Aromatase Inhibitors and Arthralgias
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Characterizing the joint pain associated with adjuvant aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
August 7, 2008
Covering:
Morales L et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Jul 1; 26:3147
Hershman DL., J Clin Oncol 2008 Jul 1; 26:3120
Management of Depression in Cancer Patients
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Nurses provided effective, and cost-effective, depression care.
Screening Mammography: Which Factors Foretell Accuracy?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Some mammography facilities produce more-accurate results than others, but identifying those facilities was not straightforward.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
July 10, 2008
Covering:
Taplin S et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Jun 18; 100:876
Women with Genetic Predisposition for Breast Cancer Might Benefit from MRI Screening
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Adding MRI to mammography detects more cancers in women at high risk.
Lifetime Physical Activity and Risk for Premenopausal Breast Cancer
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Women who engaged in regular strenuous exercise during adolescence and young adulthood benefited most.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
July 3, 2008
Covering:
Maruti SS et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 May 21; 100:728
For Screening Mammography, Is There a "Too Old"?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Study results indicate that mammography should have no upper age limit.
Menopausal Estrogen Therapy and Risk for Benign Proliferative Breast Disease
Women's Health Summary and Comment
WHI analysis showed that ET was associated with doubling of risk for BPBD.
Ultrasound, Mammography, or Both for Breast Cancer Detection?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Added to mammography, screening ultrasound improved detection of breast cancers in high-risk women but also generated more false positives.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
May 22, 2008
Covering:
Berg WA et al., JAMA 2008 May 14; 299:2151
Kuhl CK., JAMA 2008 May 14; 299:2203
Ultrasound Plus Mammography for Breast Cancer Screening
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Adding ultrasound improved detection but led to more false-positives.
Lapatinib for Treatment of Metastatic Brain Metastases
This antitumor agent failed to provide a predefined CNS response, but its use was associated with volumetric reductions in target lesions.
Weekly Paclitaxel in the Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer
Frequent paclitaxel therapy, but not docetaxel therapy, benefitted women with HER2-positive or HER2-negative tumors.
Pharmacogenomics, CYP2D6, and Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy
CYP2D6 genotype data could help tailor hormonal therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer patients.
More Data on Aromatase Inhibitors for Breast Cancer
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Extending endocrine therapy beyond 5 years prevents some breast cancer relapses.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
May 8, 2008
Covering:
Muss HB et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1956
Mamounas EP et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1965
Goss PE et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1948
Questions Remain About Hormone Therapy and Risk for Breast Cancer Recurrence
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Conflicting findings from two European randomized clinical trials
Megestrol for Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Results of a 6-month trial confirmed efficacy, but safety questions remain.
Stopping Trials Early for Benefit — Too Good to Be True?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Be skeptical of results from trials stopped early for benefit.
Aromatase Inhibitors in Preventing Breast Cancer Recurrence After 5 Years of Tamoxifen
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In women with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer who have completed therapy with tamoxifen, adjuvant therapy with an aromatase inhibitor improved disease-free survival.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
May 1, 2008
Covering:
Muss HB et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1956
Goss PE et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1948
Mamounas EP et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1965
Lin NU and Winer EP., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1919
Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer: Are Fewer Fractions Better?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
British trial results favored fewer fractions, higher doses per fraction, and fewer weeks of radiation therapy for early breast cancer; longer follow-up is needed.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
May 1, 2008
Covering:
The START Trialists’ Group., Lancet Oncol 2008 Apr; 9:331
The START Trialists’ Group., Lancet 2008 Mar 29; 371:1098
Bartelink H and Arriagada R., Lancet 2008 Mar 29; 371:1050
Hormone Therapy in Breast Cancer Survivors
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Hormone therapy in this population raises risk for recurrence.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 24, 2008
Covering:
Holmberg L et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Apr 2; 100:475
Pritchard KI., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Apr 2; 100:451
Postmenopausal Estrogen and Benign Proliferative Breast Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
During 7 years of follow-up, the estrogen group had a significant twofold higher risk for benign proliferative breast disease compared with the placebo group.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 24, 2008
Covering:
Rohan TE et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Apr 16; 100:563
Money Talks: Economic Disparity in Screening Mammograms
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women with greater wealth received more screening mammograms than poorer women, regardless of prognosis.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
April 24, 2008
Covering:
Williams BA et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Mar 10; 168:514
Bone Safety in Women Taking Aromatase Inhibitors
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Check BMD at baseline, and consider concomitant bisphosphonate treatment for women with osteopenia.
Disparity of Surgical Care in Patients with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
Awareness is the first step toward eliminating racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors in surgical treatment.
Gene Expression and Clinicopathologic Features in Breast Cancer
Beyond established clinicopathologic risk measures, genetic analysis of tumors could point the way to using individualized therapies to target specific biochemical pathways.
By Virginia Kaklamani, MD, DSc
April 15, 2008
Covering:
Acharya CR et al., JAMA 2008 Apr 2; 299:1574
Huang C-C and Bredel M., JAMA 2008 Apr 2; 299:1605
Estrogen plus Progestin: Diagnostic Mammograms and Biopsies
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Use of E+P increased women’s likelihood of needing diagnostic breast imaging and breast biopsies.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
April 10, 2008
Covering:
Chlebowski RT et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Feb 25; 168:370
