Relevant for: People with triple negative breast cancer, In portal: Breast Cancer

Update : Breast cancer vaccine trial begins enrolling people with BRCA1 and PALB2 mutations

Most relevant for: People with a BRCA1 or PALB2 mutation undergoing prophylactic bilateral mastectomy

A new vaccine was first tested on people diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. The vaccine is now being tested to prevent breast cancer among people with an inherited mutation in BRCA1 or PALB2 who are at high risk and who are planning to have a risk-reducing mastectomy. (Posted 1/9/23) Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study : A win for some patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer

Most relevant for: People with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer

A drug used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer improved survival in people with metastatic breast cancers that were previously considered HER2-negative. These results change practice guidelines for metastatic breast cancer and reclassify HER2 tumor marker status as “HER2-low” to guide treatment. (Posted 7/18/22)

Update: On 08/05/2022 the FDA approved Enhertu to treat people with metastatic, HER2-low breast cancer who have received prior chemotherapy in the metastatic setting or who developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing chemotherapy. Enhertu is also approved for treatment of people with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who progressed after prior anti-HER2 treatment. Este artículo está disponible en español.

Update : Pembrolizumab receives FDA approval for people with early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer

Most relevant for: People with early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer who have a high risk for recurrence

The FDA approved the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the treatment of early-stage triple-negative breast cancer that has a high risk for recurrence.  This marks the first approval for this type of drug, known as an immune checkpoint inhibitor, for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. (posted 9/2/21)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Update : Breast cancer disparities in Black Americans

Most relevant for: Black women in the US

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) released a 2020 report about cancer disparities among racial and ethnic groups in the United States. In this review, we highlight findings on the burden of breast cancer in Black women. (posted 8/5/21)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study : Women can have safe pregnancies after breast cancer treatment

Most relevant for: Women who have had breast cancer who are considering pregnancy.

In a large analysis of all published studies to date, most women who become pregnant after breast cancer treatment had safe pregnancies, with no increase in their cancer recurrence risk. Infants of mothers treated for breast cancer were more likely to have low birth weight, preterm birth and small size at birth but there was no increase in birth defects. Breast cancer survivors who became pregnant had a similar risk of recurrence and survival as survivors who did not become pregnant. (posted 6/24/21)

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Update : FDA allows testing of a vaccine designed to prevent breast cancer

Most relevant for: Patients with non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer at high risk of recurrence.

Scientists have been working for many years to develop a vaccine that will prevent breast cancer. The FDA recently announced that the first clinical trial to test a preventive breast cancer vaccine can begin. This vaccine is the result of over a decade of research in animals and human cells. While researchers will first test the vaccine in women who have breast cancer, they hope to use this vaccine in the future to prevent breast cancer.  (posted 5/25/21)

THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED on 10/12/2021: The clinical trial discussed in this XRAY review has begun recruiting participants.  Researchers hope to enroll 24 patients with non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. The trial is being conducted at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. More information on this trial can be found here.

Este artículo está disponible en español.

Study : Trodelvy clinical trial results likely practice-changing for people with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Most relevant for: People with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

The ASCENT study confirmed an earlier study and showed that the drug sacituzumab govitecan-hizy (Trodelvy) improves outcomes for people with previously treated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. These results further support the use of Trodelvy as a standard therapy for patients with pretreated metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. (11/20/20)

Study : Among women with breast cancer, who should have genetic testing for an inherited mutation?

Most relevant for: Women diagnosed with breast cancer who do not know if they have an inherited mutation in a gene linked to breast cancer

Which breast cancer patients should consider genetic testing? Knowing whether you have an inherited mutation may inform the decisions you and your healthcare provider make about treatment. But it can also increase stress and anxiety. This XRAY reviews a study of how different guidelines affect genetic testing recommendations for people with breast cancer. (8/27/20)

Study : Promising research using a PARP inhibitor to treat metastatic breast cancer in people with an inherited PALB2 mutation or a tumor mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2

Most relevant for: People with metastatic breast cancer with an inherited mutation in PALB2 or tumor with a BRCA mutation

Early results of a small study showed that women with metastatic breast cancer and an inherited  mutation in PALB2 or an acquired tumor mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 benefitted from the PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza). (6/18/20)

Update : FDA approves new treatment for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Most relevant for: People with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who have received at least two prior lines of treatment

The FDA approved the use of sacituzumab govitecan-hizy (Trodelvy), a treatment drug for people with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who have received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease. (4/27/20)