FORCE's eXamining the Relevance of Articles for You (XRAY) program looks behind the headlines of cancer news to help you understand what the research means for you.
XRAY is a reliable source of hereditary cancer research-related news and information.
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Metastatic Breast Cancer
Personal Story : Improving the quality of life for people with metastatic breast cancer
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
A Washington Post article described the cancer experience of a young woman living with metastatic breast cancer. It also highlights how integrative medicine and palliative care, including acupuncture, massage, yoga, pain management, mental health therapy and nutrition can improve quality of life for people with metastatic cancer. (3/10/20)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/woman-doing-yoga.jpg)
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Human Research
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Study : A new breast cancer drug improves overall survival among people with brain and other metastases
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Human Research
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Most relevant for: People with metastatic breast cancer
A promising new drug called tucatinib combined with standard therapy shows benefit for women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Women who took tucatinib experienced longer progression-free survival (time before their cancer worsened), longer overall survival time and response of cancer (shrinking or disappearing). Strikingly, better outcomes were also seen for women with brain metastases, which is often difficult to treat. (12/20/19)
THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED on 04/17/20: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Tukysa (tucatinib) for use in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) and capecitabine for patients with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including patients with brain metastases (disease that has spread to the brain). Patients who have received one or more treatments targeting Her2 in the metastic setting are eligible to receive Tukysa. Tukysa is an oral (tablet) tyrosine kinase inhibitor which is taken twice daily.
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Personal Story : Running marathons with metastatic breast cancer? Yes!
Most relevant for: Women with metastatic breast cancer
Runner’s World Magazine featured Sarah Smith, a metastatic breast cancer patient who runs marathons and ultra-marathons. By telling her story, Sarah wants to encourage people to stay active, despite the challenges that life may bring. (10/13/19)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/marathon.jpg)
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Study : Inherited mutations in metastatic breast cancer patients
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Most relevant for: People with metastatic breast cancer
Recent research shows that a significant portion of patients with metastatic breast cancer have harmful mutations in a gene associated with hereditary breast cancer and increased breast cancer risk. (9/26/19)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/shutterstock_189562295.jpg)
Guideline : FDA issues warning on CDK inhibitors
Most relevant for: People currently taking a CDK inhibitor
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert for CDK inhibitors, including Ibrance (palbociclib), Kisqali (ribociclib), and Verzenio (abemaciclib). (9/24/19)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/cdk-4-6-inhibitor.jpg)
Study : Supportive care can improve quality of life for people with metastatic breast cancer
Most relevant for: People diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
Metastatic breast cancer patients have unique needs for treatment and care. Connecting patients to appropriate support services and palliative care is an area of need in health care. A recent study reported improvement in metastatic breast cancer patient quality of life and wellness with an intervention program called the Supportive, Education and Advocacy (MBC-SEA) program. (8/21/19)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/paliative-care.jpg)
Relevance: High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Study : CDK inhibitors may increase survival for ER-positive metastatic breast cancer patients
Relevance: High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Most relevant for: People with metastatic, hormone-positive, Her2-negative breast cancer
The phase III MONALEESA-7 study is a clinical trial looking at the effect of a type of treatment known as a CDK4/6 inhibitor in pre- or perimenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive advanced breast cancer. (7/22/19)
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Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Study : LGBTQ patients recommend improvements for their cancer care
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: High
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Research Timeline: Post Approval
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Most relevant for: LGBTQ cancer patients and their healthcare providers.
Very little research has focused on the cancer care experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. This study looks at recommendations from the LGBTQ community for improving their cancer care. (6/20/19)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/shutterstock_249129607.jpg)
Guideline : FDA approves an immunotherapy treatment for some patients with triple-negative breast cancer
Most relevant for: People with metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer
THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED: In August 2021 Roche voluntarily withdrew their FDA accelerated approval for Tecentriq (atezolizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (Abraxane®, albumin-bound paclitaxel; nab-paclitaxel) for the treatment of adults with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) whose tumours express PD-L1.
The FDA approved the use of the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in combination with the chemotherapy agent nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) for certain patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer. (5/26/19)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/AdobeStock_84467290 TNBC_1.jpeg)
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium-High
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Research Timeline: Human Research
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Study : Smart drug shows promising results for treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
Relevance: Medium-High
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Strength of Science: Medium-High
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Research Timeline: Human Research
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Most relevant for: People with metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer
THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED on 04/27/20: Based on the results from the study reviewed in this XRAY, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved sacituzumab govitecan-hizy (Trodelvy), as a treatment for people with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who have received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease.
We report results of an early-stage clinical trial of a new class of drugs for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). IMMU-132 is a combination of two different molecules: an antibody that targets certain types of cancer and delivers a chemotherapy drug that can kill cancer cells. This study looks at whether IMMU-132 is safe and effective for treating metastatic TNBC. (4/16/19)
Read More![](https://www.facingourrisk.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=400,height=400,fit=contain,format=webp/uploads/assets/xray/targeted.jpg)
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