Breast Cancer

One of a small group of scientists who had a hand in developing Herceptin (trastuzumab) for the treatment of breast cancer, Dr. Debu Tripathy's current work is focused on understanding why some patients are resistant to the drug, and how to create more effective therapies for them.

The approval of trastuzumab, targeted directly to the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-positive, was a major advance in extending the lives of women with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Dr. Linda Vahdat, from the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Compares Halaven and Ixempra Neuropathy

Dr. Edith Perez, from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Florida, Discusses the B-34 Clodronate Study

Recently reported and truly impressive clinical trial data have revealed the relevance of administering antineoplastic agents specifically and prospectively targeted to molecular abnormalities.

A subanalysis of the AZURE study found that postmenopausal women had a disease-free survival advantage from the addition of zoledronic acid to their therapy.

Dr. Jose Baselga from Massachusetts General Hospital Describes the Advantages of Dual Blockade

Dr. Edith Perez, from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Discusses the BOLERO-2 Everolimus Trial

A study of bevacizumab in women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer demonstrated that combining the drug with standard therapy improves PFS.

Carriers of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation are at greater risk for developing a new primary tumor in the contralateral breast compared with noncarriers.

Dr. José Baselga from Massachusetts General Hospital Discusses the CLEOPATRA Pertuzumab Trial

Tumor-related factors that lead to chemotherapy resistance in Hispanic women make them more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Hispanic whites.

Dr. Debu Tripathy from USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Discusses the AVEREL Bevacizumab Trial Results

The CLEOPATRA trial marks the first time that dual inhibitors have demonstrated value in the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Dr. Gabriel Hortobagyi from the MD Anderson Cancer Center Discusses the BOLERO-2 Trial

The BOLERO-2 trial suggests that adding everolimus to hormonal therapy can overcome resistance in patients whose disease progressed.

A large study of HER2+ breast cancer patients shows that obese patients had worse outcomes than normal weight or overweight patients.

Dr. Edith Perez from the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Discusses the CLEOPATRA Pertuzumab Trial

The results of 2 studies likely to have a significant impact upon the treatment of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Dr. Benjamin Smith from MD Anderson Cancer Center Discusses the Brachytherapy Breast Cancer Trial

A new 12-gene assay for predicting risk of recurrence for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Dr. Lawrence Solin from Einstein Medical Center Discusses the DCIS Score Recurrence Test

It may be possible to predict which women with HR+ invasive breast cancer will experience recurrence by using a series of gene expression profiles.

Although the use of tumor markers to evaluate patients with breast cancer is well established, the nuances involved in such testing are growing along with the emergence of novel assays and fresh research findings.

This month's collection of trials in progress highlights trials presented at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Meeting.