Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Breast Cancer

H&O What are antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)? AB ADCs are drugs that contain an antibody linked to a chemotherapy agent. Accordingly, they have 3 components: an antibody […]

Is Precision Medicine Ready for Use in Breast Cancer?

H&O How do you define precision medicine? LP The term precision medicine is often used as shorthand for personalizing or tailoring treatment recommendations to the […]

Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Breast Cancer: Checkpoint Blockade, Cancer Vaccines, and Future Directions in Combination Immunotherapy

Abstract: Immunotherapy encompasses both vaccines that direct immune responses to tumor-associated antigens, and checkpoint blocking antibodies that inhibit immune system suppression by targeting key pathways mediated […]

Obesity and Breast Cancer: Risk, Outcomes, and Future Considerations

Abstract: The proportion of adults who are obese has increased dramatically in the United States over the last 30 years. Obesity has been linked to […]

Management of Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer

H&O How common are brain metastases? CA Lung cancer, melanoma, and breast cancer are the 3 types of cancers that are most likely to metastasize […]

Long-term Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Treatment of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Abstract: Long-term outcomes for women with a diagnosis of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–driven early-stage breast cancer have significantly improved since the advent of […]

Checkpoint Inhibitors in Breast Cancer: Hype or Promise?

H&O Could you provide a brief overview of immunotherapy? HM The concept of immunotherapy is not a new one. In fact, back in the 1890s, a […]

New Directions in Improving Response to Endocrine Therapy

H&O How effective are existing endocrine agents at reducing breast cancer recurrence? IM We use a variety of endocrine agents to reduce the risk for recurrence […]

Breast Cancer in Focus: Treatment of Trastuzumab-Refractory, HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

H&O How common is resistance to trastuzumab (Herceptin, Genentech) in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer? SH Some patients with HER2-positive […]

Bisphosphonates in Breast Cancer: Antitumor Effects

Bone metastases add to the burden of breast cancer, with patients experiencing severe bone pain, pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression, and hypercalcemia of malignancy. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates have become the standard treatment for skeletal-related events and bone pain, as well as for bone loss associated with chemotherapy and aromatase inhibitors. Emerging preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that bisphosphonates negatively affect multiple processes that support tumor growth and proliferation and formation of metastases. Several small clinical trials suggest that bisphosphonates can modify angiogenic factors, immune surveillance, and disseminated tumor cells detected in bone marrow. Emerging data suggest that bisphosphonates used for osteoporosis prevention may inhibit breast cancer development. Three large prospective studies have shown improved outcomes with the addition of zoledronic acid to conventional neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. This article focuses on current clinical trials examining the use of bisphosphonates in patients with breast cancer.

Brain Metastases from Breast Cancer

H&O Can you provide some background on metastatic disease in breast cancer? AS We have long known that breast cancer can metastasize to the brain, and with recent […]