Long-Term Outcomes of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
Breast-conserving treatments for DCIS are associated with excellent prognoses.
Follow-Up for Women with Abnormal Mammograms
Rapid, accurate identification of women who have breast cancer — as well as those who do <$EMPH_O>not<$EMPH_C> — is essential.
By Mitchel Barry, MD, and Mary L. Gemignani, MD, MPH, FACS
April 14, 2011
My Mammogram Is Abnormal. What Now?
Women's Health
Patient Information
Abnormal mammogram results can have many causes other than breast cancer; be sure to follow up as your clinician recommends.
Embracing Survival Gains in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Patients who received eribulin mesylate experienced substantial survival benefits.
By William J. Gradishar, MD
March 29, 2011
Covering:
Cortes J et al., Lancet 2011 Mar 12; 377:914
Lin NU and Burstein HJ., Lancet 2011 Mar 12; 377:878
Breast Cancer Risk in Premenopausal Women Who Ever Used the LNG-IUS
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system did not raise risk for breast cancer.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
March 17, 2011
Covering:
Dinger J et al., Contraception 2011 Mar; 83:211
New Insights About Trastuzumab for HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer
Substantial benefits persisted at 4-year follow-up and were also seen in patients who crossed over to trastuzumab.
Active or Passive Smoking and Breast Cancer Risk
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Risk was elevated for smokers and women with intense exposure to passive smoking.
Hot Flash News Isn't All Bad
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Menopausal symptoms were associated with lower incidence of breast cancer.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
March 10, 2011
Covering:
Huang Y et al., Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011 Feb; 20:379
Bevacizumab for Breast Cancer: Benefit vs. Risk
The addition of bevacizumab to other regimens was associated with excess risk for fatal adverse events.
By William J. Gradishar, MD
March 8, 2011
Covering:
Ranpura V et al., JAMA 2011 Feb 2; 305:487
Hayes DF., JAMA 2011 Feb 3; 305:506
Detecting Occult Sentinel Node Metastases: More Information Is Not Always Better
Oncology and Hematology
Summary and Comment
Free
Breast cancer survival at 5 years was largely unaffected by occult metastases.
Mammograms: Not Just for Breast Cancer Screening?
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Free
Women with mammographically identified breast arterial calcifications were at excess risk for developing coronary heart disease or stroke within 5 years.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
March 3, 2011
Covering:
Schnatz PF et al., Obstet Gynecol 2011 Feb; 117:233
Timing and Type of Hormone Therapy Affect Breast Cancer Risk
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
British study suggests early initiation is riskier; findings on estrogen-only therapy contrast with WHI findings.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
March 3, 2011
Covering:
Beral V et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2011 Feb 16; 103:296
Chlebowski RT and Anderson GL., J Natl Cancer Inst 2011 Feb 16; 103:284
Axillary Dissection in Breast Cancer — No Benefit
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Survival or local disease control was not compromised by omission of axillary dissection.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
February 17, 2011
Covering:
Giuliano AE et al., JAMA 2011 Feb 9; 305:569
Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer and Cardiovascular Mortality
Cardiology
Summary and Comment
Observational findings confirm a long-suspected increase in long-term risk.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
February 16, 2011
Covering:
Bouillon K et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2011 Jan 25; 57:445
Witteles RM., J Am Coll Cardiol 2011 Jan 25; 57:453
Safety of Tamoxifen vs. an Aromatase Inhibitor as Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
An international randomized trial shows differing safety profiles for tamoxifen and exemestane.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
February 10, 2011
Covering:
van de Velde CJH et al., Lancet 2011 Jan 22; 377:321
Is Axillary Dissection Necessary in Breast Cancer Patients with Positive Sentinel Lymph Nodes?
Oncology and Hematology
Summary and Comment
Free
Overall survival and disease-free survival were not inferior in patients with SLN metastases who did not undergo axillary dissection.
Is Cutaneous Small-Vessel Vasculitis a Marker of Internal Malignancy?
Dermatology
Summary and Comment
Routine evaluation for malignancy in patients with vasculitis is probably not warranted.
Aromatase Inhibitors as Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer
A guide for women's health clinicians
Aromatase Inhibitors for Breast Cancer
Women's Health
Patient Information
For menopausal women who develop breast cancer, drugs called aromatase inhibitors can prevent new or recurring breast cancer.
Diabetes Adversely Affects Breast Cancer Outcomes
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
All-cause mortality was higher among women with diabetes and breast cancer than among their nondiabetic counterparts; breast cancer diagnosis and treatment differed for women with versus without diabetes.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
February 3, 2011
Covering:
Erickson K et al., J Clin Oncol 2011 Jan 1; 29:54
Peairs KS et al., J Clin Oncol 2011 Jan 1; 29:40
Cowden and Cowden-Like Syndrome: Tales from the Other Strand
Dermatology
Summary and Comment
Aberrant hypermethylation of <$EMPH_O>KILLIN<$EMPH_C> could explain the development of Cowden syndrome and Cowden-like syndrome in patients without <$EMPH_O>PTEN<$EMPH_C> mutations.
By Kenneth Y. Tsai, MD, PhD
January 28, 2011
Covering:
Bennett KL et al., JAMA 2010 Dec 22/29; 304:2724
Jelovac D and Park BH., JAMA 2010 Dec 22/29; 304:2744
The 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Highlights include neoadjuvant therapy with anti-HER2 agents, optimization of endocrine therapy, and reevaluation of adjuvant zoledronic acid.
Targeting Defective DNA Repair Pathways in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
The poly(adenosine diphosphate–ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor iniparib enhanced the clinical benefit associated with gemcitabine plus carboplatin.
Radiotherapy and Tamoxifen for Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
Following local excision, radiotherapy had long-lasting benefits and tamoxifen had small absolute benefits for breast cancer outcomes.
By Henry Mark Kuerer, MD, PhD, FACS
January 18, 2011
Covering:
Cuzick J et al., Lancet Oncol 2011 Jan; 12:21
Silverstein MJ and Lagios MD., J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2010 ; 2010:193
Pinder SE et al., Br J Cancer 2010 Jun 29; 103:94
Eng-Wong J et al., J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2010 ; 2010:200
For Managing Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, How Important Is Choice of Surgeon?
Type of treatment and presence of positive margins varied substantially among breast surgeons.