Gene Signatures Predict Response to Cancer Therapy
Identifying patients who will not respond to standard chemotherapy would permit direct entry into investigational regimens.
Do Oral Contraceptives Affect Risk for Death from Breast Cancer?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
OC use had neither a beneficial nor a harmful effect on breast cancer mortality.
Do HT Use and Hormone-Receptor Status Affect Recurrence After Treatment for Early-Stage Breast Cancer?
Hormone-receptor–positive tumor status resulted in lower risk for recurrence among women who have used HT.
Cardiovascular Effects of Therapies for Early Breast Cancer
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Multiple factors associated with therapy may combine to heighten cardiovascular risks.
Surgeons’ Volume Status Doesn’t Affect Cancer-Related Mortality in Older Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Overall mortality, but not cancer-related mortality, was higher among women whose surgeons performed five or fewer procedures annually.
Putting Breast Self-Examination in Its Place
Women's Health Practice Watch
Healthcare providers should stop insisting that monthly BSE be performed in a specified manner.
CHF in Older Women After Adjuvant Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
Adjuvant therapy that includes anthracyclines raises risk for adverse cardiac events.
Possible Way to Inhibit Human Breast Cancer Metastasis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Preventing CCL5 from linking with its receptor on cancer cells greatly reduces their metastatic potential.
Aromatase-Inhibitor–Induced Joint Complaints: An Underappreciated Problem?
Joint complaints are common among women who receive AIs.
Who Needs a Taxane? Tailoring Breast Cancer Therapy
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
Women with HER2-positive tumors benefited from paclitaxel therapy, regardless of the ER status of the tumors.
By William J. Gradishar, MD
October 10, 2007
Covering:
Hayes DF et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Oct 11; 357:1496
Moore A., N Engl J Med 2007 Oct 11; 357:1547
Mammography Reduces Breast Cancer Mortality: More Evidence
Women's Health Summary and Comment
A new U.S. study found that mammography screening saves lives, particularly in women 50 and older.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
October 4, 2007
Covering:
Norman SA et al., Cancer Causes Control 2007 Nov; 18:909
MRI to Diagnose Pure DCIS?
About half of biopsy-proven high-grade DCIS that was visualized with MRI was mammographically occult.
Joint Symptoms in Women Taking Aromatase Inhibitors for Breast Cancer
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Patients who received aromatase inhibitors commonly reported joint symptoms.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
September 27, 2007
Covering:
Crew KD et al., J Clin Oncol 2007 Sep 1; 25:3877
Breast MRI and Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
New data from Germany demonstrated the value of MRI in detecting DCIS, particularly the high-grade variant of this common breast lesion.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
September 27, 2007
Covering:
Kuhl CK et al., Lancet 2007 Aug 11; 370:485
Boetes C and Mann RM., Lancet 2007 Aug 11; 370:459
Raloxifene Approved for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women
Women's Health News in Context
Free
The FDA has approved a second SERM for breast cancer chemoprophylaxis.
Obesity and Likelihood of Mammography
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Obesity was associated with less-frequent mammograms among white women but not black women.
Psychotherapy Does Not Prolong Overall Breast Cancer Survival
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A survival benefit from psychotherapy was noted in only a small subgroup of these patients.
International Study Supports Conventional WISDOM About Hormone Therapy
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A new report supplies more evidence that HT may increase cardiovascular risk in older women.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
September 5, 2007
Covering:
Vickers MR et al. for the WISDOM team, BMJ 2007 Aug 4; 335:239
The Epothilones Are Coming!
Four phase II reports plus preliminary data from a randomized phase III study suggest that the semisynthetic epothilone ixabepilone is tolerable and beneficial for women with metastatic breast cancer.
How Safe Is Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
In simulation models, CTA was associated with increased cancer risk, particularly in women.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
August 22, 2007
Covering:
Einstein AJ et al., JAMA 2007 Jul 18; 298:317-23
Breast MRI More Sensitive Than Mammography for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
General Medicine Summary and Comment
MRI detected 92% of DCIS, whereas mammography found only 56%.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
August 16, 2007
Covering:
Kuhl CK et al., Lancet 2007 Aug 11; 370:485-92
Boetes C and Mann RM., Lancet 2007 Aug 11; 370:459-60
Adjuvant Therapy for ER-Positive Breast Cancer: Shaping the Role of Aromatase Inhibitors
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Two years of tamoxifen followed by a switch to anastrozole is an effective adjuvant therapy for ER-positive breast cancer.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
August 16, 2007
Covering:
Kaufmann M et al., J Clin Oncol 2007 Jul 1; 25:2664-70
Lin NU and Winer EP., J Clin Oncol 2007 Jul 1; 25:2639-41
Optimizing Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Prone positioning reduced radiation exposure of the heart and lungs.
By Christine D. Berg, MD
August 9, 2007
Covering:
Formenti SC et al., J Clin Oncol 2007 Jun 1; 25:2236-42
Extending Breast Cancer Survival: It’s Not Just What You Eat — It’s What You Do
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Although ineffective alone, a low-fat diet very high in vegetables, fruits, and fiber improved breast cancer survival when combined with exercise.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
August 9, 2007
Covering:
Pierce JP et al., JAMA 2007 Jul 18; 298:289-98
Pierce JP et al., J Clin Oncol 2007 Jun 10; 25:2345-51
Limited Family Tree Affects Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Models overestimate risk for <$EMPH_O>BRCA<$EMPH_C> mutation when family history is adequate and underestimate risk when history is limited.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
August 9, 2007
Covering:
Weitzel JN et al., JAMA 2007 Jun 20; 297:2587-95
Kauff ND and Offit K., JAMA 2007 Jun 20; 297:2637-9
