Breast cancer research and treatment
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jan 2019
Meta AnalysisOptimal duration of adjuvant trastuzumab in treatment of early breast cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
One year of adjuvant trastuzumab, chosen empirically, improves survival of women with early-stage, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer. Two years of trastuzumab does not improve efficacy but increases cost, inconvenience, and adverse effects. We aimed to evaluate if less than 1 year of adjuvant trastuzumab retained efficacy while reducing toxicities and cost. ⋯ One year of trastuzumab for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer improves outcomes compared to shorter treatments in overall population. Cardiotoxicity is increased with the longer treatment.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jan 2019
Clinical TrialHigh patient satisfaction with a simplified BRCA1/2 testing procedure: long-term results of a prospective study.
In the BRCAsearch study, unselected breast cancer patients were prospectively offered germline BRCA1/2 mutation testing through a simplified testing procedure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate satisfaction with the BRCAsearch testing procedure and, furthermore, to report on uptake rates of prophylactic surgeries among mutation carriers. ⋯ Satisfaction with a simplified BRCA1/2 testing procedure was very high. Written pre-test information has now replaced in-person pre-test counseling for breast cancer patients in our health care region.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jan 2019
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyComparative efficacy of adjuvant trastuzumab-containing chemotherapies for patients with early HER2-positive primary breast cancer: a network meta-analysis.
Trastuzumab (H) with chemotherapy benefits patients with HER2+ breast cancer (BC); however, we lack head-to-head pairwise assessment of survival or cardiotoxicity for specific combinations. We sought to identify optimal combinations. ⋯ Concurrent H with ACT or TC showed most clinical benefit for early-stage HER2+ BC; TC+H had lowest cardiotoxicity.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jan 2019
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyOne year versus a shorter duration of adjuvant trastuzumab for HER2-positive early breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
One year is the standard duration of adjuvant trastuzumab for human epidermal receptor-2 (HER2) positive (HER2+) breast cancer (BC). Indeed, a shorter duration of trastuzumab can reduce cardiotoxicity and the costs involved and could provide the same benefit as a one-year treatment. We evaluated the available evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) by comparing 1 year versus a shorter duration of adjuvant trastuzumab for HER2+ BC. ⋯ One-year adjuvant trastuzumab is associated with better DFS and OS compared with shorter durations and should still be considered the standard duration. However, selected patients with low-risk HER2+ BC can most likely be spared from an excess of cardiac toxicity with a shorter course.
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Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jan 2019
Prognosis in different subtypes of metaplastic breast cancer: a population-based analysis.
Metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC) is a rare histological subtype of breast cancer recognized as a unique pathologic entity in 2000. However, the pathogenesis, optimal therapy, and prognosis of MpBC and the potential effect of systemic treatments on different subtypes of MpBC are not well defined. ⋯ Patients with TN-MpBC had worse prognosis than TNBC and chemotherapy was not associated with improved survival. In contrast, non-TN MpBC may derive survival benefit from chemotherapy and radiotherapy.