Cancer
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Final 5-year results of Z-FAST trial: adjuvant zoledronic acid maintains bone mass in postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving letrozole.
Postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) patients receiving adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy are at risk of progressive bone loss and fractures. Zoledronic acid inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption, is effective in maintaining bone health, and may therefore be beneficial in this setting. ⋯ Upfront zoledronic acid seems to be the preferred treatment strategy versus delayed administration, as it significantly and progressively increases BMD in postmenopausal women with early BC receiving letrozole for 5 years, and long-term coadministration of letrozole and zoledronic acid is well tolerated.
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It has been demonstrated that the partner and localizer of breast cancer 2 (PALB2) acts as a bridging molecule between the breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and BRCA2 proteins and is responsible for facilitating BRCA2-mediated DNA repair. Truncating mutations in the PALB2 gene reportedly are enriched in patients with Fanconi anemia and breast cancer in various populations. ⋯ PALB2 mutations were present in both familial and nonfamilial breast cancers among African Americans. Rare PALB2 mutations accounted for a small but substantial proportion of patients with breast cancer.