Categories Cancer Treatment

Study : Does extending hormonal therapy impact risk of breast cancer recurrence?

Relevance: Medium-High

Strength of Science: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

View Related Clinical Trials

Most relevant for: Women with early-stage ER-positive breast cancer

Hormonal therapy significantly reduces the risk of recurrence for women with early-stage estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Standard hormonal therapy is given for 5 years; extending that therapy for a longer period offers additional protection but has added side effects. This study looked at women who stopped hormonal therapy after 5 years and identified factors that may guide the decision to extend treatment.  (12/21/17)

Guideline : Can MammaPrint guide treatment decisions?

Relevance: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

View Related Clinical Trials

Most relevant for: Women diagnosed with ER-positive, Her2-negative early-stage breast cancer with 0-3 positive nodes

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) updated its guidelines for MammaPrint, a genomic tumor test that guides treatment decisions for patients with early-stage invasive breast cancer. The update was based on results from the MINDACT study (11/16/17). 

Study : Can chemotherapy before surgery fuel breast cancer metastasis?

Relevance: Medium-Low

Strength of Science: Medium

Research Timeline: Animal Studies

Most relevant for: Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients

Some breast cancer patients are given neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemotherapy. However, some recent studies have raised concerns that neoadjuvant treatment might actually trigger cancer spread in certain situations. In the current study, researchers used mouse models and human breast cancers to explore this possibility. (10/10/17)

Study : Breast cancers can disappear without treatment: fact or fiction?

Relevance: Medium

Strength of Science: Medium-Low

Most relevant for: Women with abnormal mammograms

Previous studies and news headlines have reported that it is possible for breast cancers to regress or disappear on their own. Is this true? The authors of the current research study show that of 479 untreated breast cancers detected by screening mammography, none regressed or spontaneously disappeared on their own. (9/7/17)

Article : Can your breast cancer come back?

Relevance: High

Quality of Writing: High

View Related Clinical Trials

Most relevant for:

Elaine Howley’s piece for US News & World Report, “Can My Breast Cancer Come Back?” examines a common misperception that many breast cancer patients have after completing treatment, and explains what can actually occur. (7/25/17)

Article : FDA busts myths of preventing and treating cancer by eating apricot kernels, herbs, and other ingredients

Relevance: High

Quality of Writing: High

View Related Clinical Trials

Most relevant for: People diagnosed with or concerned about their risk for cancer

Maggie Fox (NBC News) writes about a new FDA report that warns of 14 "fraudulent” cancer products claiming to either cure or treat cancer (1). The companies that sell these products claim that many of them also prevent cancer, but are they safe or effective? (6/26/17)

Study : Cost savings associated with a shorter course or omission of radiation treatment for early-stage breast cancer

Relevance: Medium

Strength of Science: Medium

Research Timeline: Human Research

Most relevant for:

Breast cancer treatment costs are high. Lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy is a common treatment for early-stage breast cancer; however, patients may receive different radiation regimens, which carry different costs. Authors of this research study wanted to estimate the potential health care cost savings if early-stage breast cancer patients received the least expensive radiation regimen for which they were safely eligible. (6/20/17)

Study : Does scalp cooling help prevent hair loss after chemotherapy?

Relevance: High

Strength of Science: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Post Approval

View Related Clinical Trials

Most relevant for: Patient undergoing chemotherapy

Hair loss is one of the most recognized and distressing side effects of some chemotherapies. Two studies looked at the use of scalp cooling therapy to help reduce hair loss after chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. (5/15/17) 

Update: Based on data from clinical trials, the FDA approved Dignicap scalp cooling device for treatment in patients diagnosed with solid tumors who are receiving chemotherapy. 

Study : Common genetic change found in some tumors of patients who relapse after aromatase inhibitor treatment

Relevance: Medium-Low

Strength of Science: Medium-Low

Research Timeline: Animal Studies

Most relevant for: Patients with ER+ breast cancer

About one in five people diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer relapse within 10 years after treatment. Researchers and health care providers do not know why this happens. This early research aims to identify a genetic change in the tumor that may cause relapse, but more studies are needed to understand why patients relapse and who is at risk. (5/3/17)

Study : Nearly half of breast cancer patients experience a severe side effect after treatment

Relevance: Medium-High

Strength of Science: Medium

View Related Clinical Trials

Most relevant for: People diagnosed with early stage breast cancer

While clinical trials track treatment side effects, fewer studies look at the burden of side effects on women undergoing breast cancer treatment or compare the side effects of different treatments. This study looks at the severity of side effects experienced by women treated for early-stage breast cancer. (4/11/17)