In a nutshell This study explored whether trastuzumab (Herceptin) is an efficient drug for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) in patients who have previously received radiotherapy (RT) after breast removal surgery. The authors found that trastuzumab reduced the recurrence of BC and improved survival without cancer coming...
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Can circulating tumor cells help in improving the outcomes of patients with breast cancer?
In a nutshell This study evaluated the role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in deciding adjuvant therapy (AT; treatment after surgery) in patients with breast cancer (BC). This study showed that personalized AT based on CTCs improved patient survival. Some background BC that has not spread to other areas of the body is called non-metastatic...
Read MoreStandard adjuvant chemotherapy versus capecitabine: longer follow up results in older breast cancer patients
In a nutshell This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of standard adjuvant chemotherapy versus capecitabine (Xeloda) in older patients with breast cancer after 10 years. This study concluded that with longer follow up, outcomes remained superior with standard adjuvant chemotherapy. Some...
Read MoreLocal disease recurrence in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer: an evaluation of treatment effectiveness
In a nutshell This study investigated if trastuzumab (Herceptin)/paclitaxel (Taxol) reduces the risk of local-regional recurrence (LRR) in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). They found that this treatment reduced LRR risk in HER2-positive patients. Some background Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers....
Read MoreLooking for patients with breast cancer to trial a new medication
In a nutshell This phase 3 trial will investigate the effectiveness and safety of ribociclib (Kisquali) in breast cancer (BC). The main outcome will be the rate of survival without disease. The details Breast cancer (BC) is a common form of cancer. Cancers, including BC, can be categorized depending on certain proteins. Some BCs...
Read More10 years of treatment vs 5 years of treatment with hormone therapy in patients with early stage breast cancer.
In a nutshell This study wanted to find out if continuing hormone therapy for 10 years was more effective than doing it for 5 years in patients with early stage breast cancer. The study found that the patients who continued treatment for 10 years survived for longer without the disease coming back compared to those who were only treated for 5...
Read MoreSearching for triple negative breast cancer patients to test the effectiveness of pembrolizumab
In a nutshell This phase 3 trial aims to evaluate how effective pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is at treating triple negative breast cancer. The main outcome to be investigated is the invasive disease free survival. Other outcomes include the overall survival (time from treatment until death from any cause) and side effects. This trial is taking place...
Read MoreUpdate on guidelines for the use of adjuvant chemotherapy and targeted therapy in breast cancer patients.
In a nutshell This report summarized updates made to the guidelines for treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer with adjuvant chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Some background Adjuvant chemotherapy (treatment after surgery) is often used to prevent cancer recurrence. Chemotherapy involves agents that work to kill cancer cells in the body....
Read MoreTraditional Chinese medicine; the effects on breast cancer survival
In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine used with conventional breast cancer treatments on breast cancer survival. Some background Traditional Chinese medicine is an alternative therapy that can complement breast cancer treatments. This generally includes various forms of herbal medicine,...
Read MoreHormone therapy; enabling surgery in post-menopausal breast cancer patients
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the long-term effects of hormone therapy to treat post-menopausal women with advanced breast cancer. Some background Hormone therapy is a form of breast cancer treatment. It targets cancer cells that may be affected by hormones. It is often administered prior to surgery in patients who are unfit to...
Read MoreCancer spread; do age and tumor type affect the risk?
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine if there was a link between patient age, tumor type and the spread of cancer. Some background Breast cancer metastasis is the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body; following original cancer of the breast. Age at original diagnosis and the area affected by the tumor are just two of the...
Read MoreTreatment for breast cancer patients with depression
In a nutshell This article evaluated the benefits of psychology treatments for breast cancer patients with depression. Some background Many women with breast cancer also suffer from depression (22%). This can lead to a decreased quality of life and overall prognosis (treatment outcome). 'Psychodynamic psychotherapy' is a form of...
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