new laboratory test to help identify patients with breast cancer who may benefit from treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab).

Nurse-delivered Therapy Improves Depression Among Cancer Patients

7/8/2008

Therapy delivered to cancer patients by oncology nurses improves cancer-related depression compared with standard therapies. These results were recently published in the Lancet.

Certain Foods May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer

6/30/2008

Further evidence has emerged that certain dietary patterns may help prevent breast cancer among both women with a genetic risk for the disease and those with no genetic risk. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Cancer Detection and Prevention.

More than Half of Oncology Nurses Stop or Delay Chemotherapy Due to Nausea and Vomiting

6/24/2008

More than half of oncology nurses will completely stop or delay their patients’ chemotherapy regimens due to nausea and vomiting induced by therapy. Such findings underscore an unmet need in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). These results were recently released from a survey conducted at the 2008 annual Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) meeting.

Oncotype DX® Also Provides Information About Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status

6/24/2008

Oncotype DX®, a genomic test that predicts likelihood of chemotherapy benefit and risk of recurrence among women with early-stage breast cancer, also provides information about the estrogen and progesterone receptor status of breast cancers. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Bone Marker Associated with Survival in Breast, Prostate, and Lung Cancers

6/23/2008

The bone marker N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) is associated with skeletal-related events and survival among patients with cancer that has spread to the bone (bone metastases). Improved outcomes may be achieved by reducing these markers through treatment with agents such as Zometa® (zoledronic acid). These results were recently published in the journal Cancer.

Mayo Clinic Reports Increasing Use of Mastectomy for Early-stage Breast Cancer

6/9/2008

The number of mastectomies performed for early-stage breast cancer at the Mayo Clinic increased by 13% over a three-year period. Increasing use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may explain some of the increased use of mastectomy. These results were presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Tykerb® Effective in Recurrent Inflammatory Breast Cancer

6/6/2008

Among women with recurrent HER2-positive inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), treatment with Tykerb® (lapatinib) is effective, even among patients whose cancer has progressed following treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab). These results were recently reported at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Targeted Therapy with Tykerb® and Herceptin® Improves Survival of Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer

6/6/2008

Among women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer who have been previously treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab), the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Herceptin improves progression-free survival, and possibly overall survival, compared with Tykerb alone. These findings were recently presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Sites of Recurrence in Breast Cancer May Differ from Primary Cancer

6/6/2008

Among women with recurrent breast cancer, sites of cancer recurrence may have HER2 of hormone-receptor status that differs from the primary tumor. As such, individual biopsies of sites of cancer recurrence may be required in order to ensure optimal treatment. These findings were recently reported at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Conventional Chemotherapy Outperforms Xeloda® in Older Breast Cancer Patients

6/4/2008

Among women aged 65 or older with operable breast cancer, risk of recurrence and risk of death were higher among those treated with Xeloda® (capecitabine) than among those treated with standard chemotherapy. These were the results of the CALGB/CTSU 49907 trial, presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Addition of Avastin® to Taxotere® Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

6/4/2008

Women with advanced HER2-negative breast cancer who were treated with Avastin® (bevacizumab) in addition to Taxotere® (docetaxel) experienced longer progression-free survival than those treated with Taxotere alone. Furthermore, higher doses of Avastin resulted in greater improvements to progression-free survival. These results were recently reported at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Anthracyclines Questioned in HER2-negative Breast Cancer

6/3/2008

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) negative breast cancer may not benefit from treatment including anthracyclines, a class of chemotherapy.

Addition of RAD001 to Femara® Improves Response to Breast Cancer Treatment

6/2/2008

According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the addition of the investigational drug RAD001 (everolimus) to Femara® (letrozole) enhanced tumor shrinkage among postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Zometa® Improves Outcomes in Premenopausal Women with Hormone-positive Breast Cancer

6/2/2008

Women with early-stage breast cancer who were treated with Zometa® (zoledronic acid) lived longer without experiencing a cancer recurrence than premenopausal women not treated with Zometa. The results of this clinical study were recently presented at the 2008 annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

FDA Approves Non-anthracycline Chemotherapy Regimen plus Herceptin® for Early Breast Cancer

6/2/2008

Based on the results of a Phase III clinical trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two new Herceptin® (trastuzumab)-containing regimens for the adjuvant treatment of early HER2-positive breast cancer. One of these regimens does not contain an anthracycline, and appears to be less likely than anthracycline-containing regimens to cause heart problems.

Breast Cancer and Environment Research Act Calls for Research into Causes of Breast Cancer

6/2/2008

If signed into law, the Breast Cancer and Environment Research Act (H.R. 1157) would create programs and funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for increased research into environmental causes of breast cancer. According to a press release from the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC), at a Wednesday, May 21, 2008, hearing before the House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health, representatives for the NBCC testified in support of H.R. 1157.

Vitamin D Affects Outcomes in Breast Cancer

5/21/2008

Women with early breast cancer who have low blood levels of vitamin D have a worse outcome than those with adequate levels of vitamin D. These results were recently released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Physical Activity Early in Life Reduces Risk of Premenopausal Breast Cancer

5/16/2008

Physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Anesthetic Helps Relieve Menopausal Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors

5/15/2008

A local anesthetic administered into the neck appears to significantly reduce severe menopausal-like side effects among women who have been treated for breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Lancet Oncology.

Screening Ultrasound Improves Breast Cancer Detection in Dense Breasts

5/14/2008

The addition of ultrasound for the screening of breast cancer significantly improves detection rates among women who have dense breast tissue. These results were recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Mammography Can Measure Growth Rate of Breast Cancer Tumor

5/12/2008

New research indicates that screening mammography may provide estimates of breast cancer tumor growth rates. These findings from the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program were recently published in Breast Cancer Research.

Specific Gene Mutations May Affect Response to Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer

5/6/2008

Mutations within the CYP2D6 gene may affect the way in which a patient with hormone-positive breast cancer responds to tamoxifen (Nolvadex®). These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Changes in Lifestlye May Improve Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Survivors

5/2/2008

A recent study conducted by the American Cancer Society reports that although few cancer survivors are following recommendations for lifestyle changes aimed to improve health and well-being, adhering to these guidelines may improve quality of life among breast cancer survivors. Full details of the study were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Regular Aspirin Use May Reduce Risk of Hormone-positive Breast Cancer

4/30/2008

Regular use of aspirin may modestly reduce the risk of developing hormone-positive breast cancer. These results were recently published online by Breast Cancer Research.

Elderly Women Benefit from Screening Mammography

4/30/2008

Regular mammograms among women 80 years of age and older may detect earlier stages of breast cancer. These findings were released in an early online publication of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Women Share Breast and Ovarian Cancer Testing Results with Family Members

4/25/2008

Women who undergo testing for genetic breast cancer are more likely to share the results with other female family members, including children and their siblings, if they are aware of their relative’s opinion of genetic testing. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Family Psychology.

Vaccine E75 May Improve Survival for Some HER2 Breast Cancer Patients

4/18/2008

The investigative vaccine E75 may have survival benefits for patients with breast cancer that has low expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Weekly Taxol® Improves Survival in Early Breast Cancer

4/17/2008

The chemotherapy schedule that includes once-weekly administration of Taxol® (paclitaxel) in combination with Adriamycin® (doxorubicin) and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) appears most effective in early breast cancer. These results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Trans Fats Linked to Breast Cancer Risk

4/17/2008

According to a study conducted in France, high levels of trans fats in the blood contributed to an increased risk of invasive breast cancer. Full details of the study were recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Soy Products May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

4/16/2008

A recent study conducted in Japan reveals that soy products such as tofu may significantly reduce a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer. Details of the study were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Increase Breast Cancer Risk

4/16/2008

Consuming just one alcoholic drink per day may increase the risk of hormone-sensitive breast cancer. These results were presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research.

Chemotherapy-induced Anemia Associated with Breast Cancer Recurrence

4/10/2008

A recent study conducted in Austria reveals that in premenopausal women with localized breast cancer, chemotherapy-induced anemia is associated with local recurrence following treatment. Full details of this study were published in the April issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

Blood Test to Detect Tumor Cells May Predict Outcome in Advanced Breast Cancer

4/3/2008

Tumor cells in circulating blood may accurately indicate prognosis and tumor response to treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer, whereas measures of tumors circulating in bone marrow do not. These findings were recently published in the Annals of Oncology.

Differences in IMRT Radiation Doses May Complicate Study Results in Breast Cancer

3/24/2008

Differences between the prescribed dose of radiation in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and the dose that’s actually delivered may make comparison studies in breast cancer difficult to interpret. These findings were reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Women&Cancer Magazine Features Paula Zahn on Spring 2008 Cover

3/17/2008

News anchor and cancer advocate Paula Zahn knows what it means to watch a loved one confront a cancer diagnosis. In fact, in the space of 14 months when Paula was 29 years old, her immediate family managed four active cases of cancer; of those four, which included her mother, her father, her sister-in-law and her aunt, only her mother would survive. “I think any of us who have been exposed to cancer in our families share a strong bond,” Paula says. The veteran reporter and media personality shares details of her own experience and of her role as an impassioned cancer advocate in an inspiring interview.

Femara® May Protect Against Breast Cancer Years After Tamoxifen

3/13/2008

A recent study in conducted in Canada reveals that breast cancer patients treated with the drug Femara® (letrozole) several years after completing treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) have a reduced risk of a recurrence. These findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Hormone Therapy Increases Risk for Breast and Lung Cancers

3/5/2008

Hormone therapy appears to increase the risk of breast cancer as well as lung cancer among postmenopausal women. These results were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Triple-negative Breast Cancers More Likely to Spread to Brain

2/29/2008

Women with triple-negative breast cancer (estrogen receptor-, progesterone receptor-, and human epidermal receptor-negative) have a higher risk that cancer will spread to the brain. These results were recently published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

Zometa® Shows Promise in Preventing Bone Lose Among Women Using Femara® for Breast Cancer

2/27/2008

A recent study found that Zometa® may prevent bone loss in women treated with Femara® for breast cancer. These findings were published in the journal Cancer.

Hormone Therapy May Affect Accuracy of Mammogram and Biopsy for Breast Cancer

2/26/2008

The use of hormone therapy may affect the ability of both mammography and breast biopsies to accurately diagnose breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Avastin® Approved for Advanced Breast Cancer

2/26/2008

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to Avastin® (bevacizumab) used in combination with Taxol® (paclitaxel) for the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Hypertension Medication May Protect Against Breast Cancer

2/20/2008

Long-term use of blood pressure medications known as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists may help some patients reduce their risk of developing cancer, including breast cancer. These findings were recently reported in the journal Cancer.

MammoSite® Shows Promise for Early-stage Breast Cancer Treatment

2/19/2008

MammoSite®, a delivery system for partial breast irradiation, appears to be an effective treatment for early-stage breast cancer. These findings were recently published in the journal Cancer.

Women with DCIS Breast Cancer Uncertain About Risk of Recurrence

2/19/2008

Women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the earliest stage of breast cancer, tend to have inaccurate views on their risks of recurrence following treatment. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Being Overweight Associated with Increased Risk of Several Cancers

2/19/2008

Excess bodyweight increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, according to results recently published in The Lancet.

Addition of Avastin® to Chemotherapy Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

2/14/2008

The addition of Avastin® (bevacizumab) to the chemotherapy agent Taxotere® (docetaxel) improves progression-free survival in patients with advanced breast cancer. These results were recently published in a press release by Genentech.

Certain Elderly Breast Cancer Patients More Likely to Die from Causes Other than Cancer

2/13/2008

Elderly women diagnosed with early hormone-positive breast cancer and treated with hormone therapy are more likely to die from causes not related to breast cancer than from breast cancer itself. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Large Majority of Breast Cancer Information on Internet Is Accurate

2/11/2008

Approximately 95% of information about breast cancer that is found on the Internet is accurate. These results were recently published in the journal Cancer.

Further Research Needed to Improve Pain Associated with Mammography in Breast Cancer Screening

2/4/2008

Recent research indicates that efforts to reduce pain and discomfort associated with screening mammograms for breast cancer have generally been unsuccessful. This study was published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Cost Sharing May Deter Women from Screening Mammograms

1/31/2008

A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine reports that cost sharing among Medicare patients may discourage women from getting important preventive healthcare such as screening mammograms.

Breast Cancer Surgeon Influences Whether Patient Receives Radiation Therapy

1/30/2008

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, whether or not a woman with early breast cancer receives radiation therapy may be determined by certain characteristics of her surgeon.

FDA Approves Herceptin® for Use as Single Agent in Early Breast Cancer

1/28/2008

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the targeted agent Herceptin® (trastuzumab) for use as a single agent in the treatment of early, HER2-positive breast cancer. The new indication specifies use of Herceptin in patients who have received prior therapy with multiple modalities including chemotherapy with anthracyclines (including Adriamycin® or Ellence®).

Smoking Sharply Increases Risk of Lung Cancer Among Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Radiation

1/28/2008

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients with breast cancer who received radiation therapy following a mastectomy have a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer if they have ever smoked.

New Genetic Test For Breast Cancer Patients Approved by the FDA

1/25/2008

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved the TOP2A FISH pharmDx test, a genetic test to help assess risk of breast cancer recurrence and long-term survival for early breast cancer patients. The TOP2A FISH pharmDx test is approved for breast cancer patients who are considered to have a moderate to high risk of developing a recurrence.

Conservative Surgery plus Tamoxifen May Be Safe in Elderly Breast Cancer Patients

1/23/2008

A recent article in the journal Cancer reports that elderly women diagnosed with breast cancer may be effectively treated with conservative surgery followed by hormonal therapy with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®).

Patient Education Recommended About Risk of Infection with Surgery for Breast Cancer

1/22/2008

According to an article recently published in the Archives of Surgery, infection at the surgical site among women who undergo surgery for breast cancer significantly increases medical costs as well as pain, anxiety, time requirements, chances for potential complications, and demands on medical staff and facilities.

Omnitarg™ plus Herceptin® Effective for Metastatic Breast Cancer

1/21/2008

According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the combination of Omnitarg™ (pertuzumab) plus Herceptin® (trastuzumab) provides significant anticancer activity among women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer whose disease had progressed while on therapy with Herceptin alone.

Updates in the Management of Metastatic Breast Cancer

1/21/2008

A Report from the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

Bone Loss and Bone Metastases in Breast Cancer

1/21/2008

A Report from the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

Postmenopausal Hormones Linked with Lobular Breast Cancer

1/17/2008

According to the results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, postmenopausal hormone therapy with combined estrogen plus progestin for three years or longer increases the risk of lobular breast cancer.

Surgery for Advanced Breast Cancer Improves Survival

1/15/2008

According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, surgery for patients with metastatic breast cancer improves survival.

Breast Cancer Risk Varies Among BRCA1/2 Carriers

1/14/2008

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, risk of breast cancer among BRCA1/2 carriers varies across families.

Additional Evidence that Postmenopausal Hormone Use Increases Breast Cancer Risk

1/11/2008

According to the results of a study conducted in Italy and published in the Annals of Oncology, risk of breast cancer increases as duration of postmenopausal hormone use increases, and risk of colorectal cancer decreases.

Sun Exposure May Reduce Risk of Advanced Breast Cancer

1/10/2008

According to the results of a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, sun exposure may reduce the risk of advanced breast cancer among women with light skin pigmentation.

Taxotere® Following Anthracyclines May Improve Progression-free Survival in Breast Cancer

1/10/2008

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the addition of the chemotherapy agent Taxotere® (docetaxel) following an anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimen may improve disease-free survival among patients with early breast cancer.

Annual Mammography Alone Not Sufficient for Young Hodgkin’s Survivors

1/9/2008

According to the results of a study published in the Annals of Oncology, annual screening mammography may miss some cases of early invasive breast cancer among young Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivors who were treated with supradiaphragmatic (above the diaphragm) radiation therapy.

Ixempra® plus Xeloda® Active in Metastatic Breast Cancer

1/8/2008

According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the chemotherapy combination of Ixempra® (ixabepilone) plus Xeloda® (capecitabine) provides anticancer activity among patients with hormone-negative, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer that has stopped responding to standard therapies including anthracyclines and taxanes.

Herceptin® After Cancer Spread to Brain Improves Survival in Breast Cancer

1/8/2008

According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) after cancer has spread to the brain improves survival for breast cancer patients.

Reduced Long-term Risk of Contralateral Breast Cancer with Treatment for Original Breast Cancer

1/7/2008

According to results recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, treatment with chemotherapy or hormone therapy for original breast cancer significantly reduces the long-term risk of developing breast cancer in the contralateral (opposite) breast.

Chemotherapy Improves Survival for Early Hormone-negative Breast Cancer

1/4/2008

According to results recently published in the Lancet, findings from a large analysis of several clinical trials indicate that adjuvant chemotherapy improves outcomes, including survival, among women with early estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.

Oncotype DX® Added to NCCN Guidelines

1/4/2008

A recommendation for use of the Oncotype DX® test has been added to the 2008 breast cancer treatment guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). According to the guidelines, Oncotype DX may be used to guide chemotherapy decisions among certain women with node-negative, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Long-term Results Show Lower Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence with Arimidex® than Tamoxifen

1/4/2008

According to results recently published in the Lancet, long-term (100-month) follow-up data demonstrates that postmenopausal women with hormone-positive breast cancer have a significantly reduced risk of developing a cancer recurrence when they are initially treated with Arimidex® (anastrozole) compared with initial treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®). These results were also recently presented at the 2007 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Addition of Avastin® Doesn’t Improve Overall Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer

1/3/2008

According to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, treatment of metastatic breast cancer with a combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and paclitaxel (Taxol®) delays the time to cancer progression, but does not improve overall survival, compared with paclitaxel alone.

Higher Rates of BRCA1 Mutations in Hispanic Women

1/2/2008

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, rates of BRCA1 mutations among U.S. breast cancer patients are higher among Hispanic women than among African-American or Asian-American women.

Reconstruction Often Not Discussed Before Breast Cancer Surgery

12/21/2007

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, only one-third of women discuss breast reconstruction with their surgeon before breast cancer surgery.

Extended Hormonal Therapy Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk

12/20/2007

Among postmenopausal women who complete five years of tamoxifen for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer, an additional three years of treatment with the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex® (anastrozole) results in a lower risk of cancer recurrence. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Tykerb® plus Xeloda® Shows Benefits Against Brain Metastases

12/19/2007

According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), the targeted agent Tykerb® (lapatinib), used in combination with the chemotherapy drug Xeloda® (capecitabine), reduces the size of brain metastases in some women with previously-treated HER2-positive breast cancer.

Gene Influences Tamoxifen Response

12/19/2007

The effectiveness of tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer is lower among women who carry a gene variant linked with poor tamoxifen metabolism. These results were presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

Denosumab Improves Bone Density in Breast Cancer Patients

12/18/2007

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the experimental drug denosumab significantly improves bone density among women with non-metastatic breast cancer treated with an aromatase inhibitor.

Arimidex® Reduces Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence

12/18/2007

Among postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, updated results from the ATAC study continue to show that treatment with the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex® (anastrozole) results in a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence than treatment with tamoxifen. These results were presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Zometa® Prevents Bone Loss in Breast Cancer Patients

12/18/2007

Studies presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium indicate that Zometa® (zoledronic acid) effectively prevents bone loss among postmenopausal breast cancer patients treated with an aromatase inhibitor, and among premenopausal breast cancer patients treated with a combination of hormonal therapies.

Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy Offers More Convenient Breast Cancer Treatment

12/17/2007

Long-term results from a study conducted in Canada suggest that hypofractionated radiation therapy (radiation therapy administered in fewer visits with a higher dose of radiation at each visit) has comparable efficacy and cosmetic outcome as conventional radiation therapy in the treatment of node-negative breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Adjuvant Taxotere® Improves Breast Cancer Survival

12/14/2007

According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, adjuvant chemotherapy with Taxotere® (docetaxel) and cylophosphamide results in better survival than adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide.

Oncotype DX™ Predicts Recurrence Risk in Node-positive Breast Cancer

12/14/2007

According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the Oncotype DX™ test may help guide chemotherapy decisions among women with node-positive, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

High-dose Chemotherapy Doesn’t Improve Overall Breast Cancer Survival

12/14/2007

According to a combined analysis of 15 clinical trials, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant modestly improves disease-free survival but does not significantly improve overall survival among women with node-positive breast cancer. These results were presented at the 2007 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Predicting Breast Cancer Risk in African-American Women

12/13/2007

Researchers have developed a new tool to more accurately assess the risk of breast cancer in African-American women. This information was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Accuracy of Diagnostic Mammograms Varies Across Radiologists

12/13/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the accuracy of diagnostic mammograms varies widely across radiologists; this variability is not explained by patient characteristics.

Taxotere® Confirmed More Effective than Taxol® for Metastatic Breast Cancer

12/10/2007

According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, longer follow-up results indicate that the chemotherapy agent Taxotere® (docetaxel) remains superior to the chemotherapy agent Taxol® (paclitaxel) in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer among patients who have received prior therapy with anthracycline chemotherapy agents.

FDA Advisory Committee Does Not Recommend Approval for Avastin® for Breast Cancer

12/7/2007

The Oncology Drugs Advisory Drugs Committee (ODAC) of the United States Food and Drug Advisory (FDA) has recommended against FDA approval of Avastin® (bevacizumab) as initial therapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Research Continues on Dietary Fat and Breast Cancer

11/30/2007

A large study conducted in Sweden and published in the British Journal of Cancer found no overall association between total dietary fat or specific types of dietary fat and risk of breast cancer.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations Increase Breast Cancer Risk in Men

11/29/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, men with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation are more likely than other men to develop breast cancer.

Pain Varies by Race Among Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer

11/26/2007

Among women with breast cancer that has spread to the bone, non-White women are more likely than White women to report severe pain. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Gene Signatures Linked with Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

11/16/2007

Among women with estrogen receptor-negative, operable breast cancer, use of gene expression profiling may help physicians select the most appropriate neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemotherapy regimen. These results were published in Lancet Oncology.

Women with Family History of Breast or Ovarian Cancer Have Increased Risk of Developing Leukemia

11/12/2007

According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, women with breast cancer who have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer have an increased risk of subsequently developing chronic leukemia.

Possible Link Between Diet and Breast Density

10/25/2007

Among women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, higher intake of vitamin D may be linked with lower breast density. These results were published in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

Early Age at Maximum Height Linked with Increased Breast Cancer Risk

10/24/2007

According to the results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention, girls who reach their maximum height by the age of 12 years may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life.

ASCO Integrates Oncotype DX™ into Clinical Guidelines for Breast Cancer

10/23/2007

According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has included Oncotype DX™ into its clinical guidelines for early breast cancer.

Heart Changes Noted After Radiation Therapy for Left-sided Breast Cancer

10/22/2007

A study that followed women for three to six years after radiation therapy for left-sided breast cancer reported that more than half the women had abnormalities in blood flow to the heart. Changes in heart wall motion or ejection fraction were less common. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Weight Loss May Improve Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema

10/19/2007

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, weight loss may significantly reduce breast cancer-related lymphedema in overweight women.

Ixempra™ Approved for Advanced Breast Cancer

10/17/2007

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ixempra® (ixabepilone) for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The indication includes the use of Ixempra as a single agent for the treatment of recurrent, advanced breast cancer in patients who have stopped responding to chemotherapy including anthracyclines, taxanes, and Xeloda® (capecitabine). Ixempra is also approved for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in combination with Xeloda among patients whose cancer has stopped responding to anthracyclines and taxanes or who do not respond to a taxane and are not eligible to receive further treatment with anthracyclines.

Fatigue Persists in Some Patients Treated for Early Breast Cancer

10/16/2007

According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, fatigue is experienced by significantly more women treated for early breast cancer with chemotherapy and radiation than women who have not had cancer. This fatigue persists at six months following completion of therapy.

Review of the Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer: ASCO 2007

10/12/2007

The 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) featured a large number of breast cancer presentations addressing a broad array of topics. In the adjuvant arena, studies focused on advances in basic biologic understanding of different subtypes of breast cancer and the way this knowledge can translate into better, rationally designed therapies. At the same time, some of our long-held assumptions were challenged.

Taxol® Benefits Limited to HER2-positive Breast Cancer

10/11/2007

According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, status of the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) determines whether treatment with the chemotherapy agent Taxol® (paclitaxel) is effective in early breast cancer.

Study Evaluates Accuracy of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer

10/10/2007

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in Lancet Oncology, the overall accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer is 97% and the false-negative rate (the frequency with which sentinel lymph node biopsy misses existing lymph node metastases) is 9.8%.

Black Women Less Likely to Receive Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer

10/9/2007

Among women with node-positive breast cancer, Black women are less likely than White women to receive adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment with chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Higher Levels of Immune Cells Linked to Risk of Cancer in Postmenopausal Women

10/3/2007

According to results recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, postmenopausal women with higher levels of white blood cells (a type of immune cell) have a higher risk of developing specific types of cancer and dying from cancer.

Neulasta® Reduces Hospitalizations for Febrile Neutropenia in Women with Breast Cancer

10/2/2007

According to results presented at the European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14), preventive treatment with Neulasta® (pegfilgastim) improved chemotherapy delivery and reduced the risk of febrile neutropenia (low white blood cell levels accompanied by fever) among women with breast cancer.

Denosumab Active Against Bone Metastases from Breast Cancer

10/1/2007

According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial among women with breast cancer-related bone metastases, the experimental drug denosumab appears to reduce bone turnover and the risk of problems such as fractures to a similar extent as bisphosphonate treatment. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

All Types of Alcohol Increase Breast Cancer Risk

9/27/2007

According to the results of a study presented at the European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14), women who consume three or more alcoholic beverages per day (beer, wine, or spirits) are 30% more likely to develop breast cancer than women who consume less than one alcoholic beverage per day.

Circulating Tumor Cells May Provide Information about Breast Cancer Prognosis

9/24/2007

According to the results of a study presented at the European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14), measurement of circulating tumor cells in the blood of breast cancer patients may provide information about risk of cancer recurrence.

Evista® Approved for Prevention of Breast Cancer

9/14/2007

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Evista® (raloxifene) to prevent invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and postmenopausal women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer.

Oncotype DX™ Provides Information About Hormone Receptor Status of Breast Cancer

9/14/2007

According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Breast Cancer Symposium, hormone receptor information provided by the Oncotype DX™ test is comparable to that provided by the standard method of immunohistochemistry.

Oophorectomy Linked with Cognitive Problems

9/12/2007

According to the results of a study published in the journal Neurology, premenopausal women who have one or both ovaries removed face an increased risk of cognitive problems or dementia later in life. Use of hormone replacement therapy until the age of natural menopause appeared to reduce this risk.

Alvespimycin Benefits Patients with Heavily Pretreated HER2-positive Cancer

9/12/2007

Kosan Biosciences Incorporated reported results from an early-phase clinical trial indicating their targeted agent alvespimycin may provide clinical benefit to patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast or ovarian cancers who have received extensive prior therapies.

Estrogen-receptor Status of Breast Cancer Linked with Chemotherapy Response

9/11/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Annals of Oncology, women with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer appear to derive the most benefit from adjuvant, anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Heart Complications Associated with Herceptin®

9/11/2007

According to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the targeted agent Herceptin® (trastuzumab) is associated with heart problems in a small percentage of patients with HER2-positive, early breast cancer. Clinical studies have shown that many women with breast cancer will benefit from Herceptin treatment; Herceptin improves both disease-free and overall survival among women with HER2-positive breast cancer. Because of the known benefit of Herceptin and the concern about heart problems in some patients, it is recommended that patients who are eligible for treatment with Herceptin speak with their physician about their individual risks and benefits of treatment.

Exercise, Yoga Benefit Breast Cancer Survivors

9/7/2007

According to two studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, exercise—whether traditional aerobic or resistance exercise or yoga—provides important benefits to breast cancer survivors.

Avastin® Increases Risk of Blood Clots in Arteries

9/4/2007

According to a combined analysis of five clinical trials, treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or non–small lung cancer with a combination of Avastin and chemotherapy results in a higher risk of arterial blood clots than treatment with chemotherapy alone. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Hypnosis May Reduce Surgery Side Effects

8/31/2007

According to a study of women undergoing excisional breast biopsy or lumpectomy, use of hypnosis before surgery improved subsequent pain, nausea, fatigue, discomfort, and emotional upset. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Patients Report Same Satisfaction with Genetic Results Received by Phone as in Person

8/28/2007

According to results involving patients tested for BRCA1/2 mutations, which were published in Genetics in Medicine, patients are just as satisfied when given results of genetic testing for cancer risk over the phone as in person in terms of anxiety and general well-being.

Different Pattern of Recurrence for Triple-negative Breast Cancer

8/23/2007

According to the results of a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, women with triple-negative breast cancer (breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and HER2-negative) have an increased risk of distant recurrence and death during the first few years after diagnosis but not thereafter.

Heart Problems Infrequent in Women Treated with Herceptin®

8/14/2007

According to the results of a large clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, heart problems develop in roughly four percent of women treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab). These heart problems were not fatal and tended to be reversible.

Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Survival Increase with Cancer Stage

8/14/2007

Although African-American women have worse breast cancer survival than White women at all stages of the disease, the extent of the difference is greatest among women with more advanced disease. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

MRI Detects DCIS Better than Mammography

8/13/2007

According to an article recently published in The Lancet, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more accurately detects ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast than mammography.

MRI Detects More Cancer in Women at High-risk of Developing Breast Cancer

8/1/2007

According to an article recently published in Radiology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) more accurately detects breast cancer than mammography or ultrasound among women who are at a high risk of developing the disease.

Breast Cancer Rates Drop as Fewer Women Use Postmenopausal Hormones

7/31/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a sharp decline in the use of postmenopausal hormones was followed by a drop in the rate of breast cancer.

Insurance Status Influences Stage at Diagnosis of Breast and Oropharyngeal Cancers

7/30/2007

According to the results of two studies published in the journal Cancer, patients who have no health insurance or limited health insurance tend to be diagnosed with more advanced stages of breast and oropharyngeal cancer.

Sister Study to Help Determine Role of Environment and Genes in Causing Breast Cancer

7/30/2007

A large clinical trial referred to as the Sister Study, which is currently enrolling patients, will address the issues of environmental factors and genetics in the development of breast cancer.

FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval of Evista® for Breast Cancer Risk Reduction

7/26/2007

A committee that advises the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently recommended the approval of the osteoporosis drug Evista® (raloxifene) for a new use: reducing the risk of breast cancer in specific groups of postmenopausal women. The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of the advisory committee, but it will consider them.

SureTouch™ Improves Accuracy of Manual Palpation in Detection of Breast Cancer

7/25/2007

According to Medical Tactile, Inc’s Web site and a clinical trial published in the American Journal of Surgery, the SureTouch™ tactile sensing device more accurately detects a mass within the breast and more accurately determines if the mass is cancerous than manual palpation of the breast during a clinical breast examination by a healthcare provider. This novel way of screening for breast cancer may ultimately improve breast cancer detection, particularly among women who do not undergo mammography

Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer Living Longer

7/25/2007

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, improvements in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer have led to significant improvements in survival.

Herceptin® plus Navelbine® or Taxanes Active as Initial Therapy for HER2-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

7/24/2007

According to results published in an early online article in the journal Cancer, the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to either Navelbine® (vinorelbine) or taxanes (Taxol® or Taxotere®) provides significant anticancer activity as initial therapy for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Mammography Benefits Breast Cancer Survivors

7/24/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, surveillance mammography after treatment of early-stage breast cancer appears to improve survival.

Oncotype DX® Meets Blue Cross and Blue Shield Technology Evaluation Criteria

7/23/2007

Genomic Health has announced that the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Technology Evaluation Center (TEC) has approved the Oncotype DX® criteria for women with estrogen receptor-positive, node-negative, tamoxifen-treated cancer.

Tykerb® May Be Effective in Brain Metastasis from Breast Cancer

7/23/2007

According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the targeted agent Tykerb® (lapatinib) may be effective in shrinking cancer that has spread to the brain among some patients with breast cancer.

Extra Fruits and Vegetables Don’t Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence

7/19/2007

According to the results of a study published Journal of the American Medical Association, breast cancer survivors assigned to a diet very high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat had a similar risk of breast cancer recurrence as women who were advised to follow the “5-A-Day” dietary guidelines.

Oral Contraceptives Linked with Increased Breast Cancer Risk in BRCA1/2 Carriers

7/17/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, use of oral contraceptives may increase breast cancer risk among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

GeneSearch™ BLN Approved for Detection of Breast Cancer Spread to Lymph Nodes

7/17/2007

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the GeneSearch™ BLN Assay to detect whether breast cancer cells have spread to lymph nodes under the arm. GeneSearch BLN Assay is the first molecular-based lab test to detect this stage of cancer.

BRCA Mutations Do Not Affect Outcomes in Breast Cancer

7/12/2007

According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, women with breast cancer who have BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have similar outcomes compared to patients without these mutations.

Addition of Ixabepilone to Xeloda Improves Outcomes Compared with Xeloda® Alone in Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer

7/11/2007

According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the addition of ixabepilone to Xeloda® (capecitabine) significantly improves outcomes compared with ixabepilone only in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer that does not respond to standard chemotherapy agents.

Ixabepilone Effective in Metastatic Breast Cancer That Doesn’t Respond to Standard Chemotherapy

7/9/2007

According to an early on-line publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, treatment with ixabepilone provides anti-cancer responses and disease stabilization among women with metastatic breast cancer that did not respond to treatment with the standard chemotherapy agents including the anthracyclines, taxanes and Xeloda® (capecitabine).

Addition of Axitinib to Taxotere® May Improve Outcomes in Metastatic Breast Cancer

6/27/2007

According to results presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the addition of the targeted agent axitinib to Taxotere® (docetaxel) appears to improve outcomes compared to Taxotere alone in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Family Size Influences Results of BRCA Risk Estimation Models

6/25/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the likelihood that a young breast cancer patient with no family history of the disease carries a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation varies by the number of older female relatives on both her father’s and her mother’s sides of the family. Available BRCA risk prediction models may underestimate risk among women with few older female relatives.

Addition of Gliadel® Wafer to Surgery and Radiation Effective for Brain Metastasis

6/22/2007

According to an article in Clinical Cancer Research, the addition of Gliadel® Wafer (carmustine polymer wafer) to surgery plus external beam radiotherapy for the treatment of a single brain metastasis is a safe and effective regimen for patients.

Young Age Linked with Worse Breast Cancer Prognosis

6/18/2007

According to the results of a study conducted in Korea, breast cancer patients under the age of 35 have a worse prognosis than patients between the ages of 35 and 50, and may also be less responsive to tamoxifen (Nolvadex®). These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Physical Activity Coupled with High Fruit and Vegetable Intake May Improve Breast Cancer Survival

6/14/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, breast cancer survivors who engage in regular physical activity and eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have a significantly reduced risk of death. The benefit of the healthy behaviors applied to both obese and non-obese women.

Less Radiation Effectively Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrence

6/12/2007

According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), administering radiation therapy in fewer visits (with a higher dose of radiation at each visit) may be an effective and more convenient approach to the adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of early breast cancer.

No Increase in Herceptin-related Heart Problems

6/11/2007

According to updated study results presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the frequency of heart problems among women treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) has not increased with additional follow-up.

MRI May Improve Detection of DCIS

6/11/2007

According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more likely than mammography to detect ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast, and appears to be particularly good at detecting high-grade DCIS.

Oncotype DX™ Evaluated in Node-positive Breast Cancer

6/8/2007

Among women with node-positive, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, the Oncotype DX™ test identified those who had an increased risk of cancer recurrence in spite of treatment with chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. These results were presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Oncotype DX™ Influences Breast Cancer Treatment Choices

6/8/2007

Use of the Oncotype DX™ test to estimate the risk of cancer recurrence in women with node-negative, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer changed oncologist treatment decisions in roughly 31% of cases. These results were presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Clinical Trial Evaluating Myocet® for Breast Cancer Now Enrolling Patients

6/8/2007

A Phase III clinical trial (last phase prior to FDA review) evaluating the investigative chemotherapy agent Myocet® (non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) in addition to standard therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer is now enrolling patients.

Preoperative MRI Can Change Surgical Management of Breast Cancer, but Not Always for the Better

6/5/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Archives of Surgery, use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before breast surgery resulted in a beneficial change to surgical plans in roughly 10% of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, and an unnecessary change to surgical plans (resulting in more extensive surgery) in 14% of women.

Drugs that Suppress Ovaries Benefit Premenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer

5/30/2007

According to a combined analysis of several previously published studies, use of drugs known as leuteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists to suppress ovarian hormone production has benefits in the treatment of premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. These results were published in the Lancet.

Exercise Improves Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer

5/24/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, participation in an eight-week program of supervised aerobic exercise significantly improved the quality of life of women who had been treated for breast cancer.

Tumor Microenvironment Influences Breast Cancer Characteristics

5/22/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, genetic changes in the tissue that surrounds breast cancer cells may influence cancer grade and the likelihood of lymph node metastases.

Potential Breast Carcinogens Are Widespread in the Environment

5/16/2007

According to a comprehensive review of environmental exposures and breast cancer risk, many of the more than 200 chemical compounds found to increase breast tumors in animals are common environmental exposures. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Fewer Women Getting Mammograms

5/15/2007

A study published in the journal Cancer describes a worrying decline in the number of U.S. women age 40 or older who have had a mammogram in the last two years.

Femara® Reduces Risk of Early Recurrence of Breast Cancer

5/11/2007

According to the results of a study published in the Annals of Oncology, adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of hormone receptor-positive, postmenopausal breast cancer with the aromatase inhibitor Femara® (letrozole) resulted in fewer early recurrences than treatment with tamoxifen.

Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy May be Linked with Better Breast Cancer Prognosis

5/9/2007

Although studies have indicated that postmenopausal hormone therapy with estrogen and progestin increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, it is possible that prior postmenopausal hormone therapy may improve a woman’s prognosis once breast cancer occurs. These results were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Breast Cancer Found in Roughly One-third of Women with Borderline Result on Core Needle Biopsy

5/8/2007

According to the results of a study published in the British Journal of Cancer, breast cancer is present in roughly one-third of women who have a borderline result (lesion of uncertain malignant potential) on a core needle biopsy of the breast.

Neoadjuvant Taxotere®, Navelbine®, and Herceptin® Active for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

5/3/2007

According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, neoadjuvant (before surgery) treatment with Taxotere® (docetaxel), Navelbine® (vinorelbine), and Herceptin® (trastuzumab) resulted in a complete disappearance of detectable cancer in 39% of women with locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer; the rate of side effects, however, suggested that studies to evaluate a lower dose of treatment may be warranted.

Breastfeeding Benefits Women with Late Age at First Birth

5/1/2007

According to the results of a study presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), breastfeeding may lessen the increased risk of breast cancer that comes from having a late age at first birth.

No Link Found Between Abortion and Breast Cancer Risk

4/26/2007

According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, both induced and spontaneous abortions are not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Marker Associated with Response to Herceptin® in Breast Cancer

4/25/2007

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, among breast cancer patients with HER2-overexpressing cancer cells, those whose cells express a receptor called p95HER2 have poor anticancer response rates to Herceptin® (trastuzumab).

Long-term Aspirin Use Modestly Lowers Cancer Risk

4/24/2007

According to results recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, daily long-term use of adult-strength aspirin appears to modestly lower the overall incidence of cancer; this is particularly evident in colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer.

Additional Data Strengthens Link Between Hormone Use and Breast Cancer

4/23/2007

According to results recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, additional data has strengthened the link between the use of hormone therapy and an increased risk in breast cancer among postmenopausal women.

Genes May Be Linked with Aggressive Breast Cancer in African-American Women

4/23/2007

According to a study presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), differences in the expression of two genes may contribute to worse breast cancer outcomes in African-American women.

General Surgeons Not Referring Mastectomy Patients for Reconstructive Surgery Evaluation

4/12/2007

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, only 24% of general surgeons refer a high proportion of their mastectomy patients to plastic surgeons prior to surgery.

Switching from Tamoxifen to Aromatase Inhibitor Improves Survival in Early Breast Cancer

4/11/2007

According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, combined results from two clinical trials provide further confirmation that postmenopausal women with hormone-positive early breast cancer have improved survival when they switch from tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) to an aromatase agent.

Guidelines Recommend Individualized Approach to Mammography for Women Age 40 to 49

4/10/2007

A guideline prepared by the American College of Physicians summarizes available information about the risks and benefits of screening mammography in women between the ages of 40 and 49, and encourages individualized decisions about mammography based on a woman’s preferences and risk of breast cancer. This information was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Effexor® More Effective than Catapres® for Treatment of Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Patients

4/9/2007

According to an article published in the Annals of Oncology, the antidepressive agent Effexor® (venlafaxine) is more effective than Catapres® (clonidine) for the treatment of hot flashes in women with breast cancer.

Studies Evaluate Combined Adjuvant Therapy for Early Breast Cancer

4/9/2007

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the addition of chemotherapy to tamoxifen for the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer produces modest but sustained improvements in overall survival. A second Phase III trial, published in the same issue, did not find an overall benefit of adding ovarian suppression to treatment with tamoxifen among premenopausal breast cancer patients.

Computer-aided Detection Reduces Accuracy of Mammography

4/5/2007

According to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, use of computer-aided detection (computer programs that identify suspicious areas on mammograms) increases the frequency of breast biopsies but does not improve breast cancer detection.

Radiation to Chest Linked with Increased Breast Cancer Risk

4/4/2007

According to the results of a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, women who have received radiation to the chest for the treatment of cancer or for the diagnosis of tuberculosis or pneumonia have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

MRI Screening Recommended for Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer

4/2/2007

The American Cancer Society recently released recommendations for the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—in combination with mammography—for breast cancer screening. The guidelines—which were released in the March/April 2007 issue of CA—A Cancer Journal for Clinicians—recommend annual breast MRI in women at high risk of breast cancer.

MRI Identifies Cancer in Opposite Breast Among Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients

4/2/2007

According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may detect breast cancer in the opposite breast among patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Cancer in the opposite breast occurs in approximately 3% of these patients.

OncotypeDX™ Effectively Guides Breast Cancer Treatment

3/22/2007

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, use of the OncotypeDX™ test to guide treatment decisions among women with node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer results in good outcomes and acceptable cost.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption Ups Risk of Breast Cancer

3/20/2007

According to an article recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, even moderate alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

MRI Useful in Detecting Bone Abnormalities in Multiple Myeloma

3/19/2007

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appears to be more effective than standard bone testing in detecting bone abnormalities in patients with multiple myeloma.

Pesticides May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer

3/19/2007

According to an article recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, use of some residential pesticides may increase the risk of breast cancer. However, further studies evaluating this association are warranted before definite conclusions are made.

Treatment at High-volume Hospital Linked with Better Breast Cancer Survival

3/16/2007

According to the results of a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, women with early-stage breast cancer have better survival if they undergo surgery at a hospital that performs a large number of breast cancer surgeries.

Tykerb® Approved for Advanced Breast Cancer

3/13/2007

The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the targeted agent Tykerb® (lapatinib) for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The indication for Tykerb includes its use in combination with the chemotherapy agent Xeloda® (capecitabine) for the treatment of advanced or metastatic breast cancer in women whose cancer overexpresses the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and whose cancer has progressed following prior therapy with an anthracycline, a taxane, and Herceptin® (trastuzumab).

Eating Red Meat May Increase Risk of Hormone-positive Breast Cancer in Premenopausal Women

3/7/2007

According to an article recently published in Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, consumption of red meat appears to increase the risk of developing hormone receptor-positive breast cancer among premenopausal women.

Long-term Strenuous Activity Protects Against ER-negative Breast Cancer

3/6/2007

According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, women who engage in long-term strenuous exercise activity have a significantly decreased risk of developing estrogen receptor-negative invasive breast cancer.

Further Evidence that Physical Activity Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

2/23/2007

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, women who engaged in regular, strenuous, recreational physical activity were less likely than inactive women to develop invasive breast cancer. The protective effect of exercise appeared to be limited to women who did not have a first-degree family history of breast cancer.

Tamoxifen Prevents ER-positive Breast Cancer Years Following Completion of Therapy

2/22/2007

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) can significantly reduce the risk of hormone-positive breast cancer, even years following completion of therapy.

Exercise Program Benefits Women with Early Breast Cancer

2/21/2007

According to the results of a study published in the British Medical Journal, participation in a 12-week supervised group exercise program provided physical and psychological benefits to women undergoing treatment for early breast cancer.

Addition of Gemzar® to Navelbine® Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

2/16/2007

According to an article recently published in Lancet Oncology, the addition of the chemotherapy agent Gemzar® (gemcitabine) to Navelbine® (vinorelbine) improves progression-free survival, but not overall survival, compared with Navelbine alone in women with breast cancer whose disease has progressed following prior chemotherapy.

Growth Factors May Increase Risk of AML and MDS in Post-menopausal Women Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy

2/15/2007

According to results published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, growth factors may increase the risk that postmenopausal women with early breast cancer who are being treated with chemotherapy may develop subsequent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Further Evidence Supporting a Switch to Aromasin® Following Two to Three Years of Tamoxifen

2/14/2007

According to an article recently published in the Lancet, postmenopausal women with hormone-positive breast cancer achieve improved cancer-free and overall survival if they switch to the aromatase agent Aromasin® (exemestane) after two to three years of treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®).

MammaPrint® Approved to Predict Recurrences in Breast Cancer

2/13/2007

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the microarray genetic analysis, the MammaPrint® test, to help predict the risk of cancer recurrences or spread of cancer among women with Stages I or II node-negative breast cancer.

Early Age at First Birth Does Not Reduce Breast Cancer Risk in BRCA1/2 Carriers

2/9/2007

According to the results of a study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, the risk of breast cancer among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation does not vary by age at first birth.

MRI May Increase Breast Cancer Detection in High-risk Women

2/8/2007

According to the preliminary results of a study conducted in Italy, six of 18 breast cancers detected in high-risk women screened by clinical breast exam, ultrasonography, mammography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were detected only by MRI. These results were published in the journal Radiology.

Investigational Drug May Prevent or Reverse Chemotherapy Resistance in Subsets of Breast Cancer Patients

2/7/2007

According to the results of a study conducted in Japan, an investigational drug known as dofequidar fumarate (MS-209) may prevent or reverse multidrug resistance in subsets of patients receiving chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Concurrent Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Reduces Locoregional Recurrence in Node-positive Early Breast Cancer

2/6/2007

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, concurrent administration of chemotherapy and radiation therapy may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in or near the breast in women with node-positive early breast cancer.

Aromasin® Compromises Bone Health in Breast Cancer Patients

2/5/2007

According to an article recently published in the Lancet, women with breast cancer who switch from tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) to Aromasin® (exemestane) have an increased risk of bone fractures. However, it was also noted that overall survival is improved with Aromasin.

Faslodex® Benefits Subset of Women Resistant to Aromatase Inhibitors

2/1/2007

Among women with advanced breast cancer that progresses after therapy with an aromatase inhibitor, treatment with the antiestrogen drug Faslodex® (fulvestrant) resulted in reduced or stable disease in 30% of patients. These results were published in the Annals of Oncology.

Second-line Treatment with Zometa® Improves Symptoms in Patients with Bone Metastases

2/1/2007

For breast cancer patients who experience a worsening of bone metastases during bisphosphonate therapy with Aredia® (pamidronate) or Bonefos® (clodronate), switching to Zometa® (zoledronic acid) can improve pain control. These results of this phase II clinical trial were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Review Concludes that Physical Activity Reduces Incidence of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer

2/1/2007

According to an article recently published in the journal Epidemiology, further data indicates that physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women.

Study Questions Two-year Delay of Pregnancy After Diagnosis of Localized Breast Cancer

1/31/2007

According to results recently published in the British Medical Journal, optimal timing of pregnancy following the diagnosis of early breast cancer is being questioned.

Repeated Administration of Quadramet® Safely and Effectively Relieves Bone Pain

1/30/2007

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, repeated administration of Quadramet® (samarium sm-153 lexidronam) safely and effectively relieves pain from bone metastases in patients whose bone pain recurs after an initial response to Quadramet.

Men Diagnosed with Breast Cancer at Increased Risk of Second Cancers

1/29/2007

According to an article recently published in Breast Cancer Research, men who are diagnosed with breast cancer have a significantly increased risk of developing a second type of cancer.

Many Women Stop Taking Tamoxifen

1/25/2007

According to the results of a study conducted in Ireland, many women who begin taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer discontinue use (without switching to another hormonal therapy) before completing five years of treatment. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Radiation Therapy After Breast-conserving Surgery Also Important for Older Women

1/25/2007

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, older women who undergo breast-conserving surgery (BCS) without radiation therapy have a higher risk of a developing a breast cancer recurrence or a new breast cancer than women treated with BCS with radiation therapy or women who undergo a mastectomy.

High-volume Surgeons More Likely to Adhere to Recommendations for Early Breast Cancer

1/24/2007

According to the results of a study published is the Archives of Surgery, surgeons who treat a greater number of breast cancer patients are more likely than other surgeons to follow breast cancer treatment recommendations.

Women Involved in Making Cancer Care Decisions Choose More Experienced Breast Cancer Surgeons

1/19/2007

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients with breast cancer who are involved in selecting their surgeon tend to choose surgeons with greater experience than women who are referred to a surgeon by another healthcare provider or healthcare plan.

Dense Breast Tissue a Major Risk Factor for Breast Cancer

1/19/2007

According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, women with extensively dense breast tissue as revealed by mammography have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer compared to women with less dense breast tissue. Furthermore, cancer among women with dense breast tissue is much harder to detect on mammography film than cancer among women with less dense breast tissue.

Mitoxantrone-based Therapy Increases Risk for Subsequent Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome in Breast Cancer Patients

1/12/2007

According to an early online publication from the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the use of the chemotherapy agent Novantrone® (mitoxantrone) to treat breast cancer appears to increase the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) later in life.

Femara® Improves Cancer-free Survival in Early Breast Cancer

1/12/2007

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer with the aromatase inhibitor Femara® (letrozole) results in better cancer-free survival than treatment with tamoxifen.

Study Explores Cancer Risk Among Those with Family History of Early-onset Breast Cancer

1/11/2007

According to the results of a study published in the European Journal of Cancer, individuals with a first-degree family history of early-onset breast cancer (breast cancer diagnosed before the age of 50 in a parent, sibling, or child), are more likely than the general population to develop several types of cancer.

Additional Evidence that Physical Activity Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

1/8/2007

According to the results of a large European study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, women with the highest levels of household physical activity are less likely than the least active women to develop breast cancer.

Herceptin® Improves Survival in HER2-positive Early Breast Cancer

1/8/2007

According to updated results from the Herceptin Adjuvant (HERA) study, one year of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) following chemotherapy results in better overall survival than chemotherapy alone in women with HER2-positive early breast cancer. These results were published in the Lancet.

No Clear Role for Folate in Breast Cancer Risk Reduction

1/4/2007

A combined analysis of previously published studies did not find an overall effect of dietary folate on risk of breast cancer; there was some suggestion, however, that adequate folate intake may reduce breast cancer risk in women with moderate or high alcohol intake. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Addition of Tykerb® Improves Outcomes in Advanced Breast Cancer

1/3/2007

According to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the addition of Tykerb® (lapatinib) to Xeloda® (capecitabine) delays cancer progression compared to Xeloda alone in the treatment of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that has progressed after other treatments. These results were also recently presented at the 2006 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Abraxane® in Combinaton with Xeloda® Effective Against Metastatic Breast Cancer

1/2/2007

According to results recently published at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Abraxane® (albumin-bound paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) in combination with Xeloda® (capecibine) may be an effective treatment option for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Addition of Tykerb® Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

1/2/2007

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the addition of Tykerb® (lapatinib) to Xeloda® (capecitabine) improves progression-free survival compared to Xeloda alone in the treatment of HER2-positive, advanced refractory or metastatic breast cancer.

Tamoxifen Appears to Prevent Breast Cancer Years Following Completion of Therapy

1/2/2007

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) appears to reduce the risk of developing cancer years following completion of preventive therapy among women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer.

Follow-up Data on Dose-dense Chemotherapy Confirm Benefit in Early Breast Cancer

12/22/2006

According to results presented at the 2006 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), updated results continue to demonstrate better efficacy with dose-dense chemotherapy than with conventional chemotherapy in early breast cancer.

Early Intervention with Aranesp® In Dose-dense Therapy Reduces Risk of Severe Anemia for Breast Cancer Patients

12/21/2006

According to a study recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, early intervention with Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) allows patients with early breast cancer to maintain hemoglobin levels during dose-dense chemotherapy.

OncotypeDX™ Accurately Measures Estrogen Receptor Status in Node-negative Breast Cancer Patients

12/20/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), the OncotypeDX™ test more accurately predicted estrogen receptor (ER) status than two other commonly used tests among node-negative breast cancer patients. In addition, use of OncotypeDX™ to assess ER and progesterone receptor (PR) status provided information about prognosis and response to Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) in this patient population.

Abraxane® Improves Response Rates and Progression-free Survival—with Fewer Side Effects than Taxotere®—in Metastatic Breast Cancer

12/19/2006

According to results recently published at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Abraxane® (albumin-bound paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) results in better response rates and progression-free survival—and fewer toxic effects—than Taxotere® (docetaxel) in the initial treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Low-fat Diet May Reduce Recurrences in ER-negative Breast Cancer

12/19/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, a low-fat diet appears to significantly reduce the risk of cancer recurrence among women with estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.

Tykerb® Effective in Inflammatory Breast Cancer

12/19/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Tykerb® (lapatinib), either alone or in combination with Taxol® (paclitaxel), is active against inflammatory breast cancer.

Surgery Alone May Be Not Effective Enough in High-grade DCIS

12/18/2006

According to results presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), women with high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ who are treated with surgery alone have a significant risk of cancer recurrence.

Boost Radiation for Early Breast Cancer Improves Local Control but Not Survival

12/18/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, boost radiation among women with Stage I or Stage II breast cancer reduces the risk of cancer recurrence within the breast but does not affect 10-year survival.

Additional Chemotherapy May Improve Survival for Some Patients with Stage IIIB Breast Cancer

12/18/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, additional adjuvant chemotherapy may improve the survival of patients with Stage IIIB breast cancer who do not have a complete disappearance of detectable cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Aromasin® and Faslodex® Similarly Effective and Safe in Previously-treated Breast Cancer Patients

12/18/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Aromasin® (exemestane) and Faslodex® (fulvestrant) demonstrate similar efficacy and safety among postmenopausal women who have previously been treated with non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors.

Combination of Herceptin® and Arimidex® Improves Outcomes in Advanced Breast Cancer

12/18/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the combination of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Arimidex® (anastrozole) results in better survival without cancer progression than Arimidex alone in women with metastatic, HER2-positive, hormone-dependent breast cancer.

HER2 Vaccine May Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence

12/18/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, an experimental HER2 vaccine may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in some women with high-risk early breast cancer.

Herceptin® Continues to Demonstrate Improved Survival in Early Breast Cancer

12/15/2006

Results recently presented at the 2006 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium provide further evidence that the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to standard chemotherapy regimens improves the survival of women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer.

Decline in Postmenopausal Hormone Use May Explain Drop in Breast Cancer Rate

12/15/2006

Based on results recently presented at the 2006 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, researchers speculate that a sudden decrease in the incidence of breast cancer in 2003 may be due to a reduction in the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy.

Concurrent Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy After Breast-conserving Surgery Warrants Further Study

12/15/2006

A study published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics reports that administering radiation therapy at the same time as chemotherapy may reduce recurrence risk in women who have undergone breast-conserving surgery.

Zometa® Prevents Bone Loss in Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients

12/14/2006

In a study of premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer treated with a combination of hormonal therapies, use of the bisphosphonate drug Zometa® (zoledronic acid) prevented bone loss. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Study Evaluates Quality of Life and Menstrual Function in Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients

12/14/2006

Results from an international clinical trial, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, provide information about how three different approaches to the adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of node-negative, premenopausal breast cancer affect quality of life and menstrual function.

Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Does Not Diminish Quality of Life

12/13/2006

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, women who undergo prophylactic contralateral mastectomy (preventive removal of the opposite breast) after a first diagnosis of breast cancer and BRCA1/2 testing have a similar quality of life and distress level as women who do not undergo prophylactic contralateral mastectomy.

Possible Benefit of Mammography in Women 40–49

12/12/2006

The results of a clinical trial published in The Lancet provide some evidence that mammographic screening of women between the ages of 40 and 49 reduces breast cancer mortality.

Mammography Technology Doesn’t Replace Doctors’ Judgment

12/8/2006

According to a study published in the American Journal ofRoentgenology, use of computed-assisted detection (CAD) technology for the interpretation of mammograms cannot replace the judgment of a radiologist.

Taxotere® Effective in Early Breast Cancer

12/7/2006

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, chemotherapy with Taxotere® (docetaxel) plus cyclophosphamide results in better cancer-free survival than chemotherapy with doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide in women with Stage I to Stage III breast cancer.

Oncotype DX™ Contracts with Aetna

12/5/2006

Aetna Health, one of the nation's largest health benefits companies, has formed an agreement with Genomic Health to establish pay rates for the use of Oncotype DX™. This agreement establishes payment rates for all of Aenta's plans for eligible members with early-stage breast cancer.

Second Opinions Can Change More than Half of Treatment Management in Breast Cancer

12/5/2006

According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, a second opinion from a multidisciplinary cancer clinic changed treatment management in more than half of patients with breast cancer.

Low Body Weight During Early Adulthood Linked with Increased Risk of Premenopausal Breast Cancer

12/4/2006

According to the results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, women who have a lower body weight at the age of 18 are more likely than other women to develop premenopausal breast cancer.

Chemotherapy May Temporarily Alter Brain Among Breast Cancer Patients

11/30/2006

According to an early online publication in the journal Cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy administered following surgery) appears to temporarily change the size of some parts of the brain in patients with breast cancer. These findings, if confirmed, may help explain the phenomenon known as “chemo brain”.

Risk of Breast Cancer in Other Breast Persists for at Least 20 Years

11/28/2006

According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, women who undergo breast-conservation therapy for breast cancer have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in their other breast during a 20-year period. These findings call attention to the importance of annual mammograms and physical examinations among breast cancer survivors.

Ten-year Survival of Patients with Localized Inflammatory Breast Cancer Reported

11/27/2006

According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, 10-year results including women with inflammatory breast cancer treated with a high-dose chemotherapy regimen of fluorouracil (5-FU), Ellence® (epirubicin), and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) (FEC-HD) with or without Granocyte® (lenograstim) have been reported.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Linked with Higher Rate of Distant Metastases

11/27/2006

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, women with early-stage breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-negative, and HER2-negative (triple negative breast cancer) are more likely than other women to develop distant metastases. Women with triple negative breast cancer did not, however, have an increased risk of local recurrence.

Little Evidence that Folate Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

11/22/2006

According to combined analyses of previously published studies, folate does not appear to influence the risk of developing breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Switching from Tamoxifen to Arimidex® Linked with Improved Survival

11/21/2006

Among postmenopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, switching to Arimidex® (anastrozole) after two to three years of tamoxifen results in better treatment outcomes than remaining on tamoxifen. These results were published in the journal Lancet Oncology.

Unrecognized and Undertreated Psychological Problems Common in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients

11/20/2006

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, almost half of all women with newly diagnosed breast cancer experience significant emotional distress or a psychiatric disorder such as major depression.

Herceptin® Approved for Early-stage Breast Cancer

11/17/2006

Herceptin® (trastuzumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the post-surgery treatment of early-stage breast cancer that is HER2-positive and node-positive. The approval specified that Herceptin be given in combination with the chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel.

Vinflunine Active in Recurrent Breast Cancer

11/14/2006

According to an article recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, the chemotherapy agent vinflunine provides anticancer activity among women with breast cancer that has recurred or progressed following prior therapy with chemotherapy agents referred to as anthracyclines and taxanes.

Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer Can Be Delayed up to Three Months

11/14/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, women with early breast cancer may delay chemotherapy for up to three months without affecting long-term outcomes. However, at three months a delay in chemotherapy is associated with a decreased survival rate.

Disabled Women with Breast Cancer Less Likely to Receive Optimal Breast-conserving Therapy

11/13/2006

According to an article recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, disabled women who are diagnosed with early breast cancer are less likely to receive optimal breast-conserving therapy than women who are not disabled.

Adding Anthracyclines to Early Breast Cancer Treatment Improves Survival

11/10/2006

According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the addition of the anthracycline Ellence® (epirubicin) to the chemotherapy regimen known as CMF improves survival compared to CMF alone in the treatment of early breast cancer.

Radiologist Experience Reduces False-positive Results in Mammography

11/10/2006

According to an article recently published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, radiologists who are more experienced have a reduced rate of false-positive readings on mammography.

Cigarette Smoking Increases Risk of Developing Breast Cancer

11/9/2006

According to an article recently published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, women who smoke cigarettes—particularly those who begin smoking early in life, smoke several cigarettes per day, and continue to smoke for long periods of time—appear to have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Premenopausal Women with Node-positive Breast Cancer Gain Most Benefit from Aromatase Inhibitors Following Tamoxifen

11/6/2006

According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, premenopausal women with breast cancer whose cancer has spread to at least four lymph nodes derive the most benefit from treatment with aromatase inhibitors administered following tamoxifen. Postmenopausal women with cancer that has spread to three or fewer lymph nodes appear to only derive 1–2% benefit from the addition of an aromatase inhibitor following tamoxifen.

Postmenopausal Hormone Use Linked with Specific Types of Breast Cancer

11/3/2006

According to the results of a study published in the journal Lancet Oncology, use of postmenopausal hormones increases the risk of lobular and tubular breast cancers more than other types of breast cancer.

Group-based Therapy Eases Cancer-related Anxiety for Breast Cancer Patients

10/25/2006

According to an article recently published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, group-based intervention eases cancer-related anxiety during treatment and one year following treatment among breast cancer patients.

Similar Quality of Life with Evista® and Nolvadex® for Prevention of Breast Cancer

10/23/2006

According to an article published in Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, five-year results indicate that side effects are similar for Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) and Evista® (raloxifene) when used to prevent breast cancer in postmenopausal women at a high risk of developing the disease.

Hormone Levels Linked with Premenopausal Breast Cancer

10/20/2006

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, circulating levels of estrogen and testosterone during specific points in the menstrual cycle appear to influence breast cancer risk in premenopausal women.

Elderly Patients with Breast Cancer May Be Undertreated

10/17/2006

According to an article in the Archives of Surgery, women with breast cancer who are 70 years or older may be undertreated in community hospitals.

Fat Intake During Midlife Unlikely to Increase Breast Cancer Risk

10/16/2006

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology provides additional evidence that dietary fat intake during midlife or later does not have a large impact on a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.

Four-year Results Continue to Show Superior Outcomes with Femara® in Early Breast Cancer

10/16/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting, results from four years of follow-up continue to indicate that treatment with Femara® (letrozole) significantly reduces the risk of cancer recurrences compared to Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) in postmenopausal women with early, hormone-positive breast cancer. These long-term results also revealed that patients without cancer spread to their lymph nodes benefit from treatment with Femara.

Breast Cancer Survivors Face Elevated Risk of Suicide

10/13/2006

Although few breast cancer survivors commit suicide, the probability of suicide among breast cancer survivors appears to be higher than among women in the general population. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Aerobic Exercise Maintains Red Blood Cell Levels During Radiation Therapy

10/12/2006

According to a study published in the journal Cancer, aerobic exercise during radiation therapy for breast cancer may prevent a decline in red blood cell levels.

Addition of Xeloda® to Herceptin® and Taxotere® Delays Cancer Progression in Advanced Breast Cancer

10/11/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), the addition of Xeloda® (capecitabine) to Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Taxotere® (docetaxel) delays cancer progression among patients with advanced breast cancer by 4.5 months.

Improved Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer with Addition of Herceptin® to Arimidex®

10/11/2006

According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to Arimidex® (anastrozole) improves progression-free survival among patients with HER2-positive and hormone-positive advanced breast cancer.

Younger Females Unaware of Risk Factors Associated with Breast Cancer

10/6/2006

According to results recently published in the European Journal of Cancer, young women have a poor understanding of lifestyle and genetic risk factors involved in the development of breast cancer.

Study Explores Risk of Breast, Uterine, and Ovarian Cancer in Women with AIDS

9/29/2006

According to the results of a study published in the British Journal of Cancer, women with AIDS have a lower risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer than women in the general population; risk of breast cancer was lower among women with AIDS in the pre-HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) era, but is now similar to the risk among women in the general population.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Complete Axillary Dissection in Node-negative Breast Cancer Patients Yield Similar Survival Outcomes

9/28/2006

According to an article recently published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, no significant survival differences exist between patients with node-negative breast cancer who undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy and those who undergo a complete axillary lymph node dissection.

Aromatase Inhibitors Improve Survival in Women with Advanced Breast Cancer

9/22/2006

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, use of aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer results in better survival than use of other standard hormonal therapies.

Older Women Less Likely to Receive Standard Breast Cancer Treatments

9/21/2006

According to the results of a study conducted within six large managed care organizations, breast cancer patients over the age of 75 are less likely than younger patients to receive standard, effective breast cancer treatments. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Xeloda® plus Taxol® Effective as Initial Therapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer

9/20/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy combination including Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Taxol® is effective as initial therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Removal of Small Number of Lymph Nodes During Axillary Lymph Node Dissection Linked with Worse Outcomes

9/19/2006

Among women with node-negative breast cancer, those who had fewer than six lymph nodes removed during axillary lymph node dissection were more likely to experience a cancer recurrence than women who had a larger number of nodes removed. These results were published in the Annals of Oncology.

Circulating DNA in Blood Help Predict Risk of Cancer Spread in Breast Cancer

9/19/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, circulating DNA is a promising indication for the risk of cancer spread or progression among patients with breast cancer.

Patient Enrollment Completed for Pivotal Trial Evaluating Efaproxyn™

9/18/2006

Patient enrollment has recently been completed for a phase III clinical trial evaluating Efaproxyn™ (efaproxiral) for the treatment of patients with breast cancer that has spread to the brain (brain metastasis).

Risk of Death with Preventive Oophorectomy Evaluated

9/18/2006

According to an article recently published in Lancet Oncology, a prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy may be associated with an increased risk of death among premenopausal women who do not receive subsequent estrogen. However, further study is necessary to confirm this association.

Possible Link Between Adrenal Androgens and Breast Cancer Risk

9/14/2006

In a study of predominantly premenopausal women, higher serum levels of the adrenal androgens DHEA and DHEAS were linked with an increased risk of breast cancer among women over the age of 45. These results were published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention.

Breast Pain While Receiving Hormone Replacement Therapy May Indicate Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

9/13/2006

According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, postmenopausal women who experience new pain in their breasts while taking hormone replacement therapy may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Possible Link Between Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Survival

9/12/2006

According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, higher levels of physical activity in the year prior to breast cancer diagnosis may result in better breast cancer survival, particularly among overweight women.

“Boost” Radiation Reduces Cancer Recurrences for Young Women with DCIS

9/11/2006

According to an article recently published in the Lancet Oncology, women who are 45 years or younger with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have a reduced risk of cancer recurrences if they receive an additional “boost” of radiation therapy.

Tykerb® Halts Cancer Progression in Advanced Breast Cancer

9/11/2006

According to results from a phase III clinical trial presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the addition of the agent Tykerb (lapatinib) to the chemotherapy agent Xeloda® (capecitabine) extends the time to cancer progression by nearly two-fold in patients with advanced breast cancer that has stopped responding to standard therapies.

Arimidex® Associated with Fewer Side Effects than Tamoxifen

9/11/2006

According to results appearing in an early online publication from Lancet Oncology, treatment with Arimidex® (anastrozole) is associated with fewer side effects than treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®).

Breast Density Contributes to Breast Cancer Risk

9/7/2006

Xeloda®/Temodar® Effective for Breast Cancer Spread to Brain

9/6/2006

According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy combination including Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Temodar® (temozolomide) provides anticancer activity in patients with breast cancer that has spread to the brain.

Low Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence Following Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Breast-conserving Surgery

9/5/2006

Women who undergo breast-conserving surgery after a complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy given before surgery) have a low risk of local or regional cancer recurrence. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Primary Care Physicians Tend to Not Understand Role of Chemotherapy in Different Stages of Cancer

8/31/2006

According to results presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), only 11% of primary care physicians believe that patients with early-stage lung cancer can achieve benefit from treatment with chemotherapy. As a result, these patients may not receive adequate referrals to oncologists.

Post-mastectomy Radiation Therapy May Provide Little Benefit for Women with Large Breast Tumors and Negative Lymph Nodes

8/25/2006

According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the pattern of cancer recurrence in node-negative women with large (at least 5 cm) breast tumors does not warrant the routine use of post-mastectomy radiation therapy.

Increased Risk of Second Cancers Following In Situ Breast Cancer

8/24/2006

According to the results of a study published in the British Journal of Cancer, women who have been diagnosed with in situ breast cancer (either DCIS or LCIS) have a higher risk of developing another cancer than women in the general population.

Addition of G-CSF Reduces Risk of Febrile Neutropenia in Breast Cancer

8/23/2006

Among node-negative breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide), use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) significantly reduced the risk of febrile neutropenia. These results were published in the Annals of Oncology.

Maintenance Taxol® Does Not Improve Outcomes in Metastatic Breast Cancer

8/23/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, continued treatment with Taxol® (paclitaxel) does not improve progression-free survival for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

PET Scans May Help Some Patients with Early Breast Cancer Avoid Axillary Dissection or Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

8/21/2006

According to results recently published in the Archives of Surgery, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan may be used to help predict whether breast cancer will spread to the axillary (under the arm) lymph nodes.

Breast Reconstruction at Time of Mastectomy May Affect Radiation Therapy

8/17/2006

According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, breast reconstruction performed at the time of a mastectomy for women with breast cancer may negatively affect subsequent radiation therapy. However, the impact of these effects on patient outcomes needs further study.

Distance to Radiation Facility Affects Compliance with Treatment for Elderly Women with Early Breast Cancer

8/17/2006

According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, elderly women who are to receive radiation therapy following surgery for early breast cancer are less likely to comply with follow-up radiation treatment if they live at a distance from the radiation facility.

Side Effects from Chemotherapy May Be More Common than Thought for Younger Women with Breast Cancer

8/16/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women under 63 years of age may experience more side effects related to chemotherapy than previously thought.

Breast MRI May Influence Decisions about Type of Surgery

8/16/2006

According to a study published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology, preoperative use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may clarify the extent of breast cancer in some women, and may influence decisions about type of breast surgery.

Study Explores Link Between Diabetes and Breast Cancer

8/14/2006

According to a study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, women with diabetes are more likely than women without diabetes to report a history of breast cancer.

FAC Chemotherapy During Pregnancy Not Associated with Short-term Complications

8/14/2006

According to an article recently published in an early online version of the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy regimen known as FAC does not appear to harm the fetus if used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Weight Control May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer in BRCA1/2 Carriers

8/14/2006

According to the results of a study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, risk of breast cancer among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation may be increased by high caloric intake or weight gain during adulthood.

DES Daughters at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

8/8/2006

According to a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth have an increased risk of developing breast cancer after the age of 40.

Increased Risk of Breast Cancer Among Radiologic Technologists Who Worked Before 1940

8/8/2006

According to a study published in the journal Cancer, female radiologic technologists who began working before 1940 have an increased risk of breast cancer compared to those who started working in later years. Risk was also elevated among women with the highest estimated cumulative radiation exposure. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Mutations May Identify Early Breast Cancer with Poor Response to Chemotherapy

8/7/2006

According to an early online publication from the Journal of Clinical Oncology, specific mutations may indicate which patients with early breast cancer may not receive the most benefit from chemotherapy. While these results need further study, if confirmed, they could help individualize treatments for this disease.

Delay of Radiation Longer than Three Months May Affect Outcomes of Early Breast Cancer

8/4/2006

According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, a delay of radiation following a lumpectomy of more than three months may affect survival among women with early breast cancer.

Menopausal Symptoms After Prophylactic Oophorectomy Only Partially Relieved by Hormone Replacement Therapy

8/3/2006

Among young women who have their ovaries removed to reduce cancer risk, use of hormone replacement therapy provides partial relief from hot flashes but does not seem to improve sexual function. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Presence of Cancer Cells in Circulating Blood Predicts Worse Outcomes After High-dose Therapy in Breast Cancer

8/1/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the presence of small amounts of cancer cells in circulating blood as detected by a gene panel predicts a 300% increased risk of death among women with early breast cancer who undergo high-dose therapy and a stem cell transplant.

Chemotherapy or Hormone Therapy Result in Similar Survival for Premenopausal, Hormone-positive Women with Breast Cancer

7/31/2006

According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, therapy to suppress female hormones (hormone blockade) and chemotherapy result in similar survival at seven years for premenopausal women with hormone-positive breast cancer.

Tamoxifen Benefit Seen Only in Women at Highest Risk

7/26/2006

According to a study published in the journal Cancer, use of tamoxifen to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer appears to produce a survival benefit only among women at very high risk of developing the disease.

Estrogen plus Testosterone Increases the Risk of Breast Cancer

7/25/2006

According to the results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, women who take estrogen plus testosterone for postmenopausal hormone therapy have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Taxotere® plus Iressa® Provides Impressive Anticancer Responses in Advanced Breast Cancer

7/20/2006

According to an article published in the British Journal of Cancer, the combination of Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Iressa® (gefitinib) produces anticancer responses in more than half of women with untreated advanced breast cancer.

Radiation Therapy After Breast Conserving Surgery for DCIS Reduces Recurrences at 10 Years

7/19/2006

According to results recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, radiation therapy following breast-conserving treatment reduces recurrences by nearly half among women with ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS).

CK-19 mRNA-positive Cells in Blood Associated with Poorer Prognosis in Node-negative Breast Cancer

7/19/2006

According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients with node-negative breast cancer who had cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) detected within their circulating blood cells’ messenger RNA (mRNA) had significantly worse outcomes, including survival, compared to women with no detected CK-19 mRNA-positive cells. (Messenger RNA is a component of the genetics of a cell.) Ultimately, CK-19 mRNA could be an important factor in predicting outcomes and in individualizing treatment options for patients.

Gene Mutations Not Linked with Risk of Blood Clots in Breast Cancer Prevention Trial

7/14/2006

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the risk of blood clots among women participating in a breast cancer prevention study was linked with tamoxifen use and body mass index, but not with two gene mutations that influence blood clotting.

Evista® Increases Risk of Stroke and Blood Clots

7/13/2006

According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Evista® (raloxifene) is associated with some serious side effects, such as stroke and blood clots, among postmenopausal women with existing heart problems or those at risk for developing heart problems. However, since these side effects remain low overall, patients may wish to discuss the benefits (including a reduction in the risk of developing breast cancer and bone fractures) and risks of Evista with their physician.

MDM2 Gene May Influence Breast Cancer Incidence and Survival

7/13/2006

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, a variant of the MDM2 gene known as SNP354 may increase the risk of developing breast cancer, while a variant known as SNP309 may modify the relationship between another gene (p53) and breast cancer survival.

Weight Gain Later in Life Increases Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women

7/12/2006

According to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, postmenopausal women who have gained weight after the age of 18, or even after menopause, have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer. Conversely, postmenopausal women who have lost weight or maintained a healthy weight in their adult life have a significantly decreased risk of developing breast cancer.

Weight Training May Not Increase Risk of Lymphedema

7/3/2006

In a study of breast cancer patients who had undergone surgery to remove axillary (underarm) lymph nodes, a six-month program of twice-a-week weight training did not increase the risk of developing lymphedema, and did not worsen existing lymphedema symptoms. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Prior Chemotherapy Does Not Compromise Benefit of Arimidex® in Breast Cancer

6/30/2006

According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, previous chemotherapy does not compromise the effectiveness of later treatment with Arimidex® (anastrozole) in postmenopausal women with early-stage, hormone-positive breast cancer.

Sexual Problems Remain One Year After Breast Cancer Surgery

6/29/2006

Among breast cancer patients under the age of 50, sexual problems increase immediately after surgery and decline during the following year. However, when compared to sexual function before diagnosis, problems remain elevated. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Chest X-rays May Increase Risk of Breast Cancer in BRCA1/2 Carriers

6/28/2006

Among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, chest X-rays appear to increase the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly among women who receive chest X-rays at a young age. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Addition of Carboplatin to Taxol®/Herceptin® Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

6/27/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the addition of carboplatin (Paraplatin®) to Taxol® (paclitaxel) and Herceptin® (trastuzumab) improves anticancer responses and progression-free survival when used as initial therapy in HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer.

Nolvadex® and Evista® Offer Similar Quality of Life

6/27/2006

According to results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, use of Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) or Evista® (raloxifene) to reduce breast cancer risk results in generally similar quality of life, although sexual function may be better with Nolvadex.

Chemotherapy Benefits Subsets of Elderly Breast Cancer Patients

6/26/2006

Two studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology have reported that chemotherapy improves survival among elderly women with hormone receptor-negative, lymph node-positive breast cancer.

Induced Abortions Not Tied to Increased Breast Cancer Risk

6/26/2006

According to an early online article in the International Journal of Cancer, women who have had induced abortions are not at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Further Evidence that Obesity Increases Risk of Hormone-positive Breast Cancer

6/26/2006

According to results recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, obesity significantly increases the risk of hormone-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women without a family history of breast cancer and among those who have not taken postmenopausal hormones.

Continuous Administration of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy May Provide Greater Responses in Breast Cancer

6/22/2006

According to results recently presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the continuous administration of chemotherapy prior to surgery provides greater reductions compared to the standard administration schedule among women with locally advanced or inflammatory breast cancers.

BARD1 Mutation Increases Risk of Breast Cancer

6/22/2006

According to the results of a study conducted in Iceland, a specific mutation of the BARD1 gene increases the risk of developing breast cancer. These results were published in the journal PLoS Medicine.

Aggressive Subtype of Breast Cancer More Common in Young Black Women

6/15/2006

According to the results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, premenopausal Black women are more likely than other women to develop an aggressive type of breast cancer known as basal-like.

Switching to Aromasin® Improves Survival Among Postmenopausal Women with Early Breast Cancer

6/13/2006

Breast cancer patients who switch to Aromasin® (exemestane) after 2–3 years of Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) are less likely to experience cancer recurrence or cancer in the opposite breast, and have better overall survival, than women who remain on Nolvadex. These results were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Effect of Preventive Removal of the Ovaries Varies by Type of BRCA Mutation

6/13/2006

According to results presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), preventive removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. The reduction in breast cancer risk, however, was greatest among women with a BRCA2 mutation.

Herceptin® Continues to Show Benefits in Early Breast Cancer

6/12/2006

Updated results from the Herceptin® Adjuvant (HERA) trial were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO); among women with HER2-positive early breast cancer, treatment with one year of Herceptin (trastuzumab) following adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved overall and cancer-free survival.

Nolvadex® and Evista® Similarly Effective at Preventing Invasive Breast Cancer

6/12/2006

According to results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) and Evista® (raloxifene) are equally effective at preventing invasive breast cancer in high-risk postmenopausal women. Evista may be less effective at reducing the risk of noninvasive breast cancers (such as DCIS or LCIS), but was also linked with fewer serious side effects such as blood clots and cataracts.

Breast Cancer Risk Not Reduced by Calcium plus Vitamin D

6/12/2006

According to results from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), use of calcium plus vitamin D supplements does not reduce the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

NCCN Adds Abraxane™ to Guidelines for Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer

6/7/2006

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has recently added the chemotherapy agent Abraxane™ (albumin-bound paclitaxel) to the list of preferred single chemotherapy agents for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.

Zometa® Reduces Cancer Progression Over Clondronate®

6/7/2006

The bisphosphonate Zometa® (zoledronic acid) significantly reduces the progression of breast cancer that has metastasized to the bone compared to Clodronate® (pamidronate). These findings were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in Atlanta, Georgia, June 2-6, 2006.

Oncotype DX™ Predicts Response to Neoadjuvant Taxotere® in Breast Cancer

6/7/2006

The Oncotype DX™ Recurrence Score has now been shown to predict response to neoadjuvant Taxotere® (docetaxel). Breast cancer patients with a high Recurrence Score were more likely to have a complete response following Taxotere® than women with a low Recurrence Score. These findings were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in Atlanta, Georgia, June 2-6, 2006.

MR Spectroscopy Reduces Unnecessary Biopsies in Breast Cancer

6/5/2006

According to an article recently published in the journal Radiology, the use of magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy may significantly reduce unnecessary biopsies in patients with abnormalities of the breast.

Five Years of Arimidex® Results in Bone Loss

6/5/2006

According to results presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), women who are treated with the aromatase inhibitor Arimidex® (anastrozole) experience bone loss. However, this bone loss is not likely to cause osteoporosis in women with normal bone density before beginning therapy.

Breast Cancer Risk Among Women with Family History Differs by Race

6/2/2006

Among women with a first-degree family history of breast cancer, the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is higher among White women than among African-American women. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

No Responses to Temodar® in Breast Cancer Patients with Cancer Spread to the Brain

6/2/2006

According to an article published in the Annals of Oncology, the chemotherapy agent Temodar® (temozolomide) has limited activity in the treatment of patients with breast cancer spread to the brain once they’ve received extensive prior therapy.

Addition of Herceptin® to Arimidex® Improves Progression-Free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

5/31/2006

According to a press release published by Roche, the addition of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to Arimidex® (anastrozole) improves progression-free survival compared to Arimidex alone in HER2-positive, hormone-positive advanced breast cancer.

Clinical Trial Will Evaluate Individualized Treatment for Breast Cancer

5/26/2006

The National Cancer Institute recently announced the launch of a breast cancer clinical trial called the Trial Assigning Individualized Options for Treatment (TAILORx). The trial will assess the role of the Oncotype DX™ test in guiding chemotherapy decisions among women with early breast cancer.

Oncotype DX™ Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Early Breast Cancer

5/26/2006

Among women with node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, the Oncotype DX™ test predicts the likely benefit of chemotherapy. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Follow-Up Confirms Lack of Benefit from High-Dose Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer

5/26/2006

According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, follow-up data has indicated that high-dose chemotherapy with autolgous stem cell transplantation does not appear to provide benefit when compared to standard therapy. However, further analysis is necessary to determine if subgroups of patients with this disease may benefit from this approach.

MRI Cost-Effective for Selected Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutations

5/25/2006

Among women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, breast cancer screening with magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) in addition to mammography may be cost-effective for those between the ages of 35 and 54 years. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Adult Weight Gain Increases Breast Cancer Risk

5/25/2006

According to a study published in the journal Cancer, postmenopausal women who reported the most weight gain in adulthood had the highest risk of breast cancer; this increased risk was observed for most types and all stages of breast cancer.

HER2-Positive Breast Cancers Respond Better to Anthracyclines

5/18/2006

According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, premenopausal women with HER2-positive breast cancers had improved outcomes with a chemotherapy regimen containing an anthracycline. Conversely, those women with HER2-negative breast cancers did not achieve benefit from the addition of an anthracycline to their treatment regimen.

Further Evidence that Statins Do Not Increase Risk of Breast Cancer

5/18/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the use of statins does not increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

Remicade® and Humira® Increase Risk of Cancer

5/18/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients taking the rheumatoid arthritis drugs Remicade® (infliximab) or Humira® (adalimumab) had a three-fold increased risk of developing various types of cancers.

Protein May Contribute to Tamoxifen Resistance

5/17/2006

In a study of premenopausal breast cancer patients, a protein known as Pak1 (p21-activated kinase 1) appeared to interfere with the effectiveness of tamoxifen. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Elderly Women Benefit from Radiation in Early Breast Cancer

5/17/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, even elderly women derive benefit from radiation therapy in the treatment of early breast cancer.

Surgery in Metastatic Breast Cancer Improves Survival

5/17/2006

According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the surgical removal of the original tumor in the breast significantly improves survival at five years among women with metastatic breast cancer, particularly those with cancer spread to the bone.

Repeat Use of Anthracyclines May Not Be Warranted in Breast Cancer

5/17/2006

According to an article recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, repeat administration of anthracyclines does not appear to provide benefit in women with breast cancer whose disease has progressed following prior treatment with anthracyclines.

Herceptin® Plus Doxil® Safe and Effective in Metastatic Breast Cancer

5/16/2006

According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the treatment combination consisting of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) plus Doxil® (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer.

Study Explores Frequency and Predictors of Invasive Breast Cancer in Women with DCIS or LCIS

5/15/2006

During an average follow-up of over five years, invasive breast cancer was diagnosed in 4% of women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 6.2% of women with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). Among with women with DCIS, risk of subsequently being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer was higher among Black women and Hispanic White women than among non-Hispanic White women. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Linked with Better Quality of Life

5/11/2006

According to the results of a clinical trial published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer patients who undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy experience fewer arm problems and report better quality of life than patients who undergo traditional axillary lymph node dissection.

Newer Radiation Therapy Techniques Reduce Radiation Scatter

5/10/2006

Among women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer, improved approaches to dose-distribution reduce the exposure of the rest of the body to radiation. These results were published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.

Genes May Determine Risk of Early Breast Cancer Spread to Bone

5/10/2006

According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, expression of certain genes may be able to identify individuals with early breast cancer who are at an increased risk of their cancer spreading to the bone. Although further study is necessary to confirm these findings, patients at a high risk of developing spread to the bone may benefit from early treatment with bisphosphonates.

Long-Term Use of Estrogen Alone Increases Risk of Breast Cancer

5/9/2006

According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the use of estrogen alone for 10 years or longer increases the risk of breast cancer.

Fenretinide Signficantly Reduces Risk of Second Cancer in Premenopausal Women with Breast Cancer

5/8/2006

According to an early online publication from the Annals of Oncology, fenretinide, a retinoid (derivative of vitamin A), appears to significantly reduce the risk of developing a second breast cancer among premenopausal women already diagnosed with breast cancer.

Pre-Operative Arimidex® Provides Greater Responses than Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer

5/3/2006

According to an article published in the journal Cancer, treatment with Arimidex® (anastrazole) prior to surgery provides greater anticancer responses than treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) in women with hormone-positive breast cancer.

Little Evidence of Over-Diagnosis in Danish Mammography Data

5/3/2006

In a cancer screening program, over-diagnosis refers to identification of cancers that would not otherwise have emerged as a health problem. Researchers in Denmark analyzed information from two regional breast cancer screening programs and concluded that there was little evidence of over-diagnosis. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Mammography and Ultrasound Detect Breast Cancer During Pregnancy

5/2/2006

According to a study published in the journal Radiology, mammography detected a majority of breast cancers in pregnant women, in spite of high breast density. Imaging by ultrasound identified masses in all the women with cancer and also provided information about treatment response.

Addition of Zoladex® to Standard Therapy May Benefit Premenopausal Women with Early Breast Cancer

4/28/2006

Among premenopausal women with early breast cancer, the addition of Zoladex® (goserelin) to adjuvant treatment with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy resulted in improved survival. These results were published in the European Journal of Cancer.

Suggestion of Better Survival with Dose-Dense Chemotherapy in Women with Node-Positive Breast Cancer

4/28/2006

According to the results of a phase III clinical trial conducted in Germany, treatment of node-positive breast cancer with dose-dense chemotherapy produced a trend toward better survival. These results were published in the British Journal of Cancer.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Breast-Conserving Therapy/Radiation/Oophorectomy in BRCA1/2 Carriers with Early Breast Cancer

4/27/2006

According to an early online article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, long-term follow-up indicates that breast cancer recurrences near the site of the original cancer are similar among women with BRCA1/2 mutations with early breast cancer who are treated with breast-conserving therapy, radiation therapy, and oophorectomy when compared to outcomes for other women following standard treatment. However, rates of breast cancer developing in the other breast remain significantly higher among women with BRCA1/2 mutations than other women.

Internet-Based Information Highly Accurate in Internet Breast Cancer Support Groups

4/26/2006

According to results recently published in the British Medical Journal, information shared by Internet cancer support groups for breast cancer appears to be highly accurate.

No Association Found Between Consumption of Fish and Breast Cancer

4/26/2006

According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, there is no association between fish consumption and the incidence of developing breast cancer.

Intrathecal Herceptin® May Halt Cancer Progression Within the Central Nervous System in Breast Cancer Patients

4/24/2006

According to a recent article published in Oncology Reports, administration of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) into the central nervous system (CNS) may help to slow disease progression in patients with breast cancer whose cancer has spread to the CNS.

Mammography Use Among Breast Cancer Survivors Declines over Time

4/24/2006

According to a study published in the journal Cancer, mammography rates among breast cancer survivors start out high in the first year after cancer treatment, but decline in following years.

Gene Expression Linked with Prognosis of Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients

4/21/2006

According to a study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, information about gene expression in breast tumors predicts the risk of distant recurrence in women with ten or more positive lymph nodes.

Dexrazoxane Reduces Side Effects to the Heart During Subsequent Anthracycline Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

4/21/2006

According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, the agent dexrazoxane (Cardioxane®) protects the heart from damage of continued treatment with chemotherapy agents known as anthracyclines in women with breast cancer.

Telephone Intervention Improves Screening Rates

4/19/2006

According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a telephone support intervention improved the rates of screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer among low-income women.

Breast Implants Do Not Increase Risk of Breast Cancer

4/19/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women with breast implants do not have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Rates in Screening Mammography May Explain Worse Outcomes Among African-American Women with Breast Cancer

4/18/2006

According to results recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, inadequate screening mammography may explain differences in outcomes among varied racial groups in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Evista® as Effective as Tamoxifen in Preventing Breast Cancer with Fewer Side Effects

4/18/2006

According to results recently released by the National Cancer Institute, the rate at which Evista® (raloxifene) reduces the risk of developing breast cancer is equal to that of Nolvadex® (tamoxifen) in postmenopausal women at a high risk of developing breast cancer within their lifetime. Raloxifene, however, is associated with fewer serious side effects than tamoxifen.

Study Explores Children’s Perceptions of Breast Cancer

4/18/2006

According to a study conducted in England, children of women with breast cancer often sensed that something was wrong before being told, and had reactions to cancer that were sometimes misunderstood by their parents. These results were published in the British Medical Journal.

Additional Evidence that Herceptin® Benefits Women with HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

4/17/2006

According to the results of a study conducted in Italy, women with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who were treated with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Navelbine® (vinorelbine) had better outcomes than a similar group of women with HER2-negative breast cancer who were treated with Navelbine alone. These results were published in the Annals of Oncology.

Vaginal Estrogen Use May Counteract Anticancer Activity of Aromatase Inhibitors in Women with Breast Cancer

4/17/2006

According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, the use of vaginal estrogen preparations may raise estrogen levels throughout the body and may counteract the anticancer activity of aromatase inhibitors in women with breast cancer. However, women being treated with aromatase inhibitors should speak with their physician regarding their individual risks and benefits of vaginal estrogen supplementation.

Addition of Taxotere® to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Doesn’t Affect Overall Survival

4/17/2006

Among women with operable breast cancer who received preoperative chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, the addition of preoperative or postoperative Taxotere® (docetaxel) did not significantly improve overall survival. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

No Link Between Estrogen Alone and Breast Cancer

4/12/2006

According to updated results from the Women’s Health Initiative, postmenopausal hormone therapy with estrogen alone does not increase the risk of breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Chemotherapy More Beneficial for Estrogen-Receptor Negative Breast Cancer Patients

4/12/2006

According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, chemotherapy for early breast cancer provides greater benefit for estrogen-receptor negative patients than for those with estrogen-receptor positive cancer. However, chemotherapy still provides a survival benefit for both groups of patients.

Hormone Use Also Increases Risk of Breast Cancer in Black Women

4/11/2006

According to an article recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the use of hormones with estrogen alone or estrogen plus progesterone is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer among black women, particularly among leaner women.

LED May Prevent Skin Side Effects Caused by Radiation in Breast Cancer Patients

4/10/2006

According to a late-breaking abstract presented at the 2006 American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery meeting, the use of low-energy non-thermal light-emitting diode (LED) photomodulation in women with early breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy significantly reduced side effects to the skin normally associated with radiation therapy.

Effect of Soy on Breast Cancer Risk Still Uncertain

4/7/2006

A combined analysis of previously published studies suggests that dietary soy intake may be linked with a small reduction in breast cancer risk, but it’s still too early to recommend soy for breast cancer prevention. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Automated System Quickly Evaluates Sentinel Lymph Node in Breast Cancer Patients

4/7/2006

Researchers have developed a rapid automated approach to lymph node analysis that may allow for more accurate evaluation of the sentinel lymph node during surgery. These results were published in the Annals of Surgery.